• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.40 no.8
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• pp.1086-1091
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• 2011

Anti-oxidative activity and tyrosinase inhibitory activity of various ethanol extracts of Polygoni multiflori radix (PMR) and Cynanchi wilfordii radix (CWR) were compared to identify an anti-oxidant and whitening agent source from nature. We conducted an investigation into the anti-oxidant activities of PMR and CWR ethanol extracts by measuring total polyphenol content, total flavonoid content, and ABTS radical capacity. The total polyphenol contents of PMR and CWR were 17.31${\pm}$0.54 mg GA/eq g, and 2.75${\pm}$0.22 mg GA/eq g, respectively. The total flavonoid contents of PMR and CWR were 6.38${\pm}$0.39 mg naringine/eq g, and 1.34${\pm}$0.09 mg naringine/eq g, respectively. The 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) radical decolorization of PMR and CWR were 96.89${\pm}$0.21% at 1 mg/mL and 93.49${\pm}$0.76% at 50 mg/mL. Melanoma cells were cultured with the PMR and CWR ethanol extracts for 48 hr, and total melanin content as a final product and the activity of tyrosinase, a key enzyme, in melanogenesis, were estimated. The PMR and CWR ethanol extracts increased melanin content and tyrosinase activity in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that PMR and CWR ethanol extracts could be useful as a skin whitening agent.