Since 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase (15-PGDH) is the key metabolic enzyme of prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$), inhibition of 15-PGDH is supposed to facilitate various physiological functions by increasing $PGE_2$. Methanol extract of Artemisia argyi (AAME) inhibited 15-PGDH ($IC_{50}$: $13.13{mu}g/mL$) with relatively low cytotoxicity ($IC_{50}$: $415.00{mu}g/mL$) and elevated extracellular $PGE_2$ levels in HaCaT cells. Real-time PCR analysis showed that AAME decreased significantly mRNA expression of PG transporter (PGT) in HaCaT cells. These results indicate that AAME could be applicable to functional materials as a 15-PGDH inhibitor and PGT expression inhibitor for the upregulation of extracellular $PGE_2$ level.