CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Planta Medica International Open 2020; 7(01): e34-e44
DOI: 10.1055/a-1141-0151
Original Papers
Eigentümer und Copyright ©Georg Thieme Verlag KG 2020

Tara Tannin Regulates Pigmentation by Modulating Melanogenesis Enzymes and Melanosome Transport Proteins Expression

Myra O. Villareal
1   Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki, Japan
2   Alliance for Research on the Mediterranean and North Africa (ARENA), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki, Japan
3   School of Integrative and Global Majors (SIGMA), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Japan
,
Thanyanan Chaochaiphat
3   School of Integrative and Global Majors (SIGMA), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Japan
4   Nano Innovation Laboratories Co., Ltd., Ninomiyamachi, Nakagun, Kanagawa, Japan
,
Meriem Bejaoui
3   School of Integrative and Global Majors (SIGMA), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Japan
,
Kozo Sato
4   Nano Innovation Laboratories Co., Ltd., Ninomiyamachi, Nakagun, Kanagawa, Japan
,
Hiroko Isoda
1   Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki, Japan
2   Alliance for Research on the Mediterranean and North Africa (ARENA), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki, Japan
3   School of Integrative and Global Majors (SIGMA), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Japan
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 02 July 2019

accepted 10 March 2020

Publication Date:
15 April 2020 (online)

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Abstract

The skin color is imparted by the pigment melanin produced in the melanosomes of melanocytes, through the catalytic action of melanogenesis enzymes tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein 1, and dopachrome tautomerase. Disruptions in the melanogenesis process may result to hypopigmentation, as observed in cutaneous postinflammatory conditions. Here, the bioactivity of tara tannin, specifically on melanogenesis, was evaluated in vitro using human epidermal melanocytes (HEM) and B16F10 murine melanoma cells in order to determine the possibility that it may be used as a treatment against hypopigmentation. The melanin content of tara tannin-treated B16F10 cells and the expression level of melanogenesis enzymes and melanosome transport proteins were determined. To elucidate the underlying mechanism of tara tannin’s effect on melanogenesis, DNA microarray analysis was performed. Tara tannin significantly increased melanogenesis in both murine and human pigment cell models by upregulating melanogenesis-associated enzymes’ (tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein 1, and dopachrome tautomerase) protein and mRNA expression levels, as well as the melanosome transport proteins (myosin Va and RAB27A) expression, both attributed to increased microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) expression. Global gene expression analysis results revealed the modulation of genes (p≤0.05; fold-change ≥2.0 and ≤−2.0) that are under the transcriptional regulation of MITF and genes relevant for MAPK signaling, metabolic pathways, and cell cycle. Tara tannin has a significant effective melanogenesis-promoting effect, making it a potential therapeutic agent against hypopigmentation disorders. This is the first report on the melanogenesis regulatory effect of tara tannin in vitro.

Supporting information