The purpose of this study was to evaluate the anti-atopic-dermatitis effect of Angelica keiskei extract using a DNFB-induced animal model of atopic-dermatitis symptoms. A. keiskei was prepared via extraction with DW, 50% ethanol, and 100% ethanol in addition to fresh juice. All the extracts reduced the thickness levels of the ears and ear epidermis against swelling by DNFB inducement, especially in the aqueous-extract-treated group. The mRNA expressions of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), however, were not observed, which may indicate that Angelica keiskei extract alleviates the atopic-dermatitis symptoms in an MMP-independent manner. Finally, the level of the inflammatory cytokine IL-4 was inhibited only in the juice-treated group, although the IL-13 level was inhibited in the juice-, 50%-ethanol-extract-, and 100%-ethanol-extract-treated groups in a dose-dependent manner, and was not inhibited in the aqueous-extract-treated group. Taken together, these results suggest that Angelica keiskei extract has an inhibitory effect on atopic dermatitis, and may be a useful biomaterial for the development of cosmeceuticals.

To investigate the anti-diabetic activity of ethanol and aqueous peel and seed extracts obtained from three different grape species (Cambell Early, MBA, and Kyoho), alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activity was examined. All extracts showed anti-diabetic activity, especially aqueous extract exhibited inhibitory effect above 70%. Thus, we used aqueous extract to check the potential hypoglycemic effects in a streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice model. The results showed that the blood glucose level of STZ-induced diabetic mice decreased drastically after 3 hr when the aqueous extract of Cambell Early seed was treated to the mice model. The aqueous extract of Kyoho seed lessened blood glucose level by 60%. Together, these data indicate that extracts of grape peel and seed (aqueous or ethanol) may have potential in improving hypoglycemic effects in the diabetic symptoms, suggesting that further investigation on biomarker expressions should be rewarding.