Anti-Melanogenic Effects of L-Theanine on B16F10 Cells and Zebrafish
L-Theanine, a natural amino acid found in green tea (<i>Camellia sinensis</i>) leaves, is known for its diverse psychotropic effects. This study aimed to evaluate the inhibitory effect of L-theanine on melanin production and uncover its regulatory mechanism. We evaluated the anti-melanog...
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2025-02-01
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| author | Chih-Li Yu Haiyue Pang Zhao Run Guey-Horng Wang |
| author_facet | Chih-Li Yu Haiyue Pang Zhao Run Guey-Horng Wang |
| author_sort | Chih-Li Yu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | L-Theanine, a natural amino acid found in green tea (<i>Camellia sinensis</i>) leaves, is known for its diverse psychotropic effects. This study aimed to evaluate the inhibitory effect of L-theanine on melanin production and uncover its regulatory mechanism. We evaluated the anti-melanogenic activities of L-theanine in vitro and in vivo. In B16F10 murine melanoma cells induced by α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone, melanin content and intracellular tyrosinase activity were determined, and melanogenesis-related protein expression and signaling pathways were analyzed by Western blotting. Melanin reduction was further assessed using the zebrafish (<i>Danio rerio</i>) test. L-Theanine reduced the intracellular tyrosinase activity and melanin content of B16F10 cells. It also attenuated the expression of melanogenesis-related proteins, such as microphthalmia- associated transcription factor, tyrosinase (TYR), TYR-related protein-1, and dopachrome tautomerase. L-Theanine modulated the protein kinase A (PKA), cAMP responder element binding protein (CREB), phosphorylation of/protein kinase B (Akt), glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β), and β-catenin. The antimelanogenic activity of L-theanine (<2 mg/mL) was further confirmed using zebrafish larvae. L-Theanine inhibited melanogenesis by downregulating the PKA/CREB and Akt/GSK-3β/β-catenin signaling pathways. In summary, L-theanine shows potential as a skin-whitening compound, warranting further investigation for its possible applications in cosmetic and pharmaceutical products. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d618ff34285b44da8856070fcc7789bd |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1420-3049 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-d618ff34285b44da8856070fcc7789bd2025-08-20T02:44:50ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492025-02-0130495610.3390/molecules30040956Anti-Melanogenic Effects of L-Theanine on B16F10 Cells and ZebrafishChih-Li Yu0Haiyue Pang1Zhao Run2Guey-Horng Wang3Engineering Research Center of Natural Cosmeceuticals College of Fujian Province, Xiamen Medical College, Xiamen 361023, ChinaEngineering Research Center of Natural Cosmeceuticals College of Fujian Province, Xiamen Medical College, Xiamen 361023, ChinaEngineering Research Center of Natural Cosmeceuticals College of Fujian Province, Xiamen Medical College, Xiamen 361023, ChinaEngineering Research Center of Natural Cosmeceuticals College of Fujian Province, Xiamen Medical College, Xiamen 361023, ChinaL-Theanine, a natural amino acid found in green tea (<i>Camellia sinensis</i>) leaves, is known for its diverse psychotropic effects. This study aimed to evaluate the inhibitory effect of L-theanine on melanin production and uncover its regulatory mechanism. We evaluated the anti-melanogenic activities of L-theanine in vitro and in vivo. In B16F10 murine melanoma cells induced by α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone, melanin content and intracellular tyrosinase activity were determined, and melanogenesis-related protein expression and signaling pathways were analyzed by Western blotting. Melanin reduction was further assessed using the zebrafish (<i>Danio rerio</i>) test. L-Theanine reduced the intracellular tyrosinase activity and melanin content of B16F10 cells. It also attenuated the expression of melanogenesis-related proteins, such as microphthalmia- associated transcription factor, tyrosinase (TYR), TYR-related protein-1, and dopachrome tautomerase. L-Theanine modulated the protein kinase A (PKA), cAMP responder element binding protein (CREB), phosphorylation of/protein kinase B (Akt), glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β), and β-catenin. The antimelanogenic activity of L-theanine (<2 mg/mL) was further confirmed using zebrafish larvae. L-Theanine inhibited melanogenesis by downregulating the PKA/CREB and Akt/GSK-3β/β-catenin signaling pathways. In summary, L-theanine shows potential as a skin-whitening compound, warranting further investigation for its possible applications in cosmetic and pharmaceutical products.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/4/956L-theaninemelanogenesisB16F10Zebrafish |
| spellingShingle | Chih-Li Yu Haiyue Pang Zhao Run Guey-Horng Wang Anti-Melanogenic Effects of L-Theanine on B16F10 Cells and Zebrafish Molecules L-theanine melanogenesis B16F10 Zebrafish |
| title | Anti-Melanogenic Effects of L-Theanine on B16F10 Cells and Zebrafish |
| title_full | Anti-Melanogenic Effects of L-Theanine on B16F10 Cells and Zebrafish |
| title_fullStr | Anti-Melanogenic Effects of L-Theanine on B16F10 Cells and Zebrafish |
| title_full_unstemmed | Anti-Melanogenic Effects of L-Theanine on B16F10 Cells and Zebrafish |
| title_short | Anti-Melanogenic Effects of L-Theanine on B16F10 Cells and Zebrafish |
| title_sort | anti melanogenic effects of l theanine on b16f10 cells and zebrafish |
| topic | L-theanine melanogenesis B16F10 Zebrafish |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/4/956 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT chihliyu antimelanogeniceffectsofltheanineonb16f10cellsandzebrafish AT haiyuepang antimelanogeniceffectsofltheanineonb16f10cellsandzebrafish AT zhaorun antimelanogeniceffectsofltheanineonb16f10cellsandzebrafish AT gueyhorngwang antimelanogeniceffectsofltheanineonb16f10cellsandzebrafish |