Antioxidant Activity and Whitening Efficacy of Makgeolli Fractions.

This study aimed at evaluating the potential of makgeolli, which is widely consumed as beverage, as a functional cosmetic ingredient, based on analyses on its antioxidant activity and tyrosinase activity inhibitory effect. The sample was extracted by concentrating the suspension obtained after adding MeOH (3 L) to the residue of a commercial makgeolli and then adding EtOAc (3 L) to the concentrate, which was subjected to fractionation. The upper layer of the fractions was used as the final sample. In MTT assay assessments, no cytotoxicity was observed at a concentration range of 10 to 1,000 μg/mL; the antioxidant activity of the extract showed a concentration-dependent tendency and it had a high activity with an EC₅₀ of 7.008 mg/mL. Also, in a tyrosinase activity inhibitory effect assessment, the extract showed an IC₅₀ value of 39.22 mg/mL. These results confirmed that this sample has potential as a functional cosmetic ingredient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]