Melanogenesis Stimulation in Murine B16 Melanoma Cells by Kava (Piper methysticum) Rhizome Extract and Kavalactones

Hideaki Matsuda; Noriko Hirata; Yoshiko Kawaguchi; Shunsuke Naruto; Takanobu Takata; Masayoshi Oyama; Munekazu Iinuma; Michinori Kubo

doi:10.1248/bpb.29.834

Notes

Melanogenesis Stimulation in Murine B16 Melanoma Cells by Kava (Piper methysticum) Rhizome Extract and Kavalactones

Hideaki Matsuda, Noriko Hirata, Yoshiko Kawaguchi, Shunsuke Naruto, Takanobu Takata, Masayoshi Oyama, Munekazu Iinuma, Michinori Kubo

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Keywords: Piper methysticum, Kava, 7,8-epoxyyangonin, yangonin, murine B16 melanoma cell, stimulatory effect on melanogenesis

JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

2006 Volume 29 Issue 4 Pages 834-837

DOI https://doi.org/10.1248/bpb.29.834

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Abstract

Melanogenesis stimulation activity of aqueous ethanolic extracts obtained from several different parts of five Piper species, namely Piper longum, P. kadsura, P. methysticum, P. betle, and P. cubeba, were examined by using cultured murine B16 melanoma cells. Among them, the extract of P. methysticum rhizome (Kava) showed potent stimulatory effect on melanogenesis as well as P. nigrum leaf extract. Activity-guided fractionation of Kava extract led to the isolation of two active kavalactones, yangonin (2) and 7,8-epoxyyangonin (5), along with three inactive kavalactones, 5,6-dehydrokawain (1), (+)-kawain (3) and (+)-methysticin (4), and a glucosylsterol, daucosterin (6). 7,8-Epoxyyangonin (5) showed a significant stimulatory effect on melanogenesis in B16 melanoma cells. Yangonin (2) exhibited a weak melanogenesis stimulation activity.

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