Impact of nicotine-free and nicotine-rich flavored electronic cigarette refill liquids on primary human melanocyte function
In this study, five popular EC liquid flavors–strawberry, banana, vanilla, tobacco, and menthol–were examined on human melanocyte functions. Each flavored e-liquid (in 80/20 PG/VG vehicle) was tested without or with 18 mg/mL nicotine. The effects of PG/VG and nicotine-containing vehicles were also e...
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Elsevier
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Toxicology Reports |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214750025000423 |
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| author | Shilpi Goenka |
| author_facet | Shilpi Goenka |
| author_sort | Shilpi Goenka |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In this study, five popular EC liquid flavors–strawberry, banana, vanilla, tobacco, and menthol–were examined on human melanocyte functions. Each flavored e-liquid (in 80/20 PG/VG vehicle) was tested without or with 18 mg/mL nicotine. The effects of PG/VG and nicotine-containing vehicles were also evaluated. Results revealed that nicotine-free and nicotine-containing e-liquids had comparable cytotoxicity, with menthol> > banana> tobacco> vanilla> strawberry. This cytotoxicity was unrelated to either nicotine or the vehicle. PG/VG (1 and 2 %) increased melanin production without influencing cellular tyrosinase activity. The flavored e-liquids did not further affect melanin production, suggesting that the vehicle's effect, not the flavor, was responsible for the increased melanin production. Interestingly, nicotine at 2 % in the vehicle restored the stimulated melanin production to the control. Flavors suppressed cellular tyrosinase activity, with vanilla and banana flavors robustly inhibiting it. Vanilla and banana e-liquids also enhanced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, which did not originate from the vehicle or nicotine-containing vehicle. Banana e-liquid with nicotine lowered ROS generation compared to nicotine-free banana e-liquid. Common flavors in e-liquids can cause cytotoxicity and influence melanogenesis even without nicotine, indicating that the use of ECs may not completely avoid the harmful effects of cigarette smoking. Further studies are warranted to investigate e-liquid aerosol effects on melanocytes. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-83939482c0c34f96869c3212c93e9e40 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2214-7500 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Toxicology Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-83939482c0c34f96869c3212c93e9e402025-01-31T05:11:21ZengElsevierToxicology Reports2214-75002025-06-0114101924Impact of nicotine-free and nicotine-rich flavored electronic cigarette refill liquids on primary human melanocyte functionShilpi Goenka0Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-5281, United States; Correspondence to: Department of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-5281, United States.In this study, five popular EC liquid flavors–strawberry, banana, vanilla, tobacco, and menthol–were examined on human melanocyte functions. Each flavored e-liquid (in 80/20 PG/VG vehicle) was tested without or with 18 mg/mL nicotine. The effects of PG/VG and nicotine-containing vehicles were also evaluated. Results revealed that nicotine-free and nicotine-containing e-liquids had comparable cytotoxicity, with menthol> > banana> tobacco> vanilla> strawberry. This cytotoxicity was unrelated to either nicotine or the vehicle. PG/VG (1 and 2 %) increased melanin production without influencing cellular tyrosinase activity. The flavored e-liquids did not further affect melanin production, suggesting that the vehicle's effect, not the flavor, was responsible for the increased melanin production. Interestingly, nicotine at 2 % in the vehicle restored the stimulated melanin production to the control. Flavors suppressed cellular tyrosinase activity, with vanilla and banana flavors robustly inhibiting it. Vanilla and banana e-liquids also enhanced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, which did not originate from the vehicle or nicotine-containing vehicle. Banana e-liquid with nicotine lowered ROS generation compared to nicotine-free banana e-liquid. Common flavors in e-liquids can cause cytotoxicity and influence melanogenesis even without nicotine, indicating that the use of ECs may not completely avoid the harmful effects of cigarette smoking. Further studies are warranted to investigate e-liquid aerosol effects on melanocytes.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214750025000423E-cigaretteFlavored e-liquidPrimary human melanocyteCytotoxicityMelanogenesisTyrosinase |
| spellingShingle | Shilpi Goenka Impact of nicotine-free and nicotine-rich flavored electronic cigarette refill liquids on primary human melanocyte function Toxicology Reports E-cigarette Flavored e-liquid Primary human melanocyte Cytotoxicity Melanogenesis Tyrosinase |
| title | Impact of nicotine-free and nicotine-rich flavored electronic cigarette refill liquids on primary human melanocyte function |
| title_full | Impact of nicotine-free and nicotine-rich flavored electronic cigarette refill liquids on primary human melanocyte function |
| title_fullStr | Impact of nicotine-free and nicotine-rich flavored electronic cigarette refill liquids on primary human melanocyte function |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impact of nicotine-free and nicotine-rich flavored electronic cigarette refill liquids on primary human melanocyte function |
| title_short | Impact of nicotine-free and nicotine-rich flavored electronic cigarette refill liquids on primary human melanocyte function |
| title_sort | impact of nicotine free and nicotine rich flavored electronic cigarette refill liquids on primary human melanocyte function |
| topic | E-cigarette Flavored e-liquid Primary human melanocyte Cytotoxicity Melanogenesis Tyrosinase |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214750025000423 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT shilpigoenka impactofnicotinefreeandnicotinerichflavoredelectroniccigaretterefillliquidsonprimaryhumanmelanocytefunction |