J. Cosmet. Sci., 68, 271–283 ( July/August 2017) 271 The antiwrinkle and antimelanogenic effects of the nonedible part of Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench and their augmentation by fermentation DA EUN LEE, JEONG EUN KWON, EUI SU CHOUNG, SUNG RYUL LEE, and SE CHAN KANG, Department of Oriental Medicine Biotechnology, Kyung Hee University, Yong-in 17104, Republic of Korea (D.E.L., J.E.K.,S.C.K.), DanjoungBio Co., Ltd., Wonju 16303, Republic of Korea (E.S.C.), and Department of Integrated Biomedical Science, Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease Center, College of Medicine, Inje University, Busan 47392, Republic of Korea (S.R.L.) Accepted for publication July 18, 2017. Synopsis Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] is a major cereal crop. Despite the wide cultivation of sorghum, its stalks are used as hay and silage. The plant has numerous bioactive compounds including cosmeceutical ingredients. Thus, we investigated the antimelanogenic and SSE that is prepared from the stalk of Sorghum bicolor L. (SSE) after ethanol (EtOH) extraction. Based on the antioxidant capacity, antityrosinase activity, and suppression of the protein expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, -2, and -3 in human neonatal foreskin HDF-N cells, a 50% EtOH extraction of SSEs showed antimelanogenic and antiwrinkle potential. To enrich the cosmeceutical potential of SSE, a fermentation process was applied to SSE with the use of the fungus Aspergillus oryzae NK ( f SSE). On additional fermentation, the cosmeceutical potential of SSE increased with further enhancement of antityrosinase activity and suppression of MMP-1, -2, and -3 protein expression. SSE contains p-coumaric acid, and its level was enriched by the fermentation process. Collectively, SSE and its fermented product can serve as good ingredients in new cosmeceutical compounds. INTRODUCTION In modern society, skin whitening and the reduced appearance of wrinkles are effec- tive methods for maintaining a youthful appearance, even in middle-aged or elderly people (1–3). Overexposure to the sun, especially ultraviolet radiation (UV) and nor- mal aging may result in some undesirable effects on skin health, such as a wrinkle formation and abnormal pigmentation (4,5). Numerous environmental pollutants caused by industrialization and urbanization can impair skin health and accelerate Address all correspondence to Se Chan Kang at sckang@khu.ac.kr, and Sung Ryul Lee at lsr1113@inje.ac.kr.