Background
Melanin overproduction leads to pigmented skin diseases. Brown algae polyphenols, non-toxic secondary metabolites, exhibit potential bioactivities. Sargassum fusiforme, an edible seaweed, has been underexplored in the field of beauty despite its polyphenol richness.
Conclusions
S. fusiforme polyphenols, especially SFRP, exhibit promising antioxidant, anti-aging, and melanogenesis inhibitory properties, highlighting their potential application as novel anti-melanogenic agents in cosmetics and the food industry.
Methods
Polyphenols from S. fusiforme were extracted using macroporous resin (SFRP) and ethyl acetate (SFEP). Their antioxidant and anti-aging properties, tyrosinase inhibitory activities, and mechanisms were assessed. The melanogenesis inhibition effect and mechanism by SFRP was examined in B16F10 melanoma cells.
Results
Both SFRP and SFEP demonstrated scavenging activities against DPPH, superoxide anion, and hydroxyl radicals. SFRP showed stronger anti-collagenase and anti-elastase effects. They dose-dependently inhibited mushroom tyrosinase, with IC50 values of 9.89 μg/mL for SFRP and 0.99 μg/mL for SFEP. SFRP reversibly inhibited tyrosinase, while SFEP showed irreversible inhibition. SFRP also suppressed melanin content and intracellular tyrosinase activity in B16F10 cells, downregulating the expression of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor, tyrosinase, and tyrosinase-related protein 1 and 2 expression through the PI3K/Akt and MAPK/ERK signal pathways. Conclusions: S. fusiforme polyphenols, especially SFRP, exhibit promising antioxidant, anti-aging, and melanogenesis inhibitory properties, highlighting their potential application as novel anti-melanogenic agents in cosmetics and the food industry.