ArticleJournal of cosmetic dermatology2025
Network Pharmacology Approach to Explore the Skin-Lightening Compounds and Potential Mechanisms of Chinese Herbal Medicines.
Article in Journal of cosmetic dermatology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed.
- Crocus sativus L.-derived lauric acid-functionalized gold nanoparticles induce ferroptosis in HeLa cells and reverse M2 macrophage polarization via the PGE2/EP2/cAMP-PKA signaling pathway: a network pharmacology-based study.Frontiers in pharmacology · 2026Article
- A functional food approach: probiotic-fermentedFrontiers in nutrition · 2026Article
- Exploring the Role of Radix Polygalae in Melanogenesis Related to Vitiligo: A Network Pharmacology Analysis with in vitro Validation.Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
Abstract
introductionHerbal formulations have been used for skin whitening in China for centuries, yet systematic evaluations of their efficacy and underlying mechanisms remain limited. This study aims to identify potential anti-melanogenic compounds in traditional skin-whitening herbs using network pharmacology and investigate their mechanisms of action.
methodsThe Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TCMSP) database was used to screen for anti-melanogenic compounds and their potential targets. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed using Cytoscape 3.7.2, followed by KEGG pathway enrichment analysis. The pharmacological effects were assessed in a 3D human skin model, and in vitro experiments were conducted to explore the molecular mechanisms of the identified compounds.
resultsEight potential skin-whitening herbs were identified, including Ampelopsis japonica, Nepeta tenuifolia Benth., Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, Asarum heterotropoides F. Schmidt, Ipomoea nil, Angelica dahurica, Angelica sinensis, and Prunus persica, along with ten active compounds: quercetin, kaempferol, wogonin, beta-sitosterol, baicalein, stigmasterol, anhydroicaritin, agroclavin, moslosooflavone, and acacetin. Among them, quercetin and acacetin demonstrated significant anti-melanogenic effects in the 3D skin model by downregulating ET-1, VEGF, and PTGS2 in keratinocytes. Molecular docking analysis further revealed strong binding affinities of quercetin and acacetin to TLR4, CHUK, and RELA in the NF-κB pathway, suggesting their role in melanogenesis inhibition via suppression of keratinocyte paracrine signaling.
conclusionsThis study highlights the potential of network pharmacology as an effective approach for screening anti-melanogenic compounds from traditional skin-whitening herbs. Quercetin and acacetin were identified as key bioactive compounds that inhibit melanogenesis by modulating keratinocyte signaling pathways.
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