Abstract: Objective: To investigate the effect of compound glycyrrhizin injection on melanogenesis and mechanism of B16 murine melanoma cells..Methods: The influence of compound glycyrrhizin injection on the growth of B16 murine melanoma cells and the protein level and enzyme activity of tyrosinase, melanogenesis and melanosome transport was measured by CCK8, flow cytometry, NaOH splitting methods, dopa hydrocarbonylation and western-blotting technique, respectively. Results: (1) There was no influence on the growth of B16 murine melanoma cells when the concentration of compound glycyrrhizin injection was lower than 30 μl/ml; The growth rate of B16 murine melanoma cells was retarded when the concentration was higher than 50 μl/ml; The cells?were?greatly?inhibited when the concentration reached 500 μl/ml. (2) The melanogensis and the protein level of tyrosinase were stimulated when the concentration of compound glycyrrhizin injection was between 10μl/ml and 200μl/ml; The melanogenesis was greatly stimulated when the concentration was 50 μl/ml, and the tyrosinase activity was increased in a concentration-dependent manner, which was peaked when the concentration was 100μl/ml or 150μl/ml. Conclusions: Compound glycyrrhizin injection can stimulate the melanogenesis and melanosome transport, and increase the tyrosinase activity.

Key words: compound glycyrrhizin injection, B16 murine melanoma cell, tyrosinase