This study aimed to verify the whitening effect of Cordyceps militaris, which is distributed in several countries worldwide, including Korea, Japan, and China, and has various medical effects. To screen the efficacy of C. militaris, the inhibitory activity of tyrosinase, which was 66% at a concentration of 1 mg/mL, was measured. Thereafter, the survival rate of melanoma cells was measured, and cell experiments were conducted at a concentration of 90% or more in which C. militaris was not toxic to cells. After measuring the inhibitory effect of TRP-1, TRP-2, tyrosinase protein, and mRNA expression, which are factors influencing melanin synthesis, C. militaris was found to decrease in all factors, with an expression level that was significantly lower compared to quercetin. This confirmed that C. militaris stimulated with LED has excellent whitening activity and can be used as a functional whitening cosmetics material.

ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
MATERIALS AND METHODS
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
CONCLUSION
Acknowledgements
Data Availability
Conflicts of Interest
Authors Contributions
REFERENCES

• Si Young Ha(Department of Environmental Materials Science, Institute of Agriculture and Life Science, Gyeongsang National University)
• Ji Young Jung(Department of Environmental Materials Science, Institute of Agriculture and Life Science, Gyeongsang National University)
• Jae-Kyung Yang(Department of Environmental Materials Science, Institute of Agriculture and Life Science, Gyeongsang National University) Corresponding author