In order to fine antioxidant and whitening agent source from nature, the comparisons of antioxidative activity and tyrosinase inhibitory activity were carried out for various ethanol extract on Polygoni Multiflori Radix, Polygonati Rhizoma and Ephedrae Herba. Comparing for three ethanol extracts, the highest electron donating ability was found at Polygonati Rhizoma (86.6%), but, the highest SOD-like ability, at the Ephedrae Herba (47.8%). Xanthine oxidase experiment exhibited 95.7% of hindrance effect in Ephedrae Herba, and 84.0% in Polygonati Rhizoma. A tyrosinase inhibitory activity assay was conducted to evaluate the whitening effects of the extracts, The tyrosinase inhibitory activity was 6.5% in the Polygoni Multiflori Radix, 32.6% in the Polygonati Rhizoma, 64.0% in the Ephedrae Herba. Based on these results, we suggest that the ethanol extracts of Polygoni Multiflori Radix, Polygonati Rhizoma and Ephedrae Herba can be used as food and cosmetic ingredients.

• 김일출 | Kim, Il-Chool