Angelica tenuissima, also known as Ligusticum tenuissimum, is classified as a food-related plant and has been used as traditional medicines treating headache and anemia in Asia. However, its anti-melanogenic effect has not been reported in detail. When the extract of Angelica tenuissima (ATE) was prepared by the extraction with 70% EtOH at 80°C (final yield = 22%), the contents of decursin and Z-ligustilide in ATE were determined 0.06% and 8.43%, respectively. Total flavonoid and phenolic content in mg ATE were 5.52±0.07 ㎍ quercetin equivalents and 237.27±13.24 ㎍ gallic acid equivalents, respectively. Antioxidant capacity of ATE determined by DPPH and ABTS assay was increased with a dose dependent manner up to 1000 ㎍/㎖. The amount of melanin synthesis followed by α-melanocyte stimulating hormone on B16F10 cells were significantly reduced in the presence of ATE (250 to 1000 ㎍/㎖, p<0.05). ATE (125 to 1000 ㎍/㎖, p<0.05) suppressed the tyrosinase activity but did not show any significant effect on α-glucosidase activity at the same condition. Taken together, ATE possesses tyrosinase inhibitory potential with significant antioxidant capacities. These effects of ATE might be involved in suppression of melanin synthesis, at least, in B16F10 cells. The anti-melanogenic potential of ATE will provide an insight into developing a new skin whitening product.

Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
  Chemicals
  Preparation of a 70% ethanol extract of A. tenuissima root(ATE)
  HPLC Analysis
  Determination of total phenolic and total flavonoid contentin ATE
  Effect of ATE on DPPH radical scavenging activity
  Effect of ATE on ABTS radical scavenging activity
  Determination of the reducing power of ATE
  Cell culture
  Cell viability
  Effect of ATE on the production of melanin in B16F10cells
  Tyrosinase activity assay
  Effect of ATE on the in vitro inhibitory activity of tyrosinase
  Effect of ATE on the in vitro activity of α-glucosidase activity
  Statistical Analysis
 Results
  Determination of content of decursin and Z-ligustilide in ATE
  The content of total phenolic and total flavonoid
  Effect of ATE on the cell viability
  Antioxidant capacity of ATE
  Inhibitory effect of ATE on the melanin production inB16F10 cells
  Effect of ATE on the in vitro tyrosinase and α-glucosidase activities
 Discussion
 References

• Hyun Jung Koo(Department of Medicinal and Industrial Crops, Korea National College of Agriculture and Fisheries)
• Sung Ryul Lee(Department of Convergence Biomedical Science, Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease Center)
• Yuna Park(Department of Herbal Medicine Resource, Kangwon National University)
• Jin Woo Lee(Department of Herbal Medicine Resource, Kangwon National University)
• Gyeongseop So(Department of Herbal Medicine Resource, Kangwon National University)
• Sung Hyeok Kim(Department of Herbal Medicine Resource, Kangwon National University)
• Chang Woo Ha(Department of Herbal Medicine Resource, Kangwon National University)
• Sang Eun Lee(Department of Herbal Medicine Resource, Kangwon National University)
• Jong Phil Bak(Department of Herbal Medicine Resource, Kangwon National University)
• Su Ryeon Ham(Korea Research Institute Bio Science Co., Ltd.)
• Hyosun Lim(Korea Research Institute Bio Science Co., Ltd.)
• Youn Kyu Kim(Korea Research Institute Bio Science Co., Ltd.)
• Eun-Hwa Sohn(Department of Herbal Medicine Resource, Kangwon National University) Corresponding author