Anti-inflammatory and Anti-melanogenic Effects of an Extract of Orostachys japonicus A. Berger

Abstract

This study tested the anti-inflammatory and anti-melanogenic effects of an ethanol extract of Orostachys japonicus, a herb used as a folk remedy for cancer for a long time. To assess the anti-inflammatory effect of the O. japonicus ethanol extract (OJE), we treated the RAW 264.7 macrophagocytic cells with the pro-inflammatory mediator lipopolysaccharide (LPS) alone and with LPS and OJE together, then measured NO generation. OJE significantly reduced inflammation in a dosedependent manner. To assess the anti-melanogenic effect of OJE, melanin biosynthesis in B16F10 cells was evaluated. OJE significantly inhibited melanin biosynthesis in a dose-dependent manner. In a clinical experiment, a group of subjects who used a cosmetic product containing OJE (experimental group) for 4 weeks showed a significant reduction in the melanin indices of the forehead, left cheek, and chin compared to those of the control group. The experimental group showed a significant reduction in transepidermal water loss of the left cheek and chin. A statistically significant reduction in the erythema indices of all the regions examined except the right cheek in the experimental group also observed. Base on the results, OJE could be used as a natural cosmetic material.