Stimulation of Melanogenesis by Carthamus Tinctorius Floret Extract in B16F10 Murine Melanoma Cells

The study investigated the effects of Carthamus tinctorius floret ethanolic extract (CTE) on melanogenesis in B16F10 murine melanoma cells. The results indicated that CTE significantly stimulated melanogenesis, as evidenced by the dose-dependent increase in melanin content without causing cytotoxicity. The expression levels of melanogenic enzymes tyrosinase, TRP-1, and TRP-2 were also increased. Cell viability remained above 80% after 48 hours of treatment with CTE at concentrations ranging from 6.25 to 25 µg/ml. These findings suggest that CTE could be a potential treatment for gray hair, as it can enhance melanogenesis at the transcriptional level without harmful effects on the cells.