The effect of emodin on melanogenesis through the modulation of ERK and MITF signaling pathway

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of emodin derived from Polygonum multiflorum on melanin production in B16F1 cells. In this study, emodin did not show antioxidant activity in DPPH radical and reducing power assays. However, it was found that emodin scavenged intracellular H₂O₂. Emodin increased not only tyrosinase activity but also melanin synthesis in vitro. Moreover, emodin enhanced melanin synthesis by increasing the expression level of tyrosinase (TYR), tyrosine related protein (TRP)-1, TRP-2, MITF and SIRT1 proteins in live cells treated with H₂O₂ compared with H₂O₂ treatment group in the analyses of western blot and immunofluorescence. Moreover, emodin suppressed ERK activation by SIRT1 and FOXO1. Thus, emodin promoted melanin synthesis by increasing the expression of TRP-1, TRP-2, tyrosinase through the activation of MITF transcription factor. These findings suggest that emodin could promote melanin production related to anti-hair graying.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Emodin
• melanogenesis
• MITF
• ERK
• SIRT1

Disclosure statement

The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education (No.2017R1D1A3B06028000).