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Extracts of red seaweed, Pyropia yezoensis, inhibit melanogenesis but stimulate collagen synthesis

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Abstract

Owing to increasing concern regarding human well-being and quality of life, the demand for natural products is increased, leading to the development of a market for biological and natural products. This study aimed to investigate the depigmentation and anti-ageing properties of red seaweed (Pyropia yezoensis) extracts for skin care applications. Within the tested range of concentrations (100, 200, 400, and 800 μg mL−1), P. yezoensis extracts did not exert cytotoxic effects on the three skin cell lines tested: mouse melanocytes (Melan-A), human dermal fibroblasts (1064 SK), and human dermal keratinocytes (HaCaT cells). No significant statistical difference (p = 0.05) was detected in the melanin content between cells exposed to 100 μg mL−1 of arbutin and 800 μg mL−1 of P. yezoensis extracts, indicating that P. yezoensis extracts had an potent inhibitory effect on melanogenesis as arbutin. There was a significant decrease in tyrosinase activity by 59.3% and 35.5% after treatment with arbutin and P. yezoensis extracts, respectively. These results indicated that P. yezoensis extracts had strong tyrosinase inhibitory properties but were not as effective as arbutin. P. yezoensis extracts also promoted collagen production by inhibiting collagen-degrading enzymes (matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9) and promoting procollagen synthesis enzymes (tyrosinase-related protein (TRP)-1 and TRP-2). Evaluation of skin brightness and melanin content and dermatological assessment showed that P. yezoensis extracts enhanced skin brightness and reduced melanin content in 23 volunteers. Our results suggest that P. yezoensis extracts can be used as functional cosmetic agents to prevent, or remediate skin ageing and pigmentation.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments. This study was supported by the Regional Innovation System (RIS) funded by the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT) of the Republic of Korea (Grant No. R0002107).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lab of Plant Growth Analysis, Ghent University Global Campus, 119-5, Songdomunwha-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, 21985, South Korea

    Jihae Park, Hojun Lee, Stephen Depuydt & Jonas De Saeger

  2. Department of Marine Science, Incheon National University, 119, Academy-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, 22012, South Korea

    Hojun Lee, Soyeon Choi & Taejun Han

  3. Department of Plant Science, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Rohilkhand University, Bareilly, 243006, India

    Lalit K. Pandey

  4. Division of Life Sciences, College of Life Sciences and Bioengineering, Incheon National University, Incheon, South Korea

    Joon-Tae Park

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  1. Jihae Park
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  3. Soyeon Choi
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Park, J., Lee, H., Choi, S. et al. Extracts of red seaweed, Pyropia yezoensis, inhibit melanogenesis but stimulate collagen synthesis. J Appl Phycol 33, 653–662 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-020-02305-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-020-02305-y

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