Composition for increased regulatory t-cell

Abstract

To provide a composition that comprises barley young leaves and has new functions.SOLUTION: A composition comprises barley young leaves and acts to increase regulatory T-cells, inhibit immune response, maintain the normal immune function, and treat viral infections.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a composition capable of increasing regulatory T cells. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with an increasing interest in health and other factors, various health foods have been developed, and research is being conducted into various materials that can be used in health foods.

[0003] Among these, young barley leaves are used as an ingredient in health foods and green juice, and their functionality, such as anti-cholesterol effects, has been widely studied (for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2001-314170 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a composition using young barley leaves and having a new function. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In the course of researching the functions of young barley leaves, the present inventors discovered that young barley leaves have the effect of increasing regulatory T cells, leading to the completion of the present invention.

[0007] That is, the present invention is as follows. [1] A composition for increasing regulatory T cells, characterized by containing young barley leaves. [2] A composition for suppressing immune response, comprising young barley leaves. [3] A composition for maintaining normal immune function, comprising young barley leaves. [4] An antiviral composition comprising young barley leaves. [5] A composition used to help increase regulatory T cells, characterized by containing young barley leaves. [6] A composition used to help suppress immune response, comprising young barley leaves. [7] A composition used to help maintain normal immune function, comprising young barley leaves. [8] A composition used to help maintain or improve antiviral function, characterized by containing young barley leaves. [9] A composition containing young barley leaves and labeled as being useful for increasing regulatory T cells.

[10] A composition containing young barley leaves and labeled as being useful for suppressing immune responses.

[11] A composition containing young barley leaves and labeled as being useful for maintaining normal immune function.

[12] A composition containing young barley leaves and labeled as being useful for maintaining or improving antiviral function.

[13] A composition containing young barley leaves and characterized in that it is labeled with one or more functions selected from the group consisting of "suppressing an immune response", "helping to suppress an immune response", "helpful to suppress an immune response", "maintaining normal immune function", "helping to maintain normal immune function", "helpful to maintain normal immune function", "maintaining normal immune function", "helping to maintain normal immune function", "helpful to maintain normal immune function", "maintaining immune homeostasis", "helping to maintain immune homeostasis", "helpful to maintain immune homeostasis", "maintaining normal mucosal immune function", "helping to maintain normal mucosal immune function", "helpful to maintain normal immune function" and "helpful to maintain normal mucosal immune function".

[14] A composition containing young barley leaves and characterized in that it is labeled with one or more functions selected from the group consisting of "suppressing an immune response", "helping to suppress an immune response", "helpful to suppress an immune response", "maintaining normal immune function", "helping to maintain normal immune function", "helpful to maintain normal immune function", "maintaining normal immune function", "helping to maintain normal immune function", "helpful to maintain normal immune function", "maintaining immune homeostasis", "helping to maintain immune homeostasis", "helpful to maintain immune homeostasis", "maintaining normal mucosal immune function", "helping to maintain normal mucosal immune function", "helpful to maintain normal immune function" and "helpful to maintain normal mucosal immune function".

[15] A composition comprising young barley leaves and labeled with one or more functions selected from the group consisting of "maintaining the body's barrier function", "helping to maintain the body's barrier function", "enhancing the body's barrier function", "helping to enhance the body's barrier function", "upgrading the body's barrier function", "helping to enhance the body's barrier function", "strengthening the body's barrier function", "helping to enhance the body's barrier function", "maintaining the body's defenses", "helping to maintain the body's defenses", "enhancing the body's defenses", "helping to enhance the body's defenses", "maintaining mucosal barrier function", "helping to maintain mucosal barrier function", "enhancing mucosal barrier function", "helping to enhance mucosal barrier function", "maintaining mucosal defenses", "helping to maintain mucosal defenses", "enhancing mucosal defenses", "helping to enhance mucosal defenses", "maintaining defenses against viruses", "helping to maintain defenses against viruses", "enhancing defenses against viruses", "helping to enhance defenses against viruses", "enhancing defenses against viruses", "helping to enhance defenses against viruses", "maintaining normal immune function", and "helping to maintain normal immune function". Effect of the Invention

[0008] The composition of the present invention can increase regulatory T cells, and therefore can suppress excessive proliferation and differentiation of immune cells such as effector T cells, thereby suppressing immune responses and maintaining normal immune function, as well as suppressing autoimmune diseases, allergic diseases (hay fever, food allergies, etc.), inflammatory diseases, and the like, which are caused by excessive immune responses. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 13 is a graph showing the ratio of FoxP3 positive T cells (Treg ratio) among total CD4 positive cells in Peyer's patches of the small intestine of mice administered young barley leaves. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] The composition of the present invention is characterized by containing young barley leaves. The composition of the present invention can increase regulatory T cells. Therefore, the composition of the present invention can be used as a composition for increasing regulatory T cells. Here, the regulatory T cells in the present invention refer to Treg cells.

[0011] The composition of the present invention can increase regulatory T cells, thereby suppressing the excessive proliferation and differentiation of immune cells such as effector T cells, suppressing immune responses, and maintaining normal immune function. Therefore, it can also suppress autoimmune diseases, allergic diseases (hay fever, food allergies, etc.), inflammatory diseases, etc. caused by excessive immune responses. That is, the composition of the present invention can be used as a composition for suppressing immune responses, a composition for maintaining normal immune function (a composition for maintaining immune homeostasis), a composition for suppressing autoimmune diseases, a composition for suppressing allergic diseases, or a composition for suppressing inflammatory diseases. Here, the maintenance of normal immune function (maintenance of immune homeostasis) includes the maintenance of normal mucosal immune function.

[0012] In addition, the composition of the present invention can increase regulatory T cells, thereby maintaining or improving immune function, thereby maintaining or improving the body's barrier function (defense function against pathogen infection via mucosa) and antiviral function. That is, the composition of the present invention can be used as an antiviral composition.

[0013] (Young barley leaves) Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is an annual or biennial herb belonging to the family Poaceae, said to be native to Central Asia, and is broadly classified into two-row barley, six-row barley, etc., depending on the ear shape. This barley is rich in barley β-glucan, which is a water-soluble dietary fiber, and insoluble dietary fiber. The barley young leaves used in the composition of the present invention are not particularly limited as long as they are usually available, and any variety of barley young leaves, such as two-row barley or six-row barley, may be used. In addition, the young leaves may include stems.

[0014] As the young barley leaves, for example, pulverized products, squeezed juice, extracts, etc. can be used. Examples of pulverized products include dried powder (young barley leaves powder), shredded products, and dried products thereof (dried shredded products). The squeezed juice and extracts may be in liquid form, but can also be used in the form of a paste or dried powder (squeezed juice powder, extract powder). The extracts can be obtained by extraction using a suitable solvent, and examples of the solvent that can be used include water (warm water, hot water), ethanol, and aqueous ethanol. In the present invention, pulverized products are preferred because they contain more dietary fiber and can provide the effects of the present invention more effectively, and among pulverized products, dried powders are particularly preferred.

[0015] Furthermore, in order to obtain the effects of the present invention more effectively, the young barley leaves used in the present invention preferably contain dietary fiber in an amount of 20% by mass or more, more preferably 25% by mass or more, and even more preferably 30% by mass or more. The upper limit of this amount may be, for example, 70% by mass.

[0016] (Composition of the present invention) The composition of the present invention can be used as an oral composition for, for example, a pharmaceutical product (including a quasi-drug product) or a so-called health food such as a functional food whose efficacy has been approved by a designated organization, such as a food for specified health uses, a food with nutrient function claims, or a food with functional claims.

[0017] The composition for increasing regulatory T cells of the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it contains young barley leaves and can be distinguished from other products in that it is used to increase regulatory T cells. For example, the scope of the present invention includes products that display the regulatory T cell increasing function on the main body, packaging, instructions, or promotional materials (advertising media) of the product according to the present invention. Specifically, examples of display include phrases such as "increase Treg cells and maintain normal immune function," "increase Treg cells," and "enhance the function of Treg cells." In addition, functional food products include those that use the increase in regulatory T cells as the scientific basis for their functionality.

[0018] The composition for increasing regulatory T cells of the present invention may be one that displays young barley leaves as an active ingredient, but is not limited to one that displays young barley leaves as an active ingredient on the product packaging, etc. For example, it may be one that does not specify the active ingredient. In addition, even if it is a general food, one that is manufactured and sold with a suggested use is included in the scope of the present invention. For example, foods, etc. that are sold with a website or the like listing personal experiences of people who have taken the food, referring to an increase in regulatory T cells, as personal impressions, are also included in the scope of the present invention.

[0019] Furthermore, the composition for suppressing an immune response of the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it contains young barley leaves and can be distinguished from other products as a product in that it is used to suppress immune response function. For example, the scope of the present invention includes products that display the immune response function suppression function on the main body, packaging, instructions, or promotional materials (advertising media) of the product of the present invention.

[0020] Specifically, examples of so-called health foods include those that are labeled with expressions such as "suppresses immune response," "helps suppress immune response," "helps suppress immune response," "maintains normal immune function," "helps maintain ...helps maintain normal immune function," "maintains normal immune function," "maintains immune homeostasis," "helps maintain immune homeostasis," "helps maintain immune homeostasis," "maintains normal mucosal immune function," "helps maintain normal mucosal immune function," "helps maintain normal immune function," "helps maintain normal immune function," "helps maintain normal mucosal immune function," and so on.

[0021] The immune response suppression composition of the present invention may be one that displays young barley leaves as an active ingredient, but is not limited to one that displays young barley leaves as an active ingredient on the product packaging, etc. For example, it may be one that does not specify the active ingredient. In addition, even if it is a general food product, if it is manufactured and sold with a suggested use, it is included in the scope of the present invention. For example, foods, etc. that are sold with a website or the like listing personal experiences of people who have taken the product that refer to immune response suppression as personal impressions are also included in the scope of the present invention.

[0022] Furthermore, the composition for maintaining normal immune function of the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it contains young barley leaves and can be distinguished from other products as a product in that it is used to maintain normal immune function. For example, the scope of the present invention includes products that display the function of maintaining normal immune function on the main body, packaging, instructions, or promotional materials (advertising media) of the product of the present invention.

[0023] Specifically, examples of so-called health foods include those that are labeled with expressions such as "suppresses immune response," "helps suppress immune response," "helps suppress immune response," "maintains normal immune function," "helps maintain ...helps maintain normal immune function," "maintains normal immune function," "maintains immune homeostasis," "helps maintain immune homeostasis," "helps maintain immune homeostasis," "maintains normal mucosal immune function," "helps maintain normal mucosal immune function," "helps maintain normal immune function," "helps maintain normal immune function," "helps maintain normal mucosal immune function," and so on.

[0024] The composition for maintaining normal immune function of the present invention may be one that displays young barley leaves as an active ingredient, but is not limited to one that displays young barley leaves as an active ingredient on the product packaging, etc. For example, it may be one that does not specify the active ingredient. In addition, even if it is a general food product, if it is manufactured and sold with a suggested use, it is included in the scope of the present invention. For example, foods, etc. that are sold with a website or the like listing personal experiences of people who have taken the product that refer to maintaining normal immune function are also included in the scope of the present invention.

[0025] Furthermore, the antiviral composition of the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it contains young barley leaves and can be distinguished from other products as a product in that it is used for antiviral purposes (protection against viral infections). For example, the scope of the present invention includes products that display an antiviral function on the main body, packaging, instructions, or promotional materials (advertising media) of the product according to the present invention.

[0026] Specifically, so-called health foods include those labeled with expressions such as "maintains the body's barrier function", "helps maintain the body's barrier function", "enhances the body's barrier function", "helps enhancing the body's barrier function", "upgrades the body's barrier function", "helps to enhance the body's barrier function", "strengthens the body's barrier function", "helps enhance the body's barrier function", "maintains the body's defense", "helps to maintain the body's defense", "enhances the body's defense", "helps enhance the body's defense", "maintains the mucosal barrier function", "helps to maintain the mucosal barrier function", "enhances the mucosal barrier function", "helps enhance the mucosal barrier function", "maintains mucosal defense", "helps to maintain mucosal defense", "enhances mucosal defense", "helps enhance mucosal defense", "maintains defense against viruses", "helps to maintain defense against viruses", "enhances defense against viruses", "helps enhance defense against viruses", "strengthens defense against viruses", "helps enhance defense against viruses", "maintains normal immune function", "helps to maintain normal immune function", and the like.

[0027] The antiviral composition of the present invention may be one that displays young barley leaves as an active ingredient, but is not limited to one that displays young barley leaves as an active ingredient on the product packaging, etc. For example, it may be one that does not specify the active ingredient. In addition, even if it is a general food, if it is manufactured and sold with a suggested use, it is included in the scope of the present invention. For example, foods, etc. that are sold with testimonials mentioning the antiviral function as personal impressions of people who have taken them and posted on a website, etc., are also included in the scope of the present invention.

[0028] Examples of the form of the composition of the present invention include tablets, capsules, powders, granules, liquids, granules, rods, plates, blocks, solids, rounds, pastes, creams, caplets, gels, chewable tablets, sticks, etc. The composition may be in the form of ice cream, jelly, cookies, cakes, chocolates, PET bottle drinks, etc. Among these, tablets, capsules, powders, granules, rounds, and chewable tablets are preferred, and powders and granules are particularly preferred.

[0029] When the composition of the present invention is made into a tablet, a round, or a chewable tablet, it is preferable to add one or more of an excipient, a lubricant, and a flow agent. This improves moldability and improves the storage stability of the produced agent. In particular, the use of an excipient and a lubricant can further improve storage stability.

[0030] The content of young barley leaves in the composition of the present invention may be appropriately determined within a range that provides the desired effect. For example, the composition of the present invention may contain young barley leaves in an amount of 0.001 to 100% by mass, preferably 0.01 to 100% by mass, more preferably 0.1 to 100% by mass, and even more preferably 1 to 100% by mass, calculated on a dry mass basis.

[0031] In the present invention, the intake amount of young barley leaves is not particularly limited, but in order to enjoy the effects more effectively, the intake amount of young barley leaves is preferably 0.25 g or more, more preferably 0.5 g or more, and even more preferably 1.0 g or more per day for an adult. The upper limit is, for example, 30 g, preferably 20 g, and more preferably 10 g.

[0032] The composition of the present invention may be appropriately designed so that the daily intake of young barley leaves is the above-mentioned amount, and may be in a form in which the above-mentioned amount is taken in one sitting, or in a form in which the above-mentioned amount is taken in multiple sittings. That is, for example, the daily amount may be stored in one container, or in multiple containers (2 to 4 divided portions).

[0033] The composition of the present invention can be produced by a known method, adding ingredients other than young barley leaves as necessary. EXAMPLES

[0034] The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.

[0035] [Example 1] We investigated the effect of barley leaf intake on regulatory T cells (Treg cells).

[0036] <Sample> The raw material used was the above-ground part (leaves and stems) of barley harvested at a height of about 30 cm. This was pretreated by washing with water to remove any adhering mud, and cutting into pieces of about 5 to 10 cm in size. The pretreated stems and leaves were blanched once with hot water at 90 to 100°C for 90 to 120 seconds, and then cooled with cold water. The obtained stems and leaves were then dried in a dryer with hot air at 80 to 130°C for 20 to 180 minutes until the moisture content was 5% by mass or less. The dried stems and leaves were coarsely pulverized to a size of about 1 mm. The obtained barley stems and leaves were finely pulverized to produce a dried powder of young barley leaves (young barley leaf powder).

[0037] <Test Method> Four-week-old male ICR mice were acclimated for two weeks. At six weeks of age, they were divided into three groups based on body weight (n=10 per group) and fed NFD (fiber-free diet), CLD (cellulose-added diet), or YBD (young barley leaf powder (YBLP)-containing diet) for three weeks. Details of the diet composition are shown in Table 1. They were allowed free access to water and food during the test period.

[0038] [Table 1]

[0039] After 3 weeks, Peyer's patches were excised from the mouse small intestine, placed in RPMI1600 medium containing 5% FBS, and crushed with a 70 μm nylon mesh to collect cells. The ratio of FoxP3 positive T cells (Treg ratio) among total CD4 positive cells was analyzed using a flow cytometer.

[0040] FIG. 1 shows the results of the Treg cell ratio. 1, the ratio of Treg cells was 6.78±0.41% in the NFD-fed group and 6.70±0.52% in the CLD-fed group, whereas it was 10.00±0.699% in the YBD-fed group of the present invention. In other words, it was confirmed that the Treg cell ratio was significantly higher in the YBD-fed group of the present invention. Therefore, the composition containing young barley leaves of the present invention has the effect of increasing Treg cells, and can suppress immune responses to maintain normal immune function.

[0041] [Example 2] (Production of powdered beverages) A powdered beverage containing the following ingredients was produced. This powdered beverage exhibited the effects of the present invention. Barley leaf powder 74% by mass Matcha 4% by mass Reduced maltose 22% by mass

[0042] [Example 3] (Cookie manufacturing) Cookies were produced from the following ingredients, and exhibited the effects of the present invention. Barley leaf powder 7.41% by mass Weak flour 37.04% by mass Butter 15.43% by mass Sugar 18.52% by mass Baking powder 1.54% by weight Egg 20.06% by mass [Industrial Applicability]

[0043] The composition of the present invention can be used as a health food or the like and is therefore industrially useful.

Claims

1. An antiviral composition characterized by containing crushed barley grass.

2. A composition for maintaining normal immune function, characterized by containing crushed barley grass.

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