Purpose: This study confirms the cosmeceutical effects of the Lindera obtusiloba (L. obtusiloba) flower and its applicability as a natural cosmetic ingredient. Methods: After obtaining the extracts from the L. obtusiloba flower using hot water and 70% ethanol, its anti-oxidation, whitening, wrinkle improvement, and anti-bacterial properties were measured. Results: The ethanol extracts from the L. obtusiloba flower had a 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging effects of 81.33% at 500 µg/mL and contained phenol and flavonoid concentrations of 152.00 and 145.27 µg/mL, respectively, which were higher than those seen in the hot water extracts. With respect to the whitening effects of the L. obtusiloba flower, the ethanol extracts suppressed tyrosinase enzyme activity by 31.00% at a concentration of 500 µg/mL. In B16F10 melanoma cells, the extracts showed excellent inhibitory effects on tyrosinase and melanin biosynthesis. Its inhibitory effects on α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH)-induced tyrosinase activity and melanin biosynthesis were higher than those observed using the positive control, arbutin. The measurement of procollagen synthesis confirmed the wrinkle improvement effects of the L. obtusiloba flower, with the ethanol extracts promoting a 130.00% increase in procollagen biosynthesis. The anti-bacterial effects of the L. obtusiloba flower extracts on Staphylococcus epidermidis (S. epidermidis), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), and Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) were assessed. Here the ethanol extracts had the greatest anti-bacterial effects on S. epidermidis and P. acnes. Conclusion: L. obtusiloba flower extracts are expected to be highly applicable as natural functional cosmetics of material having skin whitening, wrinkle improvement, and anti-bacterial effects.

Purpose: In this study, we used Zingiber officinale (Z. officinale) leaf, stem, and root extracts to evaluate their potential as cosmetic materials. Methods: We measured DPPH radical-scavenging activity, total polyphenolic and flavonoid contents, ABTS radical scavenging activity, and SOD-like physiological activity to confirm the antioxidant effect to assess the potential of Z. officinale leaf, stem, and root extracts as cosmetic materials. Furthermore, the protective effect on oxidative stress caused by H 2 O 2 in HaCaT cells and proliferative effect in dermal papilla cells were assessed. Results: As a result of the antioxidant effect of Z. officinale leaf, stem, and root extracts, DPPH radical-scavenging activity was measured at a concentration of 400 μg/mL, and it was 88.78% in Z. officinale leaf extract, 70.12% in stem extract, and 65.52% in root extract. Total polyphenolic content was 170.22 μg/mL (leaf), 120.27 μg/mL (stem), and 146 μg/mL (root), whereas total flavonoid content was 98.52 μg/ mL (leaf), 70.26 μg/mL (stem), and 46.12 μg/mL (root). ABTS radical scavenging activity was measured at a concentration of 400 μg/mL, and it was 88.26% (leaf), 70.73% (stem), and 64.13% (root). Further, SOD-like physiological activity was 65.22% (leaf), 57.53% (stem), and 50.21% (root). The protective effect on oxidative stress caused by H 2 O 2 in HaCaT cells was 82.18% (leaf), 78.98% (stem), and 70.27% (root) at a concentration of 100 μg/mL. Our results confirmed that Z. officinale leaf extract has high protective effects on cell damage caused by H 2 O 2 , showing a 32% increase. Moreover, the proliferative effect in dermal papilla cells was 158.63% (leaf), 140.41% (stem), and 132.40% (root) when cells were cultured for 72 h at a concentration of 100 μg/mL. Conclusion: Thus, Z. officinale leaf extract has the highest antioxidant effect, HaCaT cell protective effect, and proliferative effect in dermal papilla cells, indicating a possibility to be developed as a cosmetic material.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential of Persicaria thunbergii (P. thunbergii) extracts as physiologically active cosmetic ingredients. Methods: To elucidate the anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-microbial properties of P. thunbergii , its ethanol and hot-water extracts were examined for 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, nitric oxide (NO) production, protective effects against oxidative stress in HaCaT cells, antiinflammatory activity, anti-microbial activity, and inhibition of β-hexosaminidase expression, an allergy factor. Results: The anti-oxidative activity of the two P. thunbergii extracts was compared, and the anti-oxidative activity of the ethanol extract was found to be superior to that of the hot-water extract. The polyphenol contents of P. thunbergii ethanol and hot-water extracts were 132.00 and 89.46 μg/ mL, respectively. And total flavonoid contents of P. thunbergii ethanol and hot-water extracts were 115.27, 84.94 μg/mL, respectively. The DPPH radical scavenging activity was found to be 79.80% for the ethanol extract and 70.33% for the hot-water extract at a concentration of 500 μg/mL. No significant cytotoxicity was observed in HaCaT, RAW 264.7 and RBL-2H3 cells. The protective effect of the extracts on HaCaT cell against oxidative stress induced by hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2) was confirmed by 23% for ethanol extract and 18% for hot water extract. The anti-inflammatory activity of the extracts was examined in RAW 264.7 cells, and nitric oxide (NO) production was suppressed in a concentration-dependent manner. Both ethanol and hotwater extracts also inhibited the degranulation of immune cells in a concentrationdependent manner, as assessed by the secretion of β-hexosaminidase. In addition, the concentration dependent anti-microbial activities of the extracts were demonstrated in several bacterial strains, such as those of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Staphylococcus epidermidis (S. epidermidis), and Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes). Conclusion: Based on the findings from this study, P. thunbergii extracts could be used as functional cosmetic ingredients that possess anti-oxidative, antiinflammatory, and anti-microbial properties. In order to determine their applicability, further research should be systematically conducted to verify their efficacy through clinical studies in animals and humans.