In this study, the anti-oxidant, whitening, and anti-wrinkle effects of Castanea crenata inner shell extracts processed by enzyme treatment and pressurized extraction were investigated. The Castanea crenata inner shell was first hydrolyzed using celluclast, viscozyme, or hemicellulase. Then, it was subjected to pressure extraction for different durations (30, 60, and 120 min). The yields of the Castanea crenata inner shell extracts processed by different enzyme treatments followed by pressurized extraction for different times are in the range of 12.42-29.80%. The total polyphenol, flavonoid, and tannin contents of the C30m (celluclast enzyme and autoclave extracts at 30 min) extract were 15.48, 10.82, and 15.82 g/100 g, respectively. The total sugar content of the H120m(hemicellulase enzyme and autoclave extracts at 120 min) extract is 61.07 g/100 g. The 1,1-diphenyl-2-pycrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging activities of the C30m extract at 1,000 μg/mL are 89.20, and 81.96%, respectively. The superoxide radical scavenging and ferric-reducing antioxidant power of the C30m extract at 1,000 μg/mL are 67.63% and 1,324.79 μM, respectively. Further, the tyrosinase and elastase inhibition activity of the C30m extract at 1,000 μg/mL are 61.32, and 61.06%, respectively. Our results indicate that the Castanea crenata inner shell extracts processed by enzyme treatment followed by pressurized extraction could have beneficial effects on facial skin and they should be considered for use in new functional cosmetics.

Background: There is an increasing surplus of chestnut that are abandoned due to their failure to meet customer awareness. Thus, we investigated the anti-proliferative and apoptotic effects of chestnut (Castanea crenata) inner shell extracts in hepatocarcinoma HepG2 cells as a potential source of anti-cancer materials. Methods and Results: Distilled water extract (CI-W) and ethanol extract (CI-E) were prepared from chestnut inner shell and evaluated their anti-proliferative effects in vitro. Each extract significantly decreased the cell viability of HepG2 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Indeed, the morphology of HepG2 cells treated with CI-W or CI-D was distorted to shrunken cell masses. Furthermore, it was revealed that their extracts induced cell death as evidenced by increased reactive oxygen species (ROS), formation of apoptotic body and condensation. In addition, Their extracts clearly modulated the down regulated of Bcl-2 (anti-apoptoic)/ Bax (pro-apoptotic) family and cleaved caspase-3 as an effector caspase in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion: These results indicate that the extracts of chestnut inner shell can be used as an anti-proliferative therapeutic agent or functional food.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common chronic inflammatory disease associated with a cutaneous hypersensitivity reaction to an allergen. Although the incidence of AD is increasing these days, therapeutics has yet to be developed for its treatment. The aim of this study was conducted in order to compare and investigate the characteristic between the Castanea crenata inner shell extract (CS) and the Castanea crenata inner shell extract fermented by Lactobacillus bifermentans (FCS) for an anti-atopic medication. The total polyphenol and flavonoid contents were similar to CS and FCS. In the DPPH and superoxide anion radical scavenging, the CS and FCS had the potential for antioxidant activities. Both of them did not exhibit cytotoxicity to HS68 cells. The evaluation of the anti-inflammatory activity in Raw264.7 cells demonstrated that the FCS has inhibited the LPS-induced production of nitric oxide as compared to the CS. The anti-atopic dermatitis test was done through the induction of DNCB in AD hairless mice. The FCS has inhibited the development of the atopic dermatitis-like skin lesion by transdermal water loss, melanin and erythema of the skin as compared to the CS. Moreover, the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1β and TNF-α production in hairless mice were inhibited by the FCS treatment. It indicates that the fermentation of the Castanea crenata inner shell has the potential for the treatment of atopic dermatitis.