Preparation method of water-soluble high-sesamin-content material

Abstract

To provide a method for preparing a water-soluble high-sesamin-content material efficiently from sesame at low cost, and the water-soluble high-sesamin-content material prepared by the same.SOLUTION: A water-soluble high-sesamin-content material is prepared by allowing cultivated sesame seeds to absorb water to germinate, allowing the germination for 3 to 7 days from the start of water absorption, and obtaining the material consisting of the germinated sesame. A water-soluble high-sesamin-content material is prepared by allowing cultivated sesame seeds to absorb water to germinate, drying the germinated sesame obtained by allowing the germination for 3 to 7 days from the start of the water absorption to obtain the material consisting of the dried germinated sesame. A water-soluble high-sesamin-content material is prepared by allowing cultivated sesame seeds to absorb water to germinate, pulverizing dried germinated sesame obtained by drying the germinated sesame which has germinated for 3 to 7 days after the start of the water absorption, and sieving the pulverized sesame with a sieve having 1.0 mm aperture (diameter) to obtain less than 1.0 mm powdery material.SELECTED DRAWING: None

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for producing a water-soluble material with a high sesamin content, and more particularly to a method for producing a water-soluble material with a high sesamin content from sesame efficiently and at low cost. [Background technology]

[0002] Lignans are substances that form cell walls and have strong antioxidant properties. Representative lignans include sesamin, sesamolin, sesaminol, and sesamol, and the most well-known is sesame lignan, found in sesame seeds.

[0003] Sesamin, which is found in sesame seeds at approximately 0.1-0.5% by mass, does not itself have any antioxidant properties. However, when sesamin is ingested, it is absorbed through the portal vein and transported to the liver, where its methylenedioxyphenyl group is cleaved to form a catechol compound with two hydroxyl groups, which exhibits antioxidant activity in the body. For this reason, sesamin is used in a variety of health foods.

[0004] Sesamin compounds are almost insoluble in water, making their concentration from raw oils and fats time-consuming. For this reason, one method used was to extract sesamin compounds with a mixture of ethanol and surfactants, then remove the ethanol.

[0005] In addition, attempts have been made to improve the absorption of poorly soluble physiologically active ingredients by micronizing the ingredients or by adding emulsifiers to improve the solubility of poorly soluble physiologically active ingredients. For example, to avoid potential toxicity associated with the use of emulsifiers, a minimal amount (3%) of polyoxyethylene alkyl ether has been used. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 607345 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-39082 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2017-195826 [Patent Document 4] Patent No. 4084809 [Non-patent literature]

[0007] [Non-Patent Document 1] Chemistry and Biology 56, pp.598-604 (2018) [Non-patent document 2] Journal of the Agricultural Chemical Society of Japan 69, pp.685-693 (1995) Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide a method for efficiently producing a water-soluble material with a high sesamin content from sesame at low cost, and to provide the water-soluble material with a high sesamin content produced thereby. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] Sesame seeds contain about 0.1 to 0.5% by weight of sesamin, as well as sesamol, sesamolin, sesaminol, and the like.

[0010] Sesame lignan is a lipophilic substance and has the property of being poorly soluble in water.

[0011] The findings that form the basis of this invention are reported by Fukuda et al. in Non-Patent Document 2. Fukuda et al. discovered the phenomenon in which sesamin and sesamolin rapidly disappear during the early stages of germination. They found that during the germination of sesame seeds, sesamin and sesamolin are converted to sesaminol, which then conjugates with glucose to form water-soluble sesamin (Non-Patent Document 2).

[0012] By concentrating this glucose-conjugated sesamin without using an organic solvent, a water-soluble sesamin-rich material containing concentrated sesamin and other components can be obtained.

[0013] The present invention that achieves the above-mentioned object can be exemplified as follows. [1] The method involves germinating cultivated sesame seeds by allowing the seeds to absorb water and germinating for 3 to 7 days from the start of water absorption, thereby producing a water-soluble material with a high sesamin content from germinated sesame seeds.

[0014] [2] The method comprises allowing cultivated sesame seeds to absorb water to germinate, germinating the seeds for 3 to 7 days after the start of water absorption, and drying the resulting germinated sesame seeds to produce a water-soluble material with a high sesamin content comprising dried germinated sesame seeds.

[0015] [3] The method involves germinating cultivated sesame seeds by allowing the seeds to absorb water, allowing the germinated sesame seeds to germinate for 3 to 7 days after the start of water absorption, drying the germinated sesame seeds, pulverizing the resulting dried germinated sesame seeds, and sieving the pulverized sesame seeds through a sieve with openings (diameter) of 1.0 mm to produce a powdered water-soluble sesamin-rich material of less than 1.0 mm. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a method for efficiently producing a water-soluble material with a high sesamin content from sesame at low cost, and a water-soluble material with a high sesamin content produced thereby. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a flow chart illustrating an example of a process for producing a powdered water-soluble sesamin-rich material using the production method of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] In one embodiment of the present invention, a method for producing a water-soluble material with a high sesamin content involves germinating cultivated sesame seeds by allowing the seeds to absorb water, and then allowing the seeds to germinate for 3 to 7 days from the start of water absorption to produce a water-soluble material with a high sesamin content consisting of germinated sesame seeds.

[0019] The germination process of cultivating sesame seeds by allowing the sesame seeds to absorb water to germinate them can be carried out in various ways that have been conventionally practiced in the technical field of germinating seeds for food cultivation, such as soaking the sesame seeds in water at a temperature of 20°C to 35°C.

[0020] Regarding the use of germinated sesame, for example, Patent Document 4 discloses an immunostimulating composition and immunostimulating method that utilizes the immunostimulating effect of ingredients derived from germinated sesame.

[0021] As mentioned above, the present invention is based on the finding disclosed in Non-Patent Document 2 that during the germination of sesame seeds, sesamin and sesamolin are converted to sesaminol, which is then conjugated with glucose to form water-soluble sesamin.

[0022] According to the inventor's research, as described above, germinated sesame seeds that have been germinated for 3 to 7 days from the start of water absorption contain high concentrations of sesamin-related substances (glucose-conjugated phenolic compounds), which are water-soluble sesamin, and are concentrated sesamin-related substances (glucose-conjugated phenolic compounds), which are water-soluble sesamin.

[0023] Furthermore, from the viewpoint of containing a higher concentration of sesamin-related substances (glucose-conjugated phenolic compounds), which are water-soluble sesamin, it is more desirable to germinate cultivated sesame seeds by allowing the seeds to absorb water and germinating for 4 to 6 days from the start of water absorption to produce a water-soluble sesamin-rich material consisting of germinated sesame, and it is even more desirable to germinate for 5 to 6 days from the start of water absorption to produce a water-soluble sesamin-rich material consisting of germinated sesame.

[0024] As mentioned above, sesame is an annual herb belonging to the Pedaliaceae family and the genus Sesamum, with most species in the genus Sesamum being wild, and the only cultivated species being Sesamum indicum L. The sesame seeds used in the production method of the present invention are cultivated sesame seeds.

[0025] Germinating sesame seeds to produce sprouts increases their antioxidant properties, enhancing their functionality as a food. Sesame seeds in particular have a high germination rate and fast growth rate, making it a logical choice to use them as a source of sesamin.

[0026] In another embodiment of the present invention, a method for producing a water-soluble material with a high sesamin content involves germinating cultivated sesame seeds by allowing the seeds to absorb water, allowing the seeds to germinate for 2 to 7 days after the start of water absorption, and drying the resulting germinated sesame to produce a water-soluble material with a high sesamin content consisting of dried germinated sesame.

[0027] Here too, it is desirable to produce a water-soluble sesamin-rich material consisting of dried germinated sesame by drying the germinated sesame seeds obtained by germinating for 3 to 6 days from the start of water absorption, in order to produce a water-soluble sesamin-rich material that contains a higher concentration of water-soluble sesamin-related substances (glucose-conjugated phenolic compounds).

[0028] In another embodiment of the present invention, a method for producing a water-soluble material with a high sesamin content involves germinating cultivated sesame seeds by allowing the seeds to absorb water, allowing the germinated sesame seeds to germinate for 2 to 7 days after the start of water absorption, drying the germinated sesame seeds, grinding the resulting dried germinated sesame seeds, and sieving them through a sieve with openings (diameter) of 1.0 mm to produce a powdered water-soluble material with a high sesamin content of less than 1.0 mm.

[0029] Here too, it is desirable to produce a powdered water-soluble sesamin-rich material containing a higher concentration of sesamin-related substances (glucose-conjugated phenolic compounds) that are water-soluble sesamin by drying germinated sesame seeds that have been germinated for 3 to 6 days from the start of water absorption, grinding the resulting dried germinated sesame seeds, and sieving the resulting seeds through a sieve with openings (diameter) of 1.0 mm to produce a powdered water-soluble sesamin-rich material with openings of less than 1.0 mm.

[0030] In the above process, the dried germinated sesame seeds are crushed and sieved through a sieve with a mesh size (diameter) of 1.0 mm to produce a powder of less than 1.0 mm in size, which is a process for collecting fractions that are rich in sesamin-related substances (glucose-conjugated phenolic compounds), which are water-soluble sesamin.

[0031] In the above-mentioned method of producing a water-soluble sesamin-rich material from germinated sesame seeds by germinating cultivated sesame seeds by allowing the seeds to absorb water and germinating for 2 to 7 days from the start of water absorption, a step of collecting a fraction rich in water-soluble sesamin-related substances (glucose-conjugated phenolic compounds) from the germinated sesame seeds obtained in this manner can also be carried out subsequently.

[0032] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned method of producing a water-soluble sesamin-rich material consisting of dried germinated sesame seeds by germinating cultivated sesame seeds, allowing the seeds to absorb water, and then drying the resulting germinated sesame seeds for 2 to 7 days from the start of water absorption, a step of collecting a fraction rich in water-soluble sesamin-related substances (glucose-conjugated phenolic compounds) from the dried germinated sesame seeds obtained in this manner can be subsequently carried out.

[0033] In the above method, dried germinated sesame seeds are crushed and sieved through a sieve with a mesh size (diameter) of 1.0 mm to obtain powder with a size of less than 1.0 mm. According to the inventor's investigations, sieving the crushed dried germinated sesame seeds through a sieve with a mesh size (diameter) of 1.0 mm to obtain powder with a size of less than 1.0 mm is desirable for obtaining a high content of sesamin-related substances (glucose-conjugated phenolic compounds).

[0034] From this perspective, it is also desirable to sift the crushed dried germinated sesame seeds through a sieve with a mesh size (diameter) of 0.5 mm to obtain a powder with a size of less than 0.5 mm, in order to obtain a higher content of sesamin-related substances (glucose-conjugated phenolic compounds).

[0035] The method for producing a water-soluble sesamin-rich material of the present invention described above allows for efficient and inexpensive production of a powder containing water-dispersible sesamin components. This powder can be used to easily obtain a sesamin component blend that is useful as a health food or other product. In other words, it is possible to provide a composition containing sesamin components that is easily dispersed and has an excellent texture when added to foods and beverages.

[0036] In the above, the step of germinating cultivated sesame seeds can be carried out in two ways: for example, by sowing seeds in a container and cultivating them under natural light, as in the case of radish sprouts, or by producing them in an apparatus installed indoors. Either of these methods can be used.

[0037] For mass production, a rotating drum-type sprout production device can be used. In this case, the light intensity inside the drum is 10 to 20 μmol m -2 ·s -1 As mentioned above, sesame seeds germinated and produced bean sprouts better when grown under weak light than when grown in the dark.

[0038] In the step of drying the germinated sesame seeds, a normal pressure, constant temperature dryer can be used. Alternatively, drying methods using infrared rays or drying under reduced pressure can also be used.

[0039] In the above-mentioned step of grinding the dried germinated sesame seeds, various conventionally known grinders and grinding devices can be used, but a juicer mixer or coffee mill can also be used.

[0040] In the above-mentioned sieving, a manual sieve can be used, but a small vibrating sieve machine with a drive unit is more efficient.

[0041] The water-soluble sesamin-rich material produced by the method for producing a water-soluble sesamin-rich material according to the embodiment described above can be used in supplements, foods and beverages, pharmaceutical compositions, and the like.

[0042] The supplement may contain a water-soluble sesamin-rich material produced by the method for producing a water-soluble sesamin-rich material according to the embodiment described above. The form of the supplement is not particularly limited and may be any form, such as a tablet, powder, granules, capsule, sugar-coated tablet, film, lozenge, chewable tablet, solution, emulsion, suspension, etc.

[0043] In addition to the water-soluble sesamin-rich material produced by the method for producing a water-soluble sesamin-rich material according to the embodiment described above, the supplement may contain any of the ingredients commonly used in supplements, such as amino acids, peptides, vitamins such as vitamin E, vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin B, and folic acid, minerals, sugars, inorganic salts, citric acid or its salts, tea extract, oils and fats, propolis, royal jelly, taurine, and other tonic ingredients, herbal extracts such as ginger extract and ginseng extract, herbs, collagen, and the like.

[0044] The ratio at which the water-soluble sesamin-rich material produced by the method for producing the water-soluble sesamin-rich material according to the embodiment described above is blended into the above-mentioned supplement is arbitrary, but the blending ratio can be selected within a range in which the antioxidant activity of the water-soluble sesamin-rich material is expressed in the body.

[0045] Since the water-soluble sesamin-rich material produced by the method for producing a water-soluble sesamin-rich material according to the embodiment described above is expected to exhibit antioxidant activity in the body, the water-soluble sesamin-rich material can be used to produce food and beverage products containing the water-soluble sesamin-rich material produced by the method for producing a water-soluble sesamin-rich material according to the embodiment described above.

[0046] Here, food and beverages refer to those that are unlikely to be harmful to human health and that are taken orally or through the digestive tract in normal social life, and are not limited to administrative classifications such as food, medicine, and quasi-drug.

[0047] In other words, the above-mentioned food and beverage products are a concept that broadly includes compositions that constitute general foods, health foods (functional food and beverage products), health functional foods (specified health foods, nutrient functional foods, functional food products), quasi-drugs, pharmaceuticals, etc. that are taken orally.

[0048] The above-mentioned foods and beverages may be labeled on the food and beverages, their containers or packaging, their promotional materials, etc. to indicate that the water-soluble sesamin-rich material exhibits antioxidant activity in vivo. They may also be health foods (foods for specified health uses, foods with functional claims, foods with nutrient claims), quasi-drugs, or pharmaceuticals.

[0049] When the water-soluble sesamin-rich material produced by the method for producing the water-soluble sesamin-rich material according to the embodiment described above is incorporated into food and beverages, the amount of active ingredient contained therein can be appropriately changed taking into consideration the purpose of use, symptoms, gender, general intake amount of the food and beverage to be added or incorporated, etc.

[0050] The types of foods and beverages that can be blended with the water-soluble sesamin-rich material produced by the method for producing the water-soluble sesamin-rich material according to the embodiment described above are not particularly limited, but specific examples include the following: Beverages such as soft drinks, carbonated drinks, nutritional drinks, fruit drinks, and lactic acid drinks, as well as concentrated concentrates and powders for adjusting these beverages; Frozen desserts such as ice cream, ice sherbet, and shaved ice; Noodles such as soba, udon, vermicelli, gyoza wrappers, shumai wrappers, Chinese noodles, and instant noodles; Confectioneries such as candy, chewing gum, candies, chewing gum, chocolate, tablet candy, snacks, biscuits, jelly, jam, cream, and baked goods; Processed seafood and livestock foods such as kamaboko, ham, and sausage; Dairy products such as processed milk and fermented milk; Oils and fats and processed oil foods such as salad oil, tempura oil, margarine, mayonnaise, shortening, whipped cream, and dressings; and Condiments such as sauces and dressings. Soups, stews, salads, side dishes, pickles, and various other forms of health and nutritional supplements, tablets, capsules, and drinks.

[0051] When the water-soluble sesamin-rich material produced by the method for producing the water-soluble sesamin-rich material according to the embodiment described above is blended into the above-mentioned food and beverage products, it can be used in combination with commonly used auxiliary ingredients and additives.

[0052] Furthermore, the water-soluble sesamin-rich material produced by the method for producing a water-soluble sesamin-rich material according to the embodiment described above can be used as a food additive either by itself or by adding other ingredients to it. There are no particular restrictions on the other ingredients, as long as they can be used as food and beverage additives. The beverages and foods to which the food additive can be added are also arbitrary and not particularly limited.

[0053] The water-soluble sesamin-rich material produced by the method for producing the water-soluble sesamin-rich material according to the embodiment described above can be mixed into a food additive at any ratio, but the ratio is selected within a range that allows the water-soluble sesamin-rich material to exhibit antioxidant activity in the body.

[0054] The water-soluble sesamin-rich material produced by the method for producing a water-soluble sesamin-rich material according to the above-described embodiment has the effect of exhibiting antioxidant activity in vivo. Therefore, an effective amount of the water-soluble sesamin-rich material produced by the method for producing a water-soluble sesamin-rich material according to the above-described embodiment can be combined with a pharmaceutically acceptable base material to form a pharmaceutical composition.

[0055] The pharmaceutical composition refers to a drug useful for at least one of preventing, treating, and ameliorating symptoms of a target disease. In this specification, "prevention" includes suppressing and delaying the onset of the disease or symptom. In addition, "treatment" includes improving and alleviating the pathology of the disease or symptom, as well as suppressing the progression of the disease or symptom. In this specification, "pharmaceutical composition" includes not only pharmaceuticals but also quasi-drugs.

[0056] The above-mentioned pharmaceutical composition may contain other drugs or pharmacologically acceptable ingredients in addition to the water-soluble sesamin-rich material produced by the method for producing a water-soluble sesamin-rich material according to the above-mentioned embodiment, as long as the efficacy of the water-soluble sesamin-rich material is not impaired. Furthermore, the water-soluble sesamin-rich material produced by the method for producing a water-soluble sesamin-rich material according to the above-mentioned embodiment may itself be used as the above-mentioned pharmaceutical composition.

[0057] The above-mentioned pharmaceutical composition may take the form of tablets, pills, granules, powders, liquids, suspensions, syrups, or capsules. The form of the above-mentioned pharmaceutical composition may be a combination of solids or liquids, or a combination of solids and liquids, and is not particularly limited. A preferred embodiment of the above-mentioned pharmaceutical composition is an oral preparation.

[0058] The amount of intake of the above-mentioned pharmaceutical composition is not particularly limited, as long as it is an amount that can exert the antioxidant activity of the water-soluble sesamin-rich material in the body, and is determined appropriately depending on the gender, weight, health condition, etc. of the subject to be ingested. The amount may be taken in one dose or in divided doses several times a day.

[0059] Below, we will explain the present invention, some examples of the present invention, etc., but the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments and the examples described below, and can be modified in various ways within the technical scope understood from the description of the claims.

[0060] <Study on changes in phenolic content during sesame germination> The sesame seeds used were selected from white sesame seeds from Guatemala. Sterilized quartz sand was placed in a petri dish with an inner diameter of 17 cm, and 5 g of sesame seeds were sown on top of the sand. The seeds were sprayed with distilled water and allowed to germinate in a dark place in a thermostatic chamber at 30°C, with occasional replenishment of distilled water.

[0061] Germinated sesame seeds were collected on germination day 0 (immediately after spraying with distilled water), germination day 2 (2 days after spraying with distilled water), germination day 3 (3 days after spraying with distilled water), germination day 4 (4 days after spraying with distilled water), germination day 5 (5 days after spraying with distilled water), germination day 6 (6 days after spraying with distilled water), and germination day 7 (7 days after spraying with distilled water), and then dried at a constant temperature of 80°C under normal pressure to obtain dried germinated sesame seeds on germination days 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7.

[0062] Each dried germinated sesame seed was soaked in 50% methanol in an amount 10 times by mass for 24 hours.

[0063] After 24 hours of immersion, each methanol solution was filtered, and the supernatant was obtained as a sample.

[0064] The total phenol content of each sample was determined as follows.

[0065] The total phenol content was measured using the FOLIN-DENIS method, and a calibration curve was prepared using a tannic acid standard solution.

[0066] The total phenol content was quantified using the FOLIM-DENIS method, and the results are shown in Table 1.

[0067] [Table 1] As shown in the results in Table 1, the amount of total phenols in each sample increased with the number of days since germination, with a particularly significant increase from the third to sixth day. The total phenol content at the sixth day of germination (six days after spraying with distilled water) was approximately 10 times the total phenol content at the zeroth day of germination (immediately after spraying with distilled water).

[0068] In order to germinate cultivated sesame seeds, the seeds are allowed to absorb water and then germinated for 3 to 7 days after the start of water absorption. This confirms that the germinated sesame seeds contain high concentrations of water-soluble sesamin, sesamin-related substances (glucose-conjugated phenolic compounds), and that the water-soluble sesamin-related substances (glucose-conjugated phenolic compounds) are concentrated in the germinated sesame.

[0069] Furthermore, from the results in Table 1, it was found that in order to produce germinated sesame seeds that contain a higher concentration of sesamin-related substances (glucose-conjugated phenolic compounds), which are water-soluble sesamin, and that are more concentrated with water-soluble sesamin-related substances (glucose-conjugated phenolic compounds), it is more desirable to germinate for 4 to 6 days from the start of water absorption, and it is even more desirable to germinate for 5 to 6 days from the start of water absorption to produce germinated sesame.

[0070] <Study on phenol content when dried germinated sesame seeds are crushed and sieved> The sesame seeds used were carefully selected from Guatemalan colored sesame seeds. Sterilized quartz sand was placed in a petri dish with an inner diameter of 17 cm, and 5 g of sesame seeds were sown on top of the sand. Distilled water was sprayed onto the seeds, and the seeds were germinated for 5 days in a thermostatic chamber at 30°C while occasionally replenishing the distilled water to obtain germinated sesame seeds.

[0071] The germinated sesame seeds were dried in a constant temperature dryer at 80°C for 24 hours to obtain dried germinated sesame seeds.

[0072] The dried germinated sesame seeds were ground in a mixer (Zojirushi, 1.0L Black BM-SS10-BA) to obtain a dry powder of the germinated sesame seeds.

[0073] The total phenol content in the dry powder thus obtained was quantified as a control using the FOLIM-DENIS method described above.

[0074] Next, the dry powder obtained as described above was sieved using sieves (manufactured by AS ONE) with different mesh openings (diameters).

[0075] The total phenol content of each sieved fraction was quantified using the FOLIM-DENIS method described above, and the results are shown in Table 2.

[0076] [Table 2] As shown in the results in Table 2, when the diameter was 1.0 mm or larger and could not pass through a 1.0 mm mesh, the content of water-soluble sesamin-related substances (glucose-conjugated phenolic compounds) was lower than that of the control (before sieving).

[0077] On the other hand, at a diameter of 0.5 mm, the content of water-soluble sesamin-related substances (glucose-conjugated phenolic compounds) increased compared to the control (before sieving), and this tendency became even more pronounced at diameters less than 0.5 mm.

[0078] Therefore, when crushing dried germinated sesame seeds and sieving them through a sieve of a specified size to produce powder, it is desirable to sieve them through a sieve with a mesh size (diameter) of 1.0 mm to produce powder with a size of less than 1.0 mm in order to obtain a high content of sesamin-related substances (glucose-conjugated phenolic compounds).

[0079] Furthermore, it is desirable to sieve the sesamin-related substances (glucose-conjugated phenolic compounds) to a powder of less than 0.5 mm by sieving them through a sieve with openings (diameter) of 0.5 mm in order to obtain a higher content of sesamin-related substances. [Example]

[0080] Sesame seeds are from Guatemala white Sesame seeds were selected and used.

[0081] Sterilized quartz sand was placed in a petri dish with an inner diameter of 17 cm, and 5 g of sesame seeds were sown on top of the sand. Distilled water was sprayed onto the seeds, and the seeds were germinated for 5 days in a thermostatic chamber at 30°C while occasionally replenishing the distilled water to obtain germinated sesame seeds.

[0082] The germinated sesame seeds were dried in a constant temperature dryer at 80°C for 24 hours to obtain dried germinated sesame seeds.

[0083] The dried germinated sesame seeds were ground in a mixer (Zojirushi, 1.0L Black BM-SS10-BA) to obtain a dry powder of the germinated sesame seeds.

[0084] This dried powder was sieved through a sieve with openings (diameter) of 0.5 mm to obtain a powdery water-soluble sesamin-rich material with a size of less than 0.5 mm.

[0085] <Usage example 1> Mix eggs, sugar, milk, and soy sauce in a heat-resistant bowl, then add the flour and mix well. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and heat in the microwave until solidified. Strain the solidified mixture through a strainer. Heat a frying pan over low heat, add the strained egg mixture, and fry until dry.

[0086] After frying until dry, dried bonito powder and the powdered water-soluble sesamin-rich material prepared in Example 1 were added and fry until well combined.

[0087] Turn off the heat, add the nori seaweed and mix to make a dried furikake of egg and water-soluble sesamin.

[0088] <Usage example 2> Sesamin dough was prepared by mixing 100 g of the powdered water-soluble sesamin-rich material prepared in Example 1, 100 g of soybean powder, 10 g of molasses, and 30 ml of sake.

[0089] Using the mixing function of a horizontal noodle extrusion machine (Soba Tatsujin (registered trademark)), the sesamin dough was kneaded to a consistency similar to that of an earlobe.

[0090] The kneaded dough was fed into a rounding machine (Asahi Lang Machine, 93A small Chinese herbal medicine manufacturing machine) and made into round pellets with a diameter of 8 mm.

[0091] This was air-dried indoors to produce the desired sesamin-containing pills.

[0092] <Usage example 3> A water-soluble sesamin powder tea mixture was prepared by mixing 100 g of the powdered water-soluble sesamin-rich material prepared in Example 1 with 100 g of powder tea.

[0093] 2 g of the prepared water-soluble sesamin powder tea mixture was dispensed into a drawstring tea bag (nonwoven fabric tea bag YFFSFDC) to prepare packed tea. [Industrial Applicability]

[0094] The water-soluble sesamin-rich material produced by the method of the present invention for producing a water-soluble sesamin-rich material is capable of exhibiting antioxidant activity in vivo and can be effectively used in a variety of health foods and the like.

[0095] Furthermore, the powdered water-soluble sesamin-rich material produced by the method of the present invention for producing a water-soluble sesamin-rich material has been found to have the following effects in terms of dispersibility and stability in the foods and beverages to which it is added.

[0096] (1) The powdered water-soluble sesamin-rich material has good dispersibility in water and can be easily dispersed not only in water but also in beverages such as fruit juice, vegetable juice, milk drinks, and nutritional drinks.

[0097] (2) Consumers can ingest the powdered water-soluble sesamin-rich material of the present invention by dispersing it in water immediately before drinking.

[0098] (3) Due to its improved dispersibility in water, it can be used as an ingredient in gels and gel-like foods (such as jelly and pudding, or gel-like drinks for sports) and processed foods (such as udon and soba noodles).

Claims

1. The method for producing a water-soluble material with a high sesamin content from germinated sesame seeds includes germinating cultivated sesame seeds by allowing the seeds to absorb water and germinating for 3 to 7 days from the start of the water absorption.

2. The method for producing a water-soluble material with a high sesamin content comprising dried germinated sesame seeds includes allowing cultivated sesame seeds to absorb water to germinate, and then drying the germinated sesame seeds obtained by germinating the seeds for 3 to 7 days from the start of the water absorption.

3. The method comprises germinating cultivated sesame seeds by allowing the seeds to absorb water, allowing the seeds to germinate for 3 to 7 days from the start of water absorption, drying the germinated sesame seeds, pulverizing the resulting dried germinated sesame seeds, and sieving the pulverized sesame seeds through a sieve with an opening (diameter) of 1.0 mm to produce a powdered water-soluble sesamin-rich material having a size of less than 1.0 mm.

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