Antimelanogenic activity of patuletin from flowers in B16F10 melanoma cells and zebrafish embryos.

During the search for natural melanogenesis inhibitors, patuletin, a flavonoid, was isolated from flowers. We investigated the antimelanogenic effects of patuletin on B16F10 melanoma cells and zebrafish embryos. Patuletin dose-dependently reduced melanocyte-stimulating hormone-induced melanogenesis and L-DOPA oxidation in B16F10 cells. Western blot analysis showed that patuletin reduced cellular tyrosinase expression in a dose-dependent manner. Patuletin treatment significantly decreased melanin pigmentation in the embryo compared to the untreated controls.