Kao Corporation

Shingo Kakuo

Shigeru Moriwaki

Hiroshi Kusuoku

Atsushi Ohuchi

Susumu Ichinose

Seijiro Honma

Noriko Haketa

A method of increasing expression of the aromatase gene by treating a cell population with an effective amount of an aromatase activator containing an extract of, where the effective amount ranges from 0.0001 to 1% by weight based on the total weight of the aromatase activator on a dry basis.

Aromatase activator

Provided is a material safely promoting the production of estrogen in a living body. The invention relates to use of a compound represented by the following formula (I) or a solvate thereof for producing an aromatase activator. The invention relates to an aromatase activation method comprising administering a compound represented by the following formula (I) or a solvate thereof (wherein the dashed line indicates that the bond may be a double bond, provided that a and b in the formula (I) do not simultaneously represent a double bond). 

The level of a steroid hormone, including estrogen, in the stratum corneum of the skin is assayed by LC-MS analysis of a steroid hormone in the stratum corneum of the skin collected by a tape stripping method. This allows the concentration in the skin of the steroid hormone, including estrogen which has an important effect on the state of the skin, to be easily measured.

Steroid hormone assay method

Drugs and cosmetics which are highly safe, and which are effective in preventing, improving, or treating various pathological conditions caused by estrogen depletion are provided. Provided are aromatase activators containing at least one member selected from plants such as Labiatae sps. including(huangcen),(jingjie), sage, lavender,, and thyme, an extract thereof; yeast extract; silk protein extract; milk protein; trehalose; natto extract; royal jelly;oil; hydrolyzated wheat extract; shea butter; and rice fermentation extract.

The present invention is directed to an aromatase activating agent containing a plant selected from among mulberry bark, ginseng, cucumber, andbark; or; or an extract of any of these ingredients. The aromatase activating agent of the present invention is highly safe to the human body, and useful as a drug or cosmetic composition for prevention, amelioration, or treatment of various lesions caused by estrogen deficiency.

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Tochigi, Japan

Shingo Kakuo