Inhibitory effects of 2-amino-3H-phenoxazin-3-one on the melanogenesis of murine B16 melanoma cell line

Hyperpigmentations are a serious concern addressed by both the medical community and the cosmetic industry through the development of agents that block melanin biosynthesis. In this study, we found that 2-amino-3H-phenoxazin-3-one (APO), isolated from extracts of the edible mushroom Agaricus bisporus Imbach, exhibited potent inhibitory effects on melanogenesis in B16 cells, a murine melanoma cell line. APO inhibited melanin biosynthesis at 1,000 times lower concentrations (IC(50)=1.31+/-0.08 microM) than kojic acid (IC(50)=1.31+/-0.13 mM), without causing cellular toxicity. APO did not directly inhibit the enzyme activity of tyrosinase, the rate-limiting melanogenic enzyme. Further study showed that APO inhibited the protein expression of tyrosinase and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), a melanogenic transcription factor that regulates the expression of tyrosinase. These results suggest that APO is a promising depigmenting agent with both therapeutic and cosmetic value in preventing melanogenesis.