Antioxidant and Whitening Effects of the Mixed Extract of Ipomoea nil , Arctostaphylos uva-ursi , and Angelica gigas Nakai

The growing demand for functional cosmetics, driven by modern individuals' quest for healthy and aesthetically pleasing skin, is being challenged by reports of side effects and toxicity associated with these products. This underscores the importance of exploring natural plant-based materials for functional cosmetics. This research focuses on the assessment of antioxidant and whitening properties of mixed extracts from Ipomoea nil, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, and Angelica gigas Nakai, all of which have proven pharmacological benefits. The study evaluated the extracts' total polyphenol and flavonoid contents, ABTS and DPPH radical scavenging activities, SOD-like activity, and xanthine oxidase inhibition to determine their antioxidant capabilities. Moreover, the whitening potential was investigated through tyrosinase activity and melanin production assays, alongside a cytotoxicity evaluation via a cell viability test. The findings revealed that the extracts, IAA-1 to IAA-4, demonstrated both antioxidative and whitening capabilities without exhibiting cytotoxic effects. Notably, the extract IAA-4, processed through ultrasonic and ultrahigh pressure extraction, exhibited superior effectiveness. These results indicate that the cavitation formed during ultrasonic irradiation effectively destroys the plant cell wall by creating high pressure, and as a result, it is judged that useful components are easily extracted. As a result of the study, it was confirmed that the IAA-4 extract could be applied as a material for functional cosmetics. KCI Citation Count: 0