Patent Description:
Malva sylvestris (sometimes also called common mallow) is a perennial wild species native to Europe but is widely cultivated as an herb and for herbal medicines. Plant extracts and fermentation products have been used in the past in cosmetics, etc., but use as a topical skin agent has been reported for Malva sylvestris. Specifically, for example, Patent Document <NUM> describes the suppression of overexpression of bFGF mRNA, the expression of which is increased by UV irradiation, by Malva sylvestris extract. The possibility of preventing, treating, or ameliorating blemishing, freckling, skin pigmentation, etc., thereby is described. Also, for example, Patent Document <NUM> describes the suppression of the kinesin expression level in human epithelium-derived pigment cells by Malva sylvestris extract (common mallow extract). A beneficial effect on blemishes, freckles, and pigmentation is also described.

However, methods using conventional extracts have been unable to adequately elicit activity by Malva sylvestris.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a Malva sylvestris-derived material modified to increase activity. Another purpose is to provide a novel topical skin agent thereby.

The inventors perfected the invention upon conducting thoroughgoing studies to attain the aforestated object.

The present invention according to a first aspect provides a fermentation product, using Malva sylvestris or a processed product thereof as a starting material, obtained using one or more microorganisms selected from the group consisting of microorganisms belonging to the genus Lactobacillus, microorganisms belonging to the genus Lactococcus, and microorganisms belonging to the genus Pediococcus.

In the fermentation product according to the present invention, the microorganisms are preferably one or more microorganisms selected from the group consisting of Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus pentosus, Lactobacillus zeae, Lactobacillus mali, Lactobacillus fabifermentans, Lactobacillus hordei, Lactococcus lactis, Pediococcus acidilactici, and Pediococcus pentosaceus.

The present invention according to a second aspect provides a topical skin agent containing the abovementioned fermentation product.

In the topical skin agent according to the present invention, the topical skin agent is preferably used to cause a whitening effect.

In the topical skin agent according to the present invention, the fermentation product preferably has a melanin production-suppressing action.

In the topical skin agent according to the present invention, the fermentation product preferably has a tyrosinase-inhibiting action.

The present invention has exceptional activity that causes a whitening effect such as melanin production-suppressing activity, tyrosinase-inhibiting activity, etc., due to being a fermentation product having Malva sylvestris or a processed product thereof as the starting material, treated by specific microorganisms. Therefore, a novel topical skin agent can be provided thereby.

<FIG> is a graph showing the results of studying melanin production-suppressing activity in Test Case <NUM>. (A) is a graph showing the results of studying the changes in the intracellular melanin production level at each final concentration of Malva sylvestris fermentation product added to melanin-producing cells (the results are shown as a percentage to the intracellular melanin level when unfermented Malva sylvestris extract was added in the same final concentrations), and (B) is a graph showing the results of the same test of hibiscus or black mallow.

In the present specification, "Malva sylvestris" is synonymous with the plant commonly understood by those skilled in the art and specifically includes in the meaning Malva sylvestris of the genus Malva, family Malvaceae (scientific name: Malva sylvestris, also called blue mallow) and a variety thereof Malva mauritiana (scientific name: Malva mauritiana, also called common mallow). Malva sylvestris is a plant of European origin, is also widely cultivated as an herb and for medicinal use, and is easily available.

In the present invention, microorganisms are allowed to act on Malva sylvestris to make a fermentation product by the microorganisms. Examples of the plant parts of Malva sylvestris on which the microorganisms act include the flowers, leaves, stems, aerial portions, roots, whole plant, a mixture of these parts, etc. However, the flowers, leaves, or a mixture of these parts, etc., are preferred, and the flowers are more preferred. The form of the plant on which the microorganisms act is a crushed product of the bulk plant or a dried product thereof, a juice, an extract, or a mixture of these, etc., but no particular limitations are placed thereon. A juice, extract, or a mixture of these, etc., is preferred, and an extract is more desirable.

Examples of the microorganisms that act upon Malva sylvestris include microorganisms belonging to the genus Lactobacillus, microorganisms belonging to the genus Lactococcus, microorganisms belonging to the genus Leuconostoc, microorganisms belonging to the genus Pediococcus, etc.; more specifically, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus pentosus, Lactobacillus zeae, Lactobacillus mali, Lactobacillus fabifermentans, Lactobacillus hordei, Lactococcus lactis, Pediococcus acidilactici, Pediococcus pentosaceus, etc. With these microorganisms, fermentation of Malva sylvestris is promoted well, and the activity that causes a whitening effect is excellent. However, this does not mean that microorganisms that can be used in the present invention are limited to these species. One type of microorganism may be used alone in treatment with the above starting material, or two or more types may be used in combination in treatment with the above starting material. Specifically, treatment by two or more different types of microorganisms may be carried out sequentially, or treatment may be carried out using two or more different types of microorganisms in combination simultaneously. Alternatively, these treatments may be combined.

The conditions under which the microorganisms act upon Malva sylvestris are not particularly limited as long as the conditions cause some type of change in the components of Malva sylvestris by the microorganisms. However, growth conditions under which the microorganisms that act upon Malva sylvestris proliferate, for example, <NUM>-<NUM>,<NUM> times the starting cell count, typically <NUM>-<NUM> times, and more typically <NUM>-<NUM> times, are preferred. When growth is poor, fermentation does not progress well.

When allowing the microorganisms to act on Malva sylvestris, for example, glucose, fructose, sucrose, oligosaccharides, and other such sugars; alanine, arginine, tryptophan, cysteine, and other such amino acids; casein degradation product, protein degradation product, and other such peptides; yeast extract, meat extract, soybean extract, and other such extracts; polyoxyethylene sorbitan oleate and other such surfactants having a fatty acid in a side chain; or, for example, Lactobacillus MRS Broth (Difco), etc., which is a standard medium composition for lactobacilli, etc., may be used as auxiliary materials for growth of the microorganisms.

However, if other components remain in addition to Malva sylvestris-derived components, the quality of the fermentation product obtained is sometimes affected in terms of the antiseptic property, feel on use, etc. Therefore, it is not desirable to combine more components other than Malva sylvestris-derived components than necessary during fermentation. Consequently, when using the auxiliary materials, the proportion of other components relative to <NUM> mass parts of Malva sylvestris-derived components is preferably set at from <NUM> mass part to <NUM> mass parts, more preferably from <NUM> mass part to <NUM> mass part. On the other hand, Malva sylvestris may be subjected to treatment by the microorganisms without adding a starting material not derived from Malva sylvestris.

Discretionary, non-limiting embodiments for obtaining a fermentation product according to the present invention are explained more specifically below.

As the starting material upon which the microorganisms act, for example, an extract of Malva sylvestris can be obtained and used as the starting material. In this case, for example, a <NUM>- to <NUM>-fold amount of water or hot water (for example, reverse osmosis-treated water, ion-exchanged water, tap water, well water, distilled water, ultrapure water, etc., may be used) may be added to a dried powder of the plant and heated to obtain a hot-water extract. The hot-water extract may be used unmodified as the starting material in the form of an extract suspension, although optionally the water may be evaporated off to effect concentration for use as the starting material, or the solids may be removed by a solid-liquid separation means such as filter filtration, centrifugation, etc., to obtain a supernatant to use as the starting material. Such a starting material may be inoculated with the microorganisms in a suitable starting concentration so that the microorganisms act upon the starting material.

Treatment by the microorganisms can be carried out by methods according with normal aeration and static culture. In this case, the starting cell count concentration is preferably from <NUM> × <NUM><NUM> CFU/mL to <NUM> × <NUM><NUM> CFU/mL, more preferably <NUM> × <NUM><NUM> CFU/mL to <NUM> × <NUM><NUM> CFU/mL. The temperature conditions are <NUM>-<NUM>, more preferably <NUM>-<NUM>. The treatment time is from <NUM> hours to <NUM> days, more preferably <NUM>-<NUM> days. By static culture under such conditions, for example, the microorganisms are caused to proliferate to <NUM>-<NUM>,<NUM> times the starting cell count, typically <NUM>-<NUM> times, more typically <NUM>-<NUM> times, and a fermentation product can be obtained. After treatment by the microorganisms, the fermentation product according to the present invention may be used directly, including the microorganisms used, but it is preferable in terms of the antiseptic property, feel on use, etc., as mentioned above to remove the cells of the microorganisms used in fermentation by a solid-liquid separation means such as filter filtration, centrifugation, etc., and use the supernatant obtained as the fermentation product. It is also possible after treatment by the microorganisms to add various solvents to the treated product to prepare an extract or a diluted product which is used as the fermentation product of the present invention. Examples of solvents used here include, but are not limited to, solvents commonly used in cosmetics such as water; ethanol, propanol, and other such lower alcohols; cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, and other such higher alcohols; <NUM>,<NUM>-butylene glycol, <NUM>,<NUM>-propanediol, glycerin, and other such polyhydric alcohols; etc. The solvents can be used individually or in mixtures of two or more.

The fermentation product according to the present invention may be used without modification as a topical skin agent or may be used by being blended in a topical skin agent production process. Specifically, the fermentation product can be used suitably, for example, as a cosmetic in the form of an emulsion, cream, cleanser, massage, sunscreen, foundation, cream foundation, etc., or as a raw material thereof. Furthermore, the term cosmetic as used here includes pharmaceuticals, quasi-drugs, and cosmetics defined by the Act on Securing Quality, Efficacy, and Safety of Products Including Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices.

Also, the form of a topical skin agent may be a pack, mask, gel, etc., in which a component that acts on the skin is carried by a suitable base material, in other words, a form that can be used suitably as a component that acts on the skin in such a topical skin agent.

Also, in discretionary, non-limiting embodiments of the present invention, the topical skin agent may be used to cause a whitening effect or may be a product that exhibits functionalities such as having a melanin production-suppressing action, having a tyrosinase-inhibiting action, etc..

The present invention is explained concretely below through examples, but these examples do not limit the scope of the present invention.

Commercial dried flowers of Malva sylvestris were used in testing.

Malva sylvestris extract for preculture was prepared as follows. Specifically, water (reverse osmosis-treated water, referred to hereinafter as "RO water") was added so that the plant powder:water ratio was <NUM>:<NUM> (mass). Glucose was added to yield a final concentration of <NUM> w/v% and yeast extract (Difco) was added to yield a final concentration of <NUM> w/v%. A suspension was prepared via thorough stirring. The suspension was aliquoted in <NUM> portions into test tubes which were then covered with an aluminum cap and autoclaved for <NUM> minutes at <NUM> to obtain a hot-water extract.

Two types of Malva sylvestris extract for main culture were prepared: (<NUM>) no other ingredients added, and (<NUM>) <NUM> w/v% glucose and <NUM> w/v% yeast extract added. Specifically, RO water was added so that the plant powder:water ratio was <NUM>:<NUM> (mass). For type (<NUM>), no other ingredients were added, while for type (<NUM>), glucose was added to yield a final concentration of <NUM> w/v% and yeast extract (Difco) was added to yield a final concentration of <NUM> w/v%. Suspensions were prepared via thorough stirring. The suspensions were aliquoted in <NUM> portions into test tubes which were sealed with a silicone plug and autoclaved for <NUM> minutes at <NUM> to obtain a hot-water extract.

Table <NUM> shows the <NUM> types of lactic acid bacteria used. -<NUM> DMSO preserved strains were inoculated onto Lactobacilli MRS Broth (Difco). After culturing for <NUM> hours at the optimal culture temperature, cells passaged for another generation under the same conditions were formed into a bacterial solution and provided for preculture of Malva sylvestris extract. Furthermore, a type of strain representing the genus and species of each of the lactic acid bacteria was obtained and used for <NUM> of the lactic acid bacteria used (other than No. <NUM> and No. <NUM>). The <NUM> strains used can be obtained from the depositories listed in Table <NUM>.

In preculture, <NUM> of Malva sylvestris extract for preculture was inoculated with <NUM> v/v% bacterial solution (starting cell count concentration: approximately <NUM> × <NUM><NUM> to <NUM> × <NUM><NUM> CFU/mL) and static cultured for <NUM> hours at the optimal temperature under an aerobic condition.

In main culture, <NUM> of Malva sylvestris extract for main culture was inoculated with <NUM> v/v% precultured culture (starting cell count concentration: approximately <NUM> × <NUM><NUM> to <NUM> × <NUM><NUM> CFU/mL) and static cultured for <NUM> hours at the optimal temperature under an aerobic condition.

After main culture, the viable cell count was confirmed. Specifically, <NUM>µL of an undiluted solution of the main cultured culture or a solution obtained by suitably diluting the main cultured culture by <NUM> w/v% yeast extract was seeded on Lactobacilli MRS agar plate medium using a spiral plater EDDY JET2 (IUL Instruments). After culturing for three days at the optimal temperature, the colonies formed were counted using a colony counter ProtoCOL3 (SYNBIOSIS), and the value of CFU (colony-forming units)/mL was calculated. The starting cell count before main culture was confirmed in the same way.

As a result, lactic acid bacterium No. <NUM> (Streptococcus thermophilus) was a species or strain unsuited to preparation of a fermentation product using Malva sylvestris as the starting material because no viable bacteria were detected after preculture.

With the other <NUM> strains of lactic acid bacteria, the viable cell count increased at least ten-fold over the starting cell count due to culture in Malva sylvestris extract. The effects when glucose and yeast extract were added to Malva sylvestris extract varied depending on the type of lactic acid bacterium, with the viable cell count tending to increase (e.g., lactic acid bacterium No. <NUM> (Lactobacillus hordei)), remaining basically the same (e.g., lactic acid bacterium No. <NUM> (Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis)), and tending to suppression (e.g., lactic acid bacterium No. <NUM> (Lactobacillus zeae)). No uniform trend was seen. The magnitude of the effect on growth of the bacteria was not that remarkable in any case.

The above clarified that the <NUM> strains of lactic acid bacteria, that is, lactic acid bacterium No. <NUM> (Lactobacillus plantarum subsp. plantarum), lactic acid bacterium No. <NUM> (Lactobacillus pentosus), lactic acid bacterium No. <NUM> (Lactobacillus zeae), lactic acid bacterium No. <NUM> (Lactobacillus mali), lactic acid bacterium No. <NUM> (Lactobacillus casei), lactic acid bacterium No. <NUM> (Lactobacillus fabifermentans), lactic acid bacterium No. <NUM> (Lactobacillus hordei), lactic acid bacterium No. <NUM> (Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis), lactic acid bacterium No. <NUM> (Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides), lactic acid bacterium No. <NUM> (Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. mesenteroides), lactic acid bacterium No. <NUM> (Pediococcus acidilactici), and lactic acid bacterium No. <NUM> (Pediococcus pentosaceus), are suited to preparation of a fermentation product using Malva sylvestris as the starting material.

Lactic acid bacteria Nos. <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> were selected from among the <NUM> types of lactic acid bacteria (Nos. <NUM>-<NUM>) that exhibited a viable cell count after culture of <NUM> × <NUM><NUM> CFU/mL or more in Test Example <NUM>, and melanin production-suppressing activity was studied using cultures obtained by each lactic acid bacterium.

Specifically, after main culture by unadded Malva sylvestris extract had been completed, the culture was centrifuged for <NUM> minutes at <NUM> rpm (<NUM> × g), and the supernatant was aseptically filtered by a <NUM> filter to obtain a fermentation supernatant. The fermentation supernatant was stored at <NUM> shielded from light, then stored frozen at -<NUM> until measurement. Table <NUM> shows the results of pH measurement of the fermentation supernatant used or unfermented Malva sylvestris extract and the evaporation residue concentration (mg/mL) when measured by allowing to cool in a desiccator after heating for three hours at <NUM>.

Melanin production-suppressing activity was measured by the test method shown below.

As cells, B16 mouse melanoma cells (B16-F1) were used. Cells passaged <NUM>-<NUM> times, counting from the time of purchase, were used in the test. As medium, DMEM containing <NUM> or <NUM>% FBS was used.

A quantity of <NUM>µL of DMEM medium containing <NUM>% FBS was placed in a <NUM>-well plate, and B16 melanoma cells were seeded <NUM> × <NUM><NUM> cells/well (<NUM> × <NUM><NUM> cells/cm<NUM>), then cultured for <NUM> hours at <NUM> under <NUM>% CO<NUM>. Thereafter, the medium was replaced with <NUM> of <NUM> theophylline-containing medium containing a test sample, and the cells were cultured for another three days.

As the test sample, a fermentation supernatant by each lactic acid bacterium or unfermented Malva sylvestris extract was added to make a blend ratio (volume ratio) of <NUM>%, <NUM>%, <NUM>%, or <NUM>% in the medium, taking the undiluted sample solution as <NUM>%. As a control, RO water was added to the medium in the same blend ratios instead of the fermentation supernatant by each lactic acid bacterium or unfermented Malva sylvestris extract. As a positive control, <NUM>% of an aqueous solution of arbutin, known as a whitening ingredient for quasi-drugs, was added to the medium (final concentration <NUM>-<NUM>).

After culture was completed, the cells were washed twice with PBS(-) and fixed with <NUM>% ethanol. After removing the ethanol by air drying, 1N NaOH was added to each well and heated for <NUM> minutes at <NUM>. A cell lysate dissolving the cells and melanin was obtained. After allowing to cool, the entire amount of cell lysate was transferred to a <NUM>-well plate, and the <NUM> absorbance was measured. The intracellular melanin production level per culture well was determined from a calibration curve that used synthetic melanin, and the intracellular melanin production level relative to the control was determined by the following formula.

The cell lysate was diluted ten-fold by ultrapure water (milli-Q water) and assayed by the BCA method (Pierce BCA Protein assay kit) using BSA as the reference protein, and the intracellular protein level relative to the control was determined using the following formula.

The <NUM>% inhibitory concentration (IC50 value) for each of the intracellular melanin production level and the intracellular protein level was determined based on <NUM>-<NUM> tests of fermentation supernatants by each lactic acid bacterium or unfermented Malva sylvestris extract and predetermined blend ratios. In calculation of the IC50 value, each value without test sample added was taken to be <NUM>%, and a concentration making <NUM>% or an estimated value thereof was used. Furthermore, the concentration of each fermentation supernatant and unfermented Malva sylvestris extract was expressed in terms of the evaporation residue concentration shown in Table <NUM>.

The results are summarized in Table <NUM>.

As a result, while the positive control arbutin had an IC50 value for intracellular melanin production level of <NUM>µg/mL, the IC50 value of unfermented Malva sylvestris extract exceeded <NUM>µg/mL, and the suppressive effect was poor.

Fermentation supernatants obtained using lactic acid bacterium No. <NUM> (Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides) and lactic acid bacterium No. <NUM> (Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. mesenteroides), as with the unfermented Malva sylvestris extract, had a poor melanin production-suppressing effect.

Meanwhile, the IC50 value for intracellular melanin production level in fermentation supernatants obtained using lactic acid bacterium No. <NUM> (Lactobacillus plantarum subsp. plantarum), lactic acid bacterium No. <NUM> (Lactobacillus pentosus), lactic acid bacterium No. <NUM> (Lactobacillus mali), and lactic acid bacterium No. <NUM> (Lactobacillus fabifermentans) were remarkably lower than unfermented and tended to approach the value of the positive control arbutin. On the other hand, no major differences were seen from unfermented in the IC50 values of intracellular protein level in these fermentation supernatants.

It is clear from the above that the melanin production-suppressing activity is increased in fermentation products of Malva sylvestris extract obtained using the above lactic acid bacteria without causing a decrease in cell count in comparison to the unfermented extract.

Lactic acid bacteria Nos. <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> were selected among the <NUM> types of lactic acid bacteria (Nos. <NUM>-<NUM>) that exhibited a viable cell count of <NUM> × <NUM><NUM> CFU/mL or more after culture in Test Example <NUM>. Fermentation supernatants were prepared in the same way as in Test Example <NUM> (the fermentation supernatant used in Test Example <NUM> was used for No. <NUM>), and the tyrosinase-inhibiting activity was studied. Table <NUM> shows the results of pH measurement of the fermentation supernatants used or unfermented Malva sylvestris extract and the evaporation residue concentration (mg/mL) when measured by allowing to cool in a desiccator after heating for three hours at <NUM>.

The tyrosinase-inhibiting activity was measured by a partial modification of the method of Matsuda et al. Specifically, the fermentation supernatant obtained using each lactic acid bacterium or unfermented Malva sylvestris extract was aliquoted in <NUM>µL portions (undiluted sample solution) into each well of <NUM>-well microplates. After adding <NUM>µL of <NUM> phosphate buffer (pH <NUM>) to each well and mixing, the plates were preincubated for ten minutes at room temperature. Next, <NUM>µL of <NUM> U/mL tyrosinase solution (tyrosinase: mushroom derived, Sigma-Aldrich) and <NUM>µL of <NUM> w/v% <NUM>,<NUM>-dihydroxyL-phenylalanine (L-DOPA, FUJIFILM Wako Pure Chemical Corporation) were added to each well and mixed. After incubating for five minutes at room temperature, the <NUM> absorbance, which is the maximum absorption wavelength of dopachrome (intermediate of melanin biosynthesis), was measured. The final volume of the reaction system was <NUM>µL, of which the final blend ratio of fermentation supernatant (undiluted sample solution) was <NUM>µL/<NUM>µL.

The tyrosinase inhibition rate was calculated using the following formula from the measured absorbance. In the formula, "control" represents a reaction system with RO water added instead of sample and "blank" represents a reaction system with <NUM> potassium phosphate buffer added instead of tyrosinase.

The tyrosinase reaction test was carried out three times on fermentation supernatants obtained using each lactic acid bacterium or unfermented Malva sylvestris extract, and the mean and standard deviation were determined. The results are shown in Table <NUM>.

In the results, while the tyrosinase inhibition rate of the unfermented Malva sylvestris extract was <NUM>% (SD: ±<NUM>%), among fermentation products by each lactic acid bacterium the inhibition rate was <NUM>% (SD: ±<NUM>%) with lactic acid bacterium No. <NUM> (Lactobacillus zeae), <NUM>% (SD: ±<NUM>%) with lactic acid bacterium No. <NUM> (Lactobacillus fabifermentans), <NUM>% (SD: ±<NUM>%) with No. <NUM> (Lactobacillus hordei), <NUM>% (SD: ±<NUM>%) with lactic acid bacterium No. <NUM> (Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis), <NUM>% (SD: ±<NUM>%) with lactic acid bacterium No. <NUM> (Pediococcus acidilactici), and <NUM>% (SD: ±<NUM>%) with lactic acid bacterium No. <NUM> (Pediococcus pentosaceus).

From the above it is clear that the tyrosinase-inhibiting activity is increased in fermentation products of Malva sylvestris extract obtained using the above lactic acid bacteria in comparison to the unfermented extract.

An investigation was made into whether the functionalities of other genus of Malvaceae plants are enhanced by lactic acid bacterial treatment, as with Malva sylvestris.

In addition to the dried flowers of Malva sylvestris used in Test Examples <NUM>-<NUM>, dried calices and bracts of hibiscus and dried flowers of black mallow were used in the test. Table <NUM> shows the genus name, scientific name, Japanese name, and English common name of the Malvaceae used.

A plant extract for preculture was prepared as follows. Water (reverse osmosis-treated water, referred to hereinafter as "RO water") was added to achieve a plant powder:water ratio of <NUM>:<NUM> (mass). Glucose was added to yield a final concentration of <NUM> w/v% and yeast extract (Difco) was added to yield a final concentration of <NUM> w/v%. A suspension was prepared via thorough stirring. The suspension was aliquoted in <NUM> portions into test tubes which were then covered with an aluminum cap and autoclaved for <NUM> minutes at <NUM> to obtain a hot-water extract.

A plant extract for main culture was prepared as follows. <NUM> of RO water was added so that the plant powder:water ratio was <NUM>:<NUM> (mass) in the case of Malva sylvestris and hibiscus, or so that the plant powder:water ratio was <NUM>:<NUM> (mass) in the case of black mallow. A suspension was prepared via thorough stirring. The suspension was placed in test tubes which were sealed with a silicone plug and autoclaved for <NUM> minutes at <NUM> to obtain a hot-water extract.

Lactic acid bacterium No. <NUM> (Lactobacillus plantarum subsp. plantarum) was used.

Preculture and main culture obtained using lactic acid bacterium No. <NUM> were carried out in the same way as in Test Example <NUM> except that the hot-water extracts prepared above were used as the culture starting material.

The viable cell count after the main culture was confirmed in the same way as in Test Example <NUM>. Also, a fermentation supernatant was prepared in the same way as in Test Example <NUM> from the culture after the main culture had been completed, and the pH and evaporation residue concentration thereof were confirmed.

The melanin production-suppressing activity of the obtained fermentation supernatants or unfermented plant extract was measured using B16 melanoma cells in the same way as in Test Example <NUM>. Taking the undiluted sample solution as <NUM>%, samples were added to make blend ratios of <NUM>%, <NUM>%, <NUM>%, and <NUM>% (volume) in the medium. RO water was added to the medium in the same blend ratio as a control.

Table <NUM> summarizes the results on melanin production-suppressing activity for each Malvaceae plant extract, whether fermented by lactic acid bacteria or not, and at each blend ratio (volume ratio) of undiluted sample solution added to the medium. The data in the upper part of Table <NUM> (Table <NUM>-<NUM>) are given in terms of relative values, taking the intracellular melanin level when the control (RO water) was added as <NUM>%, and the data in the lower part of Table <NUM> (Table <NUM>-<NUM>) are given in terms of absolute values, taking the intracellular melanin production level when unfermented plant extract was added in the same final concentration as <NUM>%. In <FIG>, the results of the lower part of Table <NUM> (Table <NUM>-<NUM>) are graphed by expressing the final concentration of sample added to the medium in terms of the evaporation residue concentration and using the same on the x axis.

Claim 1:
A fermentation product having Malva sylvestris or a processed product thereof as a starting material, obtained using one or more microorganisms selected from the group consisting of microorganisms belonging to the genus Lactobacillus, microorganisms belonging to the genus Lactococcus, and microorganisms belonging to the genus Pediococcus.