백종현
이무형 대피지 2000;38:10 1303-1309
Background：Arbutin
is a glycosylated hydroquinone found at high concentration
in certain plants capable of surviving extreme and
sustained dehydration. It has been suggested as
an inhibitory compound of melanogenesis. Objective：The
purpose of this study was to investigate the effect
of arbutin on melanogenesis in cultured human melanocytes
and to evaluate the effectiveness of arbutin in
patients with melasma. Methods： I. In vitro study：we
examine the cell number, SRB assay, tyrosinase activity,
and melanin contents of cultured human melanocytes
in control(absence of arbutin) and experimental
groups (presence of 10-5 M, 10-4 M, and 10-3 M arbutin).
II. In vivo study：6 patients with melasma applied
a 3 % arbutin solution twice daily for 8 weeks.
Clinical response to treatment was evaluated by
patients' subjective assessment and MASI(Melasma
Area and Severity Index) score after 8 weeks of
treatment. Results：I. In vitro study 1. The number
of melanocytes was decreased in groups treated with
10-5 M, 10-4 M, 10-3 M arbutin for 2 days and 10-4
M, 10-3 M arbutin for 7 days. 2. On SRB assay, the
proliferation of melanocytes was decreased in groups
treated with 10-5 M, 10-4 M, 10-3 M arbutin for
2 days and for 7 days. 3. Tyrosinase activity was
decreased in groups treated wtih 10-4 M, 10-3 M
arbutin for 2 days and 10-5 M, 10-4 M, 10-3 M arbutin
for 7 days. 4. The melanin contents were decreased
in group treated with 10-3 M arbutin for 7 days.
II. In vivo study 1. On patients'subjective assessment,
one showed moderate improvement, one showed mild
improvement, and the other four showed no change.
2. On MASI score, there was less than 10% improvement
in all 6 patients. 3. Side effects were not found
in all 6 patients. Conclusion：Although arbutin
showed an inhibitory effect on cell proliferation,
tyrosinase activity, and melanin synthesis in cultured
human melanocytes, there was no significant effect
of depig mentation in the patients with melasma. |
