의성 천년초의 항산화 활성에 관한 연구 = A Study on the Antioxidant Activity of Opuntia Humifusa in Uiseong

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This study evaluated extracts of Opuntia humifusa, a cactus native to the Uiseong region,to explore its potential as a cosmetic ingredient for skin improvement. The antioxidant, whitening, anti-wrinkle, and anti-inflammatory properties of these extracts were assessed. The results of the DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging assays indicated that both the OHS and OHF exhibited significant dose-dependent scavenging activities, with the OHF showing superior antioxidant effects. Both extracts demonstrated over 50% activity at a concentration of 10 µg/mL in the hydrogen peroxide scavenging assay. However, the assessment of anti-wrinkle efficacy found that the inhibitory activity against collagenase and elastase was minimal, suggesting a low potential for wrinkle improvement. The evaluation of whitening effects revealed that the OHS exhibited over 20% whitening efficacy the tyrosinase substrate Tyrosine was used, while the OHF did not show significant whitening effects. When a DOPA substrate was used, the OHF showed a tyrosinase inhibitory activity of 34.37%, while the OHS exhibited an activity of 28.70%. This result indicated that both extracts have present but only minor whitening effects. Notably, the OHF did not inhibit the tyrosine conversion to DOPA, but it did exhibit an inhibitory effect on the DOPA transition to L-dopaquinone. The assessment of anti- inflammatory effects demonstrated that OHS significantly inhibited the expression of iNOS and COX-2 following LPS treatment, and a decrease in PGE2 production was also confirmed. These findings suggest that the Opuntia humifusaextracts possess anti-inflammatory effects and have potential for use as cosmetic ingredients. This research is expected to serve as a valuable foundational resource for utilizing domestically sourced natural ingredients in the development of functional cosmetics.