1998 Volume 32 Issue 2 Pages 153-159
The inhibitory effects of Kojic acid and oil-soluble licorice extract on melanogenesis were investigated in vitro by using B 16 murine melanoma cells. Therefore, we found that the inhibitory effects of them were added, as compared with the case used each medicine individually.
To study details of the results, we examined into effects of them on TRP-2 (Tyrosinase relation protein-2) which was a part of melanogenic regulating enzyme termed Dopachrome tautomerase. Both Kojic acid and oil-soluble licorice extract inhibited TRP-2 activity in a dose dependent manner. Furthermore, at the concentration which they showed almost the same inhibitory rate on melanogenesis, they inhibited TRP-2 activity by 7.7%, 21.2% respectively. These results suggested that the inhibitory effects on TRP-2 activity of oil-soluble licorice extract was higher than that of Kojic acid. In addition, We investigated effects on TRP-2 activity of both medicines which were used together. We found that Kojic acid and oil-soluble licorice extract additionally inhibited TRP-2 activity, as compared with the case used each medicine individually.
Journal of Japan Cosmetic Chemists Association
