Barberry for treatment of pigment-related skin problems

Korea: Chung-An researchers investigated the activities of Berberis vulgaris extract in melanoma cells. They found out that berberine, a barberry plant alkaloid, aids in skin whitening by inhibiting the activity of tyrosinase, the enzyme responsible for melanin synthesis. The researchers also demonstrated that berberine is more effective than arbutin in suppressing the production of melanin. “If the effectiveness and safety of berberine is proved through clinical trials, berberine would become one of the best solutions to pigment-related skin problems caused by UV rays“, professor Kim said. The research, sponsored by the Rural Development Administration Korea, was published in the February issue of the International Journal of Molecular Medicine, a peer-reviewed journal devoted to the publication of high quality studies related to the molecular mechanisms of human disease.