Prevention of Melanin Formation by Yeast Cerebroside in B16 Mouse Melanoma Cells

The effects of plant and yeast cerebrosides on melanin formation were examined in B16 mouse melanoma cells. Addition of yeast cerebroside significantly reduced melanin content to the same level as that of arbutin in control cells, although there was no suppression by plant cerebrosides and bovine brain cerebroside up-regulated melanin formation. None of the bovine brain cerebrosides examined had any effect on tyrosinase activity, but yeast cerebroside reduced the contents of tyrosinase. The results of the present study clearly showed that melanin formation is regulated by several different cerebrosides via tyrosinase. In addition, the findings presented here suggest that cerebrosides containing a 9-methyl type sphingoid base, such as yeast cerebroside, may be useful as skincare products for suppressing melanin formation.