Anti-melanogenic Effect from Submerged Mycelial Cultures of Ganoderma weberianum

Author: mycolabadmin
2019-02-23
View Source

Summary

This research explored how extracts from the medicinal mushroom Ganoderma weberianum could potentially be used as a natural skin lightening agent. The scientists found that certain compounds from the mushroom could effectively reduce melanin (the pigment that gives skin its color) production without harmful side effects on skin cells. This discovery is significant for everyday life in several ways: • Could provide a safer, natural alternative to current skin lightening products • May help treat various skin pigmentation disorders • Demonstrates new potential uses for traditional medicinal mushrooms • Could lead to development of new cosmetic products • Offers a sustainable source of skin care ingredients through mushroom cultivation

Background

Melanogenesis is a complex biosynthesis process involving cellular factors and melanocytes that generate and transport melanosomes. While melanin determines natural skin, hair and eye color, abnormal pigmentation can lead to various skin disorders. Tyrosinase is a key enzyme in melanogenesis that catalyzes rate-limiting reactions. Many tyrosinase inhibitors exist but few are used in cosmetics due to safety concerns, creating a need for natural alternatives.

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the anti-melanogenic activity from submerged mycelial cultures of Ganoderma weberianum and elucidate its skin lightening mechanism using B16-F10 murine melanoma cells. The research focused on identifying and characterizing natural compounds that could serve as safe alternatives to current skin lightening agents.

Results

Several fractionated mycelium samples showed over 40% reduction in extracellular melanin content. The chloroform extract fraction (CF-F3) demonstrated the strongest anti-melanogenic activity at just 25 ppm, inhibiting both secreted and intracellular melanin. CF-F3 inhibited cellular tyrosinase activity without affecting protein expression levels and showed no cytotoxicity to human keratinocytes at effective concentrations.

Conclusion

The study demonstrated that extracts from G. weberianum mycelial cultures, particularly CF-F3, exhibit significant anti-melanogenic activity through tyrosinase inhibition without affecting protein expression or showing cytotoxicity. This suggests G. weberianum and its constituents could serve as potential candidates for novel skin-lightening agents, though further research including animal studies and compound identification is needed.

Published in:Mycobiology,
Study Type:Laboratory Research,
Source: 10.1080/12298093.2019.1568680