Abstract
One of the important functions of skin is protection from harmful environments. Many studies have explored how to prevent skin from wrinkling and the occurrence of pigmentation changes. Skin wrinkling and pigmentation changes could be caused by unusual disruption of connective tissue, the formation of free radicals and ultraviolet radiation. In this study, extracts obtained from 254 different kinds of Jeju medicinal plants were screened for inhibitory effects on tyrosinase and elastase, and for free radical scavenging effects. Four herbs, Phormium tenax, Morus bombycis, Morus alba, and Cudrania tricuspidata, were potent inhibitors of tyrosinase ($IC_{50}$ values 4.62, 5.46, 8.17, and 64.17 ${\mu}g$/mL, respectively). Aleurites fordii [$IC_{50}$: 5.29 ${\mu}g$/mL, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)], Distylium racemosum ($IC_{50}$: 6.14 ${\mu}g$/mL), Acer palmatum ($IC_{50}$: 5.44 ${\mu}g$/mL), and Spiraea salicifolia ($IC_{50}$: 5.25 ${\mu}g$/mL) showed good antioxidative effects. Furthermore, Distylium racemosum ($IC_{50}$: 7.51 ${\mu}g$/mL), Diospyros kaki ($IC_{50}$: 15.1 ${\mu}g$/mL), Cornus macrophylla ($IC_{50}:$ 16.59 ${\mu}g$/mL), and Psidium guajava ($IC_{50}$: 40.25 ${\mu}g$/mL) exhibited potent inhibitory effects on elastase. These results suggest that medicinal plants possessing several biological activities may be potent inhibitors of the processes involved in pigmentation increases and aging. Further investigations will focus on in vivo assays and on the chemical identification of the major active components responsible for whitening and anti-aging activity in the screened efficacious extracts.
