The present invention provides a moisturizing agent including an inositol derivative as an active ingredient in which saccharide of three or more monosaccharide unit is bonded to per molecule of inositol.

The present disclosure discloses a novel use of genistein, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), derivatives thereof, isomers thereof, pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, prodrugs thereof, hydrates thereof and solvates thereof. A composition containing genistein, epigallocatechin gallate, derivatives thereof isomers thereof, pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, prodrugs thereof, hydrates thereof or solvates thereof reduces the expression of factors related to increase of melanin producing ability, reduces the expression of senescence marker proteins and regulates the expression of enzymes involved in melanin production, and thus may have an effect of rejuvenating cells including melanocytes.

Disclosed are a method for potentiating a sirtuin gene in a living body, provided to the living body as a pharmaceutical product, a cosmetic product, or a food product including a sirtuin gene potentiator. The sirtuin gene potentiator of the present invention contains a given polyphenol and/or terpenoid as an active component. The polyphenol and/or the terpenoid can be contained in the form of a plant such as pomegranate or a plant extract thereof. The sirtuin gene potentiator of the present invention is available from a familiar material to avoid concerns such as side effects on the human body in advance. Such a sirtuin gene potentiator is useful as a novel material in the fields of pharmaceutical products, cosmetic products, and food products.

The present invention relates to the use of a peptide and glycoside extract of Schizandra fruit as a cutaneous neurosensory agent, for improving the response of the cutaneous neurosensory system, in particular for: —improving cutaneous innervation in the basal state, —combatting age-related loss of cutaneous innervation in the basal state, advantageously for preventing loss of the cutaneous sensitivity and/or combatting thinning of the epidermis, and/or—improving cutaneous perception of the environment, more particularly for combatting burns, extreme cold and/or pain.

The identification and the use of compounds which activate the expression of at least one gene selected from LARGE, HS6ST2 and ST8SIA1 is provided. An in vitro method for screening for candidate compounds includes: (a) bringing at least one test compound in contact with a sample of keratinocytes in vitro; (b) measuring the expression of at least one gene selected from LARGE, HS6ST2 and ST8SIA1, in the keratinocytes; and (c) selecting the compounds for which an activation of at least 1.4 fold of the expression of at least one of the LARGE, HS6ST2 and ST8SIA1 genes is measured in the keratinocytes treated in (a) compared with the untreated keratinocytes. The candidate compounds may be useful for preventing and/or attenuating ageing, and/or for hydrating skin.

The present invention provides a sirtuin activator with an active component composed of black ginger or a black ginger extract, which is easily obtainable, extremely safe, and eaten from old. The present invention further provides a sirtuin activator with an active component of polyalkoxyflavonoid compound represented by general formula (I) and having a sirtuin activation effect that is 10 folds that of resveratrol or higher: ##STR00001## wherein, R.sub.1 to R.sub.7 are each independently a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, or a C1 to C6 lower alkoxy group.

Personal care compositions and methods for increasing the amount of antimicrobial peptides produced by skin, reducing inflammation of skin, reducing irritation of skin, reducing reactive oxygen species in skin, or any combination thereof are disclosed. The personal care composition may include a carrier and at least two plant oils. The at least two plant oils may be present in an effective amount to increase the amount of antimicrobial peptides produced by skin, reduce inflammation of skin, reduce irritation of skin, reduce reactive oxygen species in skin, or any combination thereof.

The invention relates to a TRPM8 modulator for achieving a cooling effect on the skin or a mucous membrane.

A method for preventing and/or ameliorating skin aging in a subject includes administering to the subject in need of such treatments a synthetic peptide, which has an amino acid sequence that has 20-39 amino acid residues. The synthetic peptide has at least 20 consecutive residues that has at least 90% amino acid sequence identity to residues 11-30 of SEQ ID NO: 1.

Provided is a hair growth-promoting composition comprising: 100 parts by weight of a stem cell culture solution obtained from a culture medium of mesenchymal stem cells which have been subcultured two or more times; 0.001 to 0.1 parts by weight of zinc; 5 to 50 parts by weight of a panthenol based compound; and 0.0001 to 0.1 parts by weight of a water-soluble vitamin, wherein it is sprayed or applied on the scalp to promote hair growth. Said hair growth-promoting composition may have an excellent effect and improve economical efficiency in treating alopecia due to a simple delivery method of the composition.