Anti-melanogenic effects of Prunus mume flower and young shoot extracts in α-MSH-stimulated B16F10 cells

Melanin protects the body from ultraviolet (UV) radiation; however, excessive melanin production induced by longterm UV exposure or aging leads to skin pigmentation.In this study, the anti-melanogenic effects of Prunus mume flower (FPM) and young shoot (YSPM) extracts were investigated in B16F10 cells.First, the antioxidant effects of FPM and YSPM (31.25-1000 μg/ mL) were evaluated using 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt cation radical (ABTS • + ) and pyrogallol.FPM and YSPM exhibited antioxidant effects through ABTS• + scavenging and superoxide dismutase-like activity.Notably, these activities were related with total polyphenol contents in FPM and YSPM.In cellular assay, FPM and YSPM (125 and 250 μg/ mL) suppressed melanin synthesis in α-melanocyte stimulating hormone-stimulated B16F10 cells by inhibiting tyrosinase activity.In addition, FPM and YSPM reduced the protein levels of tyrosinase and tyrosinase-related proteins (TRP-1 and TRP-2), which regulate melanin synthesis in melanosomes.Interestingly, YSPM, which exhibited higher antioxidant activity, also showed a stronger antimelanogenic effect than FPM.These findings appear to be associated with the higher chlorogenic acid content in YSPM, suggesting chlorogenic acid as a key contributor to the observed activity differences.Taken together, these results demonstrate the antimelanogenic potential of FPM and YSPM, particularly the superior efficacy of YSPM, and provide a basis for further studies for the development of skin-whitening agents.