Saponified sunflower and safflower oils inhibit melanogenesis in B16 melanoma cells.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether saponified sunflower and safflower oils can potentially be used as whitening agents, and to investigate their underlying mechanisms. Saponified sunflower (sap-SU) and safflower (sap-SA) oils dose-dependently inhibited isobutylmethylxanthine-induced melanogenesis in B16 melanoma cells, with no cytotoxicity. This decrease in melanin production was correlated with reduced enzyme activity and decreased mRNA and protein levels of tyrosinase. mRNA levels of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor and tyrosinase-related proteins 1 and 2 were also decreased by sap-SU and sap-SA, indicating the regulation of tyrosinase at the transcriptional level. Taken together, these results suggest that sap-SU and sap-SA can potentially be used as cosmetic whitening agents.