Abstract

Foeniculum vulgare methanolic extract has been widely used for various ailments for peoples. Our investigation focused to identify anti-melanogenic efficacy of Foeniculum vulgare since it has been known to have strong anti-oxidant activities. Anti-melanogenic effect of Foeniculum vulgare extract was analyzed using cultured B16 melanoma cells. α-MSH-induced melanin synthesis was significantly inhibited with dose-dependent manner by treatment of Foeniculum vulgare extract, which was comparable to that of arbutin and ascorbic acid. The extract directly inhibited intracellular tyrosinase activity of B16 melanoma cells. The inhibition of intracellular tyrosinase activity was found to be exerted at the protein expression level when analyzed by spectrometrically. In conclusion, Foeniculum vulgare extract has strong anti-melanogenic activity that is exerted by direct inhibition of tyrosinase enzyme activity The percentage inhibition of cellular tyrosinase activity in B16 cells treated with sample was approximately 18.0- 34.2 %. The sample treated B16 cells inhibited tyrosinase less than those treated with arbutin and L-ascorbic acid. Collectively, data shown in this study strongly suggest that Foeniculum vulgare extract has potential to be used as a novel depigmenting agent for cosmetics.

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