This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Glehnia Radix leaf extracts according to extraction solvent on skin whitening and wrinkling in human skin cells. We prepared Glehnia Radix leaf extracts with hot-water, 70% ethanol, and 70% methanol. The yields of the Glehnia Radix leaf extracts according to extraction solvents ranged from 41.89∼59.40%. The contents of phenolic compounds in Glehnia Radix leaf extracts were 2.57∼7.81 mg/100 g chlorogenic acid, 1.18∼1.70 mg/100 g caffeic acid, and 10.37∼35.23 mg/100 g rutin. The tyrosinase, elastase, and collagenase inhibition activity of 70% ethanol extract at 1,000 μg/mL was 56.22%, 60.71%, and 52.52%, respectively. Treatment with the 70% ethanol extracts effectively suppressed the α-MSH stimulated tyrosinase activity and melanin formation for in B16-F10 cells. After irradiating UVB treatment, the viability of HS68 cells (73.94%) treated with the 70% ethanol extracts showed the greatest change. These results indicate that 70% ethanol extracts of Glehnia Radix leaf may be a great cosmeceutical ingredient because of its whitening, anti-wrinkle, and anti-inflammatory effects.

Keywords: whitening, anti-wrinkle, Glehnia Radix, leaf, extraction solvent