SKIN WHITENING COMPOSITION COMPRISING AN EXTRACT OBTAINED FROM CARTHAMUS TINCTORIUS L.

摘要

The present invention relates to a skin-whitening cosmetic composition and a skin-whitening food composition containing a Carthamus tinctorius L. extract. The present invention further relates to a functional health food which is for preventing or alleviating dyspigmentation and contains the composition, and to a pharmaceutical composition for preventing or treating dyspigmentation. The composition containing the Carthamus tinctorius L. extract does not cause skin irritation and shows low cytotoxicity. In addition, the composition also inhibits both melanin production and tyrosinase activity. Thus, the composition can be useful for functional cosmetic products for skin whitening, functional health foods for preventing or alleviating dyspigmentation, or treatment agents for dyspigmentation.