This technology features a composition for preventing, improving, and treating pruritus, using an extract of laver—specifically Porphyra yezoensis—as an active ingredient, extracted with water, C1-C4 lower alcohols, or a mixed solvent thereof. The same extract is formulated for use in pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic applications.
While pruritus is a common symptom associated with various skin, internal, and psychosomatic conditions, conventional topical steroids and antihistamines carry risks of side effects such as skin atrophy, telangiectasia, and adrenal suppression with long-term use. Furthermore, many cases of pruritus occur independently of histamine, limiting the effectiveness of existing treatments in safely managing diverse causes of itching.
This technology demonstrates that laver extract inhibits the expression of MDC, TARC, ET-1, and PAR-2—biomarkers of pruritus severity—in human keratinocytes without exhibiting toxicity in inflamed cells, with aqueous ethanol extract being the preferred form. Food products can be formulated as capsules, tablets, or jellies, while cosmetics can be developed as shampoos, tonics, creams, or mists. Applicable to anti-atopic topical agents, scalp and moisturizing functional cosmetics, and skin health functional foods, this technology provides a low-irritation natural ingredient derived from laver, a staple domestic marine product, to target even histamine-independent pruritus.
This invention was developed with support from the Ministry of Education’s project for developing blue carbon biomass-based source materials and building a marine resource utilization platform.
N/A
