COVID-19로 인하여 현대인들은 유해환경 및 다양한 자극에 따른 불안 심리가 높아지게 되면 서 천연물질을 선호하게 되었다. 따라서 전통의학에서 무독성 식물로 인정한 히비스커스를 천연화장품 소 재로서의 적절성을 알아보고자 히비스커스 추출물의 항산화 효과(폴리페놀, 플라보노이드, DPPH, ABTS) 를 연구하여, 다음과 같은 결과를 얻었다. 첫째, 히비스커스의 총 폴리페놀은 HSE 100%일 때 433 ㎍/mL로 나타났다. 둘째, 총 플라보노이드는 HSE 100%에서 488 ㎍/mL로 항산화 능력이 높게 나타났다. 셋째, DPPH radical 소거능은 원액 HES 100%에서 94.04%, 희석액 HSE 20%에서 89.54%로 나타났다. 넷째, ABTS radical 소거능은 HSE 원액 100%에서 98.95%, 희석액 HSE 20%에서 94.84%로 각각 90% 이상의 높은 소거능을 나타냈다. 이러한 연구 결과 히비스커스 추출물은 향후 화장품 천연소재의 항산화 원료로 사용이 가능하다고 사료된다.

This study was peformed to investigate effect of feeding experimental mixture containing chitosan, hibiscus extract and L-carnitine on body weight and lipid metabolism in rats. Forty-eight male rats(Charles River CD) of eight weeks old and weighing 336.5±2.3g were raised for five weeks with high fat diet(40% fat as calorie) to induce obesity. After induction of obesity, rats weighing 560.4±5.6g were blocked into four groups according to body weight and raised for eight weeks with diet containing either 0.09%(+1D group), 0.9%(+10D group) or 4.5%(+50D group) of experimental mixture. Aspartate aminotransferase(AST) and alanine aminotransferase(ALT), total protein and albumin were normal levels in plasma. Body weight gain and epididymal fat pad weight were lower in experimental mixture groups than control group However, weights of perirenal fat pad and brown adipose tissue were not significantly different among all groups. There was no significant difference in plasma and hepatic lipid levels among all groups. Liver citrate lyase and camitine acyltransferase activities were not significantly different among all groups, however, citrate lyase activity was tended to be decreased with increasing experimental mixture level in diet. Fecal total lipid and total cholesterol excretions were highest in +50D group, and triglyceride excretion was highest in +1D group. in conclusion, intake of experimental mixture containing chitosan, hibiscus extract and L-camitine was effective in reducing body weight and body fat, and its inhibitory effects might lead to obesity improvement.