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Updated: Mar 14, 2026

Quantification of Hypopigmentation Activity In Vitro
Published on: March 6, 2019
Downregulation of melanogenesis: drug discovery and therapeutic options
Thanigaimalai Pillaiyar1, Manoj Manickam2, Sang-Hun Jung2
1PharmaCenter Bonn, Pharmaceutical Institute, Pharmaceutical Chemistry I, University of Bonn, An der Immenburg 4, D-53121 Bonn, Germany.
Abstract:
Melanin, primarily responsible in humans for hair, eye and skin pigmentation, is produced by melanocytes through a process called melanogenesis. However, the abnormal accumulation of melanin causes dermatological problems such as café-au-lait macules ephelides (freckles), solar lentigo (age spots) and melasma, as well as cancer and vitiligo. Hence the regulation of melanogenesis is very important for treating hyperpigmentary disorders. Numerous antimelanogenic agents that target tyrosinase activity and/or stability, melanosome maturation, transfer and trafficking, or melanogenesis-related signaling pathways have been developed. This article reviews recent advances in research and development of human tyrosinase and melanogenesis-related signaling pathway inhibitors. Attempts have been made to provide a complete description of the mechanism of action of inhibitors on various melanogenesis signaling pathways.
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