Effects of various doses of glutathione on the proliferation, viability, migration, and ultrastructure of cultured human melanocytes

Normal human cultured melanocytes were exposed to various glutathione concentrations (0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 5.0, and 10.0 mg/mL) for 72 hours. At the end of the experiment, proliferation, viability, migration, and ultrastructural changes were monitored. Glutathione at the doses of 0.5 to 10.0 mg/mL reduced the viability of melanocytes significantly as compared to the control (P < .05). Glutathione significantly reduced the proliferation of melanocytes at the doses of 0.5 to 10.0 mg/mL as compared to the control (P < .001). Glutathione at 0.5 to 10.0 mg/mL significantly reduced the migration of melanocytes as compared to the control (P < .001). The percentage of mature melanosomes was 53.43% in control and 50.58%, 41.83%, 33.4%, and 8.95% in 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, and 5.0 mg/mL glutathione exposed cells, respectively. This reduction in the number of mature melanosomes was statistically significant as compared to the control. However, no cytotoxic effects were recognized by electron micrographs. These results encourage the potential implementation of glutathione as a skin-lightening agent. However, this study is limited by cell culture and ultrastructural. It should therefore be expanded in the future to include patients with pigmentary disorders.