Saururus chinensis has been used in folk medicine in Korea for the treatment of edema, jaundice, gonorrhea, and several inflammatory diseases. Saururi chinensis extracts (SCE) have demonstrated anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant activities, as well as anti-asthmatic, antihypertensive, anti-angiogenic, and therapeutic activities for atopic dermatitis. However, the inhibitory activity of SCE on the melanogenesis signaling pathway is not completely understood. This study examined the effects of SCE on the melanogenesis signaling pathway activated by α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH). We found that SCE inhibited melanin production in a dose-dependent manner without causing cytotoxicity in B16F10 cells. Interestingly, SCE decreased α-MSH-induced tyrosinase activity in B16F10 cells but did not inhibit tyrosinase activity under cell-free conditions. The results of this study indicate that SCE may reduce pigmentation by way of an indirect, nonenzymatic mechanism. We also found that SCE decreased α-MSH-induced microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) and tyrosinase expression and induced the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). These results suggest that the depigmenting effect of SCE may result from downregulation of MITF and tyrosinase expression due to increased ERK activity. Thus, our results provide evidence that SCE might be useful as a potential skin-whitening agent.
