Potential application of acetone extract of Astragalus sinicus Linne seed to functional cosmetics

Abstract

For the functional cosmetic agent using acetone extract of A. sinicus Linne seed, the effects of whitening, wrinkling, and safety were investigated. Cell viabilities of Raw 264.7 up to 60 mg/mL did not appear to have any significant direct cytotoxic effect. The melanin concentration was decreased up to 62.1% at 20 mg/mL. When the acetone extract concentration of A. sinicus Linne seed was increased from 5 to 20 mg/mL, the inhibitory activity of tyrosinase was sharply increased from 61.3 to 93.8%. However, above 30 mg/mL, it did not increase. The inhibition effects of elastase and collagenase were increased with the extract concentration. Especially, when acetone extract concentration of A. sinicus Linne seed was increased from 25 to 200 μg/mL, the inhibition effect of elastase was increased from 60.2 to 97.5%. The inhibition effect of collagenase was increased from 35.0 to 99.0% when increased from 50 to 300 μg/mL. The indexes of pigment and coarseness were 28.56 MI and 18.45R-value, respectively, after 8 weeks of clinical trial using cream pack containing 0.2% of acetone extract of A. sinicus Linne seed. The indexes of elasticity and moisture were 64.5Ur/Uf and 55.2AU, respectively, after 8 weeks of clinical trial. These results demonstrate that acetone extract of A. sinicus Linne seed may be useful as a potential agent for functional cosmetics.