Hridya Hemachandran
VIT University, India
Title: Evaluation of Pterocarpus santalinus Linn. F. methanolic extract as a natural melanogenesis inhibitor: In vitro study in B16F0 melanoma cell lines
Biography
Biography: Hridya Hemachandran
Abstract
Melanin, the end product of melanogenesis determines the skin, hair and eye colour. Excessive production of melanin causes hyperpigmentation disorders which results in serious aesthetic problems. Pterocarpus santalinus also known as red sanders or raktha chandan is a red dye yielding tree commonly used in treatment of skin disorders and insect bites in Indian traditional medicine. Here, we investigate the anti-melanogenesis effect of methanolic extract of Pterocarpus santalinus by cell free tyrosinase assay, followed by cell viability, cellular tyrosinase and melanin content assay in B16F0 melanoma cell lines. The heart wood of Pterocarpus santalinus was extracted in methanol and the skin whitening ability was tested. It has been observed that methanolic extract of red sandal wood shows dose dependent inhibitory activity on cell free and cellular tyrosinase activity. No cytotoxic effect was observed in cells treated with the extract upto 200 µg/ml concentration. Decreased melanin pigmentation was also observed in cells treated with Pterocarpus santalinus methanolic extract. Our finding exhibit skin whitening ability of Pterocarpus santalinus methanolic extract and serves its use in treatment of several hyperpigmentation disorders and also as a skin whitening agent in cosmetic industry replacing synthetic toxic skin whitening agents.