JP5052011B2 - Blood flow improver - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a blood flow improving agent comprising a dried powder of kuzuka or a kuzuka extract.

  Kuzu is a large vine plant of the legume family, and katsu starch collected from its roots has long been used as a raw material for Japanese confectionery. The roots and flowers are called kudzu and kuzuka, respectively, and are used as a raw material for Chinese medicines for symptoms such as antipyretic drugs, analgesics, antispasmodics and sweating. In particular, unlike other legumes, Kuzuka has been shown to have various effects such as an action for improving liver damage, an action for preventing hangover, and an action for improving urinary nitrogen metabolism (Patent Documents 1 to 3). ).

Despite the various useful components (flavonoids, etc.) that are considered useful, Kuzuka is only used in limited fields such as Chinese medicine ingredients.
Japanese Patent No. 3454718 Japanese Patent Publication No. 8-32632 JP-A 64-68318

  An object of the present invention is to expand the field of use of Kuzuka by finding a new function of Kuzuka.

  The present inventor conducted extensive studies on the functionality of Kuzuka and found that Kuzuka powder or Kuzuka extract has an excellent blood flow improving action.

  The present invention provides a blood flow improving agent comprising a kuzu flower powder or a kuzu flower extract.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the blood flow improving agent which can exhibit the outstanding blood flow improvement effect is provided. Therefore, the use of Kuzuka can be expanded with respect to the new function of improving blood flow. The blood flow improving agent of the present invention can also be used for the purpose of preventing and alleviating blood circulation disorders such as coldness, and preventing and improving diseases related to blood fluidity.

(Katsuhana)
Kuzuka, the flower part of Kuzu, contains flavonoids, saponins, and tryptophan glycosides. In the present specification, “Kuzuhana” refers to a flower collected at the stage from the bud to the fully opened flower. In the present invention, it is particularly preferable to use soot.

(Katsuhana powder)
The kuzu flower powder used in the present invention is obtained by drying kuzu flowers, preferably kuzu flowers in the cocoon stage, by drying them by a method such as sun drying or hot air drying. The powderization is performed by a method commonly used by those skilled in the art, for example, a ball mill, a hammer mill, a roller mill or the like.

  Alternatively, the collected kuzuka can be crushed using a mass collider, slicer, comitolol, etc. to obtain a kuzu flower crushed material, and the kuzu flower crushed material can be dried to obtain kuzuka powder.

  Drying is preferably performed until the water content in the kuzuhana is 10% by mass or less.

  Kuzuka powder thus obtained from Kuzuka has an excellent blood flow improving action.

(Katsuhana extract)
The kuzu flower extract is obtained, for example, by adding a solvent to kuzu flower, performing extraction by heating as necessary, and collecting the extract by centrifugation or filtration. Examples of kuzuka that can be used for extraction include kuzuka before drying, katsuka after drying, unground kuzuka, kuzuka powder, and the like.

  Examples of the solvent that can be used to obtain the Kuzuhana extract include water, organic solvents, and hydrous organic solvents. Examples of the organic solvent include methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, n-butanol, acetone, hexane, cyclohexane, propylene glycol, ethyl methyl ketone, glycerin, methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, diethyl ether, dichloromethane, edible oils and fats, 1, Examples include 1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane, 1,1,2-trichloroethene and the like. Among these, a polar organic solvent is preferable, ethanol, n-butanol, methanol, acetone, propylene glycol, and ethyl acetate are more preferable, and ethanol is most preferable.

  Examples of the extraction method include a warm extraction method such as heating reflux, a supercritical extraction method, and the like. In these extraction methods, heating may be performed by applying pressure as necessary. When heating, it is necessary to prevent the solvent added to Kuzuka from volatilizing. When heating, extraction temperature becomes like this. Preferably it is 50 to 130 degreeC, More preferably, it is 70 to 100 degreeC.

  The extraction time only needs to be a time during which a soluble component is sufficiently extracted from the kuzu flower, and may be set as appropriate according to the extraction temperature or the like. Preferably, it is 30 minutes to 48 hours. For example, when the extraction temperature is less than 50 ° C, it is preferably 6 hours to 48 hours, and when it is 50 ° C or more, it is preferably 30 minutes to 24 hours.

  Moreover, the obtained extract may be converted into a powdered extract (extract powder) by a method usually used by those skilled in the art, such as concentration under reduced pressure and freeze-drying, as necessary.

  Further, the obtained extract is extracted with a high content of flavonoids and saponins using a synthetic adsorbent (Diaion HP20, Sephabies SP825, Amberlite XAD4, MCIgelCHP20P, etc.) or dextran resin (Sephadex LH-20, etc.). It is good also as a thing.

  The kuzu flower extract thus obtained can contain isoflavones and saponins. In the kuzu flower extract, isoflavones are preferably contained in an amount of 3% by mass or more, more preferably 5% by mass to 90% by mass with respect to the dry mass of the kuzu flower extract. The saponins are preferably contained in the Kuzuka extract at 1% by mass or more, more preferably 2% by mass to 50% by mass.

  Such a kuzu flower extract has an excellent blood flow improving effect. This action is superior to, for example, a soybean extract containing isoflavones or saponins. The reason for this is not clear, but it is thought that the Kuzuka extract contains isoflavones and saponins that are not found in soybeans.

(Blood flow improving agent)
The blood flow improving agent of the present invention comprises the kuzuka powder or the kuzuka extract. In the present invention, only one of kuzuka powder and kuzuka extract may be used, or these may be used in combination.

  The intake of the blood flow improving agent of the present invention is not particularly limited. When using kuzuhana powder, the intake of the blood flow improving agent per day for an adult is preferably 0.1 g or more, preferably 30 g or less, more preferably 10 g or less. When using the kuzu flower extract, the intake (dry mass) of the blood flow improving agent per day for an adult is preferably 10 mg or more, preferably 3000 mg or less, more preferably 1000 mg or less.

  The blood flow improving agent of the present invention is preferably taken as it is. However, the blood flow improving agent of the present invention is a blood flow improving component other than Kuzuka powder and Kuzuka extract (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as “other blood flow improving components”), food raw materials, pharmaceutical raw materials, additives. Forms such as food compositions, pharmaceutical compositions, etc., mixed with excipients, extenders, binders, thickeners, emulsifiers, colorants, flavors, seasonings (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “food ingredients”) Can also be taken.

  In the present specification, the “blood flow improving component” refers to a component having a blood flow improving action such as a vasodilating action, a platelet aggregation suppressing action, a blood rheology improving action and the like.

  Examples of other blood flow improving components include sulfur-containing organic compounds contained in onions and garlic; chitin / chitosan and derivatives thereof; glucosamine salts and derivatives thereof; peptides such as sardine peptides, casein decapeptides and lactotripeptides Citric acid and derivatives thereof; capsaicin and derivatives thereof; carpronium chloride; dialkyl monoamine derivatives; sinigrine; nicotinic acid and derivatives thereof and salts thereof; γ-oryzanol, vitamin K, vitamin D, vitamin E, hesperidin, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), collagen peptide, water-soluble dietary fiber and the like. However, other blood flow improving components are not limited to these.

  Plant extracts, natural materials, and processed foods containing these components can also be used as other blood flow improving components. Examples of plant extracts include capsicum extract, ginseng extract, Dutch mustard extract, arnica extract, safflower extract, cucumber extract, salamander extract, onion extract, garlic extract, carrot extract Plant extracts such as black vinegar, plum meat, ginger, chuchu leaf, ginkgo leaf, rooibos leaf, and extracts thereof.

  Furthermore, proanthocyanidins are also preferably used as other blood flow improving components. Among proanthocyanidins, OPC (oligomeric proanthocyanidins) which is a condensation polymer having a polymerization degree of 2 to 4 having flavan-3-ol and / or flavan-3,4-diol as a structural unit is particularly excellent. It has a blood rheology improving action and a blood vessel protecting action, and is preferably used as a blood flow improving component. As the OPC, bark, fruit or seed pulverized products containing a large amount of OPC, or extracts thereof can be used. Examples of materials containing a large amount of OPC include bark such as pine, persimmon, and wild peach; grape, blueberry, raspberry, cranberry, strawberry, avocado, black acacia, cowberry fruit or seed; barley, wheat, soybean, black soybean, cacao Peanut skin; ginkgo biloba; West African cola nut; Peruvian latania root; Japanese green tea.

  The other blood flow improving component is preferably 0.1 parts by mass or more, more preferably 1 part by mass or more, preferably 50 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the blood flow improving agent of the present invention. Hereinafter, it is more preferable that the content be 40 parts by mass or less.

  Examples of food ingredients include royal jelly, propolis, vitamins (A, B group, C, D, E, K, folic acid, pantothenic acid, biotin, and derivatives thereof), minerals (iron, magnesium, calcium, zinc, Selenium, etc.), chitin / chitosan, lecithin, polyphenol (condensed tannins such as catechins, anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, hydrolyzed tannins such as gallotannins, isoflavones, flavonoids, and derivatives thereof), carotenoids (lycopene, Astaxanthin, zeaxanthin, lutein), xanthine derivatives (such as caffeine), fatty acids, amino acids, proteins (collagen, elastin, etc.), mucopolysaccharides (hyaluronic acid, chondroitin, dermatan, heparan, heparin, ketalan, Such salts), amino sugars (glucosamine, acetylglucosamine, galactosamine, acetylgalactosamine, neuraminic acid, acetylneuraminic acid, hexosamine, salts thereof, etc.), dietary fiber (indigestible dextrin, alginic acid, guar gum, pectin, Glucomannan, etc.), oligosaccharides (isomalto-oligosaccharides, cyclic oligosaccharides, etc.), phospholipids and sphingolipids and their derivatives (phosphatidylcholine, sphingomyelin, ceramide, etc.), sulfur-containing compounds (alliin, sepaene, taurine, glutathione, methyl) Sulfonylmethane, etc.), sugar alcohols, quinones (Coenzyme Q10, etc.), lignans (Sesamin, etc.); animal and plant extracts containing these, root vegetables (turmeric, ginger, etc.), wheat plants such as wheat leaves Of green leaf, such as green leaves of cruciferous plants such as kale and the like.

  Furthermore, the blood flow improving agent of the present invention can be added to plant fermented juice, vegetable juice (for example, carrot juice), plant extract, fruit juice, etc., and used as a beverage form. With such a form, not only can the palatability be improved, but also a beverage having high functionality or nutritional value can be obtained.

  Examples of the seasoning include sweeteners such as granulated sugar, honey, and sorbit; acidulants such as citric acid, malic acid, and tartaric acid; and alcohol.

  The mixing ratio between the blood flow improving agent of the present invention and the food raw material is not particularly limited. For example, the food raw material is preferably 1 part by mass or more, more preferably 5 parts by mass or more, preferably 5000 parts by mass or less, with respect to 100 parts by mass of the blood flow improving agent of the present invention. Preferably it is 2500 mass parts or less.

  When the blood flow-improving agent of the present invention is used in the form of food, it is in the form of granules, tablets, capsules (hard capsules, soft capsules, etc.), pills, powders, liquids, tea bags, cups, etc. To be processed. The blood flow improving agent processed in this way may be eaten as it is, or may be taken by dissolving in water, hot water, milk or the like. If powder etc. are provided with the form of a tea bag, the extract obtained by being immersed in hot water etc. can be utilized as a drink.

  When the blood flow improving agent of the present invention is used in the form of a pharmaceutical product, it is processed into an oral preparation, an external preparation, an injection, or the like depending on the use. Examples of oral use include granules, tablets, capsules (hard capsules, soft capsules, etc.), pills, powders, liquids, bowls, and the like. Examples of the external preparation include forms conventionally used for external preparations for skin such as ointments, creams, emulsions, lotions, packs, and poultices.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on examples. The present invention should not be construed as being limited by the description of the examples, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims.

(Example 1: Verification of blood flow improvement effect)
Using the Kuzuhana extract (containing 10% by mass of isoflavones and 1% by mass of saponin; manufactured by Ota Gassan Co., Ltd.), the blood flow improvement effect in the body was verified by the following method.

  First, five subjects in each of test group 1 and control group 1 were allowed to rest for 1 hour when they were hungry early in the morning, and then the blood flow volume of each subject before ingestion of Kuzuka extract was measured. Next, 150 mL of water containing 200 mg of Kuzuka extract was ingested by the test group 1 subjects, and the blood flow after 1 hour of ingestion was measured. The test group 1 subjects received 150 mL of water alone, and the blood flow was measured in the same manner as in test group 1. The blood flow rate was measured by using a blood flow meter (laser blood flow imaging device PIMII; Sweden Permied).

  The blood flow improvement rate was calculated | required using the following formula | equation (I) from the blood flow volume before ingestion of the kuzu flower extract, and the blood flow volume after ingestion. The results are shown in Table 1. It shows that blood flow is improving, so that a numerical value is larger than zero. The value in the table indicates the average value of 5 subjects.

  As shown in Table 1, in the test group 1 subjects who took the kuzuhana extract, the blood flow increased by about 17% compared to before the ingestion. Therefore, it turns out that the outstanding blood-flow improvement effect is acquired by ingesting a kuzu flower extract.

(Example 2: Verification of blood flow recovery effect)
Using the Kuzuhana extract used in Example 1, the blood flow recovery effect was verified by the following method.

  First, after 5 subjects in each of Test Group 2 and Control Group 2 were rested for 1 hour on an early morning hungry, the blood flow volume before ingestion of the Kuzuka extract of each subject was the same as in Example 1 above. It was measured. Subsequently, 150 mL of water containing 100 mg of the Kuzuka extract was ingested by the test group 2 subjects. One hour after ingestion, a load was applied by immersing the right hand in cold water at 10 ° C. for 10 seconds, and blood flow was measured 6 times every 10 seconds immediately after the end of the load. In control group 2, 150 mL of water alone was ingested, and blood flow was measured in the same procedure as in test group 2.

  The blood flow recovery rate was calculated | required using following formula (II). The results are shown in Table 2. The closer the value is to 0, the more blood flow is recovered. The value in the table indicates the average value of 5 subjects.

  As shown in Table 2, it can be seen that the test group 2 subjects who ingested the kuzuhana extract had faster blood flow recovery than the control group 2 subjects who had not ingested. Therefore, it can be seen that an excellent blood flow improving effect can be obtained by ingesting the Kuzuhana extract.

  From this result, it can be seen that the blood flow is improved by the excellent blood flow improving action of the Kuzuhana extract, and the blood flow can be quickly recovered even when a load is applied. That is, the blood flow improving agent of the present invention is suitable for prevention and alleviation of blood circulation disorders. Furthermore, prevention or improvement of diseases related to blood fluidity can be expected by improving blood flow.

  The blood flow improving agent comprising the kuzu flower powder or kuzu flower extract of the present invention is useful because it has an excellent blood flow improving action. Accordingly, the blood flow improving agent of the present invention is useful as a food composition, a pharmaceutical composition, and the like because the blood flow improving effect can be exerted, for example, by ingestion.

Claims (1)

A blood flow-improving agent (excluding drugs for treating hyperlipidemia) consisting of Kuzuka powder or Kuzuka extract.