Antimelanogenesis Effect of Methyl Gallate through the Regulation of PI3K/Akt and MEK/ERK in B16F10 Melanoma Cells

Zhi Jiao Cheng; Guo Fong Dai; Jue Liang Hsu; Jen Jie Lin; Wen Tung Wu; Ching Chyuan Su; Yu Jen Wu

doi:10.1155/2022/5092655

Antimelanogenesis Effect of Methyl Gallate through the Regulation of PI3K/Akt and MEK/ERK in B16F10 Melanoma Cells

Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2022 Dec 7:2022:5092655. doi: 10.1155/2022/5092655. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Zhi Jiao Cheng¹, Guo Fong Dai², Jue Liang Hsu^{3

4}, Jen Jie Lin^{2

5}, Wen Tung Wu⁵, Ching Chyuan Su⁶, Yu Jen Wu^{1

2

5}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Beauty Science, Meiho University, Pingtung 91202, Taiwan.
² Yu Jun Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Kaoshiung, Taiwan.
³ Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung, Taiwan.
⁴ Research Center for Austronesian Medicine and Agriculture, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung, Taiwan.
⁵ Department of Food and Nutrition, Meiho University, Pingtung 91202, Taiwan.
⁶ Antai Medical Care Corporation Antai Tian-Sheng Memorial Hospital, Pingtung 928, Taiwan.

Abstract

Methyl gallate is a polyphenolic compound found in many plants, and its antioxidant, antitumor, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory effects have been extensively studied. More recently, antidepressant-like effects of methyl gallate have been demonstrated in some studies. In the present study, we examined the effects of methyl gallate on melanogenesis, including the tyrosinase inhibitory effect, the melanin content, and the molecular signaling pathways involved in this inhibition. The results showed that methyl gallate inhibited tyrosinase activity and significantly downregulated the expressions of melanin synthesis-associated proteins, including microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), tyrosinase, dopachrome tautomerase (Dct), and tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP1). In conclusion, our findings indicated that activation of MEK/ERK and PI3K/Akt promoted by methyl gallate caused downregulation of MITF and triggered its downstream signaling pathway, thereby inhibiting the production of melanin. In summary, methyl gallate showed significant inhibitory activity against melanin formation, implying that it may be a potential ingredient for application in skin-whitening cosmetics.