JP2014131967A - External composition for whitening skin - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide safe skin-whitening agents and/or pigmentation inhibitors matching the needs of consumers.SOLUTION: The skin-whitening agents comprise carnosic acids or plant extracts including them, and luteolin glycosides or plant extracts including them.

Description

  The present invention relates to a whitening agent for use in the prevention / amelioration of spots, buckwheat, kusumi, melasma, etc., or skin whitening and whitening. More specifically, the present invention relates to a whitening agent containing a natural compound contained in a plant extract, and relates to a safe whitening agent meeting consumer needs, which exhibits a high effect by containing at least two kinds of natural compounds in combination.

  Skin pigmentation is a physiological phenomenon composed of complex processes involving various external factors. Until now, it has been considered that the main point of action of a pigmentation inhibitor that suppresses excessive pigmentation is the stage of formation of melanin granules. Representative examples of the pigmentation inhibitor that acts on such an action point include those having an activity inhibiting action of tyrosinase, which is a melanin synthase such as arbutin and kojic acid (Patent Documents 1 to 3). On the other hand, recent progress in skin research has revealed that various mediators such as endothelin-1 and stem cell factor are produced from epidermal keratinocytes by ultraviolet rays, and these mediators can synthesize melanin in pigment cells. It has been found that it contributes to activation and increase in the number of pigment cells. Abnormality in the melanin synthesis process and / or increase in pigment cells due to aging or some other factor is the cause of excessive pigmentation, and inhibiting this process can prevent excessive pigmentation. It is guessed that it connects (nonpatent literature 1). As an example of a pigmentation inhibitor acting on this process, several components such as m-tranexamic acid and t-AMCHA have been found so far (Patent Documents 4 and 5).

  However, it cannot be said that a sufficient whitening effect is observed with the conventionally reported melanin granule formation inhibitors. There is also a need for a whitening agent that more effectively suppresses mediators from epidermal keratinocytes. Conventional whitening agents may contain artificial synthetic compounds that do not exist in nature, and because they need to be used at high concentrations (mM order) in order to exert their effects, they are safe and costly. Therefore, it cannot be said that it fully meets social needs. Therefore, there is a need for safer and less expensive whitening agents. Furthermore, the development of a whitening agent that exhibits a high pigmentation-inhibiting effect or whitening effect even at low concentrations has been demanded.

JP 2005-336113 A JP 2008-50292 A JP 2005-289880 A JP 2006-306744 A

Expert Rev Dermatol. 2011 Feb 1; 6 (1): 97-108.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a safe whitening agent and / or pigmentation inhibitor that meets the needs of consumers.

  As a result of intensive studies, the present inventors have found that a mint family such as peppermint (Mentha × piperita), orange mint (Mentha × piperita citrata), apple mint (Mentha × rotundifolia), and penny royal mint (Mentha × pulegum). ) Etc. and carnosic acid (Carnosic acid) contained in rosemary and sage, which are also Lamiaceae plants, are found to significantly suppress skin pigmentation. It was. Furthermore, by using the plant extract or carnosic acid containing carnosic acid in combination with the plant extract or luteolin glycoside containing luteolin glycoside, skin pigmentation is remarkably suppressed. The present invention was completed through repeated headings and further studies.

That is, the present invention relates to the following.
(1) A whitening agent comprising carnosic acid or a plant extract containing the same and a luteolin glycoside or a plant extract containing the same.
(2) The whitening agent according to (1), wherein the content ratio of carnosic acid: luteolin glycoside is 1:12 to 1:20 in molar ratio.
(3) The whitening agent according to (1) or (2), wherein the plant extract containing carnosic acid is obtained from at least one selected from the group consisting of rosemary and sage.
(4) The plant extract containing the luteolin glycoside is obtained from at least one selected from the group consisting of peppermint, orange mint, apple mint and penny royal mint. The whitening agent in any one.
(5) The above (1) to (4), wherein the total content of carnosic acid and luteolin glycoside is 0.0001 to 10% of the total weight in terms of dry weight of carnosic acid and luteolin glycoside The whitening agent in any one of.
(6) The whitening agent according to any one of the above (1) to (5), wherein the whitening is prevention or improvement of stains, buckwheat or kusumi, or imparting transparency.
(7) The whitening agent according to any one of (1) to (6), which is a cosmetic composition.

  The present invention can provide a whitening agent that is safer than conventional products. Furthermore, since the whitening agent of the present invention exhibits a surprisingly high synergistic effect by using a combination of carnosic acid and luteolin glycoside, a sufficiently high whitening effect and / or even when an active ingredient is used at a low concentration. Or the pigmentation inhibitory effect is acquired. The whitening agent of the present invention exhibits a high effect in whitening the skin, such as prevention or improvement of spots, buckwheat or kusumi, or imparting transparency. Furthermore, according to the present invention, carnosic acid and luteolin glycoside, which are natural compounds obtained from a plant extract, can be used, and the plant extract itself can be used, so that it is a safe and inexpensive whitening agent. Can be provided. That is, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a whitening agent exhibiting excellent effects that meets consumer needs (safety, price, etc.).

FIG. 1 shows an image of a skin model taken at a magnification of 100 in Test Example 1 of the example. 1-a is untreated (Control 1), 1-b is added with 6.25 μM carnosic acid (Comparative Example 1), 1-c is added with 100 μM luteolin-7-O-glucoside (Comparison Example 2), 1-d shows a skin model of a combination (Example 1) of a combination of luteolin-7-O-glucoside and carnosic acid. FIG. 2 shows an image of a skin model taken at a magnification of 100 in Test Example 2 of the example. 2-a is untreated (Control 2), 2-b is a rosemary extract added at 2.5 μg / mL (Comparative Example 3), 2-c is an orange mint extract added at 300 μg / mL. (Comparative Example 4), 2-d shows a skin model of Example 2 with a rosemary extract and orange mint extract added in combination.

  The present invention will be described in detail below.

  In one embodiment of the present invention, the whitening agent contains carnosic acid and luteolin glycoside in combination. By combining carnosic acid and luteolin glycoside, it is possible to obtain a significantly high whitening effect and / or pigmentation inhibitory effect that cannot be obtained when each of them is used alone. That is, by using a combination of carnosic acid and luteolin glycoside, a surprising synergistic effect is exhibited in the whitening effect and / or the pigmentation inhibitory effect.

The chemical structural formula of carnosic acid is shown in the following formula (I).

  The origin of carnosic acid used in the present invention is not particularly limited, and either a chemically synthesized product or a naturally derived product can be suitably used. However, it is preferable to use a naturally derived product from the viewpoint of safety and manufacturing price. . Although naturally-occurring carnosic acid is not particularly limited, it can be obtained from rosemary, sage and the like.

  In addition, the origin of the luteolin glycoside is not particularly limited, and either a chemically synthesized product or a naturally derived product can be suitably used. However, from the viewpoint of safety and manufacturing price, a naturally derived product may be used. preferable. The naturally derived luteolin glycoside is not particularly limited, and can be obtained from peppermint, orange mint, apple mint, penny royal mint and the like. Among these, it is preferable to use peppermint or orange mint from the viewpoint of exhibiting a high synergistic effect when combined with carnosic acid.

  Furthermore, the number of sugars of the luteolin glycoside is not particularly limited, and any sugar can be suitably used as long as it is obtained from the above-described plant. When the glycoside sugar is a monosaccharide, the type thereof is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include glucose, mannose, galactose, fructose, fucose, rhamnose, arabinose, xylose, digitoxose, etc. preferable.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the luteolin glycoside is luteolin-7-O-glucoside represented by the following formula (II).

  In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, the ratio when carnosic acid and luteolin glycoside are used in combination is not particularly limited as long as a synergistic effect is obtained, but usually, carnosic acid: luteolin glycoside in molar ratio. = 1: 12 to 1:20, and preferably from 1:14 to 1:18, more preferably from 1:15 to 1:17, from the viewpoint of showing a high synergistic effect.

  In another embodiment of the present invention, the whitening agent may be prepared by combining a plant extract containing carnosic acid and a plant extract containing luteolin glycoside. Further, a combination of a plant extract containing carnosic acid and a luteolin glycoside, and a combination of a plant extract containing luteolin glycoside and a carnosic acid can also be suitably used.

  Although the plant extract containing the said carnosic acid is not specifically limited, For example, plant extracts of Labiatae such as rosemary and sage are mentioned. Moreover, although the plant extract containing the said luteolin glycoside is not specifically limited, For example, plant extracts of Labiatae genus such as peppermint, orange mint, apple mint, and penny royal mint are mentioned.

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the plant extract containing carnosic acid is at least one selected from the group consisting of rosemary and sage.

  In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the plant extract containing the luteolin glycoside is at least one selected from the group consisting of peppermint, orange mint, apple mint and penny royal mint.

  In the present invention, the combination of the plant extract containing carnosic acid and the plant extract containing luteolin glycoside is not particularly limited. For example, the combination of rosemary extract and peppermint extract, rosemary extract and orange mint The combination with an extract, the combination of a sage extract and a peppermint extract, the combination of a sage extract and an orange mint extract, etc. are mentioned. Among these, a combination of a rosemary extract and an orange mint extract is preferable from the viewpoint of showing a high synergistic effect.

  Furthermore, in the present invention, the combination of a plant extract containing carnosic acid and a luteolin glycoside, and the combination of a plant extract containing luteolin glycoside and a carnosic acid are not particularly limited. A combination of a Marie extract and a luteolin glycoside, a combination of a sage extract and a luteolin glycoside, a combination of carnosic acid and an orange mint extract, and the like.

  In one embodiment of the present invention, all possible combinations can be used except for the combination of carnosic acid and orange mint extract.

  Moreover, the whitening agent of this invention may prescribe | regulate content of an active ingredient with content of a carnosic acid and a luteolin glycoside. That is, when the whitening agent of the present invention contains a plant extract, the content of the plant extract can be defined in terms of the content of carnosic acid and / or luteolin glycoside.

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the whitening agent is a combination of a plant extract containing carnosic acid and a plant extract containing luteolin glycoside, a combination of a plant extract containing carnosic acid and luteolin glycoside, or luteolin When a combination of a plant extract containing a glycoside and carnosic acid is contained, the content ratio may be defined as carnosic acid and luteolin glycoside in any combination. In the combination of carnosic acid and luteolin glycoside, the ratio is not particularly limited as long as a synergistic effect is obtained, but usually it is carnosic acid: luteolin glycoside = 1: 12 to 1:20 in molar ratio, From the viewpoint of showing a high synergistic effect, the ratio is preferably 1:14 to 1:18, more preferably 1:15 to 1:17.

  Next, a method for extracting a plant extract will be described. In the present invention, the method for obtaining the extract from the above-mentioned plant is not particularly limited, and various methods usually used in this field can be adopted. Specifically, the following extraction methods can be used.

First, a method for extracting a plant extract containing carnosic acid will be described.
In the preparation of the plant extract, dried leaves of a plant containing carnosic acid (for example, Lamiaceae plants such as rosemary or sage) may be used. Furthermore, it is more preferable to use dry leaf powder from the viewpoint of extraction efficiency. This extraction method may include a step of adding ethanol to the dried leaves and stirring at 20 ° C to 28 ° C. Moreover, after the said stirring extraction process, it may include the process of filtering and isolate | separating a solution and a solid substance and removing a solid substance from an extract. Furthermore, the process of substituting the solvent of the obtained extract with ethanol from water may be included. The method for replacing the solvent of the extract with ethanol from water is not particularly limited. For example, the extract obtained by the filtration step can be removed by removing ethanol by distillation under reduced pressure and adding water. Then, after the solvent replacement step, a precipitate generated may be collected by filtration and lyophilized.

Next, a method for extracting a plant extract containing luteolin glycoside will be described.
In the preparation of the plant extract, dried leaves of a plant containing a luteolin glycoside (for example, a plant of the genus Labiatae such as peppermint or orange mint) may be used. Furthermore, it is more preferable to use dry leaf powder from the viewpoint of extraction efficiency. The extraction method may include a step of adding distilled water to the dried leaf and heating it (hot water extraction step). Although heating temperature is not specifically limited, Since it can extract efficiently, it is preferable to carry out at 70 to 85 degreeC. Moreover, after the said hot-water extraction process, the process of filtering and isolate | separating a solution and a solid substance may be included, and the process of removing a solid substance from an extract may be included. Furthermore, you may include the process of freeze-drying the extraction solution obtained by the said filtration process.

  When the carnosic acid used in the present invention is naturally derived, the carnosic acid may be prepared by isolation and purification from a plant extract containing the carnosic acid. The extraction method may be similar to the method described above. Moreover, the method for isolating and purifying carnosic acid from the plant extract is not particularly limited, and various methods usually used in this field can be adopted.

  In addition, when the luteolin glycoside used in the present invention is naturally derived, the luteolin glycoside may be prepared by isolation and purification from a plant extract containing the luteolin glycoside. The extraction method may be similar to the method described above. Moreover, the method for isolating and purifying luteolin glycosides from plant extracts is not particularly limited, and various methods usually used in this field can be employed.

  The whitening agent of the present invention can be used as an external composition, for example, a skin external composition. The form of the external composition for skin is not particularly limited. For example, an ointment, a gel, a liniment, a lotion, an emulsion, a powder, a suspension, an aerosol, a liquid, or the like, or a base on a support. A supported plaster, a poultice, a tape, a plaster or the like may be used.

  Furthermore, the external composition for skin of the present invention can be suitably used as a cosmetic composition, for example, a whitening cosmetic product. The whitening cosmetic product of the present invention can be used for the prevention and / or improvement of skin pigmentation such as spots, buckwheat, kusumi and melasma, or skin whitening and whitening.

  The form of the cosmetic composition of the present invention is not particularly limited. For example, lotion, cosmetic emulsion, cosmetic oil, cosmetic liquid, cream, cold cream, face wash, pack agent, sunscreen agent, after-shave lotion, shaving Skin care products such as soaps and hand creams; makeup products such as makeup bases, foundations, concealers, face powders, water-washing, watering, doran, eye shadow base, eye shadow, nose shadow, lip pencil, lipstick, lip gloss, blusher Shampoo, dry shampoo, conditioner, rinse, rinse-in shampoo, treatment, hair tonic, hair conditioner, hair oil, pomade, hair coloring agent, etc .; dentifrice, lip balm, soap, body soap And the like. Among the above, from the viewpoint of whitening effect and / or pigmentation suppression effect, skin care products such as lotion, cosmetic emulsion, cosmetic oil, cosmetic liquid, cream, facial cleanser, pack agent, sunscreen, hand cream, etc. More preferably, it is a lotion, a cosmetic emulsion, a cosmetic liquid, and a pack agent.

  In addition to the whitening agent of the present invention, the cosmetic composition described above contains components usually used in cosmetics such as purified water, alcohols (lower alcohols, polyhydric alcohols, etc.), fats and oils, waxes, and hydrocarbons. Such a base may be contained. Furthermore, surfactants, thickeners, UV absorbers, UV scattering agents, stabilizers, pH adjusters, preservatives, colorants, fragrances, oily ingredients, silicones, fluorine-based oils, various skin nutrients, as desired. You may contain additives, such as. Furthermore, components such as blood flow promoters, bactericides, anti-inflammatory agents, cell activators, vitamins, amino acids, humectants, keratolytic agents, and the like may be included.

  Examples of the base include, but are not limited to, sodium alginate, gelatin, corn starch, tragacanth gum, methyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, xanthan gum, carrageenan, mannan, agarose, dextrin, carboxymethyl starch, polyvinyl alcohol, sodium polyacrylate , Methoxyethylene-maleic anhydride copolymer, polyvinyl ether, polyvinylpyrrolidone, carboxyvinyl polymer, hydroxypropylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, pullulan and other polymers; white petrolatum, yellow petrolatum, paraffin, ceresin wax, microcrystalline wax, etc. Of hydrocarbons; gelled hydrocarbons (eg, plastic Higher fatty acids such as stearic acid; higher alcohols such as cetanol, octyldodecanol and stearyl alcohol; polyethylene glycol (for example, Macrogol 4000); propylene glycol, glycerin, dipropylene glycol, 1, Examples include polyhydric alcohols such as 3-butylene glycol and concentrated glycerin; fatty acid esters such as monooleic acid ester and stearic acid glyceride; and phosphate buffer. Furthermore, solubilizers, inorganic fillers, pH adjusters, moisturizers, preservatives, thickeners, antioxidants, cooling agents, blood flow promoters, bactericides, anti-inflammatory agents, cell activators, vitamins, Amino acids, moisturizers, keratolytic agents, sequestering agents (eg, disodium edetate, trisodium edetate, sodium citrate, sodium polyphosphate, sodium metaphosphate, gluconic acid, etc.), sugars (eg, glucose, fructose, Additives such as mannose, sucrose, trehalose, etc.) may be added.

  The surfactant is not particularly limited, and any of nonionic surfactants, anionic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants and the like can be suitably used.

  Examples of the nonionic surfactant include polyoxyethylene alkyl ether, polyoxyethylene alkylphenyl ether, polyoxyethylene fatty acid ester, sorbitan fatty acid ester, polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid ester, polyoxyethylene sorbitol fatty acid ester, fatty acid monoglyceride, Examples include polyoxyethylene hydrogenated castor oil, polyoxyethylene castor oil, polyglycerin fatty acid ester, sucrose fatty acid ester, glycerin fatty acid ester, and alkyl glyceryl ether.

  Examples of the anionic surfactant include alkylbenzene sulfonate, alkyl or alkenyl sulfate, polyoxyethylene alkyl sulfate, alkyl or alkenyl ether sulfate, olefin sulfonate, alkane sulfonate, fatty acid alkali metal salt, unsaturated Fatty acid salt, alkyl or alkenyl ether carboxylate, α-sulfo fatty acid salt or ester having alkyl group or alkenyl group, N-acyl amino acid type surfactant having acyl group and free carboxylic acid residue, polyoxyethylene cured castor Examples thereof include oil alkyl sulfate esters, polyoxyethylene alkyl phosphate esters, phosphate mono- or diester-type surfactants having an alkyl group or an alkenyl group.

  Examples of the amphoteric surfactant include an imidazoline-based amphoteric surfactant having an alkyl group, an alkenyl group or an acyl group, a carbobetaine-based, an amidebetaine-based, a sulfobetaine-based, a hydroxysulfobetaine-based or an amidosulfobetaine-based amphoteric surfactant. Etc.

  Furthermore, polyether-modified silicones, silicone-containing surfactants such as siloxane derivatives described in JP-A No. 4-108795, surfactants having a perfluoroalkyl group, and the like can also be used.

  The oily component is not particularly limited and may be volatile or non-volatile. Examples of solid or liquid oily components include paraffin, petrolatum, crystal oil, ceresin, ozokerite, montan wax, squalane, squalene, and the like. Hydrocarbons: Eucalyptus oil, mint oil, camellia oil, macadamia nut oil, avocado oil, beef tallow, pork tallow, horse tallow, egg yolk fat, olive oil, carnauba wax, lanolin, jojoba oil; glycerin monostearate, glycerine distearate, Glycerol monooleate, isopropyl palmitate, isopropyl stearate, butyl stearate, isopropyl myristate, neopentyl glycol dicaprate, diethyl phthalate, myristyl lactate, diisopropyl adipate, Cetyl ristinate, myristyl lactate, diisopropyl adipate, cetyl myristate, cetyl lactate, 1-isostearoyl-3-myristoylglycerol, cetyl 2-ethylhexanoate, 2-ethylhexyl palmitate, 2-octyldodecyl myristate, Ester oils such as neopentyl glycol di-2-ethylhexanoate, 2-octyldodecyl oleate, glycerol triisostearate, di-paramethoxycinnamic acid-glyceryl mono-2-ethylhexanoate; stearic acid, palmitic acid, And higher fatty acids such as oleic acid.

  The silicones are not particularly limited as long as they are usually blended in cosmetics. For example, octamethylpolysiloxane, tetradecamethylpolysiloxane, methylpolysiloxane, highly polymerized methylpolysiloxane, methylphenylpolysiloxane, Methyl polycyclosiloxanes such as octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane and decamethylcyclopentasiloxane, trimethylsiloxysilicic acid, alkyl-modified silicones, polyether / alkyl-modified silicones, alkylglyceryl ether-modified silicones, JP-A-6-72851 Examples include modified silicones such as the modified organopolysiloxanes described.

  As the fluorinated oil, perfluoropolyether and fluorine-modified silicone, which are perfluoro organic compounds that are liquid at room temperature, are preferable. For example, perfluorodecalin, perfluoroadamantane, perfluorobutyltetrahydrofuran, perfluorooctane, perfluoro Nonane, perfluoropentane, perfluorodecane, perfluorododecane, fluorine-modified silicone and the like can be mentioned.

  Further, preferable examples of the fluorine-modified silicone include fluorine-modified silicone having a degree of polymerization of 2 to 200 described in JP-A-5-47214, and fluorine having a degree of polymerization of 2 to 200 described in JP-A-6-184312. Modified silicone, FSL-300 manufactured by Asahi Glass Co., Ltd., X-22-819, X-22-820, X-22-821, X-22-822 and FL-100 manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd. -Dow Corning Silicone FS-1265 etc. can be mentioned.

  Furthermore, the cosmetic composition of the present invention can contain a polymer compound as desired.

  Examples of the polymer compound include acrylic acid polymers and water-soluble polymers. Among these, the acrylic acid polymer forms a gel by neutralizing with an alkali agent. Accordingly, the acrylic acid polymer is not particularly limited as long as it forms a gel by neutralization with an alkali agent, and a polymer generally referred to as a water-soluble alkali thickening polymer is used. Examples of such acrylic acid polymers include B.I. F. Carbopol 907, 910, 934, 934-P, 940, 941, 954, 980, 981, 1342, commercially available from BF Good rich Company, ETD2020, ETD2050, 1382, 2984, 5984 Etc., Pemulen (Pemulen) TR-1, TR-2, etc., Hypam SA-100H, SR-150H, SS-201, QT-100, etc. commercially available from Lipo Chemicals Inc. AQUPEC HV-501, HV-504, HV-500, etc. commercially available from Sumitomo Seika Co., Ltd., Sepigel 305, 501 etc. commercially available from Seppic. Inc. . Among these, particularly preferred acrylic polymers include carbopol 941, 981, 940, 980, 1342, 1382; pemlan TR-1, TR-2, and sepigel 305.

  The water-soluble polymer is not particularly limited as long as it is used for ordinary cosmetics and the like. For example, guar gum, quince seed, carrageenan, locust bean gum, gum arabic, tragacanth, pectin, mannan, starch, alginic acid Sodium, xanthan gum, pullulan, dextran, curdlan, collagen, keratin, casein, albumin, gelatin, chitin, cationized cellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxypropyltrimethylammonium chloride ether, carboxymethylcellulose , Dextran sulfate, carboxymethyl chitin, soluble starch, carboxymethyl starch Propylene glycol alginate, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, sodium polyacrylate, polyvinyl methyl ether, polyethylene glycol, and the like. Of these, xanthan gum, hydroxyethyl cellulose and the like are particularly preferable.

  The cosmetic composition of the present invention can be produced according to a conventional method. Further, the cosmetic composition of the present invention is not limited to general cosmetics, but includes medicinal cosmetics.

  Subsequently, the content of the active ingredient in the cosmetic composition of the present invention will be described. The active ingredients are carnosic acid and luteolin glycoside, and in terms of dry solid mass, the total mass of carnosic acid and luteolin glycoside is usually 0.000001 to 20% by mass relative to the total amount of cosmetics, whitening effect and From the viewpoint of the effect of suppressing pigmentation, it is preferably 0.00001-15% by mass, more preferably 0.0001-10% by mass. If it is the said range, sufficient whitening effect and / or pigmentation inhibitory effect will be acquired by use of a suitable quantity.

Next, the use (adaptation) amount of the cosmetic composition will be described. The amount used can be changed as appropriate according to the age, sex, or state of the place of use, and is not particularly limited as long as the effects of the present invention are exhibited. Specifically, the active ingredients are carnosic acid and luteolin glycoside, and the amount used is usually 0.00025 to 2500 μg / cm ² / day, preferably 0, in terms of the total dry mass of the active ingredients. 0025-250 μg / cm ² / day, more preferably 0.025-25 μg / cm ² / day. The ratio when combining carnosic acid and luteolin glycoside may be the same as that of the above-mentioned whitening agent.

  The method for measuring (quantifying) the contents of carnosic acid and luteolin glycosides in the whitening agent or cosmetic composition of the present invention can employ a method usually used in this field. Specifically, Quantification is performed using HPLC (manufactured by Shimadzu Corporation) equipped with a C18 silica column (manufactured by Waters).

  First, quantification of carnosic acid will be described. As the mobile phase, a first mobile phase in which acetic acid is mixed with distilled water so as to be 2% by volume, and acetonitrile as a second mobile phase are prepared, and the first mobile phase is set so that the concentration of the second mobile phase is 55% by volume. HPLC measurement is carried out under isocratic conditions using a mobile phase mixed with. The injection amount of the measurement sample is 10 μL. The content of carnosic acid in the sample is calculated from a calibration curve created using a pure product (reagent) of carnosic acid and the peak area value of carnosic acid in the sample.

  Next, quantification of luteolin glycoside will be described. As a mobile phase, a first mobile phase in which acetic acid is mixed with distilled water to 2% by volume, and acetonitrile as a second mobile phase are prepared, and the concentration of the second mobile phase is 15% by volume from the start of analysis to 5 minutes. Separation is performed using a mobile phase mixed with the first mobile phase, and HPLC measurement is performed under a gradient condition in which the concentration of the mobile phase is 15% to 45% by volume between 5 and 35 minutes. To do. The injection amount of the measurement sample is 10 μL. The content of the luteolin glycoside in the sample is calculated from the calibration curve created using the pure product (reagent) of the luteolin glycoside and the peak area value of the luteolin glycoside in the sample.

  Next, the present invention will be described more specifically with reference to experimental examples and examples. However, the present invention is not limited to these examples, and many modifications are within the technical idea of the present invention. This is possible by those with ordinary knowledge in the field.

Production Example 1: Preparation of rosemary extract 500 mL of water-containing ethanol containing 99.5% by volume of ethanol was added to a dried rosemary leaf (100 g) and stirred at 25 ° C. Extraction was performed by leaving it to stand for 1 day. Thereafter, the mixture was filtered, and the solvent of the filtrate was distilled off to 100 mL with an evaporator. 100 mL of water was added there, and the solvent was distilled off again to 100 mL. The resulting precipitate was collected by filtration and lyophilized to obtain a rosemary extract.

Production Example 2: Preparation of Orange Mint Extract 100 ml of sterilized distilled water was added to orange mint leaves dried and minced (5 g), and the mixture was left at 80 ° C. for 3 hours for extraction. . Thereafter, the extract collected by filtration was freeze-dried to obtain an orange mint extract.

Evaluation of inhibition of pigmentation of carnosic acid and luteolin-7-O-glucoside using a three-dimensional skin culture model (MEL-300B) (Kurabo)

  A three-dimensional skin culture model (MEL-300B) composed of normal epidermal keratinocytes and normal pigment cells derived from humans was purchased from Kurabo Corporation, and carnosic acid (Comparative Example 1) and luteolin glycoside, luteolin- The pigmentation inhibitory effect by single use of 7-O-glucoside (Comparative Example 2) and combination use of both (Example 1) was examined.

(Control group)
Two types of media, EPI-100LLMM medium, which is an attached medium, and Epilife-HKGS medium (GIBCO) were used as the medium required for culturing the three-dimensional skin model.

First, 900 μL of EPI-100LLMM medium as an attached medium was dispensed in two 6-well plates, and 12 skin model cups were immersed therein. Cultivation was carried out for 1 hour at 37 ° C. in a CO ₂ incubator (95 vol% air / 5 vol% carbon dioxide).

  Prepare a medium in which HKGS (Invitrogen) is added as a supplement to Epilife medium (GIBCO), to which endothelin-1 (ET-1) (Sigma) and stem cell factor (SCF) (Peprotech) are final concentrations, respectively. A long-term maintenance medium was prepared by dissolving to 20 nM and 5 nM. DMSO is dissolved in the medium to a final concentration of 0.1% by volume, and 1.2 mL of 3 wells are dispensed into a newly prepared 12-well plate (IWAKI) to prepare a well for the control group. Prepared.

  A stainless steel washer previously sterilized was put into the well prepared by the above method, and each skin model cup after pre-culture for 1 hour was transferred onto each washer one by one.

  Then, the process in each cup was performed. 75 μL of sterile distilled water in which DMSO was dissolved to a final concentration of 0.1% by volume was added.

(Comparative Example 1)
Carnosic acid was previously dissolved in DMSO solution to 50 mM to prepare a stock solution. Carnosic acid was dissolved in a long-term maintenance medium to a final concentration of 6.25 μM, and 1.2 mL was dispensed into 3 wells to prepare wells for the carnosic acid alone treatment group. Were prepared.

(Comparative Example 2)
Preparation was performed in the same manner as in the control group except that 75 μL of sterile distilled water in which luteolin-7-O-glucoside was dissolved to a final concentration of 100 μM was added to the cup during the treatment in the cup.

Example 1
Preparation was performed in the same manner as in Comparative Example 1 except that 75 μL of sterile distilled water in which luteolin-7-O-glucoside was dissolved to a final concentration of 100 μM was added to the cup during the treatment in the cup. .

<Test Example 1>
The cups prepared in the control group, Comparative Examples 1 and 2 and Example 1 were cultured in a CO ₂ incubator (95% by volume air / 5% by volume carbon dioxide) at 37 ° C. for 8 days. . In addition, each chemical | medical agent of carnosic acid and / or luteolin-7-O-glucoside was processed again every three days by each method mentioned above during culture | cultivation.

  After 8 days, the medium was removed, and 500 μL of 10% by volume neutral formalin was added inside and outside the cup to fix the skin model. Thereafter, the skin model was photographed with a 100 × field of view under an optical microscope. Image J image analysis software (National Institutes of Health) was used for quantitative evaluation of pigmentation of the obtained image.

  After converting the captured image file to grayscale, the area of the pigmented area was calculated for each group. The ratio (%) in each group when the control group area is 100% is shown in Table 1.

  As is clear from Table 1, carnosic acid or luteolin-7-O-glucoside is combined with carnosic acid or luteolin-7-O-glucoside, compared with the case where luteolin-7-O-glucoside, which is a luteolin glycoside, is used alone. When used, a remarkable synergistic effect was observed, and a very high pigmentation inhibitory effect was exhibited.

Evaluation of pigmentation inhibition of rosemary extract and orange mint extract using three-dimensional skin culture model (MEL-300B)

As in Test Example 1, each skin model cup was immersed in an EPI-100LLMM medium and cultured in a CO ₂ incubator (95% by volume air / 5% by volume carbon dioxide) at 37 ° C. for 1 hour.

(Control group 2)
Prepare a long-term maintenance medium containing ET-1 and SCF during pre-culture, and add 1.2 mL of a medium prepared by dissolving DMSO to a final concentration of 0.1% by volume in a newly prepared 12-well plate. The control wells were prepared by dispensing each one.

  A pre-sterilized stainless steel washer was placed in the well prepared by the above method, and the skin model cups that had been pre-cultured for 1 hour were transferred one by one on the washer.

  Then, the process in a cup was performed. 75 μL of sterile distilled water was added to the cup.

(Comparative Example 3)
The rosemary extract prepared in Production Example 1 was dissolved in advance in a DMSO solution to 30 mg / mL to prepare a stock solution. Thereafter, the stock solution was dissolved in the long-term maintenance medium so that the final concentration was 2.5 μg / mL, and preparation was performed in the same manner as in the control group 2 except that 1.2 mL was dispensed into a 12-well plate.

(Comparative Example 4)
In the treatment in the cup, the orange mint extract is previously dissolved in sterile distilled water to 500 mg / mL, the stock solution is adjusted, and then adjusted to sterile distilled water to a final concentration of 300 μg / mL. Preparation was carried out in the same manner as in Control Group 2, except that 75 μL was added to the cup.

(Example 2)
In the treatment in the cup, the orange mint extract is previously dissolved in sterile distilled water to 500 mg / mL, the stock solution is adjusted, and then adjusted to sterile distilled water to a final concentration of 300 μg / mL. Preparation was performed in the same manner as in Comparative Example 3 except that 75 μL was added to the cup.

<Test Example 2>
The cups prepared in Control Group 2, Comparative Examples 3, 4 and Example 2 were cultured in a CO ₂ incubator (95% by volume air / 5% by volume carbon dioxide) at 37 ° C. for 8 days. It was. During the culture, the cup was treated with the rosemary extract and / or orange mint extract at a frequency of once every 3 days by the above-described methods.

  After 8 days, the medium was removed, and 500 μL of 10% by volume neutral formalin was added inside and outside the cup to fix the skin model. Thereafter, the skin model was photographed with a 100 × field of view under an optical microscope. Image J image analysis software (National Institutes of Health) was used for quantitative evaluation of pigmentation of the obtained image.

  After converting the captured image file to grayscale, the area of the pigmented area was calculated for each group. The ratio (%) in each group when the control group area is 100% is shown in Table 2.

  As is apparent from Table 2, when the rosemary extract and the orange mint extract are used in combination as compared with the rosemary extract and the orange mint extract alone, a remarkable synergistic effect is recognized, and the pigment is very high. Deposition suppression effect was shown.

  The present invention can provide a safe and inexpensive whitening agent that uses carnosic acid and luteolin glycoside, which are natural compounds obtained from a plant extract, or the plant extract itself. Furthermore, the whitening agent of the present invention is remarkably excellent obtained by using a plant extract containing carnosic acid or carnosic acid in combination with a plant extract containing luteolin glycoside or luteolin glycoside. It has whitening and / or pigmentation inhibitory effect. And according to this invention, the whitening agent or cosmetics which exhibit the effect in the prevention and / or improvement of skin pigmentation, such as a spot, a buckwheat, a kusumi, a liver spot, or the skin whitening, whitening, etc. are provided. be able to.

Claims (7)

  A whitening agent comprising carnosic acid or a plant extract containing the same and a luteolin glycoside or a plant extract containing the same.   The whitening agent according to claim 1, wherein the content ratio of carnosic acid: luteolin glycoside is 1:12 to 1:20 in molar ratio.   The whitening agent according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the plant extract containing carnosic acid is obtained from at least one selected from the group consisting of rosemary and sage.   The whitening according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the plant extract containing the luteolin glycoside is obtained from at least one selected from the group consisting of peppermint, orange mint, apple mint and penny royal mint. Agent.   The total content of carnosic acid and luteolin glycoside is 0.0001 to 10% of the total weight in terms of the dry weight of carnosic acid and luteolin glycoside. Whitening agent.   The whitening agent according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the whitening is prevention or improvement of stains, buckwheat or kusumi, or imparting transparency.   It is a cosmetic composition, The whitening agent in any one of Claims 1-6.