text: Moreover, attempts to elucidate a possible mechanism underlying the artemisinic acid-mediated effects revealed that << artemisinic acid >> regulated melanogenesis by inhibiting cholesterol synthesis through downregulation of the hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA (HMG CoA) reductase gene, which was mediated through reduced expression of the [[ CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP) α ]] gene.