Effects of Yangyanqingewan on the tyrosinase activity and melanogenesis in B-16 murine melanoma cells

OBJECTIVE To study the effects of multi-and-single prescription of Yangyanqingewan on the tyrosinase activity and melanogenesis in B-16 murine melanoma cells. METHODS MTT was used to study the proliferation of B-16 murine melanoma cells; the tyrosinase activity was measured by enzymological method; and the melanin was detected by its absorption at 470 nm.RESULTS Multi-prescription of Yangyanqingewan could inhibit the proliferation and activity of these cells, and decrease their melanin amount . so did single prescription Eucommia ulmoides oliv. Astragalus complanatus R . Br. Polygonum multiflorum. But thunb. Psoralea corylifolia and Jugans regia l. could promote the proliferation and activity of these cells, and increase the melanin amount.CONCLUSIONS Yangyanqingewan has some effects on melasma treatment , but its mechanism of action could not be explained by biological and enzymological change .