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Updated: Apr 30, 2026
Quantification of Hypopigmentation Activity In Vitro
Published on: March 6, 2019
Asiaticoside, a component of Centella asiatica, inhibits melanogenesis in B16F10 mouse melanoma
Ku Jung Kwon1, Seunghee Bae1, Karam Kim1
1Korea Institute for Skin and Clinical Sciences and Molecular‑Targeted Drug Research Center, Konkuk University, Seoul 143‑701, Republic of Korea.
Abstract:
Melanogenesis is the process of generating pigmentation via melanin synthesis and delivery. Three key enzymes, tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TRP1) and TRP2, metabolize melanin from L-tyrosine. Melanin synthesizing enzymes are regulated by microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF). The titrated extract of Centella asiatica (TECA) contains the major components asiatic acid, asiaticoside and madecassic acid. The present study revealed that TECA reduces the melanin content in melanocytes. Moreover, the asiaticoside contained in TECA modulated melanogenesis by inhibiting tyrosinase mRNA expression. The decrease in tyrosinase mRNA levels was mediated through MITF. Uniquely, asiaticoside inhibited MITF by decreasing its DNA binding affinity. In conclusion, the results of the present study indicate that asiaticoside treatment may have beneficial effects in hyperpigmentation diseases or for skin whitening.
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