Melanogenesis-Inhibitory Activity and Cancer Chemopreventive Effect of Glucosylcucurbic Acid from Shea (Vitellaria paradoxa) Kernels

Two jasmonate derivatives, glucosylcucurbic acid (1) and methyl glucosylcucurbate (2), were isolated from the MeOH extract of defatted shea (Vitellaria paradoxa; Sapotaceae) kernels. These and their deglucosylated derivatives, cucurbic acid (3) and methyl cucurbate (4), were evaluated for their melanogenesisinhibitory and cancer chemopreventive potencies. Compounds 1, 3, and 4 exhibited potent melanogenesisinhibitory activities in melanocytestimulating hormone (MSH)stimulated B16 melanoma cells. Westernblot analysis revealed that compounds 1 and 3 reduced the protein levels of MITF (=microphthalmiaassociated transcription factor), tyrosinase, TRP1 (=tyrosinerelated protein 1), and TRP2 mostly in a concentrationdependent manner. In addition, compound 1 exhibited inhibitory effects against EpsteinBarr virus early antigen (EBVEA) activation induced with 12Otetradecanoylphorbol13acetate (TPA) in Raji cells, against TPAinduced inflammation in mice, and against skin tumor promotion in an in vivo twostage mouse skin carcinogenesis test based on 7,12dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) as initiator, and with TPA as promoter.

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