Aromatase activating agent

Abstract

The present invention is directed to an aromatase activating agent containing a plant selected from among mulberry bark, ginseng, cucumber, and phellodendron bark; or chlorella; or an extract of any of these ingredients. The aromatase activating agent of the present invention is highly safe to the human body, and useful as a drug or cosmetic composition for prevention, amelioration, or treatment of various lesions caused by estrogen deficiency.

1 . An aromatase activating agent comprising, as an active ingredient, a plant selected from the group consisting of mulberry bark, ginseng, phellodendron bark and  chlorella ; or an extract thereof.  
     
     
         2 - 3 . (canceled)  
     
     
         4 . A method of ameliorating or treating lesions caused by estrogen deficiency in a subject in need thereof comprising contacting the skin of said subject with a cosmetic composition comprising one or more active ingredients and wherein said active ingredients are selected from the group consisting of: 
 (a) a whole plant or a part thereof selected from the group consisting of mulberry bark, ginseng, and phellodendron bark;    (b)  chlorella;      (c) an aqueous extract or alcohol extract of a plant or part thereof selected from the group consisting of mulberry bark, ginseng, and phellodendron bark; and    (d) an aqueous extract of  chlorella.      
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said part thereof is selected from the group consisting of leaves, barks, branches, fruit, and roots.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said active ingredient is the root skin of mulberry bark.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said active ingredient is the root for ginseng.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said active ingredient is the bark for phellodendron bark.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said active ingredient is  chlorella.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said active ingredient is an alcohol extract of ginseng root and wherein the alcohol used for extraction is ethanol.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said active ingredient is an alcohol extract of the bark of phellodendron bark and wherein the alcohol used for extraction is ethanol.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said active ingredient is an aqueous extract of  chlorella.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the total content of active ingredients with respect to the entire composition on a dry weight basis ranges from 0.00001 to 1 wt %.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the total content of active ingredients with respect to the entire composition on a dry weight basis ranges from 0.0001 to 0.1 wt %.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said subject in need thereof is a human suffering from menopause.  
     
     
         16 . A method of ameliorating or treating lesions caused by estrogen deficiency in a subject in need thereof comprising administering to said subject an internal drug composition comprising one or more active ingredients and wherein said active ingredients are selected from the group consisting of: 
 (a) a whole plant or a part thereof selected from the group consisting of mulberry bark, ginseng, and phellodendron bark;    (b)  chlorella;      (c) an aqueous extract or alcohol extract of a plant or part thereof selected from the group consisting of mulberry bark, ginseng, and phellodendron bark; and    (d) an aqueous extract of  chlorella.      
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said part thereof is selected from the group consisting of leaves, barks, branches, fruit, and roots.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said active ingredient is the root skin of mulberry bark.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said active ingredient is the root for ginseng.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said active ingredient is the bark for phellodendron bark.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said active ingredient is  chlorella.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said active ingredient is an alcohol extract of ginseng root and wherein the alcohol used for extraction is ethanol.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said active ingredient is an alcohol extract of the bark of phellodendron bark and wherein the alcohol used for extraction is ethanol.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said active ingredient is an aqueous extract of  chlorella.    
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the total content of active ingredients with respect to the entire composition on a dry weight basis ranges from 0.00001 to 1 wt %.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the total content of active ingredients with respect to the entire composition on a dry weight basis ranges from 0.0001 to 0.1 wt %.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said subject in need thereof is a human suffering from menopause.