Identification of α-Glucosidase Inhibitors and Assessment of Human Safety from 491 Native Plant Species of Jeju Island

In contemporary society, obesity has become a critical public health issue driven by lifestyle modifications such as unhealthy dietary patterns, physical inactivity, and aging. Beyond its aesthetic implications, obesity is a significant etiological factor for metabolic disorders, including type 2 di...

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Main Authors: Ho-Min Kang, Jin-Kyu Kang, Pomjoo Lee, Chang-Gu Hyun
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Cosmetics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9284/12/2/40
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author Ho-Min Kang
Jin-Kyu Kang
Pomjoo Lee
Chang-Gu Hyun
author_facet Ho-Min Kang
Jin-Kyu Kang
Pomjoo Lee
Chang-Gu Hyun
author_sort Ho-Min Kang
collection DOAJ
description In contemporary society, obesity has become a critical public health issue driven by lifestyle modifications such as unhealthy dietary patterns, physical inactivity, and aging. Beyond its aesthetic implications, obesity is a significant etiological factor for metabolic disorders, including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. With increasing emphasis on weight management and holistic health, the demand for slimming cosmetics has risen substantially. In particular, the formulation of natural-origin slimming cosmetic ingredients that facilitate lipolysis and improve dermal elasticity is being actively investigated, presenting a compelling balance of safety and efficacy. This study examined the bioactivities of 570 plant extracts sourced from Jeju Island to evaluate their potential as cosmetic raw materials. The α-glucosidase inhibitory activity was analyzed to determine their antidiabetic potential. Among the tested extracts, 18 species, including <i>Rumex japonicus</i> (IC<sub>50</sub>, 0.93 ± 0.21 μg/mL), <i>Rhynchosia volubilis</i> (IC<sub>50</sub>, 1.2 ± 0.16 μg/mL), and <i>Arachniodes standishii</i> (IC<sub>50</sub>, 4.88 ± 0.89 μg/mL), exhibited substantially lower IC<sub>50</sub> values compared to the positive control, acarbose (IC<sub>50</sub>, 251.17 ± 22.67 μg/mL). These findings highlight the potential of these extracts as innovative α-glucosidase inhibitors, potentially serving as alternatives to conventional pharmacological agents. Additionally, the safety of the 18 extracts for topical application was assessed via cytotoxicity assays using human keratinocyte (HaCaT) cells and primary skin irritation tests. The results indicated no cytotoxicity in HaCaT cells and no evidence of dermal irritation at concentrations deemed non-toxic to the cells. In summary, these 18 plant extracts from Jeju Island exhibit significant promise as multifunctional cosmetic ingredients, combining slimming properties through adipogenesis inhibition with skin-enhancing benefits.
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spelling doaj-art-5e64209bbc474db08077ce0662dcaa852025-08-20T02:17:20ZengMDPI AGCosmetics2079-92842025-02-011224010.3390/cosmetics12020040Identification of α-Glucosidase Inhibitors and Assessment of Human Safety from 491 Native Plant Species of Jeju IslandHo-Min Kang0Jin-Kyu Kang1Pomjoo Lee2Chang-Gu Hyun3Department of Chemistry and Cosmetics, Jeju Inside Agency and Cosmetic Science Center, Jeju National University, Jeju 63243, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Chemistry and Cosmetics, Jeju Inside Agency and Cosmetic Science Center, Jeju National University, Jeju 63243, Republic of KoreaRAFIQ Cosmetics, Jeju Industry-University Convergence Center, Jeju 63243, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Chemistry and Cosmetics, Jeju Inside Agency and Cosmetic Science Center, Jeju National University, Jeju 63243, Republic of KoreaIn contemporary society, obesity has become a critical public health issue driven by lifestyle modifications such as unhealthy dietary patterns, physical inactivity, and aging. Beyond its aesthetic implications, obesity is a significant etiological factor for metabolic disorders, including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. With increasing emphasis on weight management and holistic health, the demand for slimming cosmetics has risen substantially. In particular, the formulation of natural-origin slimming cosmetic ingredients that facilitate lipolysis and improve dermal elasticity is being actively investigated, presenting a compelling balance of safety and efficacy. This study examined the bioactivities of 570 plant extracts sourced from Jeju Island to evaluate their potential as cosmetic raw materials. The α-glucosidase inhibitory activity was analyzed to determine their antidiabetic potential. Among the tested extracts, 18 species, including <i>Rumex japonicus</i> (IC<sub>50</sub>, 0.93 ± 0.21 μg/mL), <i>Rhynchosia volubilis</i> (IC<sub>50</sub>, 1.2 ± 0.16 μg/mL), and <i>Arachniodes standishii</i> (IC<sub>50</sub>, 4.88 ± 0.89 μg/mL), exhibited substantially lower IC<sub>50</sub> values compared to the positive control, acarbose (IC<sub>50</sub>, 251.17 ± 22.67 μg/mL). These findings highlight the potential of these extracts as innovative α-glucosidase inhibitors, potentially serving as alternatives to conventional pharmacological agents. Additionally, the safety of the 18 extracts for topical application was assessed via cytotoxicity assays using human keratinocyte (HaCaT) cells and primary skin irritation tests. The results indicated no cytotoxicity in HaCaT cells and no evidence of dermal irritation at concentrations deemed non-toxic to the cells. In summary, these 18 plant extracts from Jeju Island exhibit significant promise as multifunctional cosmetic ingredients, combining slimming properties through adipogenesis inhibition with skin-enhancing benefits.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9284/12/2/40α-glucosidasecosmeticsHaCaTnatural ingredientsobesityprimary skin irritation
spellingShingle Ho-Min Kang
Jin-Kyu Kang
Pomjoo Lee
Chang-Gu Hyun
Identification of α-Glucosidase Inhibitors and Assessment of Human Safety from 491 Native Plant Species of Jeju Island
Cosmetics
α-glucosidase
cosmetics
HaCaT
natural ingredients
obesity
primary skin irritation
title Identification of α-Glucosidase Inhibitors and Assessment of Human Safety from 491 Native Plant Species of Jeju Island
title_full Identification of α-Glucosidase Inhibitors and Assessment of Human Safety from 491 Native Plant Species of Jeju Island
title_fullStr Identification of α-Glucosidase Inhibitors and Assessment of Human Safety from 491 Native Plant Species of Jeju Island
title_full_unstemmed Identification of α-Glucosidase Inhibitors and Assessment of Human Safety from 491 Native Plant Species of Jeju Island
title_short Identification of α-Glucosidase Inhibitors and Assessment of Human Safety from 491 Native Plant Species of Jeju Island
title_sort identification of α glucosidase inhibitors and assessment of human safety from 491 native plant species of jeju island
topic α-glucosidase
cosmetics
HaCaT
natural ingredients
obesity
primary skin irritation
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9284/12/2/40
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