Viable bacterial count regulator

Abstract

To provide a viable bacterial count regulator that more reliably regulates the viable cell count of Propionibacteria acnes existing on a skin surface, to improve skin symptoms.SOLUTION: According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a viable bacterial count regulator used to regulate the viable bacterial count of Propionibacteria acnes existing on a skin surface of a subject. The viable bacterial count regulator contains a lactobacillus fermentation liquid.SELECTED DRAWING: None

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a viable cell count regulator, and more specifically, to a viable cell count regulator that adjusts the viable cell count of acne bacteria present on the skin surface to improve skin symptoms.

Background Art

[0002] A skin cleanser containing an extract from the fruit of Sapindus trifoliatus and for normalizing or maintaining the normality of the skin condition has been proposed (see Patent Document 1). In the skin cleanser described in Patent Document 1, in order to improve atopic dermatitis, suppressing the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and acne bacteria has been studied.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, according to the studies of the present inventors, it has been found that further studies are required for the improvement of other skin symptoms. In view of the above circumstances, the present invention aims to provide a viable cell count regulator that more reliably adjusts the viable cell count of acne bacteria present on the skin surface to improve skin symptoms.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a viable cell count regulator used for adjusting the viable cell count of acne bacteria present on the skin surface of a subject. This viable cell count regulator contains a lactic acid bacteria fermentation broth.

[0006] According to such an aspect, the viable cell count of Propionibacterium acnes present on the skin surface can be more reliably adjusted to improve skin symptoms.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0007] Hereinafter, the viable cell count regulator of the present invention will be described in detail based on preferred embodiments. The viable cell count regulator of the present invention is used to adjust the viable cell count of Propionibacterium acnes present on the skin surface of a subject. This viable cell count regulator contains a lactic acid bacterium fermentation broth. As a result of intensive studies, the present inventors have found that a composition containing a lactic acid bacterium fermentation broth can adjust the viable cell count of Propionibacterium acnes present on the skin surface to a predetermined range, and have thus completed the present invention. It has also been found that skin symptoms can be improved by adjusting the viable cell count of Propionibacterium acnes to a predetermined range.

[0008] Specifically, many subjects with a relatively low viable cell count of Propionibacterium acnes complain of dry skin as a skin symptom, but the dry skin improves by adjusting the viable cell count of Propionibacterium acnes to a predetermined range. On the other hand, many subjects with a relatively high viable cell count of Propionibacterium acnes complain of acne and / or oily skin as a skin symptom, but the acne and / or oily skin improves by adjusting the viable cell count of Propionibacterium acnes to a predetermined range.

[0009] The viable cell count regulator preferably adjusts the proportion of Propionibacterium acnes in the skin commensal bacteria present on the skin surface to about 30% or more and less than 50%, and more preferably to 35% or more and 45% or less. In other words, subjects with a proportion of Propionibacterium acnes in the skin commensal bacteria present on the skin surface of less than 30% tend to complain of dry skin as a skin symptom, subjects with a proportion of Propionibacterium acnes in the skin commensal bacteria present on the skin surface of 70% or more tend to complain of acne, and subjects with a proportion of 60% or more tend to complain of oily skin.

[0010] The proportion of Propionibacterium acnes in the skin commensal bacteria present on this skin surface is determined by attaching a seal material for collecting skin commensal bacteria to the skin surface and identifying the types and numbers of skin commensal bacteria transferred to the adhesive layer of the seal material. In addition, as a method for identifying the types of skin commensal bacteria, for example, a method of analyzing the nucleotide sequence of a specific region of rDNA using a next-generation sequencer (NGS) can be used. Further, as a method for identifying the number of skin commensal bacteria, for example, a method of performing PCR on a specific sequence of the target bacteria and quantifying it (qPCR) can be used.

[0011] Here, Lactobacillus is a bacterium belonging to the family Lactobacillaceae among eubacteria. Lactobacillus is a slender, non-spore-forming, non-motile Gram-positive bacterium. The fermentation broth by such Lactobacillus contains various components including amino acids, and it is considered that these components act in a complex manner. As a result, when the number of acne bacteria is small, it seems to promote their growth, and when the number of acne bacteria is large, it seems to act to suppress their growth.

[0012] The stock solution of the Lactobacillus fermentation broth, that is, the stock solution used for fermentation by Lactobacillus is not particularly limited, and examples include soy milk, rice, soybeans, milk (cow's milk), grape juice, pear juice, hydrolyzed collagen, Centifolia rose flower extract, hibiscus flower extract, etc. Note that the Lactobacillus fermentation broth may be used alone or in combination of two or more. Among these, as the Lactobacillus fermentation broth, a Lactobacillus / soy milk fermentation broth is preferred. Note that the Lactobacillus fermentation broth can be obtained, for example, by fermenting a stock solution using a plurality of types (about 15 to 25 types) of bacteria belonging to Lactobacillus.

[0013] The content of the Lactobacillus fermentation broth is preferably 0.1% by mass or more and 20% by mass or less, more preferably 0.5% by mass or more and 15% by mass or less, and still more preferably 1% by mass or more and 10% by mass or less. If a viable cell count regulator containing the Lactobacillus fermentation broth is used at such a content, it becomes easier to adjust the ratio of acne bacteria in the skin commensal bacteria present on the skin surface to a more preferable range. Note that even if the content of the Lactobacillus fermentation broth is increased more than necessary, no corresponding increase in effect is observed. Further, according to the studies of the present inventors, it has been found that if a viable cell count regulator containing the Lactobacillus fermentation broth is used at such a content, it exhibits strong growth inhibition not only against acne bacteria but also against Staphylococcus epidermidis.

[0014] The viable cell count regulator of the present invention preferably further contains a yeast-derived component. This yeast-derived component is rich in various amino acids and vitamins, and it is considered that by maintaining the skin condition well, the components contained in the Lactobacillus fermentation broth can act more easily on the skin surface. Further, by using the yeast-derived component in combination, the dry condition of the skin can also be improved.

[0015] The yeast-derived component can be used, for example, as an extract agent, a powder agent, a freeze-dried agent, etc. The extract agent can be obtained, for example, by treating yeast by an enzymatic decomposition method, an acid decomposition method, etc. The yeast is not particularly limited, but for example, yeasts belonging to the genus Saccharomyces, the genus Schizosaccharomyces, the genus Kluyveromyces, the genus Schizosaccharomyces, the genus Lachancea, the genus Pichia, etc. can be used. Among these, it is preferable to use yeasts belonging to the genus Saccharomyces, particularly, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Saccharomyces boulardii.

[0016] The content of the yeast-derived component is preferably 0.001% by mass or more and 0.5% by mass or less, more preferably 0.005% by mass or more and 0.1% by mass or less, and still more preferably 0.01% by mass or more and 0.05% by mass or less. If the viable cell count regulator containing the yeast-derived component is used in such a content, the action and effect of the yeast-derived component can be sufficiently exhibited.

[0017] The viable cell count regulator of the present invention preferably further contains a cereal fermentation broth. Since this cereal fermentation broth has a moisturizing action, it is considered that it enhances the wet state of the skin surface and makes it easier to retain the components contained in the lactic acid bacterium fermentation broth on the skin surface. Therefore, the action and effect of the lactic acid bacterium fermentation broth can be more preferably exhibited.

[0018] The cereal is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include cereals such as rice (Oryza sativa), wheat, barley, corn, millet, panic grass, and foxtail millet, and legumes such as soybean, broad bean, kidney bean, pea, and lentil. These cereals may be used alone or in combination of two or more. Among these, the cereal is preferably rice. That is, as the cereal fermentation broth, a rice fermentation broth is suitable.

[0019] The content of the cereal fermentation broth is preferably 0.001% by mass or more and 0.5% by mass or less, more preferably 0.005% by mass or more and 0.1% by mass or less, and still more preferably 0.01% by mass or more and 0.05% by mass or less. If the viable cell count regulator containing the cereal fermentation broth is used in such a content, the moisturizing action can be sufficiently enhanced.

[0020] The viable cell count regulator of the present invention preferably further contains a component derived from a plant belonging to the genus Rhodiola (hereinafter, also simply referred to as "plant-derived component"). This plant-derived component has an action of retaining moisture and moisturizing components supplied to the skin surface, that is, a skin conditioning action. It is considered that such a plant-derived component also makes it easier to retain the components contained in the lactic acid bacterium fermentation broth on the skin surface.

[0021] Although not particularly limited, examples of plants belonging to the genus *Quercus* include *Quercus serrata*, *Quercus glauca*, *Quercus acutissima*, *Berchemia hirtella*, etc. These plants may be used alone or in combination of two or more. Examples of usable parts of the plant include leaves, flowers, seeds, fruits, pericarp, stems, barks, whole plants, etc. These parts may be used alone or in combination of two or more. Among these, as the plant-derived component, it is preferably a component derived from *Quercus serrata* leaves.

[0022] The content of the plant-derived component is preferably 0.001% by mass or more and 0.5% by mass or less, more preferably 0.005% by mass or more and 0.1% by mass or less, and even more preferably 0.01% by mass or more and 0.05% by mass or less. If a viable cell count regulator containing a plant-derived component is used in such a content, the skin-improving effect can be sufficiently enhanced.

[0023] The viable cell count regulator of the present invention may contain other moisturizing components, pH adjusters, thickeners, etc., if necessary. Although not particularly limited, examples of other moisturizing components include polyhydric alcohols such as glycerin, trimethylolpropane, dipropylene glycol (DPG), ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, trimethylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol (BG), sorbitol, mannitol, polyethylene glycol (PEG), plant-derived extracts such as grapefruit seed extract and rice bran extract, etc. Although not particularly limited, examples of pH adjusters include citric acid, sodium citrate, sodium benzoate, sodium succinate, potassium hydroxide, etc.

[0024] It should be noted that in the translation of the plant names in the above text, since the specific plant names may not be very common in English, the translation is for reference only. If there are more accurate and common English names, they can be adjusted accordingly.The thickener is not particularly limited. For example, plant polymers such as gum arabic and tragacanth gum, microbial polymers such as dextran and pullulan, animal polymers such as collagen, casein, albumin, and gelatin, starch polymers such as dextrin, sodium alginate, and carboxymethyl starch, cellulose polymers such as methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, and hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, vinyl polymers such as polyvinyl alcohol and polyvinyl acetate, acrylic polymers such as sodium polyacrylate, polyethyl acrylate, and alkanolamine polyacrylate, etc. can be mentioned.

[0025] When using a plant-derived extract (particularly, rice bran extract), its content is preferably 0.001% by mass or more and 0.5% by mass or less, more preferably 0.005% by mass or more and 0.1% by mass or less, and even more preferably 0.01% by mass or more and 0.05% by mass or less.

[0026] The pH of the viable cell count regulator of the present invention is preferably 6 or less, more preferably 5.5 or less, and even more preferably 4.5 to 5.5. By adjusting the pH of the viable cell count regulator within the above range, it is possible to prevent acne bacteria from having an adverse effect on the skin and to easily adjust the proportion of acne bacteria in the skin commensal bacteria present on the skin surface to a suitable range. Thus, according to the viable cell count regulator of the present invention, skin symptoms can be improved. These skin symptoms are preferably at least one of acne, oily skin, and dry skin.

[0027] Furthermore, it may be provided in each of the following aspects.

[0028] (1) A viable cell count regulator used to adjust the viable cell count of acne bacteria present on the skin surface of a subject, the viable cell count regulator containing a lactic acid bacterium fermentation broth.

[0029] (2) In the viable cell count regulator according to (1) above, the content of the lactic acid bacterium fermentation broth is 0.1% by mass or more and 20% by mass or less, the viable cell count regulator.

[0030] (3) In the viable cell count regulator according to (1) or (2) above, further comprising a component derived from yeast, the viable cell count regulator.

[0031] (4) In the viable cell count regulator according to (3) above, the content of the component derived from yeast is 0.001% by mass or more and 0.5% by mass or less, the viable cell count regulator.

[0032] (5) In the viable cell count regulator according to any one of (1) to (4) above, further comprising a cereal fermentation broth, the viable cell count regulator.

[0033] (6) In the viable cell count regulator according to (5) above, the content of the cereal fermentation broth is 0.001% by mass or more and 0.5% by mass or less, the viable cell count regulator.

[0034] (7) In the viable cell count regulator according to any one of (1) to (6) above, further comprising a component derived from a plant belonging to the genus Quercus, the viable cell count regulator.

[0035] (8) In the viable cell count regulator according to (7) above, the content of the component derived from a plant belonging to the genus Quercus is 0.001% by mass or more and 0.5% by mass or less, the viable cell count regulator.

[0036] (9) In the viable cell count regulator according to any one of (1) to (8) above, the pH of the viable cell count regulator is 6 or less, the viable cell count regulator.

[0037] (10) In the viable cell count regulator according to any one of (1) to (9) above, capable of adjusting the proportion of the acne bacterium in the skin commensal bacteria present on the skin surface to 30% or more and less than 50%, the viable cell count regulator.

[0038] (11) The viable cell count regulator according to any one of (1) to (10) above, which improves at least one of the symptoms of acne, oily skin, and dry skin. Of course, this is not all-inclusive.

[0039] As described above, various embodiments according to the present invention have been described, but these are presented as examples and do not limit the scope of the invention in any way. The novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. Such embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention and are included in the invention described in the claims and its equivalent scope. For example, the viable cell count regulator of the present invention may contain any other arbitrary additional components with respect to the above embodiments, may be replaced with any components that exhibit the same function, and some components may be omitted.

Examples

[0040] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described more specifically with reference to examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.

[0041] 1. Preparation of viable cell count regulator [Composition] · Lactobacillus / soy milk fermentation broth: 0.1% by mass or more and 20% by mass or less · Saccharomyces cerevisiae extract: 0.001% by mass or more and 0.5% by mass or less · Rice fermentation broth: 0.001% by mass or more and 0.5% by mass or less · Koji leaf extract: 0.001% by mass or more and 0.5% by mass or less · Rice bran extract: 0.001% by mass or more and 0.5% by mass or less · Water: 50% by mass or more and 95% by mass or less · Other components: the balance The other components are moisturizing components, pH adjusters, thickeners, etc. Note that the pH of the viable cell count regulator was about 5.

[0042] 2. Use of viable bacteria count regulator The subjects (111 females) were asked to continuously apply the viable bacteria count regulator to their faces for about 4 weeks.

[0043] 3. Measurement of skin resident bacteria The subjects were asked to attach a sealing material for collecting skin resident bacteria to the facial skin. After a predetermined period of time, the sealing material was removed, and the types and numbers of skin resident bacteria transferred to the adhesive layer of the sealing material were identified. For the method of identifying the types of skin resident bacteria, the base sequence of a specific region of rDNA was analyzed using a next-generation sequencer (NGS). For the method of identifying the number of skin resident bacteria, a method of performing PCR for quantification (qPCR) on a specific sequence of the target bacteria (acne bacteria, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Corynebacterium) was used. This measurement was performed before and after using the viable bacteria count regulator.

[0044] 4. Questionnaire survey After using the viable bacteria count regulator, the subjects were asked to answer regarding the changes in acne, oily skin, and dry skin according to the following criteria. A: Improvement B: No change C: Deterioration

[0045] 5. Results 5-1. Acne Before using the viable bacteria count regulator, subjects in whom the proportion of acne bacteria among the skin resident bacteria present on the skin surface was 70% or more were troubled by acne. After using the viable bacteria count regulator, 57% of the subjects replied that they had improved.

[0046] 5-2. Oily skin Before using the viable bacteria count regulator, subjects in whom the proportion of acne bacteria among the skin resident bacteria present on the skin surface was 60% or more were troubled by oily skin. After using the viable bacteria count regulator, 67% of the subjects replied that they had improved.

[0047] 5-3. Dry skin Before using the viable count regulator, subjects in whom the proportion of acne bacteria among the resident skin bacteria present on the skin surface was less than 30% were troubled by dry skin. After using the viable count regulator, 50% of the subjects reported improvement.

[0048] Also, in subjects with a high tendency to complain of acne and oily skin (i.e., subjects with a high proportion of acne bacteria), the proportion (average value) of acne bacteria decreased from 69% before use of the viable count regulator to 59% after use. And this difference was statistically significant.

[0049] On the other hand, in subjects with a high tendency to complain of dry skin (i.e., subjects with a low proportion of acne bacteria), the proportion (average value) of acne bacteria increased from 15% before use of the viable count regulator to 22% after use. And this difference was statistically significant.

[0050] In addition, when the viable count regulator is prepared by changing the types and / or the contents of the lactic acid bacterium fermentation broth, yeast-derived components, cereal fermentation broth, components derived from plants belonging to the genus Rhodiola, and other components, and evaluated in the same manner, the same effects can be obtained.

Claims

1. A viable cell count regulator used to adjust the viable cell count of acne bacteria present on the skin surface of a subject, The viable cell count regulator comprising a lactic acid bacterium fermentation broth.

2. In the viable cell count regulator according to Claim 1, The viable cell count regulator wherein the content of the lactic acid bacterium fermentation broth is 0.1% by mass or more and 20% by mass or less.

3. In the viable cell count regulator according to Claim 1, The viable cell count regulator further comprising a component derived from yeast.

4. In the viable cell count regulator according to Claim 3, The viable cell count regulator wherein the content of the component derived from yeast is 0.001% by mass or more and 0.5% by mass or less.

5. In the viable cell count regulator according to Claim 1, The viable cell count regulator further comprising a cereal fermentation broth.

6. In the viable cell count regulator according to Claim 5, The viable cell count regulator wherein the content of the cereal fermentation broth is 0.001% by mass or more and 0.5% by mass or less.

7. In the viable cell count regulator according to Claim 1, The viable cell count regulator further comprising a component derived from a plant belonging to the genus Rhododendron.

8. In the viable cell count regulator according to Claim 7, The viable cell count regulator wherein the content of the component derived from the plant belonging to the genus Rhododendron is 0.001% by mass or more and 0.5% by mass or less.

9. In the viable cell count regulator according to Claim 1, The viable cell count regulator wherein the pH of the viable cell count regulator is 6 or less.

10. In the viable cell count regulator according to Claim 1, The viable cell count regulator capable of adjusting the proportion of the acne bacteria in the skin commensal bacteria present on the skin surface to 30% or more and less than 50%.

11. In the viable cell count regulator according to Claim 1, The viable cell count regulator that improves at least one of the symptoms of acne, oily skin, and dry skin.