The effects of green tea (Camellia sinensis) flower extract on melanin synthesis in B16-F10 melanoma cells

Abstract

The present study observed the effects of a green tea (Camellia sinensis) flower extract (GTFE) on melanin synthesis in B16-F10 melanoma cells. GTFE exhibited antioxidant activity on 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and inhibited mushroom tyrosinase activity in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, GTFE significantly diminished α- melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH) stimulated cellular melanin content and tyrosinase activity throughout the concentration range evaluated. Based on RNA sequencing analysis, differential gene expression patterns observed in α-MSH stimulated B16-F10 melanoma cells were normalized by the addition of GTFE. In particular, the expression levels of melanoregulin and tyrosinase genes which are key regulating genes in melanin synthesis were up-regulated by 3.5 and 3 fold respectively by α-MSH, and were normalized to control levels by the addition of GTFE. The results suggest that GTFE inhibits melanin synthesis in α-MSH stimulated B16-F10 melanoma cells by normalizing expression of genes that are essential for melanin synthesis. Overall, the results suggest that GTFE could be applied in the development of a whitening agent for the treatment of dermal hyperpigmentation.