1Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, ST. Joseph Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
2Department of Dermatology, Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital,
Kaohsiung, Taiwan
3Department of Fragrance and Cosmetic Science, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
【Summary】
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), one form of CAM, has indicated that long term body fluid deficiency(津液缺乏), blood stasis(血瘀)and blood heat(血热)can cause SHD. Clinical TCM usually uses the enrich yin(滋阴)herb, such as Asparagus cochinchinensis (Ac), to nourish the human body fluid andmoisturize the skin for improving skin metabolism, resulting in skin whitening. In addition, TCM also uses the angiogenesis promoting herb, such as Paeonia suffruticosa (Ps), to cure SHD through promoting blood circulation to dispel blood stasis(活血化瘀). Previous studies have revealed that the extract of Ps and Ac can effectively inhibit tyrosinase activity in melanocytes, but the evidence base for its skin whitening effect has not been investigated yet. In the present study, The lotion containing the extract of Ps and Ac was used to attenuate skin pigmentation in female subjects through a pilot study. This is a randomized, placebo-controlled, single-blind clinical trial. Sixty female subjects aged between 25 and 60 were enrolled, and their Fitzpatrick skin types were type III to IV Asian skin with hyperpigmentation conditions. There are three randomized groups in this pilot study, including 0.5% and 2% lotion and placebo, with 20 subjects in each group. All subjects in each group were administered various test samples in facial pigmentation areas twice a day after cleaning. Before (0 week) and after (8 week) treatment, all subjects were non-invasively evaluated by VISIA® photography. The results indicated that there was a significant decrease in superficial spots on the entire face after using 0.5% and 2% lotion (p<0.05). In summary, The lotion can effectively improve the skin pigmentation of subjects and displays skin whitening effect, and we suggest that the lotion may be used as a skin whitening product in the cosmetic or pharmaceutical industry in the future.