Abstract: Extracts,with ethanol as solvent,from 4 kinds of Chinese herbal medicine (dried aloe leaves,Angelica dahurica,Huaiqing yam and Radix scutellariae) were assessed for their antioxidation activity by free radical scavenging activity detection method and total antioxidation activity detection method.Meanwhile,their human skin whitening activity was assessed by tyrosinase inhibition test,B16 melanoma cells proliferation inhibition test and melanin formation inhibition test.The results showed that although the aforesaid four kinds of Chinese herbal medicine extract display certain antioxidation and free radical scavenging activity as well as tyrosinase inhibition activity,B16 melanoma cells proliferation inhibition and melanin formation inhibition capacity;however,as comparing with BHT (2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol) that containing in conventional skin care cosmetic products from the market,their antioxidation and whitening effect are lower.So it is necessary to separate and purify the ethanol extracts for enriching the active ingredients,as well as to improve their antioxidation and whitening activity.

Key words: cosmetics, whitening, antioxidation, ethanol extract, free radical, tyrosinase