Study on the Physiological Activity of Corchorus olitirius L.

Abstract

In this study, the effects of the physiological activity of the Corchorus olitirius L. were verified and the applicability as a cosmetic material was reviewed. The total polyphenol content was expressed as 396.44±0.42 mg/100g dry in the water extract of Corchorus olitirius L. (COWE) and the content was expressed as 458.13±0.42 mg/100g dry in the 70% ethanol extract of Corchorus olitirius L. (COEE). The antioxidant effects were measured through an experiment evaluating the electron-donating ability and ABTS radical scavenging activities. In order to verify the whitening effects, tyrosinase inhibitory activity was measured and results showed an effect of 11.82% (COWE) and 48.21% (COEE) at 1,000 μg/mL, respectively. An MTT assay was conducted in RAW 264.7 and B16F10 cells to assess the cell survival rate; it was found that no toxicity was apparent at 100 μg/mL. Active suppression of nitric oxide (NO), an inflammation inducer, was measured to verify the anti-inflammatory efficacy. In the NO assay, experiments were conducted using a concentration of 100 μg/mL which led to a 95% survival rate. The NO assay was measured using Griess reagent and compared to the lipopolysaccharide treatment group and non-treatment group. The inhibition of cellular melanin synthesis was measured to determine the whitening effects. At 100 μg/mL, the inhibition activities of COWE and COEE were 15.69% and 22.67%, respectively. It has been confirmed that COWE and COEE are effective antioxidants, have whitening effects, and are anti-inflammatory agents. In particular, the use of COWE and COEE as natural materials for cosmetics was confirmed to have excellent effects.