Antioxidant and Anti-Melanogenesis Effects of Colloidal Gold Camellia sinensis L. Extracts

Green tea extract derived from the leaves of Camellia sinensis L. (CS), is a representative beverage with antioxidant, anti-cancer, and anti-viral properties. CS extract is also used in cosmetics. Colloidal gold is generally a sol or colloidal suspension of gold nanoparticles in water. Colloidal gold green tea (CGCS), cultivated as a fertilizer using this colloidal gold solution, contains gold minerals and possesses anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and anti-tumor properties. However, the skin bioactivity of CGCS has not yet been investigated. In this study, we investigated the effect of the CGCS extract on skin whitening. CGCS extract contained high levels of phenols and flavonoids and displayed 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity in a concentration-dependent manner. CGCS extract inhibited melanin synthesis and tyrosinase activity in B16F10 cells more effectively than the CS extract. Moreover, the CGCS extract decreased the expression levels of the melanogenesis-related proteins, tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related proteins (TRPs), and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF). In conclusion, our study showed that the CGCS extract inhibits the expression of tyrosinase, TRP-1, and TRP-2 via the downregulation of MITF, thereby inhibiting melanin synthesis. Therefore, CGCS can potentially be used as a skin-whitening ingredient in the cosmetic industry.