Promotors of Ceramide's Generation

Abstract

The present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition or a cosmetic product which can accelerate production of ceramide in cells. The ceramide production-accelerating agent contains a plant selected from the group consisting of Radix Heraclei Scabridi, Rhizoma Dioscoreae, Radix Rehmanniae, Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae, Radix Glycyrrhizae, Radix Et Rhizoma Rhei, Pseudobulbus Bletillae, Radix Polygoni Multiflori, Radix Platycodi, and Herba Leonuli, or an extract thereof as an active ingredient. Further, the present invention provides a moisturizing agent containing a plant selected from the group consisting of Herba Leonuri and Rhizoma Dioscoreae, or an extract thereof as an active ingredient.

1 . A ceramide production-accelerating agent comprising a plant selected from the group consisting of Angelicae Dahuricae Radix, Rehmanniae Radix, Atractylodis Rhizoma, Glycyrrhizae Radix, Rhei Rhizoma, Bletilla Tuber, Polygoni Multiflori Radix, Platycodi Radix, Leonuri Herba, and Dioscoreae Rhizoma, or an extract thereof as an active ingredient. 
     
     
         2 . The ceramide production-accelerating agent according to  claim 1 , wherein the extract of Angelicae Dahuricae Radix, Atractylodis Rhizoma, Bletilla Tuber, Polygoni Multiflori Radix, Platycodi Radix, Leonuri Herba, or Dioscoreae Rhizoma is a petroleum ether extract prepared by using a petroleum ether as an extraction solvent. 
     
     
         3 . The ceramide production-accelerating agent according to  claim 1 , wherein the extract of Rehmanniae Radix or Glycyrrhizae Radix is an ethanol extract prepared by successively using a petroleum ether and ethanol as extraction solvents. 
     
     
         4 . The ceramide production-accelerating agent according to  claim 1 , wherein the extract of Rhei Rhizoma is a water extract prepared by successively using a petroleum ether, ethanol, and water as extraction solvents. 
     
     
         5 . Use of a plant selected from the group consisting of Angelicae Dahuricae Radix, Rehmanniae Radix, Atractylodis Rhizoma, Glycyrrhizae Radix, Rhei Rhizoma, Bletilla Tuber, Polygoni Multiflori Radix, Platycodi Radix, Leonuri Herba, and Dioscoreae Rhizoma, or an extract thereof for the manufacture of the ceramide production-accelerating agent according to any one of  claims 1  to  4 . 
     
     
         6 . A moisturizing agent comprising a plant selected from the group consisting of Leonuri Herba and Dioscoreae Rhizoma, or an extract thereof as an active ingredient. 
     
     
         7 . The moisturizing agent according to  claim 6 , wherein the extract of Leonuri Herba or Dioscoreae Rhizoma is a petroleum ether extract prepared by using a petroleum ether as an extraction solvent. 
     
     
         8 . Use of a plant selected from the group consisting of Leonuri Herba and Dioscoreae Rhizoma, or an extract thereof for the manufacture of the moisturizing agent according to  claim 6  or  7 .