This technology utilizes Sargassum thunbergii, a brown alga commonly found on rocky intertidal zones in Korea, extracted with 60–80 wt% ethanol to obtain an extract containing aldehyde compounds. It is used in cosmetic, pharmaceutical, topical, quasi-drug, and health supplement compositions at concentrations of 50–100 µg/ml for atopic and allergic dermatitis.
Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by persistent itching and cycles of improvement and worsening without a clear cause. As the exact etiology remains unknown, there is a growing demand for natural, low-irritation treatments. While Sargassum thunbergii has been used as an anthelmintic, food source, and fertilizer, and has shown potential anti-cancer properties, it has never before been applied to the treatment of atopic or allergic dermatitis.
This technology identifies a concentration range that inhibits the expression of TARC and MDC—reliable biomarkers for atopy—in keratinocytes where inflammation was induced by TNF-α and IFN-γ, without exhibiting toxicity to weakened cells. Extraction conditions were optimized, as concentrations below 60 wt% result in insufficient active ingredient extraction, while those above 80 wt% provide no further yield improvement. Applicable to atopic moisturizing creams, cleansers, quasi-drugs like sensitive-skin wipes and shower foams, and health supplements for skin immunity, this technology adds high value to a common, inexpensive seaweed resource as a low-irritation natural material for managing both itching and inflammation.
This invention was developed with support from the Ministry of Education for the development of blue carbon biomass-based source materials and the establishment of a marine resource recycling platform.
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