Posted: March 28, 2012

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The present invention comprises mixtures of herb extracts that exert synergistic antioxidant effects and comprise the herb licorice and at least one other herb selected from the group consisting of ginger, kudzu, sophora and thyme. Skin care preparations incorporating such herb extract mixtures and their methods of preparation and use are also claimed.

Xanthohumol-enriched hop extract for singlet oxygen-quenching
US Patent 8142821
Publication date: March 27, 2012
Assignee: Flazan GmbH & Co. KG

Squalene is also a component of acne sebum, and both porphyrins and squalene are directly exposed to the external environment and play a key role in skin physiology. Recently it was demonstrated that squalene peroxidation during solar exposure is mainly caused by singlet oxygen and free radical attack, suggesting that sun care products should make use not only of free radical scavengers but also of singlet oxygen quenchers. Xanthohumol's singlet oxygen-quenching activity might therefore be used to develop new treatments for immune and inflammatory diseases.

Thus, disclosed in this patent is a method for preparing a xanthohumol-rich hop composition that includes providing a solution that contains xanthohumol-containing hop substances, and affecting the precipitation of non-xanthohumol hop substances by adjusting both the salt concentration and pH value of the solution. The xanthohumol-rich hop composition prepared by this method can be used for treating skin conditions and bacterial infection.