AMOREPACIFIC Corporation (CEO Shim Sang-bae) R&D Center has begun developing a product using the indigenous Korean plant ulleungdo stonecrop (scientific name: Sedum takesimense Nakai) which is found to be particularly effective in whitening the skin.

On August 21, AMOREPACIFIC Corporation applied for a patent on skin whitening effect of ulleungdo stonecrop (scientific name: Sedum takesimense Nakai) in association with the National Institute of Biological Resources (Director Kim Sang-bae) under the Ministry of Environment. Ulleungdo stonecrop is a plant indigenous to Korea that’s found on sunshine-swept ocean cliffs and grassy verges at the edge of the forests around the islands of Ulleungdo and Dokdo.

AMOREPACIFIC R&D Center studied the various effects of ulleungdo stonecrop on the skin in association with the National Institute of Biological Resources. The R&D Center discovered through the research that the plant contains ingredients that are effective in whitening the skin and it used this insight to begin developing a product based around the ingredient. The product using ulleungdo stonecrop is expected to be released in 1-2 years after undergoing final formulation and safety testing.

"This patent application for the skin whitening effect of ulleungdo stonecrop and subsequent product development are the results of our continuous efforts for conserving biodiversity that we have carried out in cooperation with many partner organizations. We will continue to carry out research into cosmetic ingredients in order to uphold the principle of conserving biological diversity," said Han Sang-hoon, director of AMOREPACIFIC R&D Center.

Indeed, AMOREPACIFIC Corporation carries out various activities to help protect biodiversity in compliance with the international convention on biological diversity. Through the cooperative relationships it maintains with many research institutes, it conducts research and studies for biodiversity and reflects its research outputs about indigenous plant species in its ongoing product development.

The current research began in 2010 following the restoration and application of white chrysanthemum in product development for the first time in the world, while research into the restoration of rare Korean-native beans has been ongoing since 2011. Plus, the development of a new rose of Sharon species for better benefits to the skin was launched last year. AMOREPACIFIC Corporation will continue to make full use of biological diversity to develop new differentiated plant-based ingredients.