Thymocid® a Standardized Black Cumin (Nigella sativa) Seed Extract Modulates Collagen Cross-Linking Collagenase and Elastase Activities and Melanogenesis in Murine B16F10 Melanoma Cells

摘要

Black cumin ( ) seed extract has been shown to improve dermatological conditions, yet its beneficial effects for skin are not fully elucidated. Herein, Thymocid , a chemically standardized black cumin seed extract, was investigated for its cosmeceutical potential including anti-aging properties associated with modulation of glycation, collagen cross-linking, and collagenase and elastase activities, as well as antimelanogenic effect in murine melanoma B16F10 cells. Thymocid (50, 100, and 300 µg/mL) inhibited the formation of advanced glycation end-products (by 16.7–70.7%), collagen cross-linking (by 45.1–93.3%), collagenase activity (by 10.4–92.4%), and elastases activities (type I and III by 25.3–75.4% and 36.0–91.1%, respectively). In addition, Thymocid (2.5–20 µg/mL) decreased melanin content in B16F10 cells by 42.5–61.6% and reduced cellular tyrosinase activity by 20.9% (at 20 µg/mL). Furthermore, Thymocid (20 µg/mL for 72 h) markedly suppressed the mRNA expression levels of melanogenesis-related genes including microphthalmia-associated transcription factor ( ), tyrosinase-related protein 1 ( ), and to 78.9%, 0.3%, and 0.2%, respectively. Thymocid (10 µg/mL) also suppressed the protein expression levels of MITF (by 15.2%) and TYRP1 (by 97.7%). Findings from this study support the anti-aging and antimelanogenic potential of Thymocid as a bioactive cosmeceutical ingredient for skin care products.