Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Water-Soluble Oleanolic Acid Derivatives for use as Melanogenesis Inhibitors

This study was focused on the synthesis of methoxy polyethylene glycol-oleanolic acid ester (mPEG-OA derivative) and investigation of its water solubility and anti-melanogenic effects. mPEG-OA derivative was identified by H-1 and C-13 NMR and FT-IR spectroscopic measurements. The water solubilities of mPEG-OA derivative and OA were found to be 13 and 0.013 mg/mL and that of mPEG-OA was found to be 1000-fold higher than that of OA. The effects of mPEG-OA derivative and OA on cell viability were measured using B16F10 melanoma cells. The viability of cells treated with mPEG-OA derivative (250 mu M) increased 4-fold compared to that of cells treated with OA (62.5 mu M). At mPEG-OA derivative and OA concentrations where the cell viability was unaffected, the inhibitory effect of mPEG-OA derivative and OA on the melanogenesis in B16F10 melanoma cells were 36 and 35% at 50 and 10 mu M, respectively. The expression level of microphthalmia-associated transcription (MITF) was also reduced in B16F10 melanoma cells treated with mPEG-OA and OA. Overall, mPEG-OA derivative showed excellent water solubility and inhibitory effects of the melanogenesis, which could be used as a potential formulation for use in whitening functional cosmetic material.