Composition for suppressing increase in blood neutral fat

Abstract

To provide foods having a dramatically improved effect of suppressing increase in blood neutral fat.SOLUTION: Provided is a composition for suppressing increase in blood neutral fat containing Terminalia.SELECTED DRAWING: None

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a composition for suppressing an increase in neutral fat levels in blood, and more particularly to a composition for suppressing an increase in neutral fat levels in blood, which contains Terminalia and other specific components. [Background technology]

[0002] Terminalia is a plant of the Combretaceae family, and in India it has been used as a medicine, with its fruits being mainly used as an antidiarrheal agent, and the ripe fruits as an antidiarrheal agent.

[0003] In recent years, Terminalia has been found to have the effect of preventing vascular fibrosis, and is being used as a preventive or therapeutic drug for vascular fibrosis (see, for example, Patent Document 1). However, other effects of Terminalia have not been sufficiently studied. [Patent Document 1] JP 2004-75584 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The present inventors have confirmed the effect of suppressing the increase in neutral fat in blood by combining Terminalia with a wide variety of other components, and have found that in certain combinations, the ability to suppress the increase in neutral fat in blood is dramatically improved compared to the ability of Terminalia alone or certain other components alone, and have completed the present invention. That is, they have found that the ability to suppress the increase in neutral fat in blood can be synergistically improved by combining Terminalia with certain other components. The object of the present invention is to provide a composition with dramatically improved inhibitory effect on the increase in neutral fat in blood. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The present inventors have tested combinations of Terminalia with a wide variety of other ingredients, and conducted intensive research and studies into the inhibitory effect on blood neutral fat elevation, and have found that a certain combination can dramatically improve the inhibitory effect on blood neutral fat elevation, leading to the completion of the present invention. In other words, they have found that by combining Terminalia with a certain other ingredient that has little or only a small inhibitory effect on blood neutral fat elevation, the inhibitory effect on blood neutral fat elevation can be dramatically improved compared to Terminalia alone or the certain other ingredient alone.

[0006] That is, the present invention is as follows. (1) A composition comprising treated Terminalia and at least one component selected from the group consisting of the following (a) to (h): (a) at least one green leaf selected from young barley leaves and young sweet potato leaves (b) Astaxanthin, an antioxidant (c) Chitosan polysaccharide (d) at least one spice selected from the group consisting of chili pepper, long pepper and black ginger; (e) at least one fungus selected from lactic acid bacteria and yeasts; (f) at least one fermented product selected from fermented grain products and black vinegar (g) at least one B vitamin selected from vitamin B12, vitamin B5, vitamin B2, and vitamin B1; (h) a plant extract extracted from at least one plant selected from pine bark, kudzu flower, gymnema, ginger, and salacia; (2) A composition for suppressing an increase in blood neutral fat levels, comprising processed Terminalia and at least one component selected from the group consisting of the following (a) to (h): (a) at least one green leaf selected from young barley leaves and young sweet potato leaves (b) Astaxanthin, an antioxidant (c) Chitosan polysaccharide (d) at least one spice selected from the group consisting of chili pepper, long pepper and black ginger; (e) at least one fungus selected from lactic acid bacteria and yeasts; (f) at least one fermented product selected from fermented grain products and black vinegar (g) at least one B vitamin selected from vitamin B12, vitamin B5, vitamin B2, and vitamin B1; (h) a plant extract extracted from at least one plant selected from pine bark, kudzu flower, gymnema, ginger, and salacia; (3) The composition described in (1) or (2), characterized in that the blending mass ratio of Terminalia to at least one component selected from the group consisting of (a) to (h) is in the range of 0.5:1 to 70:1. (4) The composition according to any one of (1) to (3), which is in a liquid, powder or granular form. (5) The composition according to any one of (1) to (4), which is an instant powdered beverage or an instant granular beverage. (6) The composition according to (5), which is a packaged composition containing 3 to 10 g of an instant powdered beverage or an instant granular beverage. (7) The composition according to any one of (1) to (4), which is a packaged beverage. (8) An agent for suppressing an increase in blood neutral fat levels, comprising processed Terminalia and at least one component selected from the group consisting of the following (a) to (h): (a) at least one green leaf selected from young barley leaves and young sweet potato leaves (b) Astaxanthin, an antioxidant (c) Chitosan polysaccharide (d) at least one spice selected from the group consisting of chili pepper, long pepper and black ginger; (e) at least one fungus selected from lactic acid bacteria and yeasts; (f) at least one fermented product selected from fermented grain products and black vinegar (g) at least one B vitamin selected from vitamin B12, vitamin B5, vitamin B2, and vitamin B1; (h) a plant extract extracted from at least one plant selected from pine bark, kudzu flower, gymnema, ginger, and salacia; Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the composition for suppressing an increase in neutral fat levels in blood of the present invention, the effect of suppressing an increase in neutral fat levels in blood can be dramatically improved compared to the use of Terminalia alone or a specific other ingredient alone. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] The composition for suppressing an increase in blood neutral fat levels of the present invention is characterized by containing Terminalia and at least one selected from specific other ingredients.

[0009] [Terminaria] The Terminalia used in the composition for suppressing an increase in blood neutral fat of the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it is a plant of the genus Terminalia, and examples thereof include Terminalia bellirica, Terminalia belerica, Terminalia catappa, Terminalia tomentosa, Terminalia citrina, Terminalia phellocarpa, Terminalia copelandii, Terminalia brassi, Terminalia ivorensis, Terminalia superba, Terminalia arjuna, Terminalia chebula, etc. In the present invention, Terminalia bellirica is preferably used.

[0010] The processed material obtained from the Terminalia used in the present invention (hereinafter, sometimes simply referred to as the processed material) includes dried materials, pastes, juices, extracts, etc. obtained from parts such as leaves, bark, roots, flowers, wood, fruits, seeds, etc. Any part of the Terminalia used in the present invention may be used, but parts excluding seeds are preferred, and parts of the fruit excluding seeds (peel or flesh) are most preferably used.

[0011] The method for obtaining a dried product, which is one embodiment of the processed product in the present invention, is not particularly limited, and it is sufficient that the product is dried by, for example, drying in the sun, drying for a half day, drying in the shade, drying by heating, drying at room temperature, freeze-drying, or the like, and if necessary, it may be powdered using a ball mill, a hammer mill, or the like.

[0012] In addition, the paste or squeezed juice, which is one embodiment of the processed product of the present invention, can be obtained by, for example, grinding the fruit of Terminalia with a mass colloider without drying it, and then filtering or centrifuging the paste to obtain a squeezed juice. The fruit of Terminalia can also be squeezed to obtain a squeezed juice. Of course, the obtained extract can be used as it is, or dried once to obtain an extract powder. In addition, when obtaining an extract from a dried product, it can be obtained by squeezing or filtering the dried product after adding water. The amount of water to be added is not particularly limited, but is about 1 to 50 parts by mass per 1 part by mass of the dry powder.

[0013] Furthermore, the extract, which is one embodiment of the processed product of the present invention, may be extracted by adding water or an organic solvent to the fruit of Terminalia as it is, or may be extracted from the fruit that has been ground, or may be extracted from the fruit that has been dried. In particular, it is preferable to extract the fruit after crushing it into a paste or drying it into a powder.

[0014] The solvent used for extraction may be water, an organic solvent, or a mixed solution of water and an organic solvent, and 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, 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane, and 1,1,2-trichloroethene. Polar organic solvents are preferred, with ethanol, n-butanol, methanol, acetone, propylene glycol, and ethyl acetate being the most preferred.

[0015] The amount of solvent used for extraction is not particularly limited as long as it is an amount of solvent that can be sufficiently extracted, but in the case of dried Terminalia, the amount of solvent is preferably 1 to 50 parts by mass per 1 part by mass of the dried product, and in the case of non-dried product, it is preferably 0.1 to 30 parts by mass. There is also no particular limit to the extraction temperature, which varies depending on the boiling point of the solvent used, but in the case of efficient extraction, the lower limit of the extraction temperature is 10°C or higher, preferably 20°C or higher, and the upper limit of the extraction temperature is preferably 120°C or lower, but the upper limit of the extraction temperature is preferably below the boiling point of the solvent used.

[0016] The extraction time varies depending on the amount of extraction solvent or extraction temperature, but the lower limit of the extraction time is 30 minutes or more, preferably 1 hour or more, and the upper limit is 72 hours or less, preferably 48 hours or less. In this way, an extract can be obtained from Terminalia. The obtained extract may be used as is, but if necessary, it can be concentrated by a method commonly used by those skilled in the art to obtain an extract in a liquid, paste, or powder form. For concentration, heating to dryness, vacuum concentration to dryness, freeze-drying, etc. are used, but vacuum concentration to dryness or freeze-drying is preferably used to suppress denaturation of the components in the extract.

[0017] Furthermore, to make the obtained extract more active, the components can be further fractionated and concentrated using synthetic adsorbents (Diaion HP20, Sephabeese SP825, Amberlite XAD4, MCIgel CHP20P, etc.) or dextran resins (Sephadex LH-20, etc.). The processed Terminalia product obtained in this way shows excellent effects and can be used in the present invention.

[0018] [Other ingredients] The composition for suppressing an increase in blood triglycerides of the present invention is characterized by containing Terminalia and specific other components. The specific other components are not limited to those components that have little or only a small ability to suppress an increase in blood triglycerides and that, when combined with Terminalia, can synergistically improve the ability to suppress an increase in blood triglycerides, but it is particularly desirable for the composition to contain at least one component selected from the group consisting of (a) to (h) described below.

[0019] (a) Green leaves In the composition for suppressing an increase in blood neutral fat of the present invention, it is preferable to use at least one green leaf selected from young barley leaves and young sweet potato leaves as a specific other component together with Terminalia. When these other components are combined with Terminalia, they not only provide a synergistic effect of suppressing an increase in blood neutral fat, but also improve the taste of Terminalia, such as the pungent taste and unpleasant taste. They can also improve the unique flavor of Terminalia, making it fragrant and flavorful. Furthermore, they can be made to have a better color and dispersibility than when only Terminalia is dissolved in water.

[0020] These green leaves may be any part of the plant, but usually parts such as leaves and stems are preferred, and the plant material itself (including dried products), its crushed product, squeezed juice, extract, essence, etc. can be used. Examples of crushed products include powder and granules. The squeezed juice and extract may be in liquid form, but can also be used in the form of a paste or dry powder. The extract can be obtained by extraction using an appropriate solvent, and examples of the solvent that can be used include water, ethanol, and aqueous ethanol.

[0021] The barley leaves are barley ( Barley vulgar L.) is said to be native to Central Asia, is an annual or biennial herb belonging to the family Poaceae, and is not particularly limited as long as it is broadly classified into two-row barley, six-row barley, etc. based on the panicle shape. The young barley leaves are only required to contain barley leaves, and may contain other parts of the barley such as stems and roots in addition to the barley leaves. The young barley leaves used in the present invention are not particularly limited as long as they are normally available, and any young barley leaves such as two-row barley or six-row barley may be used. Furthermore, any variety of young barley leaves may be used.

[0022] The sweet potato young leaves are plants belonging to the Convolvulaceae family, and are not particularly limited as long as they are generally called sweet potatoes. The variety of sweet potatoes is not particularly limited. For example, varieties such as Suio, Joy White, Koganesengan, Shiroyutaka, Satsuma Sachi, and Ayamurasaki can be mentioned. Among them, Suio, which has a high polyphenol content, is preferred. The sweet potato may be used in its entirety or any part, but the stems and leaves are preferred, the tips of the stems and leaves (young stems and leaves) are more preferred, and young stems and leaves that retain a yellowish green color are even more preferred.

[0023] (b) Antioxidants In the composition for suppressing an increase in blood neutral fat of the present invention, it is preferable to use an antioxidant, astaxanthin, as a specific other component together with Terminalia. When combined with Terminalia, this other component not only provides a synergistic effect of suppressing an increase in blood neutral fat, but also improves the taste of Terminalia, such as the stimulating taste and unpleasant taste. It can also improve the unique flavor of Terminalia, making it fragrant and flavorful. Furthermore, it can be made to have a better color and dispersibility than when only Terminalia is dissolved in water.

[0024] The astaxanthin is a type of carotenoid, and is said to have an antioxidant effect 1000 times that of vitamin E. It may be derived from natural products or obtained synthetically. Examples of astaxanthin derived from natural products include astaxanthin obtained from algae such as Haematococcus algae, crustaceans such as shrimp and crab, and fish such as salmon and sea bream. Extracts derived from natural products and chemically synthesized products are commercially available, and these commercially available products can be used.

[0025] (c) Polysaccharide In the composition for suppressing an increase in neutral fat in blood of the present invention, it is preferable to use polysaccharides such as chitosan as a specific other component together with Terminalia. When combined with Terminalia, this other component not only provides a synergistic effect of suppressing an increase in neutral fat in blood, but also improves the taste of Terminalia, such as the pungent taste and unpleasant taste. It can also improve the unique flavor of Terminalia, making it fragrant and flavorful. Furthermore, it can be made to have a better color and dispersibility than when only Terminalia is dissolved in water.

[0026] Examples of the chitosan include those made from the shells of crabs, shrimp, insects, etc., and those made from the cell walls of mushrooms, filamentous fungi, etc. In particular, it is preferable to use those made from crabs, shrimp, etc. Examples of methods for producing chitosan or chitosan derivatives include the following methods. First, crab shells, shrimp shells, etc. are crushed, and the crushed shells are treated with an acid (e.g., hydrochloric acid, etc.) to remove calcium. Next, chitin is obtained by treating it with an alkali (e.g., caustic soda, etc.) to remove proteins. Chitosan is obtained by further treating it with an alkali (e.g., caustic soda, etc.). Examples of chitosan derivatives include water-soluble chitosan obtained by further lowering the molecular weight of chitosan, and salts thereof. Among them, those having an average molecular weight of 500,000 or more and a deacetylation degree of 70% or more, preferably around 80 to 90%, are preferable. In addition, the particle size is 32 mesh or less, preferably 48 mesh or less, and 85% or more.

[0027] (d) Spices In the composition for suppressing an increase in blood neutral fat of the present invention, it is preferable to use at least one spice selected from red pepper, long pepper, and black ginger as a specific other component together with Terminalia. In the present invention, it is sufficient to blend these components, and they do not have to be blended for the purpose of exerting the so-called spice function, such as producing aroma or spiciness. When combined with Terminalia, these other components can not only obtain a synergistic collagenase inhibitory effect, but also improve the taste of Terminalia, such as the pungent taste and unpleasant taste. They can also improve the unique flavor of Terminalia, making it fragrant and flavorful. Furthermore, they can be made to have a better color and dispersibility than when only Terminalia is dissolved in water.

[0028] These spices may be any part of the plant, such as seeds, fruits, flowers, leaves, stems, roots, etc., but parts usually used as spices are preferred, and the plant material itself (including dried products), crushed products thereof, squeezed juice, extracts, etc. can be used. Examples of crushed products include powders and granules. The squeezed juice and extracts may be in liquid form, but can also be used in the form of a paste or dried powder. The extract can be obtained by extraction using an appropriate solvent, and examples of the solvent that can be used include water, ethanol, and aqueous ethanol.

[0029] The chili pepper is not particularly limited as long as it is a plant of the genus Capsicum in the family Solanaceae. Either a variety having a hot taste or a variety having no hot taste can be used, but it is preferable to use a variety having a hot taste.

[0030] It is preferable to use the fruit of the long pepper, which is a plant of the family Piperaceae and has the scientific name Piper longum L.

[0031] The black ginger is a plant of the genus Kaempferia in the family Zingiberaceae, and its scientific name is Kaempferia parviflora. The black ginger used in the present invention is not particularly limited, and may be domestic or foreign, and may be produced in any place. Examples of foreign ginger include those produced in Thailand and Laos, and examples of domestic ginger include those produced in Okinawa. The part of the black ginger used in the present invention is not particularly limited, but it is preferable to use the rhizome.

[0032] (d) Fungi In the composition for suppressing an increase in blood neutral fat of the present invention, it is preferable to use at least one fungus selected from lactic acid bacteria and yeast as a specific other component together with Terminalia. When these other components are combined with Terminalia, not only can they synergistically suppress an increase in blood neutral fat, but they can also improve the taste of Terminalia, such as the pungent taste and unpleasant taste. They can also improve the unique flavor of Terminalia, making it fragrant and flavorful. Furthermore, they can be made to have a better color and dispersibility than when only Terminalia is dissolved in water.

[0033] The form of the fungi used in the present invention is not particularly limited, and may be dried and powdered as is, may be used in the form of a culture obtained by culturing the fungi in accordance with a conventional method, or may be used in the form of a residue obtained by subjecting such a culture to solid-liquid separation treatment such as centrifugation, filtration, etc. Furthermore, dried powders and extracts of fungi are commercially available, and these commercially available products can be used.

[0034] The lactic acid bacteria may be any known lactic acid bacteria, but is not particularly limited thereto. Examples of such lactic acid bacteria include Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium infantis, Bifidobacterium lactis, Bifidobacterium longum, Bifidobacterium adolescentis, Bifidobacterium mongoliense, Lactbacillus brevis, Lactbacillus gasseri, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus buchneri, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Lactobacillus delburvecki, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus crispatus, Lactobacillus curvatus, Lactobacillus halivaticus, Lactobacillus pentosus, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus paracasei, Lactobacillus spp. ... obacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus salivarius, Lactobacillus sporogenes, Lactobacillus sakei, Lactobacillus fructivorans, Lactobacillus hilgardii, Lactobacillus reuteri, Lactobacillus fermentum, Enterococcus faecalis (sometimes called Streptococcus faecalis), Enterococcus faesium (sometimes called Streptococcus faesium), Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactococcus lactis (sometimes called Streptococcus lactis), Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Leuconostoc oenos, Pediococcus acidilactici, Pediococcus pentosaceus, Staphylococcus carnosus, Staphylococcus xylosus, Tetragenococcus halophilus, Bacillus coagulans, and Bacillus mesentericus, etc., Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium longum, Lactbacillus gasseri, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus fermentum, Lactobacillus paracasei, Enterococcus faecalis (Streptococcus faecalis), Enterococcus faesium (Streptococcus faesium), Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactococcus lactis (Streptococcuslactis, Bacillus coagulans, and Bacillus mesentericus are preferred. The properties of these lactic acid bacteria are not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected depending on the dosage form and quality of the composition for suppressing an increase in blood neutral fat of the present invention, and examples of the properties include heat resistance, acid resistance, sugar tolerance, salt tolerance, and spore formation. The method for obtaining the lactic acid bacteria is not particularly limited, and for example, lactic acid bacteria isolated from foods such as yogurt and vegetables, or commercially available products may be used.

[0035] The yeast may be any known yeast, but is not particularly limited thereto. Examples of such yeast include yeasts belonging to the genus Saccharomyces, such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae, yeasts belonging to the genus Candida, such as Candida lipolytica, yeasts belonging to the genus Torulaspora, such as Torulaspora delbrueckii, yeasts belonging to the genus Kluyveromyces, such as Kluyveromyces thermotolerans, and yeasts belonging to the genus Pichia, such as Pichia membranaefaciens, and the like, and the genus Saccharomyces is preferred.

[0036] (e) Fermented products In the composition for suppressing an increase in neutral fat in blood of the present invention, it is preferable to use at least one fermented product selected from fermented grains and black vinegar as a specific other component together with Terminalia. When these other components are combined with Terminalia, not only can they obtain a synergistic effect of suppressing an increase in neutral fat in blood, but they can also improve the taste of Terminalia, such as its pungent taste and unpleasant taste. They can also improve the unique flavor of Terminalia, making it fragrant and flavorful. Furthermore, they can be made to have a better color and dispersibility than when only Terminalia is dissolved in water.

[0037] These fermented products are not particularly limited, and may be used as they are, or may be dried and pulverized. Also, they may be extracted from the fermented products, or the extract may be pulverized as it is. Examples of pulverized products include powder and granules. The extract may be in liquid form, but can also be used as a paste or dry powder. The extract can be obtained by extraction using a suitable solvent, and examples of the solvent that can be used include water, ethanol, and aqueous ethanol.

[0038] The fermented grain product may be obtained by fermenting the seeds of a grass or a legume, but is not particularly limited thereto. Gramineous seeds include rice, corn, barley, wheat, rye, oats, oats, pearl barley, millet, foxtail millet, barnyard millet, and sorghum, while legume seeds include soybean, adzuki bean, mung bean, cowpea, kidney bean, pea, broad bean, lentil, chickpea, lentil, and jack bean. Any part of the seed may be used for fermentation, such as the whole grain, pericarp, seed coat, endosperm, cotyledon, and hypocotyl, but it is usually preferable to use bran that is obtained when grains are polished. As the fungus used for fermentation, fungus bodies usually used for fermentation, such as koji mold, yeast fungus, lactic acid bacteria, acetic bacteria, and Bacillus subtilis, may be used, and the fungus body used in the present invention may be one type or two or more types. In the present invention, it is particularly preferable to use koji mold since it is capable of decomposing grains using a variety of enzymes.

[0039] The black vinegar may be, but is not limited to, rice alone, rice with barley or wheat added, or barley alone fermented as a raw material and turned brown or blackish brown by fermentation and aging. The grains used for fermentation may be unrefined, but may also be refined. As the fungus used for fermentation, those usually used for fermentation, such as koji mold, yeast, lactic acid bacteria, acetic acid bacteria, and Bacillus subtilis, may be used, but it is particularly preferable to use koji mold because it can decompose grains with various enzymes.

[0040] (g) Vitamin B complex In the composition for suppressing an increase in blood neutral fat of the present invention, it is preferable to use at least a vitamin B group selected from vitamin B12, vitamin B5, vitamin B2, and vitamin B1 as a specific other component together with Terminalia. When these other components are combined with Terminalia, not only can they obtain a synergistic effect of suppressing an increase in blood neutral fat, but they can also improve the taste of Terminalia, such as the pungent taste and unpleasant taste. They can also improve the unique flavor of Terminalia, making it fragrant and flavorful. Furthermore, they can be made to have a better color and dispersibility than when only Terminalia is dissolved in water.

[0041] (h) Plant extracts In the composition for suppressing an increase in blood neutral fat of the present invention, it is preferable to use a plant extract extracted from at least one plant selected from pine bark, kudzu flower, gymnema, ginger, and salacia as a specific other component together with Terminalia. When these other components are combined with Terminalia, they not only provide a synergistic effect of suppressing an increase in blood neutral fat, but also improve the taste of Terminalia, such as the pungent taste and unpleasant taste. They can also improve the unique flavor of Terminalia, making it fragrant and flavorful. Furthermore, they can be made to have a better color and dispersibility than when only Terminalia is dissolved in water.

[0042] Examples of the pine bark extract include extracts of the bark of French maritime pine (Pinus Martima), larch, black pine, red pine, etc., and among these, extracts of the bark of French maritime pine (Pinus Martima), which is rich in proanthocyanidins, are preferred.

[0043] The kudzu flower is a flower of a plant belonging to the genus Pueraria of the family Fabaceae. Kudzu is a creeping perennial plant of the genus Pueraria of the family Fabaceae. The parts of the plant used as the plant material of the present invention are preferably flowers and roots, and more preferably flowers. The kudzu flowers may be collected at any stage from buds to fully opened flowers, or may be mixed and used. The type of kudzu is not particularly limited, but examples include Pueraria thomsonii, Pueraria lobata, Pueraria thunbergiana, etc.

[0044] The Gymnema is a vine plant belonging to the Apocynaceae family native to India and Sri Lanka, and an example thereof is Gymnema sylvestre. The parts used in the present invention are preferably the stems and leaves.

[0045] The ginger is not particularly limited as long as it is a plant of the Zingiberaceae family, and examples thereof include various gingers such as Sanshu ginger, Omi ginger, Yanaka ginger, Kintoki ginger, Shizuoka No. 4, Yellow ginger, Earth ginger, and Otafuku ginger. The form of the Zingiberaceae plant raw material used in the present invention can be the rhizome as it is, or it can be sliced, crushed, juiced, grated, or extracted. Examples of the crushed material include powder and granules. The juice or extract may be in a liquid form, but can also be used in a paste form or dried powder form. The extract can be obtained by extraction using a suitable solvent, and examples of the solvent that can be used include water, ethanol, and aqueous ethanol. The solvent used is not particularly limited, but it is preferable to use a solution containing ethanol. For example, an extract can be obtained by adding ethanol or aqueous ethanol to finely chopped rhizomes of a Zingiberaceae plant.

[0046] The above-mentioned Salacia is a plant of the genus Salacia of the family Celastraceae, which grows naturally mainly in Sri Lanka, India and Southeast Asia, and examples thereof include Salacia reticulata, Salacia oblonga, Salacia fimbrisepala, Salacia mamba, Salacia miegei, Salacia chinensis, etc., with Salacia reticulata being particularly preferred. The part used in the present invention is preferably the root.

[0047] [Composition for suppressing increase in blood neutral fat] The composition for suppressing an increase in neutral fat in blood of the present invention is preferably a food for suppressing an increase in neutral fat in blood used for suppressing an increase in neutral fat in blood, and such a food for suppressing an increase in neutral fat in blood is not particularly limited as long as it contains Terminalia and other specific materials and can be distinguished from other products as a product in terms of being used to suppress an increase in neutral fat in blood. For example, the scope of the present invention includes a product that displays the function of suppressing an increase in neutral fat in blood on the main body, packaging, instructions, or advertising material of the product according to the present invention. For example, so-called health foods such as functional foods whose efficacy has been approved by a designated organization, such as foods for specified health uses and functional foods, can be mentioned. Specifically, examples of such products include those that display the following: "reduces (reduces, lowers) neutral fat levels in blood," "suppresses the increase in neutral fat in blood," "suppresses the increase in neutral fat in blood after meals," "gentles the increase in neutral fat in blood after meals," "suppresses the absorption of fat in food," and "helps with the health of people with high neutral fat levels."

[0048] Examples of the form of the composition for suppressing an increase in blood neutral fat of the present invention include liquid, powder, granule, tablet, capsule, granule, rod, plate, block, solid, round, paste, cream, caplet, gel, chewable, and stick forms. Among these, liquid, powder, and granule forms are particularly preferred. Specific examples include containerized beverages filled in PET bottles, cans, bottles, etc., and instant powdered beverages or instant granular beverages that are dissolved in water (hot water), milk, fruit juice, green juice, etc. and drunk. These are preferred in that they are easy to drink during meals and can increase palatability.

[0049] The blending mass ratio of Terminalia and the specific other material is preferably in the range of 0.5:1 to 80:1, more preferably in the range of 0.75:1 to 70:1, even more preferably in the range of 1:1 to 60:1, and particularly preferably in the range of 1:1 to 50:1. By having the blending ratio of Terminalia and the specific other material in the above range, the effects of the present invention can be more effectively exhibited.

[0050] The content of Terminalia and specific other materials in the composition for suppressing an increase in blood neutral fat of the present invention may be appropriately contained within the range in which the effect is exhibited, and Terminalia may be used as an active ingredient and at least one component selected from the group consisting of (a) to (h), or Terminalia and at least one component selected from the group consisting of (a) to (h) may be contained as active ingredients. When Terminalia is used as an active ingredient and at least one component selected from the group consisting of (a) to (h), specific other components may be contained as promoters of the action of Terminalia. The content is generally, in terms of dry mass, preferably 0.01 to 100% by mass of Terminalia and specific other materials, more preferably 0.1 to 97% by mass, and even more preferably 0.5 to 95% by mass.

[0051] When the composition for suppressing an increase in blood neutral fat levels of the present invention is in the form of a tablet or capsule, it is preferable that Terminalia and specific other ingredients account for 0.01 to 100 mass% of the total, more preferably 0.1 to 90 mass%, and even more preferably 0.5 to 80 mass%, calculated on a dry mass basis.

[0052] When the composition for suppressing an increase in blood neutral fat levels of the present invention is an instant powdered beverage or an instant granular beverage, it is preferable that Terminalia and specific other ingredients account for 1 to 100 mass% of the total, more preferably 3 to 90 mass%, and even more preferably 5 to 80 mass%, calculated on a dry mass basis.

[0053] When the composition for suppressing an increase in blood neutral fat levels of the present invention is a packaged beverage, it is preferable that Terminalia and specific other ingredients are contained in an amount of 0.1 to 10 mass%, more preferably 0.3 to 6 mass%, and even more preferably 0.5 to 4 mass%, of the total mass, calculated on a dry mass basis.

[0054] The intake amount of the composition for suppressing an increase in blood neutral fat of the present invention is not particularly limited, but from the viewpoint of more significantly exerting the effect of the present invention, it is preferable to take Terminalia and specific other materials per meal so that the intake amount is 50 mg / time or more, more preferably 100 mg / time or more, even more preferably 150 mg / time or more, and particularly preferably 200 mg / time or more. The food having an effect of suppressing an increase in blood neutral fat of the present invention can be contained in one container for one time or a daily amount, or divided into multiple containers, for example, 2 to 3, as a daily amount, so that the intake amount per time is the above-mentioned intake amount. For example, the instant powdered beverage or instant granular beverage can be packaged in a form of 3 to 10 g each.

[0055] In addition, the composition for suppressing an increase in blood neutral fat of the present invention may contain ingredients other than Terminalia and the specific other ingredients, as necessary. Examples of ingredients other than Terminalia and the specific other ingredients include vitamins such as water-soluble vitamins (vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12, B13, B15, B17, biotin, choline, folic acid, inositol, PABA, vitamin C, vitamin P) and oil-soluble vitamins (vitamins A, D, E, K); minerals such as calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and iron; sulfur-containing compounds contained in taurine and garlic; flavanoids or flavonoids such as hesperidin and quercetin; proteins such as collagen; peptides; amino acids; animal fats and oils; vegetable fats and oils; crushed or extracted animals and plants; calcium stearate, silicon dioxide, sucrose fatty acid esters, glycerin fatty acid esters, maltose, reduced maltose, reduced palatinose, cellulose, and excipients such as hydroxypropyl cellulose.

[0056] The composition for suppressing an increase in blood neutral fat of the present invention may also include foods to which Terminalia and other specific ingredients have been added. Examples of such foods include beverages such as carbonated drinks, nutritional drinks, fruit drinks, lactic acid drinks, and green juice; frozen desserts such as ice cream, ice sherbet, and shaved ice; noodles such as soba, udon, harusame, Chinese noodles, and instant noodles; sweets such as candy, candy, gum, chocolate, tablet sweets, snacks, biscuits, jellies, jams, creams, baked goods, and bread; processed seafood and livestock foods such as kamaboko, ham, and sausage; processed milk, fermented milk, and yogurt. Examples include dairy products such as salad oil, tempura oil, margarine, mayonnaise, shortening, whipped cream, dressing, and other oils and fats and processed foods thereof, seasonings such as sauce and soy sauce, and retort pouch foods such as curry, stew, oyakodon, porridge, porridge, Chinese rice bowl, katsudon, tendon, beef bowl, hayashi rice, omelet rice, oden, mabo dolph, gyoza, shumai, hamburger steak, meatballs, various sauces, and various soups. The properties, amounts of Terminalia and other specific ingredients, the amount of intake, and other ingredients are the same as above. EXAMPLES

[0057] The present invention will now be described with reference to examples. [Example 1] Lipase inhibition test For each test substance suspension, processed Terminalia products and other specified ingredients were mixed in an Eppendorf tube with 0.1M PBS as the solvent as follows. For Terminalia, a powder made by drying a hot water extract of the flesh of Terminalia bellirica was used. For young barley leaves, "Barley Leaf Powder" manufactured by Toyo Shinyaku Co., Ltd. was used. For young sweet potato leaves, "Sweet Potato Leaf Powder" manufactured by Toyo Shinyaku Co., Ltd. was used. A commercially available synthetic product was used for astaxanthin. A commercially available chitosan was used. For chili pepper, a commercially available powder of chili pepper was used. For long pepper, a commercially available dried powder of fruit spikes was used. For black ginger, a dried powder of ethanol extract of the rhizome of black ginger (Kaempferia parviflora) was used. For lactic acid bacteria, a commercially available human intestinal Escherichia coli Enterococcus faecalis (dead bacteria) was used. For yeast, a commercially available dried brewer's yeast powder (dead bacteria) with reduced bitterness was used. For fermented grains, a commercially available powder of Aspergillus oryzae fermented extract of wheat bran was used. For black vinegar, a commercially available black vinegar extract was used. For vitamins, all commercially available products were used, and vitamin B1 hydrochloride was used. For pine bark, "Flavangenol" manufactured by Toyo Shinyaku was used. For kudzu flowers, "kudzu flower extract" manufactured by Toyo Shinyaku was used. For Gymnema, commercially available powdered extract extracted from Gymnema sylvestre leaves was used. For Ginger, commercially available powdered ginger extract was used. For Salacia, commercially available powdered extract of Salacia reticulata root was used.

[0058] [Table 1]

[0059] To each of the mixed sample solutions, 5 μL of 0.08 mg / mL lipase, 4 μL of elastase inhibitor solution, and 200 μL of color development solution were added, and the mixture was pre-incubated for 5 minutes at 30 ± 1 ° C. in the dark. 20 μL of substrate solution was added, and the mixture was incubated at 30 ± 1 ° C. for 30 minutes, after which 400 μL of stop solution was added. For the blank, the reaction stop solution was added, followed by the substrate solution. 300 μL of the reaction solution was transferred to a 96-well plate, and the absorbance at 412 nm was measured using a microplate reader. Using the measured absorbance, the lipase inhibition rate was calculated using the following formula. Inhibition rate (% of control) = (1-[(Sample test -Sample blank ) / Control test -Control blank ]])×100

[0060] Table 2 shows the results of the lipase inhibition test measured in Example 1. The values ​​other than the inhibition rate in Table 2 indicate the final concentration of the sample, and the inhibition rate indicates the relative inhibition rate of each group when the inhibition rate of the group containing only the treated Terminalia product is set to 100%.

[0061] [Table 2]

[0062] As shown in Table 2, even if the lipase inhibitory effect of the specific other ingredient itself is quite low, the lipase inhibitory effect is dramatically improved by combining it with Terminalia. The combination of the processed Terminalia product of the present invention and the specific other ingredients has an excellent lipase inhibitory effect, and is therefore expected to inhibit lipase, thereby suppressing the breakdown of fat in the digestive tract and suppressing fat absorption from the intestinal tract.

[0063] (Comparative Examples 22 to 23) For mulberry leaf powder (Comparative Example 22) and vitamin B6 (Comparative Example 23), tests similar to those in Example 1 were conducted. When the change in Terminalia was added up to the change in either mulberry leaf powder or vitamin B6, the change in the test group for the combination was less than 1.2 times, and no lipase inhibitory effect was confirmed. [Industrial Applicability]

[0064] The food of the present invention has an effect of suppressing an increase in blood neutral fat, and therefore has an industrial applicability. It is highly useful.

Claims

[Claim 1] An oral composition comprising Terminalia and at least one member selected from Salacia, Capsicum and B vitamins.

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