Inhibition of melanin production and tyrosinase expression of ergosterol derivatives from Phellinus pini

Abstract

Three ergosterol derivatives, ergosta-4,6,8(14),22-tetraen-3-one (1), ergosta-7,24(28)-dien-3-ol (2), and 5,8-epidioxyergosta-6,22-dien-3-ol(3) were isolated from the fruit body of Phellinus pini. Their structures were based on spectroscopic methods including IR, MS, and NMR (1D and 2D). These compounds were evaluated for their activity to decrease melanin production in α-MSH (melanocyte stimulating hormone) activated B16F10 cells. Compound 1, 2, and 3 reduced melanin content in a dose-dependent manner at concentrations of 5~15 uM. They also suppressed the tyrosinase expression of protein and m-RNA level dose dependently by western blot analysis and RT-PCR experiment in B16F10 murine melanoma cells.