Background: To date, the anti-wrinkle efficacy of phellodendri cortex has not been defined. In this study, we investigated the nitric oxide (NO) production and elastase inhibitory activities of 80% methanol extract of Phellodendri cortex and its ethyl acetate fraction.
Methods and Results: We prepared 80% methanol extract, and its fractions from phellodendri cortex. The treatment of RAW 264.7 cell with 25㎍/㎖ 80% methanol extract and ethyl acetate fraction resulted in no toxicity. We conducted assays of nitric oxide (NO) production and elastase inhibition. In the NO production assay, the ethyl acetate fraction showed an inhibitory effect approximately 17 times stronger than the 80% methanol extract. In elastase inhibitory assay, the ethyl acetate fraction also showed a stronger effect than the 80% methanol extract. In order to standardize the extract and fraction, we used TLC to separate the extract and observed the plate under UV light. We confirmed that the known pharmacological ingredients berberine, and palmatine in the 80% methanol extract and the ethyl acetate fraction.
Conclusions: These results indicated that phellodendri cortex extract and its ethyl acetate fraction produced strong inhibitory effect on elastase and NO production.