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Cosmetic formulations containing Lithospermum erythrorhizon root extract show moisturizing effects on human skin

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Abstract

Retention of water in the stratum corneum of skin epidermis plays an important role in regulation of skin function. Loss of water may decline skin appearance gradually and lead to irregular skin disorders. The root extract of Lithospermum erythrorhizon (LES) is known for its various pharmacological activities. However, the potential skin care effect of LES is not clear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the moisturizing efficacy and skin barrier repairing activity of LES. For this study, 30 healthy Asian females (age 20–30) with healthy skin had applied the test emulsions twice daily over a period of 28 days. The skin properties were measured by skin bioengineering techniques. Our preliminary results indicated that LES show moisturizing effect on skin hydration in a time- and dose-dependent pattern, and the maximum increase in skin humidity was 11.77 ± 1.18% for emulsion LES5.00. Particularly, LES-containing emulsions significantly improve skin barrier function by decreasing the value of transepidermal water loss (TEWL) in a time- and dose-dependent pattern, and the maximum decrease in TEWL value was 7.68 ± 0.79% for emulsion LES5.00. Taken together, our data demonstrate that LES is more effective in increasing skin humidity and decreasing the TEWL values, indicating the potential skin care effects of LES.

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Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge financial support by a grant from the Committee on Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy, Department of Health, Executive Yuan, Taiwan, R. O. C. (CCMP95-TP-046). We also acknowledge a kind favor of statistical analysis from the China Med. Univ. Biostatistics Center.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate Institute of Chinese Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, 40402, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC

    Man-Jau Chang

  2. Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, China Medical University, 40402, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC

    Huey-Chun Huang

  3. Department of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, 40402, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC

    Hsien-Cheh Chang

  4. Department of Applied Cosmetology, Hungkuang University, No. 34, Chung-Chie Rd., Shalu, Taichung County, 43302, Taiwan, ROC

    Tsong-Min Chang

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  1. Man-Jau Chang
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  2. Huey-Chun Huang
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  3. Hsien-Cheh Chang
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  4. Tsong-Min Chang
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Correspondence to Tsong-Min Chang.

Additional information

M.-J. Chang, H.-C. Huang contributed equally to this article.

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Chang, MJ., Huang, HC., Chang, HC. et al. Cosmetic formulations containing Lithospermum erythrorhizon root extract show moisturizing effects on human skin. Arch Dermatol Res 300, 317–323 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00403-008-0867-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00403-008-0867-9

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