The invention relates to a peptide and saccharide hydrolysate of Theobroma cacao L. (cocoa) beans, to a method for preparing same, to cosmetic compositions containing same, and to cosmetic uses thereof particularly for protecting skin from blue light and/or for combatting the appearance of signs of aging and photoaging of the skin.

The invention relates to a peptide and saccharide hydrolysate of Theobroma cacao L. (cocoa) beans, to a method for preparing same, to cosmetic compositions containing same, and to cosmetic uses thereof particularly for protecting skin from blue light and/or for combatting the appearance of signs of aging and photoaging of the skin.

The present disclosure relates to methods of preparing an ultra-low molecular weight keratin peptide and use thereof. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a method of preparing an ultra-low molecular weight keratin peptide using culturing a microorganism having keratinolytic activity in a medium including keratin, ultrafiltration, ion exchange chromatography and gel filtration chromatography, a peptide prepared by the method, and a cosmetic and food composition for preventing or improving skin aging or skin wrinkles including the same. According to the method of preparing a keratin peptide of the present invention, it is possible to eco-friendly biologically treat waste resources and efficiently purify and recover anti-aging functional ultra-low molecular weight keratin peptides. In addition, the keratin peptide of the present disclosure breaks down collagen to have abilities to inhibit MMP-1 expression and activity, which is an enzyme that causes skin aging, which has an excellent effect on anti-skin aging and skin wrinkle improvement and has no toxicity to skin cells. It is suitable for use as a cosmetic, pharmaceutical or food composition for preventing, improving or treating skin aging or skin wrinkles, thereby being effectively used for the efficient and rapid production and development of high value-added functional cosmetic substances.

The present disclosure relates to methods of preparing an ultra-low molecular weight keratin peptide and use thereof. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a method of preparing an ultra-low molecular weight keratin peptide using culturing a microorganism having keratinolytic activity in a medium including keratin, ultrafiltration, ion exchange chromatography and gel filtration chromatography, a peptide prepared by the method, and a cosmetic and food composition for preventing or improving skin aging or skin wrinkles including the same. According to the method of preparing a keratin peptide of the present invention, it is possible to eco-friendly biologically treat waste resources and efficiently purify and recover anti-aging functional ultra-low molecular weight keratin peptides. In addition, the keratin peptide of the present disclosure breaks down collagen to have abilities to inhibit MMP-1 expression and activity, which is an enzyme that causes skin aging, which has an excellent effect on anti-skin aging and skin wrinkle improvement and has no toxicity to skin cells. It is suitable for use as a cosmetic, pharmaceutical or food composition for preventing, improving or treating skin aging or skin wrinkles, thereby being effectively used for the efficient and rapid production and development of high value-added functional cosmetic substances.

The present specification discloses a composition for external application to skin, containing a tea plant root extract as an active ingredient, for treatment of skin damage caused by fine dust, whereby the expression level of one or more selected from a group consisting of IL-36G (NM_019618), S100A7 (NM_002963), S100A8 (NM_002964) and XDH (NM_000379), which are genes in skin cells the expression level of which is affected by fine dust, is regulated to a normal level.

The present specification discloses a composition for external application to skin, containing a tea plant root extract as an active ingredient, for treatment of skin damage caused by fine dust, whereby the expression level of one or more selected from a group consisting of IL-36G (NM_019618), S100A7 (NM_002963), S100A8 (NM_002964) and XDH (NM_000379), which are genes in skin cells the expression level of which is affected by fine dust, is regulated to a normal level.

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel food material effective for improving skin conditions. The present invention provides a composition for use in improving skin conditions, comprising a Lactococcus bacterium as an active ingredient. Examples of the Lactococcus bacterium include Lactococcus lactis. The skin conditions are skin conditions deteriorated by light exposure, such as an increase in skin redness and a decrease in skin moisture content.

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel food material effective for improving skin conditions. The present invention provides a composition for use in improving skin conditions, comprising a Lactococcus bacterium as an active ingredient. Examples of the Lactococcus bacterium include Lactococcus lactis. The skin conditions are skin conditions deteriorated by light exposure, such as an increase in skin redness and a decrease in skin moisture content.

Provided is a composition for preventing or improving UV-induced skin damage that contains hydrangenol derived from the extract of Hydrangea serrata as an active ingredient. The composition containing hydrangenol derived from the extract of Hydrangea serrata is able to increase secretion of hyaluronic acid and procollagen type-1 and inhibit secretion of MMP-1 in skin cells, and therefore effective in preventing or improving UV-induced damage of skin cells. Accordingly, the hydrangenol-containing composition is usefully available as a quasi-drug, drug, food, or cosmetic composition.

An object of the present invention is to provide a composition for promoting fibroblast proliferation and/or a composition for promoting hyaluronic acid synthase gene expression. The present invention provides a composition for promoting fibroblast proliferation and/or a composition for promoting hyaluronic acid synthase gene expression, the compositions each comprising Lactobacillus plantarum L-137.