Asian J Beauty Cosmetol. 2010; 8(2): 181-194.
The physicochemical properties of sweet flag (Acorous clamus L.) and the effects on skin protection of its ethanol extracts by UVB
ABSTRACT
The physical and chemical characteristics of sweet flag (Acorous calamus L.) powders and their bioactive material effects to the skin and application of cosmetics were investigated. For the present study, naturally grown sweet flags in Jeonnam, Korea were used. Two parts of sweet flag leaf (upper and lower) and two roots (4 and 6 year) were dried at 30 or 40℃. Sweet flag leaves and roots were freeze-dried and ground to obtain powders. Content of moisture, ash, crude fat, and crude protein of the sweet flag powder of the upper leaf were 4.87, 6.73, 2.22, and 3.57%, respectively. Total and reducing sugar contents of the sweet flag powder were 111.9-119.2 and 5.02-5.22 ppm for 4 year root and 109.9-114.7 and 5.21~5.31 ppm for 6 year root, respectively. The practical toxicity against human cell and anti-acid effect of sweet flag and its essential oils was also investigated in the present study. Toxicity of sweet flag cell was examined with MTT [3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 50diphenyltetrazolium bromide] assay and applied to fibroblast and keratinocyte. In conclusion, these data show that sweet flag and its essential oils were proven to have no toxicity against human skin cell and have strong resistance against acid-based substances. Also, the tyrosinase was inhibited by sweet flag extracts and UV rubefaction was prevented by sweet flag and its essential oils effectively.
Keywords :
Sweet flag, Moisture, Reducing sugar, MTT, Tyrosinase
