Cosmetic composition for skin whitening comprising senkyunolide a as active ingredient

Abstract

The present invention relates to cosmetic compositions and more particularly to skin-whitening cosmetic compositions comprising senkyunolide A as an active ingredient. The present invention discloses the novel inhibitory function of senkyunolide A isolated from Cnidium officinale and Ligusticum chuanxiong on the melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH), and provides MSH-inhibitory compositions and skin-whitening cosmetic compositions comprising the senkyunolide A. The compositions of the present invention show significantly enhanced skin-whitening effect owing to its efficient inhibition of MSH even in lower concentration.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A cosmetic composition for skin whitening comprising: 
 (a) a senkyunolide A as an active ingredient; and    (b) a cosmetically acceptable carrier.    
     
     
         2 . A composition for inhibiting melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) comprising senkyunolide A as an active ingredient.  
     
     
         3 . The composition according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the senkyunolide A is purified from  Cnidium officinale  and  Ligusticum chuanxiong.    
     
     
         4 . The composition according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the senkyunolide A is chemically synthesized.  
     
     
         5 . The cosmetic composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the senkyunolide A is present in an amount of 0.00001-20 wt % based on the total weight of the composition.  
     
     
         6 . The cosmetic composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition is in the form of one selected from a solution, a suspension, an emulsion, a paste, an ointment, a gel, a cream, a lotion, a powder, a soap, a surfactant-containing cleanser, an oil, a powder foundation, an emulsion foundation, a wax foundation and a spray