| 摘要 |
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a means for preventing skin aging as a substance inhibiting the action of elastase which promotes skin aging through degrading elastin has been found among substances of natural origin. SOLUTION: This means for preventing skin aging comprises using an elastase inhibitory substance as an elastase inhibitor and in preparations for external use for skin; this substance is extracted from the parts containing this substance in plant(s) selected from the group consisting of Betula platyphylla Sukatchev var japonica, Cinnamomum cassia Blume, Tilia cordata Mill, Tilia platyphyllos Scop., Tilia europaea L., Tilia japonica (Miq) Simonkai, Eriobotrya japonica Lindley, and Hamamelis virginiana L. Although the above substance in question has not been identified yet, it can be easily extracted from the above-mentioned plant(s) by extraction treatment using water, a lower aliphatic alcohol or a mixture thereof; the lower aliphatic alcohol suitable as an extraction solvent is e.g. methanol, ethanol, propanol, 1,3-butylene glycol. |
