JP2008214191A - Agent for suppressing accumulation of lipid in liver - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To find out the new functions of kudzu (Pueraria thunbergiana) flower to expand the uses of the kudzu flower, and to provide a new agent for suppressing the accumulation of lipid in the liver. <P>SOLUTION: It is intended to provide an agent for suppressing the accumulation of lipid in the liver comprising kudzu (Pueraria thunbergiana) flower treated substance or to provide a food containing an agent for suppressing the accumulation of lipid in the liver. Because the agent for suppressing the accumulation of lipid in the liver or the food has excellent suppressing effects on the accumulation of neutral fat and total cholesterol in the liver, it can be used for the purpose of preventing or improving fatty liver. Further, the agent for suppressing the accumulation of lipid in the liver can be used to reduce the risks of liver cirrhosis having been indicated to enhance not only fatty liver but also the risks of the fatty liver, diabetes, hyperlipemia, hypertension, arteriosclerosis and the like by preventing or improving fatty liver. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a hepatic lipid accumulation inhibitor comprising as an active ingredient a kuzu flower treatment product.

Katsu is a leguminous plant that has long been used as a raw material for Japanese confectionery as a kuzu starch, and its roots and flowers are called kuzu root and kuzu flower, respectively, as a raw material for traditional Chinese medicine for symptoms such as antipyretic, analgesic, antispasmodic and sweating. Has been blended. Moreover, it has become clear that Kuzuka has effects such as liver damage improvement, hangover prevention effect, and urinary nitrogen metabolism improvement effect, unlike other legumes (Patent Documents 1 to 3).
Japanese Patent No. 3454718 Japanese Patent Publication No. 08-032632 JP-A 64-68318

  However, Kuzuka contains various components including flavonoids, but only a limited function has been clarified, so there was a problem that the uses of Kuzuka are narrow.

  In recent years, due to dietary changes, fat (sugar, sugar, alcohol, especially neutral fat) is accumulated in the liver due to excessive intake of fat, sugar and alcohol. There is an increase in fatty liver. In recent years, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease that develops even without excessive intake of alcohol has increased and has become a problem. Furthermore, it has been pointed out that fatty liver increases the risk of cirrhosis, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypertension and arteriosclerosis.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to find out a new function of Kuzuka, thereby expanding the use of Kuzuka, and in the liver (hereinafter referred to as liver). A lipid improving agent.

  As a result of intensive studies on the functionality of Kuzuka, the present inventor has found that the Kuzuka treated product has an excellent liver lipid improving effect, and has completed the present invention.

  That is, this invention relates to the lipid accumulation inhibitor in a liver which uses a Kuzuka processed material as an active ingredient.

  The present invention also relates to a food composition or a pharmaceutical composition containing the liver lipid accumulation inhibitor.

  The hepatic lipid accumulation inhibitor containing the processed kuzuhana product of the present invention as an active ingredient has an excellent liver lipid improving effect.

  Therefore, the new function of Kuzuka's liver lipid improving action can expand the uses of Kuzuka and provide an excellent inhibitor of hepatic lipid accumulation.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described. The present invention relates to a hepatic lipid accumulation inhibitor (hereinafter, also referred to as a hepatic lipid accumulation inhibitor of the present invention) comprising a processed kuzuhana product as an active ingredient. The present invention also relates to a food (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the food of the present invention) containing a liver lipid accumulation inhibitor. In addition, this invention is not restrict | limited by the following embodiment. That is, the present invention can be modified within the scope of the contents described in the claims.

(Katsuhana treatment product)
The hepatic lipid accumulation inhibitor containing the processed kuzuka product of the present invention as an active ingredient uses kuzuka. First, Katsuhana will be briefly explained.

(Katsuhana)
Kuzuka is the flower part of the Kuzu plant, and in recent years, it is known to contain flavonoids, saponins, and tryptophan glycosides. Such Kuzuka is preferably collected at the stage of buds before the flowers are fully opened.

  As the processed kuzuka product used for the liver lipid accumulation inhibitor of the present invention, for example, a dried kuzuka product or a kuzuka extract can be used.

  In addition, when it is described as “dried kuzuka”, it does not include kuzuka extract, but is obtained by drying kuzuka, for example, dried by crushing katsuka itself and then crushing it. It means powder.

  In addition, the term “Kuzuka extract” includes kuzuka juice, an extract obtained by extraction using Kuzuka and a solvent, and the like. Furthermore, “Kuzuka extract” includes a product obtained by concentrating the juice or extract, and a dried product obtained by drying the juice or extract (dry powder of Kuzuka extract). Suppose that

  The kuzuka used in the present invention may be kuzuka collected at any stage of flowering, but is preferably katsuka collected at the stage of wrinkles before full opening. The same applies to the case of obtaining a dried kuzu flower and a kuzu flower extract.

  The dried kuzu flower is obtained, for example, by drying kuzu flowers collected at the stage of cocoon before fully opening by sun drying or hot air drying. Drying is preferably performed until the water content becomes 10% by mass or less. If necessary, the dried kuzu flower product may be further pulverized into a powder.

  In the case of obtaining a dried kuzuka powder, examples of the powdering method thereof include a method commonly used by those skilled in the art, and a method of pulverizing and pulverizing katsukaka after drying by a ball mill, a hammer mill, a roller mill, or the like. Is mentioned. Of course, a method of previously pulverizing katsuhana before drying with a mass collider, slicer, or comitorol and drying the pulverized product may be used.

  The kuzu flower extract can be obtained by extraction while adding a solvent to kuzu flower and heating as necessary. Of course, the extract may be obtained by collecting the extract by centrifugation or filtration. In addition, although the kuzuka used when obtaining an extract may be the kuzuka before drying, it is preferable that it is the kuzuka after drying (for example, dry powder of kuzuka).

  Examples of the solvent that can be used in obtaining the kuzuhana extract include water, an organic solvent, a water-containing organic solvent, and the like. Moreover, as an organic solvent here, methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, n-butanol, acetone, hexane, cyclohexane, propylene glycol, ethyl methyl ketone, glycerin, methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, diethyl ether, dichloromethane, edible fats and oils 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane, 1,1,2-trichloroethene and the like. Among them, a preferable organic solvent for obtaining an extract of Kuzuka is a polar organic solvent, more preferably ethanol, n-butanol, methanol, acetone, propylene glycol, and ethyl acetate, and most preferably ethanol.

  In the case of extraction by heating, examples of the method include a heating extraction method such as heating and reflux, a supercritical extraction method, and the like. In some cases, heating may be performed by applying pressure. When heating, it is necessary to prevent the solvent added to Kuzuhana from volatilizing, but the lower limit of the temperature in the heating is 50 ° C. or higher, preferably 70 ° C. or higher. The upper limit is 130 ° C. or lower, preferably 100 ° C. or lower.

  The time required for extraction may be a time during which a soluble component is sufficiently extracted from Kuzuka, and is preferably 30 minutes to 48 hours. In addition, when heating is not performed, that is, when extraction is performed at less than 50 ° C., it is preferable to immerse for 6 to 48 hours, and when heating is performed at 50 ° C. or more, heating may be performed for 30 minutes to 24 hours. .

  Further, for example, the obtained extract (extract) may be concentrated or dried by vacuum concentration, lyophilization, or the like as necessary, for example, by removing an organic solvent. Of course, such a concentrated extract or a dried extract may be used as the kuzu flower of the present invention.

  The kuzu flower extract thus obtained can contain isoflavones and saponins. The isoflavones contained in the Kuzuhana extract are preferably 3% by mass or more, more preferably 5% by mass to 90% by mass, based on the dry mass of the extract. The saponin contained is preferably 1% by mass or more, more preferably 2% by mass to 50% by mass.

(Liver lipid accumulation inhibitor of the present invention)
The hepatic lipid accumulation inhibitor of the present invention contains a processed kuzuka product. By containing these components, an excellent effect of suppressing lipid accumulation in the liver can be obtained. This can also prevent or treat non-alcoholic fatty liver. Furthermore, if a lipid absorption inhibiting component or a lipid metabolism promoting component described later is added, a synergistic effect with that component can be expected. That is, the combination of the Kuzuka component and the lipid absorption suppressing component or the lipid metabolism promoting component can be expected to have an excellent effect, rather than simply combining the sugar or lipid absorption suppressing component or the metabolism promoting component.

  There is no restriction | limiting in particular in the compounding quantity of these each component. However, the amount of kuzuhana extract (dry mass) is preferably blended so that the lower limit of the intake amount of kuzuka extract (dry mass) per adult day is 10 mg or more. Moreover, it is good to mix | blend so that the upper limit of the intake of the kuzu flower extract (dry mass) per adult day may be 3000 mg or less, Preferably it is 1000 mg or less.

  In the case of dried kuzuka, it is preferable that the lower limit of the intake of dried kuzuka per adult is 0.1 g or more. The upper limit of the amount of food intake should be 30 g or less, preferably 10 g or less.

(Food of the present invention)
The food of the present invention contains a liver lipid accumulation inhibitor. That is, it contains the Kuzuhana processed product.

  Since the compounding quantity of katsuhana processed material etc. changes with the forms and dosage forms, what is necessary is just to adjust suitably. For example, in the case of Kuzuka extract, the lower limit value of Kuzuka extract (dry mass) is 0.0001 parts by mass or more, preferably 0.01 parts by mass or more with respect to 100 parts by mass of food. The upper limit of the Kuzuhana extract (dry mass) is 50 parts by mass or less, preferably 30 parts by mass or less. In the case of dried kuzuhana, the lower limit value of dried kuzuka is 0.01 parts by mass or more, preferably 0.1 parts by mass or more, with respect to 100 parts by mass of food. The upper limit is 80 parts by mass or less, preferably 50 parts by mass or less.

  In addition, excipients, extenders, binders, thickeners, emulsifiers, colorants, fragrances, other food ingredients, seasonings, pharmaceutical ingredients, etc. may be added to the food of the present invention as necessary. Also good. Furthermore, the food containing the hepatic lipid accumulation inhibitor of the present invention may be formed into a form such as a granule or a tablet depending on the application. As for the dosage form of the food to which the ingredients of the present invention are added, capsules such as hard capsules and soft capsules, tablets or pills as necessary, or powder, granules, tea, tea bags, Or it can shape | mold into forms, such as a bowl shape, or can be used as it is as a drink. Depending on their shape or preference, they may be eaten as they are, or they may be dissolved in water, hot water, milk or the like. In the case of powdered tea bags, etc., the ingredients may be leached before drinking.

  Examples of food materials that can be added to the food of the present invention include royal jelly, propolis, vitamins (A, C, D, E, K, folic acid, pantothenic acid, biotin, derivatives thereof, etc.), minerals (iron, magnesium) , Calcium, zinc, etc.), selenium, α-lipoic acid, lecithin, polyphenols (flavonoids, derivatives thereof, etc.), carotenoids (lycopene, astaxanthin, zeaxanthin, lutein, etc.), xanthine derivatives (caffeine, etc.), fatty acids, proteins (Collagen, elastin, etc.), mucopolysaccharide (hyaluronic acid, etc.), amino sugar (glucosamine, acetylglucosamine, galactosamine, acetylgalactosamine, neuraminic acid, acetylneuraminic acid, hexosamine, salts thereof, etc.), oligosaccharide (isomalto-oligo) Sugar, cyclic o Sugar beet, etc.), sphingolipids and phospholipids and derivatives thereof (phosphatidylcholine, sphingomyelin, ceramide, etc.), sulfur-containing compounds (such as alliin, sepaene, taurine, glutathione, methylsulfonylmethane), sugar alcohols, lignans ( Sesamin, etc.), animal and plant extracts containing these, root vegetables (turmeric, ginger, etc.), green leaves of gramineous plants such as wheat powder, green leaves of cruciferous plants such as kale.

  In particular, in the present invention, if not only the processed Kuzuka product but also at least one of a lipid absorption suppressing component and a lipid metabolism promoting component is added, a synergistic lipid accumulation suppression or body fat reduction effect can be obtained. Can do. As a result, for example, an antidiabetic effect and a preventive effect for various symptoms caused by obesity can be expected.

  Examples of the lipid absorption inhibitory component herein include components having an action of excreting bile acids such as chitosan and its derivatives, psyllium and proanthocyanidins, and components having a lipase inhibitory action such as gallotannins, loquat leaves and the like and extracts thereof. Is mentioned. In addition, for example, a plant extract containing a large amount of proanthocyanidins such as a pine bark extract can be used as the proanthocyanidins.

  Lipid metabolism promoting components include riboflavins, tea catechins, isomerized linoleic acid, caffeine, capsaicin, carnitine, coenzyme Q10, soybean peptide, branched amino acid, phosphatidylcholine, allyl sulfide compound, forskolin, bergenin, quercetin , Astilbine, hydroxycitric acid, and salts thereof. Of course, plant extracts containing these lipid metabolism promoting components, for example, extracts of tea, coleus foli, red pepper, yellow potato, soybean, chili, buckwheat, garlic, onion, coffee, etc. are used as lipid metabolism promoting components. It is also possible.

  The lipid absorption suppressing component and the lipid metabolism promoting component are appropriately blended depending on the purpose. For example, only one of the lipid absorption suppressing component and the lipid metabolism promoting component may be added, or both the lipid absorption suppressing component and the lipid metabolism promoting component may be added. Of course, two or more lipid absorption inhibiting components may be added, or two or more lipid metabolism promoting components may be added.

  In particular, as a so-called “green juice”, powdered green leaves such as young wheat leaves (eg, barley young leaves), kale, tomorrow leaves, and mulberry leaves, which have been eaten and eaten for health in recent years, are treated as kojika. By using the product, it can be made into a green juice with a better taste than other green juices due to a synergistic effect with water, and further, it can be mixed with other green juice ingredients that are difficult to ingest. It is also possible to make it easy to take the soup ingredients. Furthermore, it can be used for beverages containing the above food materials, for example, plant fermented juice, vegetable juice (for example, carrot juice), plant extract, fruit juice, etc. In addition, it can be a functional or nutritious beverage.

  Of course, in the food containing the hepatic lipid accumulation inhibitor of the present invention, sugar solution, sugar alcohol, seasoning or the like can be added to enhance the sweetness.

  The dosage form of the food containing the hepatic lipid accumulation inhibitor of the present invention may be a capsule such as a hard capsule or a soft capsule, a tablet or a pill as necessary, or a powder, granule or tea. It can be formed into a tea bag shape or a bowl shape or used as a beverage as it is. Depending on their shape or preference, they may be eaten as they are, or they may be dissolved in water, hot water, milk or the like. In the case of powdered tea bags, etc., the ingredients may be leached before drinking.

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

(Example 1: Examination of liver lipid improvement effect)
Using a 5-week-old male SD rat (Nippon Charles River Co., Ltd.), the effect of the processed Kuzuka product on lipid accumulation in the liver was examined as follows. First, 18 SD rats were acclimated with a standard feed (MF feed, Oriental Yeast Co., Ltd.) for 1 week. Subsequently, it was divided into 3 groups of 6 animals per group so that the average body weight per group was uniform.

  One group consists of 2% by weight of Kuzuka extract (10% by weight of isoflavones, 1% by weight of saponin, Ota Sakusan Co., Ltd.), 1% by weight of cholesterol and 0.25% by weight of cholic acid in the standard feed. So that each component was added so as to contain (referred to as test feed 1).

  In the other group, a standard diet containing 1% by mass cholesterol and 0.25% by mass cholic acid so that each component was added (high cholesterol-loaded diet, referred to as comparative diet 1) was freely ingested. I let you.

  The remaining group received only the standard diet (control diet 1).

  On the 28th day from the start of free intake, the liver of each mouse was removed, and the total lipid in the liver was extracted by the Folch method. Subsequently, the amount of neutral fat was measured using a measurement kit (Triglyceride G-Test Wako, Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.) and the total cholesterol amount using a measurement kit (Cholesterol E-Test Wako, Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.). . The results are shown in Table 1.

  As a result of Table 1, the group that ingested the feed containing kuzuka extract (test feed 1) in the high-cholesterol-loaded diet was more neutral than the group that ingested the feed that was a high-cholesterol-loaded diet (comparative feed 1). It can be seen that the increase in fat mass is suppressed. Furthermore, the increase in the amount of neutral fat was suppressed even compared with the group fed with only the standard feed (control feed 1).

  In addition, it can be seen that the group that ingested the test feed 1 also suppressed the increase in the total cholesterol level compared to the comparative feed 1.

  Therefore, it can be seen that the liver lipid accumulation inhibitor of the present invention has an excellent liver neutral fat accumulation inhibitory effect and liver total cholesterol accumulation inhibitory effect, and is effective in the prevention or treatment of fatty liver.

  Furthermore, it has been pointed out that the liver lipid accumulation inhibitor of the present invention has an excellent liver neutral fat accumulation inhibitory effect and liver total cholesterol accumulation inhibitory effect, which increases the risk of fatty liver. It can also be expected to prevent symptoms such as hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and arteriosclerosis.

The hepatic lipid accumulation inhibitor comprising the processed kuzuhana product of the present invention as an active ingredient is useful because it has an excellent effect of inhibiting hepatic lipid accumulation.

Claims (2)

  An inhibitor of lipid accumulation in the liver, comprising processed kuzuhana as an active ingredient.   A food composition or a pharmaceutical composition comprising the hepatic lipid accumulation inhibitor according to claim 1 or 2.