| Summary: | Since ancient times, plants have been a good source of natural antioxidants. Plants remove active oxygen through antioxidants and contain various active ingredients. These active ingredients of plants are used to alleviate skin aging and chronic diseases. <em>Ajuga spectabilis </em>Nakai (AS) is a perennial plant, is endemic to Korea, and has the characteristics of alpine plants. The aim of this study was to assure the possibility of using AS as a functional natural and cosmetic material. For this, we carried out biologically activated material characteristic evaluations about antioxidant, wrinkle reduction, and anti-inflammatory effects using AS extract. To carry out this experiment, we extracted AS extract from AS water extract (AS-W) and AS 70% ethanol extract (AS-E). AS-E showed the highest DPPH activity and tyrosinase inhibitory activity. After, the measurement of metalloprotease (MMP)-1 inhibition effect showed the AS-W and AS-E activation at the concentration of 100 µg/mL. In addition, at the same concentration, from the result of the measurement of the biosynthesis quantity of pro-collagen type-1 we knew that its excellent effect appeared in AS-E (CCD-986sk). The inhibition of NO production in AS-W and AS-E was confirmed in LPS-induced mouse macrophage RAW264.7 cells. On cell viability, it was judged that AS-E had no toxicity because it showed a high cell viability at a high concentration, and it was used for the anti-inflammatory activity. Inhibition of NO production worked only in AS-E; inflammatory cytokine TNF-α and IL-6 were suppressed in a concentration-dependent manner in AS-E. AS is believed to be used as a natural cosmetic material because it has been proven to have antioxidant, whitening, wrinkle-improving, and anti-inflammatory effects. Therefore, the results indicate that AS extract can play an important role as a functional natural material and a cosmetic material for whitening, wrinkle reduction, and anti-inflammatory effect.
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