본 연구는 Monascus purpureus (Mp), Aspergillus oryzae (Ao), Aspergillus kawachii (Ak) 및 Rhizopus oryzae (Ro) 균주로 Cordycepin-고함유 동충하초(Cordyceps militaris)(CM${alpha}$)를 발효시켜 수용성 추출물을 얻어 페놀화합물 및 플라보노이드 농도와 항산화 및 티로시나제 저해 활성을 측정한 결과 Ak로 발효시킨 CM${alpha}$ (AkF-CM${alpha}$)에서 각각 46 mg/g 및 093 mg/g과 6274% 및 7997%로 가장 우수한 효과를 나타내었다. 이러한 결과로부터 AkF-CM${alpha}$를 선택하여 멜라닌 세포(B16F0 mouse melanoma cell)에서 미백효과를 검토하였다. 양성 대조구 arbutin 처리 B16F10 melanoma 세포는 92% 이상의 세포 생육과 43%의 멜라닌 생성 억제 효능을 보였고, AkF-CM${alpha}$ 1, 3 및 5 mg/ml 처리 시 멜라닌 생성은 각각 35, 45 및 53% 억제되었다. 또한 AkF-CM${alpha}$은 멜라닌 세포 내 tyrosinase 활성과 mushroom tyrosinase 활성 모두를 저해시켰고, 멜라닌 생성 관련 tyrosinase 단백질 발현량도 무첨가군에 비해 처리 농도 의존적으로 억제되었다. 이상의 결과에 따라 Aspergillus kawachii 균주로 발효시킨 Cordycepin-고함유 동충하초(Cordyceps militaris)의 수용성 추출물은 미백 화장품 소재로 개발 가능성이 높은 것으로 사료된다.
To find a novel skin whitening agent, the effect of cordycepin-enriched Cordyceps militaris (CM${alpha}$) extract fermented by fungi on anti-melanogenesis in B16F0 mouse melanoma cells was investigated. Fermented CM${alpha}$ was prepared with fungi, including Monascus purpureus (Mp), Aspergillus oryzae (Ao), Aspergillus kawachii (Ak), and Rhizopus oryzae (Ro), respectively. When the content of the phenolics and the flavonoids and the activities of the antioxidant and the mushroom tyrosinase inhibition were measured in the CM fermented by Ak (AkF-CM), the highest content of the phenolics was 46 mg/g dry weight and the highest content of the flavonoids was 0.93 mg/g; the highest activity of the DPPH radical scavenging was 62.74% and the highest activity of the mushroom tyrosinase inhibition was 79.97% CM${alpha}$CM${alpha}$. From this result, AkF-CM${alpha}$ exhibited the highest mushroom tyrosinase inhibitory activity and so it was used in subsequent anti-melanogenesis. B16F0 melanoma cells were treated with 1-10 mg/ml concentrations of AkF-CM${alpha}$ and 200 ${mu}M$ arbutin as the positive control. The melanin content and cell viability of the melanoma cells by arbutin treatment decreased to 43% and 92% of the control, respectively. AkF-CM${alpha}$ treatment at 1, 3, and 5 mg/ml concentrations decreased the extracellular melanin release induced by IBMX treatment by 35%, 45%, and 53%, respectively. AkF-CM${alpha}$ showed inhibitory activity against both intracellular tyrosinase in melanoma cells and mushroom tyrosinase. AkF-CM${alpha}$ reduced the protein level of tyrosinase in the IBMX-stimulated cells. These results indicate that AkF-CM${alpha}$ suppressed the activity and protein content of cellular tyrosinase and decreased the total melanin content in cultured B16F0 melanoma cells.
