Introduction: Tyrosinase is considered an important target of melanin biosynthesis inhibitors. Curcuma longa L. has been used in the Javanese traditional whitening cosmetics. This work aimed to explore the effect of C. longa extracts on mushroom tyrosinase activity and the cytotoxicity of the extract towards murine skin cancer B16F10 cells. Methods: C. longa rhizomes were cold-extracted using ethanol 70% and yielded 15.3% w/w of extract (ECL). The presence of curcuminoids in ECL was determined by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). ECL was assessed for its inhibitory effects on mushroom tyrosinase activity using L-DOPA as substrate and kojic acid as the positive control drug. The cytotoxicity of ECL and curcumin was studied in B16F10 cells. Results: Triplet peaks of RP-HPLC chromatogram revealed that curcuminoids were available in ECL. The level of bisdemethoxycurcumin was 6.3306% (tR = 12.646 minutes), demethoxycurcumin was 3.1414% (tR = 13.675 minutes), and curcumin was 8.3754% (tR = 14.802 minutes). ECL had a weak inhibitory activity towards mushroom tyrosinase with IC50 = 564.8 µg/mL, while the IC50 = of kojic acid was 55.70 µg/mL. Both ECL and kojic acid had moderate toxicity to B16F10 cells (IC50 survival growth rates were 98.06 µg/mL and 65.54 µg/ mL, respectively). Curcumin was highly toxic to B16F10 cells (IC50 = 14.42 µg/mL). Conclusion: Taken together, ECL might be able to prevent melanogenesis via the inhibition of tyrosinase activity, and interestingly, it could inhibit the growth of murine skin cancer B16F10 cells. However, further studies are needed to verify its antimelanogenesis and anticancer properties.

It has been almost thirty years since the first publication on microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) in 1993. MITF, which plays an important role in the melanogenesis process, is an interesting target for melanoma therapy, due to its associates with melanoma survival. MITF promotes melanoma cell proliferation, whereas the sustained suppression of MITF expression causes aging. MITF contributes to differentiation, which involves breaking out of the cell cycle and triggering a melanogenesis, and this function appears to often persist during melanoma development given the frequently observed high pigmented lesions, even in the late stages of melanoma. Several drugs that could inhibit MITF e.g. histone deacetylase inhibitors, such as sodium butyrate and trichostatin A, have been proven could suppress M-MITF expression in melanoma cells. H1-receptor antagonists, particularly loratadine, could downregulate MITF and tyrosinase in melanocytes. Some plants can inhibit MITF e.g Gentiana veitchiorum Hemsl., Thymelaea hirsuta, Argania spinosa L. In this review, we update the information about MITF and describe the mechanism of its inhibitors in preventing melanogenesis.

Brotowali (Tinospora cordifolia) plants are usually used for various kinds of treatment it is often used as a febrifuge, brotowali stems are proven to contain flavonoid compounds that have benefits in the treatment of various diseases, one of which is analgesic. This purpose is to determine the effectiveness of analgesics on male Swiss mice induced by acetic acid from the ethanol extract of brotowali stem (EETC) doses of 100 mg/Kg BW, 200 mg/Kg BW, and 400 mg/Kg BW. Brotowali stem extraction using maceration method with 70% ethanol solvent. EETC was tested by phytochemical screening and TLC to determine the content of active compounds. The test animals used Swiss male mice, the treatment group was divided into 5, negative control group, positive control, and the dose groups were 100 mg/kg BW, 200 mg/kg BW, and 400 mg/kg BW. Testing is done by the writhing test method. Induction of pain stimuli using acetic acid, the number of mice writhing every 10 minutes for 1 hour, and the percentage of analgesic power. Research shows the yield of EETC is 16.35%. The percentage of analgetic power of dose I was 39%, dose II was 47% and dose III was 56% less than the percentage of analgesic power of methampyrone dose of 65 mg/KgBB which was 64%. Conclusion EETC doses of 100 mg/kg BW, 200 mg/kg BW, and 400 mg/kg BW have analgesic activity equivalent to methampyrone at a dose of 65 mg/kg BW, with the largest percentage of analgesic protection at a dose of 400 mg/Kg BW of 56%.

Context: Disproportionate subjection to solar ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation may alter the physiology of human skin. Microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) is the principal regulator of melanogenesis in the skin. Accordingly, the incidence of skin cancers in tropical countries has increased. In Indonesia, skin cancer ranked eighth among all cancers. Turmeric (Curcuma longa) has traditionally been used to protect Javanese princesses' skins. Aims: To investigate the role of C. longa extract (EECL) on the melanogenesis process and the expression of MITF in UVB-exposed Wistar rats. Methods: The rats were randomly assigned into six groups: the normal control (no UVB-exposed, no treatment); the negative control (UVB-exposed, treated with gel vehicle); the positive control (UVB-exposed, treated with kojic acid in gel vehicle); and 3 treatment groups of EECL doses of 2%; 4%; 8% in gel vehicle. The macroscopy, immunohistochemistry, and histopathology of the animal skin were evaluated. Results: EECL reduces the severity of erythema and epithelial abrasion caused by UVB radiation compared to the negative control. EECL also reduces melanogenesis, inhibits inflammation and epithelial damage, and significantly decreases the expression of MITF compared to the negative control. Conclusions: Curcuma longa extract could be considered a potential candidate for a skincare product, but further clinical studies are needed to verify its efficacy and safety.

Background: Masalah kesehatan terkait penggunaan obat di Indonesia terus meningkat, yang sebagian besar disebabkan oleh rendahnya pemahaman masyarakat tentang pengelolaan obat yang tepat. Tujuan dari sosialisasi ini adalah memberikan pengetahuan yang lebih mendalam mengenai pengelolaan obat dengan tepat. Metode: Kegiatan sosialisasi dilaksanakan pada bulan Agustus 2024 di Balai Desa Losari Kidul, Kecamatan Losari, Kabupaten Cirebon, Jawa Barat, Indonesia, dan diikuti oleh 21 kader PKK. Kegiatan sosialisasi dilakukukan melalui presentasi menggunakan media PowerPoint dan dilaksanakan dalam beberapa tahap, dimulai dengan pre-test, pemaparan materi, sesi tanya jawab dan diskusi, dan diakhiri dengan post-test. Hasil: Hasil dari sosialisasi memperlihatkan peningkatan pemahaman peserta, di mana rata-rata skor pre-test sebesar 52% meningkat menjadi 95% pada post-test, dengan peningkatan sebesar 43%. Kesimpulan: Pelaksaan sosialisasi DAGUSIBU yang diikuti kader PKK Desa Losari Kidul dapat terlaksana dengan baik, dengan hasil akhir menunjukkan peningkatan pengetahuan yang signifikan.

Centella asiatica (L.) Urban contains flavonoids and triterpenoids with strong antioxidant activity; however, its topical bioavailability is limited by poor solubility. This study aimed to formulate and evaluate liposomal gel systems containing a 70% ethanol extract of C. asiatica to enhance dermal penetration while preserving antioxidant activity. The extract was incorporated into liposomes using a lecithin–cholesterol ratio of 9:1 and formulated into gels at concentrations of 0.3% (FG1) and 0.5% (FG2). Physicochemical characterization showed mean particle sizes of 119.8 ± 7.21 nm (FG1) and 101.3 ± 6.55 nm (FG2), with polydispersity index values of 0.410 and 0.306, respectively, indicating acceptable vesicle homogeneity across three independent replicates (n = 3). The formulations were physically stable for two weeks at 4 °C but exhibited instability at elevated temperatures. Antioxidant activity evaluated using the DPPH assay yielded IC₅₀ values of 13.87 ± 0.02 µg/mL for FG1 and 13.97 ± 0.06 µg/mL for FG2, which were not significantly different (p > 0.05) from vitamin C (9.16 ± 0.06 µg/mL), indicating preservation of radical-scavenging capacity. In vitro permeation studies using Franz diffusion cells demonstrated cumulative quercetin penetration of 280.86 ± 1.12 µg/cm² for FG1 and 314.40 ± 0.93 µg/cm² for FG2 over 4 h, with FG2 showing significantly higher flux (p < 0.05). Release kinetics followed a zero-order model (R² = 0.9881–0.9914), suggesting controlled release behavior. Overall, liposomal gel formulations show potential for improving topical delivery of C. asiatica without overstating long-term stability or therapeutic superiority.