BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITES OF PLANT LEAF EXTRACTS; AVAILABILITY OF STAR FRUIT LEAF EXTRACT AGAINST SKIN AGING

We evaluated activities of various plant leaf extracts and found the availability against skin aging in the leaf extract of star fruit (Averrhoa carambola L), and developed Star Fruit Leaf Extract BG30 as an ingredient of cosmetics. Star Fruit Leaf Extract BG30 was found to show scavenging activities of reactive oxygen species and an inhibitory effect on the activity of matrix metalloproteinase-1. It showed increasing activity of type I collagen and recovery effect from damage of UV-B irradiation in human fibroblast. We performed the separation of the active principal from Star Fruit Leaf Extract BG30 to give isofurcatin 2"-Ο-$\alpha$-L-rhamnopyranoside, which showed increasing activity of type I collagen. To examine the anti-wrinkle effect of Star Fruit Leaf Extract BG30, seven volunteers applied a Star Fruit Leaf Extract BG30 1 ％ cream in double blind manner to one-side of the corner of their eye and the placebo cream to the opposite side. Clinical evaluation of wrinkling was performed every week for 5 weeks using a silicone rubber replica. A statistically significant improvement of Star Fruit Leaf Extract BG30-treated site was seen in decreased wrinkles. Star Fruit Leaf Extract BG30 results in clinically visible improvement in wrinkling when used topically for 5 weeks.