Skin Soothing Effect of Three Herbs from the Namwon-Mt.Jiri Regions

Purpose: This study was conducted to evaluate lavender, lemongrass, and peppermint grown in the Namwon-Mt.Jiri regions as functional soothing ingredients for cosmetics.Methods: The simultaneous analysis of 19 polyphenols in 50% ethanol-extracted samples of lavender, lemongrass, and peppermint cultivated in the Namwon-Mt.Jiri regions were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Antioxidant activity was measured using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). Using real-time PCR, improvements in skin barrier function were confirmed by observing the mRNA expression levels of filaggrin and involucrin, and the moisturizing ability was confirmed through the mRNA expression of HAS-2 and HAS-3. The anti-inflammatory efficacy was verified by confirming the expression levels of the inflammatory cytokine IL-6 and the pro-inflammatory mediator nitric oxide (NO).Results: In the simultaneous analysis of 19 phenolic compounds, rosmarinic acid from lavender; chlorogenic acid, syringic acid, p-coumaric acid, and ferulic acid from lemongrass; and caffeic acid, quercitin hydrate, rosmarinic acid, and hesperetin from peppermint were identified. Antioxidant efficacy was confirmed by DPPH radical scavenging, and excellent efficacy was shown in the order of lavender, peppermint, and lemongrass. Filaggrin and involucrin, skin barrier-related genes, were increased more in lavender, lemongrass, and peppermint than in the untreated group. HAS-2 and HAS-3 were also confirmed to be increased in lavender, lemongrass, and peppermint. Lavender, lemongrass, and peppermint all showed concentration-dependent inhibition of IL-6 and NO.Conclusion: Extracts of lavender, lemongrass, and peppermint cultivated in the Namwon-Mt.Jiri regions had excellent antioxidant, skin barrier, moisturizing and anti-inflammatory effects, so may be considered for use as natural raw materials for soothing cosmetics.