Anti-melanogenesis in B16F0 Melanoma Cells by Extract of Fermented Cordyceps militaris Containing High Cordycepin

Abstract

To find a novel skin whitening agent, the effect of cordycepin-enriched C o r d y c e p sm i l i tr a i s (CMα) ex- tract fermented by fungi on anti-melanogenesis in B16F0 mouse melanoma cells was investigated. Fermented CMα was prepared with fungi, including io M o n a s c u s p u r p u r e u s (Mp), A s p e r g i l l u s o r y z a e (Ao), A s p e r g i l l u s k a w a c h i i (Ak), and R h z p u s o r y z a e (Ro), respectively. When the content of the phenolics and the flavonoids and the activities of the antioxidant and the mushroom tyrosinase inhibition were measured in the CM fermented by Ak (AkF-CM), the highest content of the phenolics was 46 mg/g dry weight and the highest content of the flavonoids was 0.93 mg/g; the highest activity of the DPPH radical scavenging was 62.74% and the highest activity of the mushroom tyrosinase inhibition was 79.97% CMαCMα. From this result, AkF-CMα exhibited the highest mushroom tyrosinase inhibitory activity and so it was used in subsequent anti-melanogenesis. B16F0 melanoma cells were treated with 1-10 mg/ml concentrations of AkF-CMα and 200 μM arbutin as the positive control. The melanin con- tent and cell viability of the melanoma cells by arbutin treatment decreased to 43% and 92% of the control, respectively. AkF-CMα treatment at 1, 3, and 5 mg/ml concentrations decreased the ex- tracellular melanin release induced by IBMX treatment by 35%, 45%, and 53%, respectively. AkF-CMα showed inhibitory activity against both intracellular tyrosinase in melanoma cells and mushroom tyrosinase. AkF-CMα reduced the protein level of tyrosinase in the IBMX-stimulated cells. These re- sults indicate that AkF-CMα suppressed the activity and protein content of cellular tyrosinase and de- creased the total melanin content in cultured B16F0 melanoma cells