J Dermatol Sci 2021 Jul 15;103(1):16-24. Epub 2021 May 15.
Department of Dermatology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Laboratory of Cutaneous Aging Research, Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Institute of Human-Environment Interface Biology, Medical Research Center, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University Graduate School, Seoul Republic of Korea; Institute on Aging, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address:
Background: Melanin plays important roles in determining human skin color and protecting human skin cells against harmful ultraviolet light. However, abnormal hyperpigmentation in some areas of the skin may become aesthetically unpleasing, resulting in the need for effective agents or methods to regulate undesirable hyperpigmentation.
Objective: We investigated the effect of harmine, a natural harmala alkaloid belonging to the beta-carboline family, on melanin synthesis and further explored the signaling pathways involved in its mechanism of action. Read More