Exp Mol Med.  2009 Jul;41(7):517-524. 10.3858/emm.2009.41.7.057.

Lotus (Nelumbo nuficera) flower essential oil increased melanogenesis in normal human melanocytes

• Jeon S
• Kim NH
• Koo BS
• Kim JY
• Lee AY

• KMID: 1058026
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3858/emm.2009.41.7.057

Abstract

In this study, the essential oil from lotus flower extract, including petals and stamens, was assessed with regard to its effects on melanogenesis in human melanocytes. The lotus flower essential oil was shown to stimulate melanin synthesis and tyrosinase activity in a dose-dependent manner. The lotus flower essential oil induced the expression of tyrosinase, microphthalmia-associated transcription factor M (MITF-M), and tyrosinase-related proten-2 (TRP-2) proteins, but not tyrosinase mRNA. Moreover, it increased the phosphorylation of ERK and cAMP response element binding protein (CREB). In order to verify the effective components of the lotus flower oil, its lipid composition was assessed. It was found to be comprised of palmitic acid methyl ester (22.66%), linoleic acid methyl ester (11.16%), palmitoleic acid methyl ester (7.55%) and linolenic acid methyl ester (5.16%). Among these components, palmitic acid methyl ester clearly induced melanogenesis as the result of increased tyrosinase expression, thereby indicating that it may play a role in the regulation of melanin content. Thus, our results indicate that lotus flower oil may prove useful in the development of gray hair prevention agents or tanning reagents.

Keyword

lotus; melanins; monophenol monooxygenase; oils, volatile; palmitic acid; skin pigmentation

MeSH Terms

Blotting, Western
Cell Proliferation
Cyclic AMP/metabolism
Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein/genetics/metabolism
Flowers/*chemistry
Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
Humans
Intramolecular Oxidoreductases/genetics/metabolism
Lotus/*chemistry
Melanins/*biosynthesis
Melanocytes/*drug effects/metabolism
Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor/genetics/metabolism
Monophenol Monooxygenase/genetics/metabolism
Phosphorylation
Plant Oils/*pharmacology
RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism
Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
Skin/cytology/drug effects/metabolism