Research on the Preparation and Efficacy Evaluation of Shu Min Traditional Chinese Medicine Extract
Common skin allergic reactions are medically referred to as hypersensitivity reactions, also known as hypersensitivity reactions. They refer to abnormal and specific immune responses, mainly characterized by physiological dysfunction or tissue cell damage, that occur when the body is stimulated by certain antigens. Its occurrence depends on two factors: antigen stimulation and the reactivity of the body. The antigen that triggers an allergic reaction is called an allergen. When skin allergies occur, dry, painful, and itchy skin may appear, and in severe cases, it may be accompanied by symptoms such as redness, swelling, and herpes, which greatly affects people’s daily lives. Therefore, the research and development of Shu Min cosmetics has become one of the hot topics in this field.

The “Regulations on the Supervision and Administration of Cosmetics” promulgated in 2020 proposed that “the state encourages and supports cosmetics manufacturers and operators to adopt advanced technologies and management standards to improve the quality and safety level of cosmetics; encourages and supports the use of modern science and technology, combined with China’s traditional advantageous projects and characteristic plant resources to research and develop cosmetics”. This is also the first time that the government has proposed the use of characteristic plant resources to research and develop cosmetics from a legal perspective, which will greatly promote the research and innovation of plant-based cosmetics.

Based on the previous research on the screening of single Chinese herbal medicines, this article applies the concept of “Jun Chen Zuo Shi” in traditional Chinese medicine to formulate a formula for six Chinese herbal medicines. The “Jun Yao” includes the effects of resisting pathogenic microorganisms, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, analgesic, and enhancing immunity, as well as the effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, as well as the “Shan Ci Gu” which has the functions of anti allergy, reducing swelling, and relieving itching; Duhuo, which has pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammatory and sedative effects, is known as the “imperial medicine” and plays a role in anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects; Sanjing tea, which can reduce swelling and relieve pain, and Hai’er tea, which is non irritating to the skin, antioxidant, and has pharmacological activity against pathogenic microorganisms, are used as “adjuncts” to promote qi circulation, relieve pain, and quickly repair the skin; Yuanzhi is a “medicinal herb” that plays a role in harmonizing medicinal properties and improving the skin barrier. Continue to study the extraction and preparation process of the formula, verify the desensitizing effect of the formula extract, and explore its mechanism of action, in order to provide theoretical basis and data support for its application in the fields of medicine and cosmetics. The formula extract has been granted a national invention patent (patent number ZL20201022489) X)。

On the basis of previous research, this article extracted and prepared six traditional Chinese medicines including Elsholtzia, Shanci mushroom, Duhuo, Sanling, Hai’er tea, and Yuanzhi to obtain compound extracts. The activity and mechanism of the compound extracts were explored through experiments on inhibiting hyaluronidase activity, clearing superoxide anion radicals, hydroxyl radicals, and DPPH radicals, and inhibiting histamine release. The results showed that the extract with a mass fraction of 6% had an inhibition rate of 80.06% on hyaluronidase, and a scavenging rate of over 70% on superoxide anions, hydroxyl radicals, and DPPH radicals; The extract of the formula with a concentration of 200 μ g/mL inhibited histamine release by 52%, indicating that the extract has certain inhibitory or scavenging effects on hyaluronidase, three free radicals, and histamine release.
The extracts of the formula were added to the lotion formula, and the related human efficacy of the soothing lotion was evaluated to verify its soothing effect on skin allergy symptoms. The results showed that the addition of the extract lotion could significantly reduce the skin heme value (P<0.01), reduce the skin water loss (P<0.01), increase the skin water content (P<0.01), and effectively improve the skin allergy symptoms.
In summary, the extract of this formula can effectively inhibit the activity of substances that cause skin allergic reactions, alleviate skin allergy symptoms, quickly repair the skin, and enhance skin barrier function. It is an ideal plant-based raw material for cosmetics.