Antimicrobial Effects of Supercritical Angelica gigas Extracts and Enhancement of Skin Permeability using Cell Penetrating Peptide

Abstract

This study aimed to find a way to more efficiently extract the active compounds from Korean Angelica gigas (AG) and to maximize the effects by increasing the skin permeability of the optimal AG extract. AG was extracted using hot water extraction method and supercritical carbon dioxide (CO2) containing ethanol method, the temperature and pressure of extractor were 30°C/350 bar, 45°C/350 bar, 60°C/350 bar. And then optimal extraction condition was found through quantification of decursin and decursinol angelate (D/DA) content, measurement of total polyphenol content, and evaluation of antioxidant activity, tyrosinase inhibition activity, and antimicrobial activity. As a result of the experiments, supercritical CO2 containing ethanol extraction with the temperature and pressure of extractor were 45°C/350 bar (ASCE45) was selected as the optimal extract. In particular, ASCE45 contained 44.58 % of D/DA, which were not contained in hot water extract (AHW) and also showed an antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, and Propionibacterium acnes, which were not showed in AHW. Furthermore, liposome technology and arginine 6 (hexa-D-arginine, R6), one of the cationic cell penetrating peptides (CPPs), were applied to the optimal extract, ASCE45, and as a result skin permeability was increased 1.74 times higher than a control group. In other words, it is inferred very efficient in actually showing effects on the skin because the optimal skin penetration condition was applied to ASCE45 extracted under optimal extraction conditions.