近年來化妝品市場以天然中草藥為主要發展方向，對中草藥的研究開發與作用機制逐漸增加。因此，目前市售化妝保養品多半是運用天然植物做為原料或添加物。另外，在醫美術後儘量不讓傷口感染造成發炎，建議選用幫助結締組織快速修復皮膚的醫美保養品。而醫美保養品橫跨含藥保養品及一般保養品之產品，因為加入藥物元素，使功效更為明確，逐漸受到消費者喜愛。
本研究選用十幾種中草藥進行活性測試，結果發現其中五種植物為在抗氧化、抗發炎及美白有良好之作用。藥材利用95%乙醇進行抽取並以減壓濃縮機去除溶劑取得乙醇抽取物，再將其抽取物以不同極性之溶劑進行分配萃取得到五部分萃取物。在生物活性實驗測試結果發現紫花丹、米菜、紅旱蓮、蝶豆葉及咸豐草花的抽取物對抗發炎都有明顯作用，其中紅旱蓮、蝶豆葉及咸豐草花顯示有良好清除DPPH自由基能力，而紫花丹的抑制酪氨酸酶之作用最明顯。 In recent years, extracts from natural herbs play an important roles in the development of cosmetics. Furthermore, the research on the mechanism how the extracts work increase significantly. Thus, marketed cosmetics mostly use extracts from plant as raw materials or additives. In addition, some reports also suggest to use medical cosmetics to help connective tissue repair. As a result, medical cosmetics become popular with consumers.
In this study, dozens of Chinese herbs were screened for the bioactivities in cosmetics. The herbs were extracted using ethanol and the extracts were used for the bioactivity assays. The results showed that the extracts from the five of the screened herbs exhibited bioactivities on either anti-oxidant, anti-inflammation, or anti-tyrosinase activity. Among them, extracts from Plumbago indica, Chenopodium serotinum, Herba hyperici, Clitorita ternatea, and Bidens pilosa showed significantly anti-inflammatory activity; extracts from Herba hyperici, Clitorita ternatea, and Bidens pilosa showed anti-oxidant activity; extract from Plumbago indica showed anti-tyrosinase activity.
