Evaluation of anti-oxidant and antimelanogenic effects of the essential oil and extracts of Rosa × damascena in B16F10 murine melanoma cell line

Rosa × damascena Herrm. belonging to the Rosaceae family has demonstrated anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects previously. Excessive production of free radicals and activation of tyrosinase enzyme caused by UV induces excessive concentration of melanin pigment and skin spots in the long term. Therefore, finding natural sources with anti-oxidant and antityrosinase effects helps to regulate the melanogenesis process.  In the current research, we investigated the antimelanogenic, anti-oxidant, and anti-tyrosinase effects of its essential oil, methanol extract (MeOH), and different fractions including n-hexane, dichloromethane (CH2Cl2), n-butanol (BuOH), ethyl acetate (EtOAc), and H2O of R. × damascena in B16F10 cell line. For this purpose, impacts of extracts and essential oil of R. × damascena were investigated on cell viability, cellular tyrosinase, melanin content, mushroom tyrosinase, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, as well as the amount of tyrosinase protein in the B16F10 murine melanoma cell line. Essential oil, MeOH, and different fractions of R. × damascena were not cytotoxic on B16F10 cells. However, they had significant reducing effects on mushroom tyrosinase activity, melanin content, and ROS production. Also, there is a significant decrease in tyrosinase protein levels at 200 µg/ml but not at other concentrations.  Therefore, the essential oil, MeOH, and different fractions of R. × damascena had promising antimelanogenic activity via repression of mushroom tyrosinase activity and ROS production.