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The effect of Glycyrrhizae Radix water extract, known as depigmenting agent, on melanin biosynthesis was investigated in cellular level by using B16 mouse melanoma cells. The inhibitory effect of Glycyrrhizae Radix water extract on melanogenesis was determined by mushroom tyrosinase assay traditionally using in vitro screening test. To determine whether Glycyrrhizae Radix water extract suppress melanin synthesis in cellular level, B16 mouse melanoma cells were cultured in the presence of different concentrations of Glycyrrhizae Radix water extract. Effects on cell proliferation, melanin biosynthesis, tyrosinase activity, DOPAchrome tautomerase activity, and expression level of mRNA for tyrosinase were examined. The maximum concentration of Glycyrrhizae Radix water extract that was not inhibitory to growth of the cells was 2 mgml. At that concentration, melanin synthesis was significantly inhibited without cytotoxicity after 5 days, compared with untreated cells. The treatment with Glycyrrhizae Radix water extract reduced tyrosinase and DOPAchrome tautomerase activity in a dose-dependent manner. However, the treatment with Glycyrrhizae Radix water extract did not affect significantly mRNA levels for tyrosinase. These results suggest that the inhibitory effect of Glycyrrhizae Radix water extract on melanogenesis is correlated with the suppression of tyrosinase and DOPAchrome tautomerase activity more than altering mRNA levels of tyrosinase.
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