Chemical Composition of Impatiens textori Miq. Flower Absolute and Its Potential Wound Repair and Anti-Melanogenesis-Promoting Activities in Skin Cells

Impatiens textori Miq. (ITM; family Balsaminaceae) is a traditional medicinal plant with many biological activities, which include anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-pruritic properties. However, it remains to be determined whether ITM affects biological activities in the skin. Thus, we investigated the effects of ITM flower absolute (ITMFAb) extract on the biological activities of skin, especially those related to skin wound repair and whitening. ITMFAb was extracted with hexane, and its composition was determined through GC/MS. The biological activities of ITMFAb on HaCaT keratinocytes and B16BL6 melanoma cells were analyzed using a water-soluble tetrazolium salt, 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine incorporation, a Boyden chamber, an ELISA, a sprouting assay, and by immunoblotting. These analyses were performed in a range of ITMFAb concentrations that did not inhibit the viability of the cells (HaCaT, ≤400 µg/mL; B16BL6, ≤200 µg/m). Forty components were identified in ITMFAb. ITMFAb stimulated proliferation, migration, sprout outgrowth, and type I and IV collagen synthesis and upregulated the activations of ERK1/2, JNK, p38 MAPK, and AKT in HaCaT cells. In addition, ITMFAb attenuated the serum-induced proliferation of B16BL6 cells. ITMFAb inhibited melanin synthesis, tyrosinase activity, and expressions of MITF and tyrosinase in α-MSH-exposed B16BL6 cells. These findings indicate that ITMFAb has beneficial effects on wound repairing and whitening-linked responses in the skin and suggest the potential use of ITMFAb as a natural material for the development of skin wound repair and whitening agents.


Introduction
Skin wounds need to be repaired rapidly and effectively to facilitate skin regeneration because the skin acts as a barrier to protect the body from harmful environmental factors. The skin healing process involves complex physiological responses that consist of three overlapping phases, viz. inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling [1], which involve interactions between various types of cells (e.g., keratinocytes, immune cells, and fibroblasts) and response mediators, such as growth factors, chemokines, and extracellular matrix (ECM)) in dermal and epidermal layers [2,3]. When skin is injured, keratinocytes (the predominant cell type in the epidermis) proliferate at wound margins and migrate to the wound area to support re-epithelialization [4]. These cells are the main contributors to re-epithelialization during the proliferation phase of wound healing [4], and their activities are regulated by various actors such as growth factors (transforming and epidermal growth  Table 1.   Table 1.

Effects of ITMFAb on Keratinocyte Proliferation and Migration
Keratinocyte migration and proliferation are known to influence the healing process [16], and thus to determine the involvement of ITMFAb in skin wound healing, we examined the effects of ITMFAb on the proliferation and migration of keratinocytes. Initially, we assessed the effects of different ITMFAb concentrations (1-500 µg/mL) on the viability of HaCaT cells using a water-soluble tetrazolium salt (WST) assay. ITMFAb (50-400 µg/mL) significantly increased viability as compared with non-treated controls, and this peaked at 200 µg/mL (263.52 ± 5.58% of non-treated controls). However, at 500 µg/mL ITMFAb significantly reduced cell viability versus controls (Figure 2a), and thus, subsequent experiments were conducted using concentrations of ≤400 µg/mL. Cell proliferation after treating HaCaT cells with ITMFAb (1-400 µg/mL) was analyzed using a 5-bromo-2 -deoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation assay. ITMFAb treatment significantly increased HaCaT cell proliferation at concentrations of 50 to 300 µg/mL and showed the greatest effect at a concentration of 100 µg/mL (265.19 ± 16.93% of non-treated controls) (Figure 2b). [16], and thus to determine the involvement of ITMFAb in skin wound healing, we examined the effects of ITMFAb on the proliferation and migration of keratinocytes. Initially, we assessed the effects of different ITMFAb concentrations (1-500 µg/mL) on the viability of HaCaT cells using a water-soluble tetrazolium salt (WST) assay. ITMFAb (50-400 µg/mL) significantly increased viability as compared with non-treated controls, and this peaked at 200 µg/mL (263.52 ± 5.58% of non-treated controls). However, at 500 µg/mL ITMFAb significantly reduced cell viability versus controls (Figure 2a), and thus, subsequent experiments were conducted using concentrations of ≤400 µg/mL. Cell proliferation after treating HaCaT cells with ITMFAb (1-400 µg/mL) was analyzed using a 5-bromo-2′deoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation assay. ITMFAb treatment significantly increased Ha-CaT cell proliferation at concentrations of 50 to 300 µg/mL and showed the greatest effect at a concentration of 100 µg/mL (265.19 ± 16.93% of non-treated controls) (Figure 2b). HaCaT cells were incubated with Impatiens textori Miq. flower absolute (ITMFAb; 1-500 µg/mL) for 48 h and cell viabilities were evaluated using the WST assay (n = 5) (b) Cell proliferation. HaCaT cells were treated with ITMFAb (1-400 µg/mL) for 48 h, and a BrdU incorporation assay was performed to measure proliferation. Recombinant human epidermal growth factor (EGF: 50 ng/mL): positive control. Cell proliferation levels are presented as percentages of those of non-treated controls (Con). Data are expressed as means ± standard errors of means (SEMs) of non-treated controls (n = 5). * p < 0.05 vs. non-treated cells. (c) Representative image of cell migration results. HaCaT cells were treated with ITMFAb (1-400 µg/mL) for 210 min, and cell migration was assessed using a Boyden chamber. Migrated cells are shown as violet spots. Scale bar = 50 µm. (d) Graph obtained from panel (c). Recombinant human epidermal growth factor (EGF: 1 ng/mL): positive control. Cell migratory levels are presented as percentages of non-treated controls (Con). Data are expressed as means ± SEMs of non-treated controls (n = 4). * p < 0.05 vs. non-treated controls.

Effect of ITMFAb on Keratinocyte Sprout Outgrowth
The effects of ITMFAb on keratinocyte proliferation and migration described above were confirmed using the collagen sprout assay, which is commonly used for this purpose [16]. Treatment with ITMFAb (1-400 µg/mL) significantly increased HaCaT cell sprouting at concentrations of 50 to 200 µg/mL, and this peaked at 100 µg/mL (352.21 ± 18.01% of non-treated controls) ( Figure 3).

Effect of ITMFAb on Keratinocyte Sprout Outgrowth
The effects of ITMFAb on keratinocyte proliferation and migration described above were confirmed using the collagen sprout assay, which is commonly used for this purpose [16]. Treatment with ITMFAb (1-400 µg/mL) significantly increased HaCaT cell sprouting at concentrations of 50 to 200 µg/mL, and this peaked at 100 µg/mL (352.21 ± 18.01% of non-treated controls) (Figure 3).

ITMFAb-Induced Changes in the Activations of Kinases in HaCaT Cells
Kinases such as mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and serine/threoninespecific protein kinases (AKT) act as signaling molecules for the migration and proliferation of HaCaT cells [17,18]. Thus, we investigated whether these signaling molecules are involved in the ITMFAb-induced migration and proliferation of HaCaT cells by Western blotting. ITMFAb significantly enhanced the activations of extracellular signal-regulated kinase1/2 (ERK1/2) at 50 to 300 µg/mL (Figure 4a (b) Graph of the results obtained. Sprout formation levels are expressed as percentages of those in non-treated controls (Con). Data are expressed as the means ± SEMs of non-treated controls (n = 9). * p < 0.05 vs. non-treated controls.

ITMFAb-Induced Changes in Collagen Synthesis in HaCaT Cells
Collagen synthesis plays an important role in all skin healing processes, and types I and IV collagen participate in skin recovery and skin membrane formation [17,19,20]. Thus, to determine whether ITMFAb affects collagen synthesis by keratinocytes, we performed sandwich ELISA on a conditioned medium that was collected by incubating HaCaT cells in the presence or absence of ITMFAb. Treatment with ITMFAb (50 and 200 µg/mL) significantly elevated both type I and IV collagen synthesis at 200 µg/mL (163.24 ± 0.59% ( Figure 5a) and 220.47 ± 9.10% (Figure 5b), respectively, versus non-treated controls).  HaCaT cells were incubated with or without Impatiens textori Miq. flower absolute (ITMFAb; 1-400 µg/mL) for 10 min and cell lysates were immunoblotted with the indicated antibodies. (a) Representative images of immunoblotting results (b-e) Graphs of phosphorylated ERK1/2 (b), JNK (c), p38 MAPK (d), and AKT expression levels (e) obtained from panel a. Kinase phosphorylation levels are expressed as percentages of those in non-treated controls (Con). Recombinant human epidermal growth factor (EGF: 5 ng/mL): positive control. Data are presented as means ± SEMs (n = 3/protein). * p < 0.05 vs. non-treated controls. p-ERK1/2, phosphorylated ERK 1/2; p-JNK, phosphorylated JNK; p-p38, phosphorylated p38 MAPK; p-AKT, phosphorylated AKT.

ITMFAb-Induced Changes in Collagen Synthesis in HaCaT Cells
Collagen synthesis plays an important role in all skin healing processes, and types I and IV collagen participate in skin recovery and skin membrane formation [17,19,20]. Thus, to determine whether ITMFAb affects collagen synthesis by keratinocytes, we performed sandwich ELISA on a conditioned medium that was collected by incubating Ha-CaT cells in the presence or absence of ITMFAb. Treatment with ITMFAb (50 and 200 µg/mL) significantly elevated both type I and IV collagen synthesis at 200 µg/mL (163.24 ± 0.59% (Figure 5a) and 220.47 ± 9.10% (Figure 5b), respectively, versus non-treated controls). HaCaT cells were cultured with or without Impatiens textori Miq. flower absolute (ITMFAb; 50 and 200 µg/mL) for 48 h and sandwich ELISA was performed in conditioned media using anti-type I (n = 3; (a)) or anti-type IV collagen antibody (n = 3; (b)). Collagen levels in conditioned media in non-treated controls (Con) were considered 100%. Data are expressed as means ± SEMs. * p < 0.05 vs. non-treated controls.

Discussion
Skin wound healing is a lengthy process and is prone to risk factors such as infection. Accordingly, many studies have been conducted with the aim of identifying materials that promote wound healing and skin regeneration, and several plants and plant extracts have been shown to promote wound healing with fewer adverse effects [21,22]. Thus, many researchers have investigated the wound-healing effects of plants and plant extracts [23,24]. In the present study, we investigated the effects of ITMFAb on wound healing-

Discussion
Skin wound healing is a lengthy process and is prone to risk factors such as infection. Accordingly, many studies have been conducted with the aim of identifying materials that promote wound healing and skin regeneration, and several plants and plant extracts have been shown to promote wound healing with fewer adverse effects [21,22]. Thus, many researchers have investigated the wound-healing effects of plants and plant extracts [23,24]. In the present study, we investigated the effects of ITMFAb on wound healing-related responses in keratinocytes. ITMFAb promoted the proliferation and migration of HaCaT keratinocytes and induced sprout outgrowth from HaCaT cells in a collagen sprouting assay, which supported its observed cell migratory and proliferative effects [25]. Keratinocyte proliferation and migration are activated by skin damage, and these activations result in reepithelialization, which is essential for wound healing [5]. Therefore, our proliferation and migration findings indicate that ITMFAb might contribute to skin wound healing responses. In the present study, GC/MS analysis revealed the presence of 40 compounds in ITMFAb. Of these, α-bisabolol, lupeol, botulin, oleic acid, and tocopherols have been reported to promote wound healing-linked responses in mice and rats by inhibiting inflammatory responses and stimulating angiogenesis and the expressions of growth factors [26][27][28][29][30][31]. Reports indicate lupeol and betulin-based oleogel improve wound healing by stimulating keratinocyte migration [30,32], which implies that these compounds may have contributed to ITMFAb-induced HaCaT migration. On the other hand, other compounds found in ITMFAb have not been reported to induce skin wound healing responses. Therefore, further studies are needed to clarify the effects of these other compounds on wound-healing responses in keratinocytes, which may contribute to skin wound healing.
MAPKs are important intracellular signaling molecules that modulate cellular proliferation and migration during wound healing [33]. ERK1/2, JNK, and p38 MAPK are the most widely MAPKs and participate in migration and proliferation-mediating signaling pathways in keratinocytes [33,34]. In keratinocytes, migration and proliferative activities were enhanced by increasing ERK1/2 activation [34] and attenuated by reducing activation [35]. Furthermore, keratinocyte proliferation and migration were upregulated by increasing p38 MAPK levels [36]. On the other hand, JNK has been reported to have variable effects on the regulations of keratinocyte migration and proliferation; for example, keratinocyte migration and proliferation have been reported to be increased [34] and to be unaffected by JNK activation [37]. In the present study, ITMFAb induced the phosphorylations of ERK1/2, p38 MAPK, and JNK in HaCaT cells. We previously showed that these MAPKs might be associated with keratinocyte migration and proliferation [38], which implies MAPKs play positive roles in ITMFAb-induced HaCaT cell migration and proliferation. Additionally, AKT is an important mediator of keratinocyte migration and proliferation [39][40][41], and increased AKT activation has been reported to facilitate HaCaT cell migration and proliferation [34]. Interestingly, we observed that ITMFAb enhanced AKT activation in HaCaT cells. These observations suggest that ITMFAb induces migratory and proliferative responses in keratinocytes by activating the AKT and MAPK signaling pathways.
Collagen functions as a scaffold in skin tissues, and it is also associated with cell adhesion, migration, and proliferation [42]. Furthermore, collagen is essential for all skin healing stages; for example, in the proliferative phase, collagen contributes to the motility of keratinocytes [5,43]. For these reasons, collagen is used as an adjuvant therapy to promote skin healing and enhance keratinocyte proliferation [44]. Collagen type I (interstitial collagen) and type IV (basement membrane collagen) have been reported to enhance the migratory and proliferative activities of keratinocytes [45] and were produced and secreted by HaCaT cells stimulated with plant extracts [17,25]. In addition, these collagen types play roles in skin recovery [46] and skin membrane formation [43,47], respectively. In the present study, we found that collagen type I and IV levels were upregulated in the conditioned medium of HaCaT cells exposed to ITMFAb, indicating that ITMFAb induces the syntheses of these collagens in keratinocytes.
Melanin is synthesized in melanocytes to protect the skin from external stressors, especially UV light, but on the other hand, excessive melanin production is problematic [8]. Thus, many attempts have been made to inhibit melanin biosynthesis. In this context, we evaluated the inhibitory effects of ITMFAb on melanin biosynthesis-related events in B16BL6 melanoma cells. Melanocyte survival, proliferation, and differentiation positively affect melanin biosynthesis [48], and thus the inhibition of melanocyte proliferation suppresses melanogenesis [49]. Notably, we found ITMFAb inhibited B16BL6 melanoma cell proliferation induced by 2% FBS, implying that ITMFAb may have an inhibitory effect on melanogenesis through the inhibition of melanocyte proliferation. MITF acts as a major modulator of tyrosinase [7,50]. In B16 melanoma cells, melanin production and the protein levels of tyrosinase were suppressed by reducing MITF expression [51]. In the present study, ITMFAb decreased MITF expression and tyrosinase expression in B16BL6 melanoma cells exposed to α-MSH. This result implies that ITMFAb may influence melanin production via MITF-mediated tyrosine action. Tyrosinase acts as an initial and rate-limiting enzyme that participates in the first step of melanin biosynthesis [9], and tyrosinase activity and level are directly correlated with melanogenesis [52]. In α-MSH-stimulated B16BL6 melanoma cells, inhibitions of tyrosinase expression and activity reduced melanin production [53]. Similarly, in the present study, ITMFAb attenuated tyrosinase expression and activity and melanin production in α-MSH-stimulated B16BL6 melanoma cells. Therefore, our observations suggest that ITMFAb may negatively regulate melanin production by suppressing MITF-mediated tyrosinase action or by inhibiting tyrosinase action. As mentioned above, we identified 40 compounds in ITMFAb, and of these, several have been reported to induce skin whitening by inhibiting melanogenesis-related responses in melanocytes. In particular, geranic acid, α-bisabolol, palmitoleic acid, linolenic acid, ethyl linolenate, and oleic acid were reported to decrease melanin production, tyrosinase activity, tyrosinase expression, or MITF expression [54][55][56][57][58][59][60]. Therefore, these compounds might contribute to the suppression of melanogenesis-related responses by ITMFAb in melanocytes. However, whether these or other compounds are related to ITMFAb inhibition of melanogenesis in melanocytes needs to be clarified.

Analysis and Identification of Compounds in ITMFAb
ITMFAb was analyzed by the National Instrumentation Center for Environmental Management (NICEM, Seoul National University, Korea), and its components were identified by GC/MS. GC/MS data were acquired using a TRACE 1310 GC attached to an ISQ LT single quadrupole mass spectrometer (Thermo Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA). Derivatized samples were separated on a DB-5MS column (60 m × 0.25 mm, 0.25 µm; Agilent Technologies, USA) at a constant flow rate of 1 mL/min using the following program; 50 • C for 5 min, 50 to 65 • C at 10 • C/min, 65 to 210 • C at 5 • C/min, 210 to 310 • C at 20 • C/min, and 310 • C for 10 min. Masses from 35-550 m/z were scanned, and the data acquisition rate was 0.2 scans/s. Transfer line and ion source temperatures were 300 and 270 • C, respectively. Compounds were identified by comparing spectra and retention indices (RI) with reference standards in the NIST/NIH/EPA mass spectral library (NIST 11, version 2.0 g) and by comparing retention times and spectra with those of commercially available standards. A standard solution of n-alkanes (C 7 -C 30 ) was used to determine RIs.

Cell Culture
The human keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT cells) was obtained from the National Institute of Korean Medicine Development (NIKOM, Gyeongsan, Korea), and the murine melanoma cell line (B16BL6 cells) from the Korean Cell Line Bank (KCLB, Seoul, Korea). Both cell types were maintained in DMEM containing 10% FBS and 1% P/S at 37 • C in a humidified 95% air/5% CO 2 atmosphere. Cells were cultured until 70-80% confluent for experiments.

Proliferation Assays
Cell proliferation was analyzed using a BrdU (5-bromo-2 -deoxyuridine) incorporation assay using a cell proliferation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (BrdU kit; Roche, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA). Briefly, Cells (HaCaT (3 × 10 3 cells/well) or B16BL6 cells (2 × 103 cells/well)) were plated in 96-well plates, incubated for 12 h, treated with various concentrations of ITMFAb (dissolved in DMEM containing 0.5% DMSO) or EGF (50 ng/mL) for 36 h, and labeled with BrdU-labeling solution (10 µM) for an additional 12 h at 37 • C. After removing the culture medium, cells were fixed and incubated to denature DNA using FixDenat solution from the BrdU kit for 30 min at RT and then incubated with peroxidase-labeled anti-BrdU monoclonal antibody incubated for 90 min at RT. The luminescence of the reaction product was measured using a luminometer (Synergy 2).

Migration Assay
Cell migration assay was performed using a 48-well Boyden microchemotaxis chamber (Neuro Probe Inc., Gaithersburg, MD, USA), as in a previous report [16]. Briefly, lower chamber wells were filled with DMEM containing 0.1% BSA and EGF (1 ng/mL) or different concentrations of ITMFAb. A membrane (Neuro Probe, Cabin John, MD, USA) coated with type I collagen (0.1 mg/mL) was then laid over lower chamber wells, and upper chamber wells were loaded with HaCaT cells (5 × 10 4 cells/well) in DMEM containing 0.1% BSA. Chambers were assembled and incubated for 210 min at 37 • C. Membranes were then removed, fixed, and stained using Diff-Quick (Baxter Healthcare, Miami, FL, USA). The cells migrating to lower membrane surfaces were counted using an optical microscope (Carl Zeiss, Jena, Jena, Thuringen, Germany) (×200).

Collagen Sprout Assay
Collagen sprout assays were performed to simultaneously analyze both cell migration and proliferation. HaCaT cells (2.5 × 10 7 cells/mL) were mixed with type I collagen, 10× DMEM medium, and 1 N NaOH (pH 7.2) and placed in were in spot form on the wells of 24-well cell culture plate. After drying for 20 min, the spots were treated with or without ITMFAb or EGF (50 ng/mL) and incubated at 37 • C in a CO 2 incubator for 48 h. Spots were fixed and stained using a Diff-Quik solution, and images were then taken using an optical microscope (Carl Zeiss) (×100). Lengths of sprouts were measured using Image J software (NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA).

Collagen Synthesis Assay
A collagen synthesis assay was performed using ELISA, as in a previous report [16]. Briefly, HaCaT cells (5 × 10 5 cells/well)were seeded in 100 mm cell culture dishes and treated with various concentrations of ITMFAb for 48 h at 37 • C. Cultured media were centrifuged sequentially at 500, 800, and 1000× g for 10 min. The supernatants (conditioned media; 100 µL/well) obtained were loaded into 96-well microtiter plates coated with type I or IV collagen monoclonal antibody (capture antibody), and incubated with biotinconjugated collagen type I or IV polyclonal antibody (dilution 1:2000 in 1% BSA/PBS) for 90 min at RT. Each well was washed with PBS, loaded with streptavidin-horseradish peroxidase conjugate (Roche) (diluted 1:5000 in 1% BSA/PBS) for 1 h at RT, and washed again with PBS. Enhanced chemiluminescence solution (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA) was then added, and the luminescence of the reaction product was measured using a luminometer (Synergy 2).

Western Blotting
Cells were lysed using RIPA (radioimmunoprecipitation assay) buffer (Cell Signaling), followed by centrifugation at 17,000× g for 15 min at 4 • C. Protein concentrations in supernatants were measured using DC protein assay reagents (Bio-Rad Laboratories, Hercules, CA, USA). In addition, proteins (60-120 µg/lane) were separated by SDS-PAGE on 10% acrylamide gel and transferred to polyvinylidene fluoride membranes (Millipore-Sigma) at 4 • C. After blocked with 3% skim milk solutions at RT for 2 h, membranes were washed with PBS containing 0.05% Tween-20, incubated with the relevant primary antibodies (1:1000-5000 dilution), and then with conjugated horseradish peroxidase at RT for 1 h. The immunoreactive protein bands were visualized using a chemiluminescence substrate and detected using a chemiluminescence imaging system (LuminoGraph, ATTO, Tokyo, Japan).

Melanin Content Assay
Melanin content assay was performed as in a previous report [61]. Briefly, B16BL6 cells (1 × 10 5 cells per dish) were seeded in 60 mm dishes, cultured for 12 h, and incubated in DMEM (containing 2% FBS) with or without various concentrations of ITMFAb in the presence or absence of 200 nM α-MSH for 48 h at 37 • C. After washing with PBS, cells were lysed with lysis buffer (0.1 M sodium phosphate buffer (pH 6.8) containing 1% Triton X-100 and 0.2 mM phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride), followed by centrifugation at 10,000× g for 15 min. Cell pellets collected were dissolved in 150 µL of 1 N NaOH containing 10% DMSO, incubated at 80 • C for 1 h, and pipetted to solubilize the melanin. Absorbances were measured at 405 nm using an ELISA reader (Synergy 2).

Tyrosinase Activity Assays
Cells were lysed using radioimmunoprecipitation assay buffer (RIPA buffer; Cell Tyrosinase activities were analyzed using the dopachrome method using L-DOPA as substrate as in a previous report [17]. Briefly, B16BL6 cells (5 × 10 5 cells/well) were cultured in 60 mm dishes, lysed, and centrifuged, as described for the melanin content assay above. Supernatants (60 µL) and 2 mg/mL L-DOPA (140 µL) were then added to each well of a 96-well plate and incubated at 37 • C for 60 min. Absorbances of the reaction product were measured at 490 nm using an ELISA reader (Synergy 2).

Statistical Analysis
Results are expressed as means ± standard errors of means (SEMs). Student's t-test was used to determine the statistical significance of differences between pairs of groups, and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey's post hoc test was used to determine the statistical significance of differences between multiple groups. The analyses were performed using GraphPad Prism (version 5.0; GraphPad Software, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA). p values of <0.05 were considered to indicate significant differences.

Conclusions
In the present study, we report that 40 compounds were identified in ITMFAb and that ITMFAb induced HaCaT cell proliferation, migration, and sprout outgrowth, enhanced the phosphorylations of ERK1/2, JNK, p38 MAPK, and AKT, and promoted type I and IV collagen syntheses in HaCaT cells. Furthermore, treatment of B16BL6 cells with ITMFAb reduced serum-induced proliferation and attenuated α-MSH-induced melanin production and tyrosinase activity. In addition, ITMFAb decreased α-MSH-induced MITF expression and tyrosinase expression. These findings suggest that ITMFAb might promote skin wound healing-associated responses in keratinocytes and induce skin whitening-related responses in melanocytes. Therefore, ITMFAb appears to offer a promising basis for the development of natural skin wound healing and whitening agents. However, further studies are needed to identify the bioactive components in ITMFAb primarily responsible for its skin wound healing and whitening-related effects.