MELANISM SUPPRESSING AGENT USING MONASCUS PIGMENT COMPOUND AND SKIN EXTERNAL PREPARATION BLENDED THEREWITH

摘要

PURPOSE:To obtain an excellent melanism suppressing agent by using a Monascus pigment compound obtained by culturing Monascus fungi. CONSTITUTION:A filamentous fungi belonging to the genus Monascus is subjected to liquid culture under aerobic conditions and the cultured mixture is extracted with an organic solvent, etc., and purified and separated to provide a Monascus pigment compound. This compound having excellent melanism suppressing action is used as the objective melanism suppressing agent and this agent is blended to provide the objective skin external preparation having beautifying effects. Although the Monascus pigment compound has been used in various industrial fields including foods as uses for the purpose of mainly coloring and dyeing, the uses are further expanded based on new melanism suppressing effects. The compound is free from influence on activity due to light and has good dissolution stability against the change in pH and temperature and is readily handleable.