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Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine >

2025 , Vol. 45 >Issue 3: 518 - 527

DOI: https://doi.org/10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.2025.03.001

Pharmacological effect and possible mechanism of Mudan Huaban recipe (牡丹化斑方) on melasma in mice induced by ultraviolet B and progesterone

  • Xiaoyao LIU ,
  • Jialin LI ,
  • Weiling WANG ,
  • Qiongyin FAN ,
  • Zeqi SU ,
  • Cheng HE ,
  • Chunguo WANG ,
  • Jian GAO ,
  • Ting WANG
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  • 1 School of Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 102488, China
    2 School of Chinese Material Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 102488, China
    3 School of Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 102488, China
    4 Beijing Research Institute of Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 102488, China
    5 Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology, State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing 100850, China
    6 Beijing Research Institute of Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 102488, China
    7 Key Laboratory of Famous Doctors and Famous Prescriptions Under State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing 102488, China

Received date: 2024-03-23

  Accepted date: 2024-07-12

  Online published: 2025-05-21

Supported by

Beijing University of Chinese Medicine Transversal Project: "Internal and External" Product and Technology Development for Herbal Acne and Blemish Removal(2019110031001241);Youth Project Under the National Natural Science Foundation of China: Revealing the Scientific Connotation of Tongfu Chinese Herb Rhubarb in Treating Ischemic Stroke from the Perspective of "Intestinal Tryptophan Metabolism and Central Microglia Polarisation"(82104440)

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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the chemical components of Mudan Huaban recipe (牡丹化斑方, MHR) and evaluate its efficacy and possible mechanism in melasma mice.
METHODS: The chemical compositions of MHR were determined by the ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole-exactive mass spectrometry method. Female C57BL/6 mice were exposed to ultraviolet B and progesterone for 21 d to induce melasma, and Fontana-Masson staining was used to assess the effects of MHR on melasma. Luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol, and follicle-stimulating hormone levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malonic dialdehyde content were detected by chemiluminescence. Tyrosinase and related proteins expressions were detected by Western blots and immunohistochemistry.
RESULTS: A total of 43 chemical components were identified in MHR, MHR significantly decreased the melanin particles of melasma mice. MHR treatment significantly reversed the high contents of LH and low activity of SOD in models. MHR significantly reduced the higher levels of tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related proteins-1 (TRP-1), TRP-2, microphthalmia-associated transcription factor and phosphorylation of cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element-binding protein (p-CREB)/CREB in the skin of melasma mice.
CONCLUSIONS: MHR protects against melasma via regulation of sex hormones, oxidative stress, and melanogenesis-related proteins, suggesting its possible use as a supplement and alternative drug therapy for melasma.

Key words： melasma; skin; hyperpigmentation; hormones; oxidative stress; tyrosinase-related protein; Mudan Huaban recipe

Cite this article

Xiaoyao LIU , Jialin LI , Weiling WANG , Qiongyin FAN , Zeqi SU , Cheng HE , Chunguo WANG , Jian GAO , Ting WANG . Pharmacological effect and possible mechanism of Mudan Huaban recipe (牡丹化斑方) on melasma in mice induced by ultraviolet B and progesterone[J]. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2025 , 45(3) : 518 -527 . DOI: 10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.2025.03.001

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