Berberine Chloride Suppresses Melanogenesis in B16-F1 Melanoma Cells in Association with ERK and Autophagy-Related Signaling
- 1Department of Biomedical Science, College of Natural Sciences, Chosun University, Gwangju 61452, Republic of Korea
Abstract
Skin pigmentation is regulated by intrinsic and extrinsic factors and is closely associated with melanogenesis and cellular homeostasis. Autophagy is a cellular self-digestion process that contributes to homeostatic regulation, but its role in melanogenesis remains to be further clarified. This study investigated whether berberine chloride (BBC), an isoquinoline alkaloid, modulates melanin production through autophagy-related signaling in B16-F1 melanoma cells. Tyrosinase activity was examined by tyrosinase zymography, extracellular melanin levels in the culture supernatant were measured after BBC treatment, and the expression of melanogenesis-, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-, and autophagy-related proteins was analyzed by Western blotting. BBC inhibited tyrosinase activity and reduced extracellular melanin levels in a dose-dependent manner. BBC also increased phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (p-ERK) levels while decreasing melanogenesis-related protein expression. In addition, BBC modulated MAPK signaling and the expression of autophagy-associated proteins. Small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown of Atg5, Beclin1, or ERK partially restored extracellular melanin levels in BBC-treated cells. These findings suggest that BBC suppresses melanogenesis in B16-F1 melanoma cells in association with ERK and autophagy-related signaling.
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BibTeX
@article{ryu2026berberine,
title = {{Berberine Chloride Suppresses Melanogenesis in B16-F1 Melanoma Cells in Association with ERK and Autophagy-Related Signaling}},
author = {HwaJeong Ryu and Ho Jae Lim and Jung Eun Park},
journal = {Cosmetics},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.3390/cosmetics13050225},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3390/cosmetics13050225},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Berberine Chloride Suppresses Melanogenesis in B16-F1 Melanoma Cells in Association with ERK and Autophagy-Related Signaling
AU - HwaJeong Ryu
AU - Ho Jae Lim
AU - Jung Eun Park
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/01
JO - Cosmetics
DO - 10.3390/cosmetics13050225
UR - https://doi.org/10.3390/cosmetics13050225
AB - Skin pigmentation is regulated by intrinsic and extrinsic factors and is closely associated with melanogenesis and cellular homeostasis. Autophagy is a cellular self-digestion process that contributes to homeostatic regulation, but its role in melanogenesis remains to be further clarified. This study investigated whether berberine chloride (BBC), an isoquinoline alkaloid, modulates melanin production through autophagy-related signaling in B16-F1 melanoma cells. Tyrosinase activity was examined by tyrosinase zymography, extracellular melanin levels in the culture supernatant were measured after BBC treatment, and the expression of melanogenesis-, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-, and autophagy-related proteins was analyzed by Western blotting. BBC inhibited tyrosinase activity and reduced extracellular melanin levels in a dose-dependent manner. BBC also increased phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (p-ERK) levels while decreasing melanogenesis-related protein expression. In addition, BBC modulated MAPK signaling and the expression of autophagy-associated proteins. Small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown of Atg5, Beclin1, or ERK partially restored extracellular melanin levels in BBC-treated cells. These findings suggest that BBC suppresses melanogenesis in B16-F1 melanoma cells in association with ERK and autophagy-related signaling.
SN - 2079-9284
ER -