Assesment of Bioactivities of Sargentodoxa cuneata Stem Fractions for Use as Functional Cosmetic Materials

Environmental pollutants such as ultraviolet radiation, particulate matter, and chemical irritants are increasingly recognized as major contributors to oxidative stress and chronic inflammation in the skin. This study evaluated the cosmetic potential of Sargentodoxa cuneata stem extract by assessing its anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, astringent, anti-wrinkle, and whitening activities. In both DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging assays, the ethyl acetate (SCEA) and n-butanol (SCB) fractions exhibited potent anti-oxidant activities, with SCEA demonstrating an IC50 value comparable to L-ascorbic acid. In LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells, both SCEA and SCB significantly suppressed NO and IL-6 production, indicating strong anti-inflammatory effects. Astringent activity was highest in the SCB fraction, while SCB and dichloromethane (SCDCM) showed moderate inhibition of collagenase and elastase, respectively. In whitening assays, the water fraction (SCDW) demonstrated the most significant DOPA oxidation and tyrosinase inhibition activities. These findings suggest that S. cuneata stem extract, particularly its SCEA, SCB, and SCDW fractions, offers multi-functional benefits suitable for use as a natural cosmetic ingredient.