Abstract
Inhibitory effects of the new material obtained from Areca catechu seed (CC-516) according to a special process, and its applicability to the skin as a cosmetic raw material in terms of its efficacy were presented. Areca catechu extract out of 150 medicinal plants, exhibited high inhibitory effect on the porcine pancreatic elastase ($IC_{50}$ : $40.8{\mu}$g/ml). It also had an inhibitory effect on the human leukocyte elastase ($IC_{50}$ : 48.1$\mu$g/ml), hyaluronidase ($IC_{50}$ : $416{\mu}$g/ml), antioxidative activity ($IC_{50}$ : $45.4\mu$g/ml) and free radical scavenging activity ($SC_{50}$ : $10.2{\mu}$g/ml). The cream contained 3％ of CC-516 improved skin hydration above 16.5％. Especially, the skin elasticity increases more than 35% and skin wrinkles decreased more than 23％. The CC-516 was designed to be utilized in cosmetology. The cream containing 3％ of this product has not only protecting effect on the skin mechanical properties provided by the collagen and the elastin in the derm but also restructuring effect of scarring or aging tissue.
