Melanogenesis stimulation in murine B16 melanoma cells by Piper nigrum leaf extract and its lignan constituents

Abstract

A methanolic extract from the leaves of Piper nigrum L. showed a significant stimulatory effect on melanogenesis in cultured murine B16 melanoma cells. Activity-guided fractionation of the methanolic extract led to the isolation of two known lignans, (-)-cubebin (1) and (-)-3,4-dimethoxy-3,4- desmethylenedioxycubebin (2), together with a new lignan, (-)-3- desmethoxycubebinin (3). Among these lignans, 1 and 2 showed a significant stimulatory activity of melanogenesis without any significant effects on cell proliferation. © 2004 Pharmaceutical Society of Japan.