Antimelanogenic Effects of Picrionoside A Isolated from the Leaves of Korean Ginseng

Biol Pharm Bull. 2015;38(10):1663-7. doi: 10.1248/bpb.b15-00410.

Abstract

This study was initiated to isolate active metabolites from the leaves of Panax ginseng. Among them, picrionoside A, a megastigmane glucoside, was isolated from the leaves of P. ginseng C. A. MAYER and its chemical structure was determined based on spectroscopic methods, including FAB-MS, one-dimensional (1D)-NMR, 2D-NMR, and IR spectroscopy. Picrionoside A from P. ginseng has not been investigated previously, and its biological or pharmaceutical activities have not been reported elsewhere. The IC50 value of mushroom tyrosinase-inhibitory activity of picrionoside A was 9.8 µM, and the rate of inhibition of synthesized melanin content in melan-a cells was 17.1% at a concentration of 80 µM without cytotoxicity. Furthermore, picrionoside A dramatically reduced body pigmentation in the zebrafish model. Taken together, the results suggest that picrionoside A isolated from the leaves of P. ginseng may be an effective skin-whitening agent that could be a potent candidate material in the cosmetic industry.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • Cyclohexenes / isolation & purification
  • Cyclohexenes / pharmacology*
  • Embryo, Nonmammalian
  • Glucosides / isolation & purification
  • Glucosides / pharmacology*
  • Melanins / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Monophenol Monooxygenase / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Monophenol Monooxygenase / metabolism
  • Panax*
  • Plant Leaves / chemistry
  • Skin Lightening Preparations / isolation & purification
  • Skin Lightening Preparations / pharmacology*
  • Zebrafish

Substances

  • Cyclohexenes
  • Glucosides
  • Melanins
  • Skin Lightening Preparations
  • picrionoside A
  • Monophenol Monooxygenase