ABSTRACT
The EtOH extract of tarragon Artemisia dracunculus, a perennial herb in the family Asteraceae, was found to potently inhibit α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) induced melanin production in B16 mouse melanoma cells. Bioassay-guided fractionation led to the isolation of two alkamide compounds, isobutyl (1) and piperidiyl (2) amides of undeca-2E,4E-dien-8,10-dynoic acid. The respective EC(50) values for melanin biosynthesis inhibition were 1.8 and 2.3 µg/mL for 1 and 2.
Subject(s)
Artemisia/chemistry , Melanins/antagonists & inhibitors , Melanoma, Experimental/drug therapy , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Polyunsaturated Alkamides , Skin Neoplasms/drug therapy , alpha-MSH/antagonists & inhibitors , Animals , Cell Survival/drug effects , Humans , Inhibitory Concentration 50 , Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy , Melanins/biosynthesis , Melanoma, Experimental/pathology , Mice , Plant Extracts/chemistry , Polyunsaturated Alkamides/chemistry , Polyunsaturated Alkamides/isolation & purification , Polyunsaturated Alkamides/pharmacology , Skin Neoplasms/pathology , Tumor Cells, Cultured , alpha-MSH/metabolismABSTRACT
An EtOH extract of fruits of Piper longum was found to exhibit a potent inhibitory effect against alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH)-induced melanin production in B16 mouse melanoma cells. Bioassay-directed fractionation led to the isolation of prenylated phenolic compounds bakuchiol, bavachin, and isobavachalcone. These compounds and the crude extract of the fruits of P. longum may have suppressive effects against pigmentation by melanin in the skin.
