Skin-whitening effect of Haematococcus pluvialis extract and its synergy with niacinamide

kin hyperpigmentation is closely associated with abnormal melanin metabolism, involving both melanin production and melanosome transfer. This study investigated the skin-whitening effects of Haematococcus pluvialis extract (HPE) and its synergistic interaction with niacinamide (NAM). Using α-MSH-induced B16F10 melanoma cells, the authors evaluated the effects of HPE and NAM on tyrosinase activity and melanin synthesis. A HaCaT/MNT-1 transwell coculture system was further established to assess their effects on melanosome transfer. The results showed that HPE significantly inhibited tyrosinase activity and melanin production, with inhibition rates of 22% and 34%, respectively. In the coculture model, HPE reduced melanin content and intracellular melanosome numbers. Furthermore, HPE combined with NAM exhibited synergistic inhibition of pigmentation-related processes (CI < 1). This study provides a scientific basis for developing novel whitening products based on multi-pathway regulation of melanin metabolism.