Hong et al reported that ginseng extract administration stimulated nongenomic endothelial NO synthase activation and enhanced NO production in spontaneously hypertensive rats [73]. In another report, water extract of Korean Red Ginseng exerted vasoprotective effects through augmentation of NO production by inhibiting arginase [74]. Therefore, the effect of ginseng on melanogenesis via NO signaling selleck chemicals remains to be clarified by further study. Human skin

tissue does not consist only of melanocytes, keratinocytes, and fibroblasts. Considerable numbers of immune cells including Langerhans cells, macrophages, mast cells, and T cells are working actively in skin tissue. Because the immunostimulatory activities of many ginsenosides are known, it is not surprising that ginsenosides could enhance the reactivity of skin immune cells. In a recent paper, a cream containing 0.1% ginsenoside F1 (a metabolite of ginsenoside Rg1) showed a significant whitening effect on artificially tanned human skin [75]. However, ginsenoside F1 did not directly inhibit mRNA expression of tyrosinase or DCT in normal human epidermal melanocytes. Instead, ginsenoside F1 enhanced production of IL-13 from human epidermal γδ T cells, and IL-13 significantly reduced the mRNA expression and protein

amount of both tyrosinase and DCT resulting in visible brightening of normal human epidermal melanocyte pellets [75]. These results suggest that ginsenosides might be able to regulate melanogenesis via their effect on skin immune cells. Recently, several reports have shown that extract, powder, or some constituents of ginseng could inhibit melanogenesis in vivo or in vitro. drug discovery The underlying mechanisms of the antimelanogenic effect of ginseng or its components included the direct inhibition of key enzymes of melanogenesis (tyrosinase and DCT), inhibition of transcription factors (MITF, NF-κB) or signaling pathways (protein kinase A pathway and protein kinase C

pathway) involved in melanogenesis, decreasing the production of inducers of melanogenesis (cAMP, GM-CSF), and enhancing production of antimelanogenic factor (IL-13). Fig. 1 summarizes Sorafenib the effects of ginseng and its components on melanogenesis. Although issues surrounding the antimelanogenic activity of ginseng still remain controversial, especially in its effect on the production of proinflammatory cytokines and NO, these recent findings suggest that ginseng and its constituents might be potential candidates for novel skin-whitening agents. The author declares no conflicts of interest. This work was supported by the research fund of Dankook University in 2014. “
“Panax ginseng Meyer is a famous traditional medicinal plant belonging to the Araliaceae family. The genus name Panax originates from the word panacea, which means “a remedy for all diseases.” The 4–6-year-old roots of this perennial herbaceous plant are mainly used for medicinal purposes. P.

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