Soap and agent for preventing or improving cardiovascular disease, and composition for external use

Abstract

To provide soaps and preventive or improving agents that have preventive effects for diseases other than skin, especially for preventing or improving cardiovascular diseases and mental health disorders, while containing medical herbs, natural medicines, and the like; and to provide compositions for external use containing the same.SOLUTION: In order to solve the above problems, soap and preventive or improving agents for preventing or improving cardiovascular diseases and mental health disorders, as well as topical compositions containing the same of the present invention are characterized by containing a combination of specific medical herb / natural drug ingredients and ingredients derived from the alcohol fermentation of grains or potatoes. This makes it possible to provide soap and preventive or improving agents, as well as compositions for external use containing the same, which have the effect of preventing or improving cardiovascular disease, including the risk of vascular aging and atrial fibrillation, and the like, as well as the effect of preventing or improving mental health disorders such as psychosomatic disorders, stress, and insomnia.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a soap having a preventive or improving effect on cardiovascular disease and mental health disorders, a preventive or improving agent for use in an external composition, and an external composition containing the same, etc. More specifically, the present invention relates to a soap used daily for washing the body, which has an effect of reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease and mental health disorders, including the risk of vascular aging and the risk of atrial fibrillation, by percutaneous absorption, a preventive or improving agent, and an external composition containing the same. [Background technology]

[0002] Medicinal herb soap is easy to make for amateurs, and there are many articles about handmade original soaps that combine plant-derived materials and aromatic oils. In recent years, hand soaps and body soaps containing medicinal herbs have also become popular.

[0003] Many medical herb soaps boast about their fragrance, beauty, whitening, skin beautifying and moisturizing effects, and relaxing effects, but the disease prevention and treatment effects listed among them are mainly for the effect on the skin layer itself that comes into direct contact with the skin, such as acne, pimples, atopic dermatitis, rough skin, dry skin, oily skin, etc. However, a very small number of soaps have been disclosed that show effects on bodily functions other than the skin.

[0004] In addition to medical herbs, soaps and bath additives containing active ingredients derived from alcoholic fermentation products of grains or potatoes, such as sake lees and shochu lees, are also available on the market. However, these also claim to have effects on the skin layer, such as beauty, beautiful skin, and moisturizing effects, and do not focus on bodily functions or disease prevention other than the skin.

[0005] Generally, percutaneous absorption agents include drugs such as patches and tapes such as nicotine patches, but general lotions, creams, emulsions, massage oils, bath additives, soaps, etc. that are not necessarily drugs are also used as external compositions, and their ingredients are said to be absorbed into the body through the skin. In fact, research is being conducted to increase the percutaneous absorption of active ingredients in cosmetics.

[0006] Incidentally, the number one cause of death among Japanese people is cancer, followed by heart disease such as myocardial infarction and angina pectoris, and cerebrovascular diseases such as cerebral infarction. These have increased with changes in lifestyle habits such as diet and lack of exercise among Japanese people, but both are related to arteriosclerosis, and vascular aging has become a major health issue for cardiovascular disease. Atrial fibrillation is a condition in which the heart goes into spasms, causing symptoms such as tachycardia. However, because blood flow within the atrium is stagnant, blood clots can easily form, which can lead to infarction.

[0007] Patent Document 1 is an invention related to a soap containing herbal medicines, which aims to maintain healthy skin, prevent dryness, and alleviate skin problems. It is described that the active ingredients penetrate the skin when washing hands or taking a bath, which is effective in maintaining healthy skin (Patent Document 1, specification paragraphs

[0004] to

[0013] ).

[0008] Patent Document 2 describes an invention for a soap for treating acne, which describes that the soap contains ginseng absolute essential oil, which effectively kills acne bacteria, thereby blocking bacterial growth and transmission, thereby exhibiting a strong acne treatment effect (Patent Document 2, paragraphs

[0003] to

[0005] of the specification).

[0009] Patent Document 3 is an invention about a soap containing specific medical herbs and oils, and it is described that with daily use, the active ingredients are absorbed into the body through the skin, and in addition to their direct effect on the skin layer, they are also effective in preventing weight loss and obesity, and in preventing diabetes by reducing HbA1c (hemoglobin A1c) (Patent Document 3, claim 5, specification paragraphs

[0001] ,

[0006] to

[0012] ,

[0031] ).

[0010] Furthermore, Non-Patent Document 1 discloses a soap containing solid matter obtained by drying shochu lees, which is the residue left over from squeezing shochu, and describes its effectiveness in preventing skin troubles such as whitening, preventing skin aging, preventing acne, and preventing rough skin (Non-Patent Document 1, p. 45, upper left column, line 7 to upper right column, line 17).

[0011] Non-Patent Document 2 describes research on percutaneous absorption of active ingredients to enhance the effectiveness of cosmetics, including substance permeability, absorption enhancers, sites of action, and permeability evaluation. Furthermore, Non-Patent Document 3 discloses a method for measuring and evaluating arteriosclerosis-related vascular aging score. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0012] [Patent Document 1] JP 2011-144129 A [Patent Document 2] Special Publication No. 2012-532926 [Patent Document 3] JP 2013-141484 A [Non-patent literature]

[0013] [Non-Patent Document 1] Kazumi Hirohashi, "Reborn Shochu Distillery Distillery (From Shochu Distillery Distillery Distillery Distillery to Bath Salts and Soap)," Kagoshima University Faculty of Fisheries Bulletin, 2007, Special Issue, pp.43-46. [Non-Patent Document 2] Kenji Sugibayashi, "Stay young and healthy forever - Transdermal absorption promotion technology to enhance the effectiveness of cosmetics", J.Soc.Cosmet.Japan, 2007, Vol.41, No.4, p.241-245, [Non-Patent Document 3] Haruko Takada and Kazuo Okino, "Evaluation of arteriosclerosis risk using "vascular score" of accelerated plethysmography (10-year retrospective cohort study)," General Health Check, 2004, Vol. 31, No. 2, p. 374-380. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0014] The object of the present invention is to provide a soap, a preventive or improving agent, and an external composition containing the same, which contain medicinal herbs, natural medicines, etc. and have a preventive effect on diseases other than skin, particularly for the purpose of preventing or improving cardiovascular diseases and mental health disorders. [Means for solving the problem]

[0015] As a result of intensive research into the above-mentioned problems, the inventors discovered that an external composition containing a combination of herbal medicines or specific medical herbs and ingredients derived from the alcoholic fermentation products of grains or potatoes has a preventive or improving effect against cardiovascular diseases, and thus completed the present invention. That is, the present invention relates to a soap having a cardiovascular disease preventive / ameliorating effect, a preventive or ameliorating agent, and an external composition containing the same, which are characterized as follows:

[0016] The soap of the present invention, which has been made to solve the above problems, is characterized by containing (A) a saponified oil or fat, (B) a component derived from a medicinal herb, and (C) an alcoholic fermentation product of grains or potatoes. According to this feature, it is possible to provide a soap that has a preventive effect on cardiovascular diseases, such as reducing the frequency of atrial fibrillation, and also has a preventive effect on the mental health disorders associated with the cardiovascular diseases.

[0017] In addition, one embodiment of the soap of the present invention is the soap described in claim 1, characterized in that the (B) component derived from medical herbs is ginseng extract, and the content of the ginseng extract is 0.01 mass% or more relative to 100% of the content of the oils and fats. According to this feature, it is possible to prevent and improve vascular aging, make the vascular age younger, and reduce the risk of arteriosclerosis and infarction.

[0018] One embodiment of the soap of the present invention is the soap according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the (C) alcoholic fermentation product of grains or potatoes has an ethanol content of 10 mass % or less. According to this feature, it is possible to provide a soap that has the effect of preventing and improving vascular aging, making the blood vessels younger, and reducing the risk of arteriosclerosis and infarction.

[0019] Furthermore, one embodiment of the agent for preventing or ameliorating cardiovascular disease of the present invention is an agent for preventing or ameliorating cardiovascular disease, which contains (C) an alcoholic fermentation product of grains or potatoes and is used as an external composition. According to this feature, it is possible to provide a composition for external use that has a preventive effect on cardiovascular diseases, such as reducing the frequency of atrial fibrillation.

[0020] One embodiment of the agent for preventing or improving cardiovascular disease of the present invention is an agent for preventing or improving cardiovascular disease, characterized in that it contains (B) a component derived from a medical herb including ginseng. According to this feature, it is possible to provide a preventive or improving agent that prevents and improves vascular aging, makes the blood vessels younger, and reduces the risk of arteriosclerosis and infarction.

[0021] Furthermore, one embodiment of the agent for preventing or ameliorating mental health disorders of the present invention is an agent for preventing or ameliorating mental health disorders, which contains (C) an alcoholic fermentation product of grains or potatoes and is used as an external composition. According to this feature, it is possible to provide a composition for preventing or improving mental health disorders such as psychosomatic disorders and insomnia caused by stress.

[0022] In addition, one embodiment of the topical composition containing the agent for preventing or improving cardiovascular disease and mental health disorders of the present invention is characterized in that it contains the agent for preventing or improving cardiovascular disease described in claim 4 or 5, or the agent for preventing or improving mental health disorders described in claim 6. According to this feature, it is possible to provide a composition for external use that has the effect of preventing or improving cardiovascular diseases such as reducing the frequency of atrial fibrillation, preventing and improving vascular aging, making the vascular age younger, and reducing the risk of arteriosclerosis and infarction, as well as the effect of preventing or improving mental health disorders such as psychosomatic disorders and insomnia caused by stress. Effect of the Invention

[0023] According to the present invention, by containing a combination of herbal medicines or specific medical herbs and alcohol fermentation components, it is possible to provide soaps, preventive or improving agents, and topical compositions which have preventive effects on diseases other than those of the skin, in particular preventive and improving effects on cardiovascular diseases including the risks of vascular aging and atrial fibrillation, and preventive or improving effects on mental health disorders such as psychosomatic disorders, stress, and insomnia. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0024] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a production flow for the soap of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 1 is a graph showing the effect of the soap of the present invention in reducing vascular age. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] Hereinafter, embodiments of the soap, the agent for preventing or ameliorating cardiovascular disease, the agent for preventing or ameliorating mental health disorders, and the composition for external use according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the soap, the agent for preventing or improving cardiovascular disease, the agent for preventing or improving mental health disorders, and the topical composition described in the embodiments are merely examples provided to explain the soap, the agent for preventing or improving cardiovascular disease, the agent for preventing or improving mental health disorders, and the topical composition of the present invention, and are not limited thereto.

[0026] [soap] The soap of the present invention is characterized by containing (A) a saponified oil and fat, (B) a component derived from a medicinal herb, and (C) an alcoholic fermentation product of grains or potatoes. The form of the soap may be solid, powder, liquid, gel, or foam.

[0027] The soap of the present invention contains (C) an alcohol fermentation product of grains or potatoes, and is known to prevent or improve cardiovascular diseases such as lowering vascular age, as well as prevent or improve mental health disorders. The present inventors speculate that the prevention or improvement of mental health disorders is an effect that is obtained as a result of the prevention or improvement of cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, it is believed that these effects are more pronounced when used in combination with ingredients derived from medical herbs.

[0028] [(A) Saponified oils and fats] The (A) saponified oil or fat in the present invention is obtained by saponifying an oil or fat such as vegetable oil with an alkali agent such as an aqueous solution of caustic soda.

[0029] <Oils> As the fats and oils, the following vegetable oils are preferably used, but vegetable butters such as shea butter, cacao butter, walnut butter, soy milk butter, vegan butter, etc. may also be used. In addition, butter made from animal milk fat, and animal fats and oils such as beef tallow, mutton tallow, lard, etc. may also be used. For example, various oils such as olive oil, coconut oil, sweet almond oil, sesame oil, red palm oil, cacao butter, evening primrose oil, beeswax, calendula oil, peppermint oil, shea butter, linseed oil, pure peanut oil, jojoba oil, avocado oil, camellia oil, tea oil, coconut oil, palm oil, palm kernel oil, and cottonseed oil can be appropriately selected and used as an oil mix.

[0030] <Alkaline agent> Caustic soda is usually used as an alkaline agent (base) for saponification. However, when making liquid soap, caustic potash may be used. Usually, 1 part of caustic soda is dissolved in purified water at a mass ratio of 1.0 to 1.5 to prepare a caustic soda aqueous solution. A mass ratio of 1.1 to 1.4 is more preferable. A mass ratio of caustic soda of 1.1 or more makes it easier to manufacture soap, and a mass ratio of 1.5 or less allows the pH to be in an appropriate range.

[0031] [(B) Ingredients derived from medical herbs] Herbs are generally plants that have a fragrance that is useful in daily life, and medicinal herbs are herbs that fall somewhere between medicines and foods. The (B) medical herb in the present invention may be a mixture of various medical herbs (medical herb mix). Specific examples of medical herbs include ginseng, borage, licorice, lemon balm, yellow dock, linden flower, sage, Siberian sage, dandelion, marigold, eucalyptus, thyme, yerba mate, celery seed, rosemary, lavender, St. John's wort, rose red, buckwheat, basil, horsetail, heather, echinacea, maca, bilberry, evening primrose, saffron, juniper berry, ginkgo, alfalfa, and the like. However, other medical herbs may also be used. Among the above, preferred medical herbs in the present invention are ginseng, licorice, lemon balm, linden flower, sage, dandelion, eucalyptus, thyme, mate, celery seed, rosemary, rose red, Erica, echinacea, maca, bilberry, alfalfa, evening primrose, saffron, and aloe vera, more preferably sage, eucalyptus, alfalfa, rosemary, and maca, and particularly preferably alfalfa and rosemary. Since alfalfa contains a large amount of trace elements such as minerals involved in metabolism, it is presumed that it promotes the preventive effect of diseases other than skin, particularly the preventive and improving effect of cardiovascular diseases including the risk of vascular aging and atrial fibrillation, and also promotes the preventive or improving effect of mental health disorders such as psychosomatic disorders, stress, and insomnia. In addition, rosemary has the effect of promoting blood circulation, and is presumed to enhance the effect of the present invention.

[0032] The components derived from medical herbs are components contained in medical herbs, and can be obtained by extraction with a solvent such as water, hot water, alcohol, etc. The solvent used for extraction is preferably hot water. They can also be obtained as crushed medicinal herbs. The extraction conditions are not particularly limited, but for example, the amount of medical herbs per 100 parts by mass of solvent is 1 to 10 parts by mass in dry weight, with the lower limit preferably being 2 parts by mass or more and the upper limit preferably being 6 parts by mass or less. The extraction temperature is appropriately set depending on the type of solvent. For example, in the case of hot water, it is preferably 60 to 100°C, with the lower limit being more preferably 80°C or higher, and even more preferably 90°C or higher. After the extraction operation, it is preferable to separate the extract from the residue by filtration and use the extract, and further, the extract may be concentrated by a concentrating means such as heating or reducing pressure. The concentration ratio is not particularly limited, but is, for example, 2 to 30 times, and preferably 5 to 20 times. By making it into an extract concentrate, it can be added at a high concentration to the soap or topical composition of the present invention.

[0033] The content of the medicinal herb-derived ingredients in the soap, expressed as a volume ratio of a concentrated extract of the medicinal herb (extraction conditions: a 10-fold concentrate of an extract obtained by extracting ingredients derived from medicinal herbs (3 parts by dry weight of medicinal herb) with 100 parts by mass of hot water at 95°C) to 100 parts by mass of oil or fat, is, for example, 1.0 to 30.0 v / w%, preferably 2.0 to 20.0 v / w%, and more preferably 3.0 to 15.0 v / w%. When calculated as the dry weight of the medical herb, for example, 0.1 to 15 parts by mass, preferably 0.5 to 13 parts by mass, more preferably 1.0 to 10 parts by mass, and even more preferably 1.5 to 8.0 parts by mass can be used relative to 100 parts by mass of the oil or fat. Note that products before drying other than dried products can also be used. (B) By adding medical herbs, the effect of preventing or improving cardiovascular diseases such as aging of blood vessels according to the present invention can be obtained.

[0034] <Korean ginseng> Among the above (B) medical herb-derived ingredients, ginseng has been found to be an ingredient that is highly effective in preventing or improving aging of vascular age, particularly in cardiovascular diseases, when used in an external composition. As the ginseng used in the present invention, ginseng extract itself can be used, as well as ginseng whose roots have been dried for use in ginseng tea, etc., and powder, concentrated liquid, granules, tablets, etc. can be appropriately used. Roots of 3 or 4 years can be used, but 6-year roots are more preferably used. Fresh water ginseng before drying, white ginseng peeled and dried in sunlight or hot air, and red ginseng steamed with the skin and then dried can all be used, but white ginseng and red ginseng are preferred, and red ginseng is more preferred. The content of the ginseng extract is 0.01 to 1 part by mass, preferably 0.03 to 0.7 parts by mass, and more preferably 0.06 to 0.5 parts by mass, per 100 parts by mass of the oil or fat. By using 0.01 part by mass or more, the effect of preventing or improving cardiovascular diseases of the present invention can be obtained. Here, "ginseng extract" generally refers to a component extracted from ginseng root with a solvent such as water, hot water, ethanol, a mixture of water and ethanol, 1,3 butylene glycol, or a mixture of water and 1,3 butylene glycol.

[0035] [(C) Alcoholic fermentation products of grains or potatoes] The (C) alcoholic fermentation product of grains or potatoes in the present invention is obtained by alcoholic fermentation of grains or potatoes, and examples thereof include unrefined sake, sake lees, distilled sake, distillation bottoms, etc. Preferred are bottoms after distillation of unrefined sake, concentrated liquids obtained by heating and concentrating distilled liquids, and lees of unrefined sake or bottoms after distillation (sake lees, shochu lees, etc.). Particularly preferred are liquid components obtained by filtering bottoms after distillation of unrefined sake. Examples of grains or tubers include sweet potatoes, potatoes, wheat, rice, millet, barnyard millet, corn, buckwheat, sesame, etc. In addition, sugarcane (brown sugar) and beans can also be used.

[0036] Examples of alcoholic fermentation products include distilled alcoholic beverages such as shochu, awamori, whiskey, bourbon, brandy, gin, rum, grappa, white liquor, and vodka, the residual liquids after distillation of the mashes thereof, or concentrated liquids obtained by heating and concentrating the distilled alcoholic beverages themselves, as well as the lees of the residual liquids, and dried solids thereof. In addition, the liquid obtained by heating and concentrating brewed alcoholic beverages other than distilled alcoholic beverages, such as sake, wine, and beer, may be used. Also usable are the residual liquid obtained by squeezing and filtering the mash during the production process, the residual sake lees, and the dried solids thereof. Among these, the residual liquid remaining after distillation of shochu mash is most preferably used in terms of the components contained therein and the cost.

[0037] When used in liquid form, the liquid such as the residual liquid after distillation or the residual liquid after filtration of mash may be used as is or may be concentrated. When using distilled or non-distilled alcoholic beverages themselves, they are heated and concentrated due to restrictions on the amount of active ingredients and the total amount of liquid during soap production. In that case, the original alcoholic beverage liquid can be heated and concentrated until it becomes about 2 to 20 times, more preferably 3 to 15 times, before use. Heating may be performed at a temperature of 90°C or higher. At this time, ethanol evaporates due to heating, and only a small amount of ethanol remains in the residual liquid. It is preferable to use the ethanol content as 10% by mass or less in the concentrated liquid, preferably 5% by mass or less, and more preferably 2% by mass or less. It is. In the case of solids such as sake lees and shochu lees, the ethanol is evaporated by drying and heating, and the ethanol content in the concentrated liquid is preferably 10 mass % or less, preferably 5 mass % or less, and more preferably 2 mass % or less. (C) By containing an alcoholic fermentation product of grains or potatoes, the present invention can achieve the effect of preventing or improving cardiovascular diseases such as atrial fibrillation and dizziness (anemia) and mental health disorders.

[0038] The content of the alcohol fermentation product of grains or potatoes in the soap can be 1 to 30 v / w%, 3 to 20 v / w%, or more preferably 5 to 10 v / w%, expressed as a volume ratio of the concentrate of the alcohol fermentation product of grains or potatoes to 100 parts by mass of fats and oils. By using 1 v / w% or more, the effect of the present invention in preventing or improving cardiovascular diseases and mental health disorders can be obtained. In addition, the content of the alcoholic fermentation product of grains or potatoes before concentration can be 10.0 to 200.0 v / w%, 20.0 to 150.0 v / w%, or more preferably 30.0 to 100.0 v / w%, expressed as the volume ratio of the alcoholic fermentation product of grains or potatoes to 100 parts by mass of fats and oils.

[0039] [Other ingredients] <Essential oil> The essential oils can be selected from the following ingredients and added as an essential oil mix for the purpose of fragrance, relaxation, etc. Cypress, grapefruit, lavender, tea tree, geranium, rosewood, citronella, cedarwood, etc.

[0040] The content of essential oil in soap can be 0.01 to 10 v / w%, 0.1 to 5.0 v / w%, or more preferably 0.5 to 4.0 v / w%, or 1.0 to 3.0 v / w%, expressed as the volume ratio of essential oil to 100 parts by mass of oils and fats.

[0041] <Other> In addition to the above ingredients, minerals such as salt, rock salt, clay, kaolin, etc., salts such as carbonates, sugars such as honey and brown sugar, flavorings for adding flavor, colorings for adding color, surfactants, moisturizing ingredients, preservatives, etc. may be added.

[0042] [Soap manufacturing method] An example of the method for producing soap of the present invention is shown in the flow diagram of Figure 1. Basically, it is produced through a manufacturing process of the cold process method, but it is not necessarily limited to this, and any method such as a hot process method or a neutralization method may be used. The composition of the product is as follows: (A) saponified oils and fats, which is an oil mix containing various oil components saponified with an aqueous solution of caustic soda; (B) components derived from medical herbs, which is a medical herb mix including ginseng; (C) alcoholic fermentation products of grains or potatoes, essential oils for flavoring, and other additives.

[0043] An example of the method for producing soap of the present invention is as follows. However, the following is merely an example for the purpose of explanation, and the present invention is not limited to this example. An oil mix containing various oils is mixed and dissolved at approximately 40-50°C, then a caustic soda solution is added to cause a saponification reaction; when it reaches a trace state (viscous state), a medical herb mix containing various medical herbs is crushed, heated, extracted, filtered, and an extract derived from the medical herbs obtained by heating and concentrating is added. Also, ingredients derived from alcohol fermentation are added, and the mixture is stirred, molded, aged (for one day or more), removed from the mold, cut, and naturally dried at room temperature (for one month or more) to produce the product.

[0044] More specifically, some oils and beeswax may be added after saponification. Medicinal herbs can be added after tracing as a concentrated extract. Aloe vera and ginseng can be added separately from other medical herbs by grating them in a mixer instead of extracting them. In addition, when using solid materials such as sake lees or residue pomace as ingredients derived from alcohol fermentation products, they can be mixed and dispersed with concentrated extracts of medicinal herbs, essential oils, and liquid ingredients derived from alcohol fermentation products, and then added to the soap.

[0045] [Agent for preventing or improving cardiovascular disease] The agent for preventing or improving cardiovascular disease of the present invention contains the above-mentioned (C) alcohol fermentation product of grains or potatoes, and is characterized by being used as an external composition. In the agent for preventing or improving cardiovascular disease, the dosage form of (C) the alcoholic fermentation product of grains or potatoes is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include liquid, slurry, powder, granules, tablets, etc. When the distillation residue or filtrate residue of (C) the alcoholic fermentation product of grains or potatoes is used after drying, it is preferable to adsorb it to an excipient such as dextrin to make it into a powder form.

[0046] The agent for preventing or improving cardiovascular diseases of the present invention preferably contains (B) an ingredient derived from a medicinal herb, which enhances the effect of preventing or improving cardiovascular diseases.

[0047] The agent for preventing or improving cardiovascular disease can be used as a composition for external application or as a composition for oral administration.

[0048] [Agent for preventing or improving mental health disorders] The agent for preventing or improving mental health disorders of the present invention contains the above-mentioned (C) alcohol fermentation product of grains or potatoes, and is characterized by being used as an external composition. In the agent for preventing or improving mental health disorders, the dosage form of (C) the alcoholic fermentation product of grains or potatoes is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include liquid, slurry, powder, granules, tablets, etc. When the distillation residue or filtrate residue of (C) the alcoholic fermentation product of grains or potatoes is used after drying, it is preferable to adsorb it to an excipient such as dextrin to make it into a powder form.

[0049] The agent for preventing or improving mental health disorders of the present invention preferably contains (B) an ingredient derived from a medical herb. By containing (B) an ingredient derived from a medical herb, the effect of preventing or improving mental health disorders is improved.

[0050] The agent for preventing or improving mental health disorders can be used as a composition for external application or as a composition for oral administration.

[0051] [External composition] The topical composition of the present invention is characterized by containing the above-mentioned agent for preventing or improving cardiovascular disease and the above-mentioned agent for preventing or improving mental health disorders. Specific examples include compositions that are applied externally to the skin of the body, such as soap, body soap, bath additives, lotions, emulsions, creams, gels, massage oils, etc. By applying these topical compositions to the body or by washing, etc., the components in the topical composition are transferred into the body, thereby exerting various efficacies. As for the method of use and dosage, in the case of soap, in the case of the examples described below, the effect is obtained by using it for washing the body once a day during bathing. At this time, the dry weight of the soap used is about 60 g / piece, and it is consumed in about one month. Therefore, it can be said that the effect is obtained by using about 2 g per day. Since the amount of soap consumed during bathing varies from person to person, the effect of the present application can be obtained by using 0.5 g to 8 g, preferably 1 g to 4 g, per day. In addition, for other external compositions, the method of use and dosage can be appropriately selected based on the amount of ingredients contained in each product and the amount used per day depending on the product and the purpose. EXAMPLES

[0052] Next, examples of the soap, the agent for preventing or improving cardiovascular disease, and the composition for external use of the present invention and evaluation tests using the same are shown below. However, the present invention is not limited to these examples, and various modifications are possible within the technical concept of the present invention.

[0053] [Soap used, composition] The recipes for the five types of soap used in the following examples are shown in Tables 1 and 2 (auxiliary tables). [Table 1] The oil mix used was a mixture of fats and oils shown in Table 2. The heated herb extract (concentrate) is a concentrate of the extract obtained by hot water extraction of the dried herb mix shown in Table 2. Korean ginseng was prepared by dissolving in the heated herb extract (concentrate) using Nippon Flour Mills' Korean ginseng tea (a blend of red ginseng, 3-year-old and 4-year-old roots; ginseng extract content 10% by mass). The essential oil mix used was the mixture of essential oils shown in Table 2. The concentrated shochu liquid was made by heating and concentrating Nanpu (awamori, made from rice koji, brewed by Okinawa Prefecture Sake Brewing Cooperative).

[0054] [Table 2]

[0055] [Evaluation method] <Vascular age> Vascular age is the age of the blood vessel itself based on the flexibility of the blood vessel and the degree of hardening of the arterial wall, and is also an index of the degree of aging of the blood vessel and arteriosclerosis. As shown in Non-Patent Document 3, the pulse of the peripheral blood vessel of the finger was measured with an acceleration plethysmograph, and the vascular age shown in Table 3 was calculated from the vascular aging score using the measured value, average value, and standard deviation value of the wavefworm index from the waveform. The measurements are shown from about one month after the subjects started using the example soap.

[0056] <Atrial fibrillation> Atrial fibrillation is a type of arrhythmia in which the atria in the heart move due to abnormal electrical signals, preventing the heart from functioning as it should. Aging, obesity, valvular heart disease, and high blood pressure are said to be causes of atrial fibrillation, and blood clots formed in the heart due to atrial fibrillation can lead to cerebral infarction, myocardial infarction, etc. This time, as shown in Table 4, the subjects were evaluated using a 5-point score based on the frequency of subjective symptoms of atrial fibrillation.

[0057] <Dizziness when standing (anemia)> Dizziness is an unpleasant sensation that can lead to dizziness or fainting when standing up. When blood concentrates in the lower body, blood pressure drops, and the amount of blood pumped from the heart to the brain decreases, causing symptoms such as dizziness and fainting. In addition to iron deficiency anemia, orthostatic hypotension symptoms can also be caused by other diseases such as diabetes, but this time it was taken up as a symptom related to anemia. As shown in Table 4, subjects were given a 5-point score based on the frequency of subjective symptoms of dizziness. <Sleep quality, waking up in the morning, morning fatigue> These were evaluated using subjects complaining of depression, anxiety, and insomnia symptoms, and were scored on a 5-point scale based on a sensory evaluation of the subjects' subjective symptoms during the period of use of the example soap.

[0058] [1. Experiment 1: Effects on vascular age] Example 1 When soap having the composition of Example 1 in Table 1 was used. Example 3 When soap having the composition of Example 3 in Table 1 was used. Example 5 When soap having the formula of Example 5 in Table 1 was used. Comparative Example 1: When using a commercially available body soap. <Subject> One man in his 50s Method: The soaps of Examples 1 and 3 of the present invention (weight after drying is about 60g per piece) were used for washing the body once a day during bathing for about 3 months and 2 months, respectively, and vascular aging was measured about once a month. Measurements began about one month after the start of use. These were compared with the measured values ​​before the start of use of the soaps of the Examples of the present invention. The soap consumption was about one piece per month. The average actual age and vascular age during the period of use were calculated, and △age (actual age - vascular age) was calculated. The results are shown in Table 3 and Figure 2.

[0059] [Table 3]

[0060] <Results of a Vascular Age Monitoring Test> As shown in Table 3 and FIG. 2, as a result of using the soap of the embodiment of the present invention while bathing, the vascular age decreased, and a clearly significant difference was observed in the numerical value of "actual age - vascular age" compared to before using the soap of the present invention. Comparing Examples 1 to 5 and Comparative Example 1, a significant decrease in vascular age was observed when the amount of shochu added before concentration exceeded 10v / W% (relative to 100g of oil). In particular, the effect of decreasing vascular age was significant during the period in which the soap of Example 1 containing ginseng was used.

[0061] [2. Experiment 2: Effects on atrial fibrillation, postural dizziness (anemia), and mental health disorders] Example 1 When soap having the composition of Example 1 in Table 1 was used. Example 2 When soap having the composition of Example 2 in Table 1 was used. Example 3 When soap having the composition of Example 3 in Table 1 was used. Comparative Example 2: Before using the soap of the embodiment of the present invention. Comparative Example 3 Approximately one month after stopping use of the soap of the example of the present invention. <Subject> One woman in her 50s who complained of depression, anxiety, and insomnia Method: The subjects were asked to use soaps of Examples 1, 2, and 3 of the present invention (weight after drying was about 60 g / piece) for washing their bodies once a day during bathing for about one month, and then to report the subjective symptom evaluation score. This was compared with the evaluation before starting to use the soaps of the present invention and about one month after ceasing use. The soap consumption was about one piece / month.

[0062] [Table 4]

[0063] <Monitoring test results for atrial fibrillation and dizziness (anemia)> As shown in Table 4, the use of the soap according to the present invention while bathing resulted in a decrease in the frequency of atrial fibrillation, and the score was better than before and after the soap of the present invention was used. In addition, with regard to dizziness (anemia), the use of the soap according to the present invention while bathing resulted in a decrease in the frequency of dizziness, and the score was better than before the soap of the present invention was used.

[0064] <Mental health problems monitoring test results> As shown in Table 4, after using the soap of the present invention during bathing, the scores for all items including quality of sleep, waking up in the morning, and morning fatigue were better than those before using the soap of the present invention. In addition, the subjects commented that before using the soap of the present invention, they had been in a state of "high stress and fatigue easily," but that this had "improved somewhat." [Industrial Applicability]

[0065] By using the soap, preventive or ameliorating agent, and topical composition containing the same of the present invention, it is possible to obtain the effect of preventing or ameliorating cardiovascular diseases, including the risks of vascular aging and atrial fibrillation, and the effect of preventing or ameliorating mental health disorders, such as psychosomatic disorders, stress, and insomnia, and therefore the soap and topical composition can be suitably used for maintaining and improving health.

Claims

1. A soap comprising (A) a saponified oil or fat, (B) a component derived from a medicinal herb, and (C) an alcoholic fermentation product of grains or potatoes.

2. 2. The soap according to claim 1, wherein the component (B) derived from a medical herb is a ginseng extract, and the content of the ginseng extract is 0.01% by mass or more relative to the content of the oil or fat.

3. The soap according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the (C) alcoholic fermentation product of grains or potatoes has an ethanol content of 10 mass% or less.

4. (C) An agent for preventing or improving cardiovascular disease, characterized in that it contains an alcoholic fermentation product of grains or potatoes and is used as an external composition.

5. (B) A preventive or improving agent for cardiovascular disease according to claim 4, characterized in that it contains a component derived from a medical herb including ginseng.

6. (C) An agent for preventing or improving mental health disorders, characterized by containing an alcoholic fermentation product of grains or potatoes and being used as an external composition.

7. 7. A composition for external use, comprising the agent for preventing or improving a cardiovascular disease according to claim 4 or 5, or the agent for preventing or improving a mental health disorder according to claim 6.

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