RESUMO
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the role of autophagy in the regulatory effect of Shufeng Huoxue Fumula (SFHXF) on the proliferation and melanin metabolism in cultured murine B16 melanoma cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>B16 cells were treated with solutions containing 0.12, 0.25, 0.49, 0.98, or 1.96 mg/mL SFHXF preparations, rapamycin (an autophagy inducer), or rapamycin+SFHXF. The changes in the proliferation of B16 cells were assessed using MTT assay, and tyrosinase activity and melanin content in the cells were determined. The expressions of autophagy-related proteins P62, p-mTOR, LC3B, and beclin 1 in the cells were detected using Western blotting.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Compared with the blank control cells, treatments with SFHXF both in the presence and in the absence of rapamycin concentration-dependently inhibited the cell proliferation (P<0.05) and obviously increased tyrosinase activity and melanogenesis in B16 cells (P<0.05); 0.98 mg/mL SFHLF, rapamycin+0.98 mg/mL SFHXF, and 50 nmol/L rapamycin all significantly up-regulated the expressions of LC3B-II and beclin 1 and down-regulated the expressions of P62 and p-mTOR in the cells.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>SFHXF can regulate melanin metabolism and enhance tyrosinase activity and melanogenesis through the autophagy pathway to inhibit the proliferation of B16 cells in vitro.</p>