drinks

Abstract

The objective was to improve the unpleasant taste characteristic of herbal medicines in beverages containing Cordyceps sinensis and Agaricus mushrooms, and to provide a beverage that is easy to drink. [Solution] A beverage containing (A) to (E) is provided. (A) Cordyceps sinensis (B) Agaricus mushroom (C) Trehalose (D) Monk fruit extract and / or stevia extract (E) Malt extract

Description

Technical Field

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[0001] The present invention relates to a beverage containing Cordyceps sinensis and Agaricus blazei.

Background Art

[0002] Cordyceps sinensis parasitizes insects or their larvae of Lepidoptera and Coleoptera of moths and forms sclerotia in their bodies, and is a fruiting body formed on the body surface of the host insects or their larvae in summer. There are approximately 400 known species of Cordyceps sinensis in the world. It has been used as a substance for oral administration as a traditional Chinese medicine since ancient times because it has no toxicity to the human body and exhibits various effects. Today, it is included in books on traditional Chinese medicine in China such as "Chinese Herbal Medicine" and "Dictionary of Chinese Medicine", and is also described in many traditional Chinese medicine books such as "New Revised Japanese and Chinese Medicine" in Japan.

[0003] As the pharmacological effects described in various documents, it is said to be effective for enhancing energy, nourishing and strengthening the body, circulatory system diseases (see Non-Patent Document 1), diabetes (see Non-Patent Document 2), liver diseases (see Non-Patent Document 3), etc. Furthermore, recent pharmacological research has demonstrated that Cordyceps sinensis fungi have activities and pharmacological effects in many aspects, and anti-tumor and immune-enhancing effects (see Non-Patent Documents 4 and 5) have also been reported.

[0004] As beverages using Cordyceps sinensis as a raw material, Cordyceps sinensis tea (see Patent Document 1) and beverages containing Cordyceps sinensis and maltitol (see Patent Document 2) have been disclosed.

[0005] In addition, the extract of Agaricus blazei Murill (mainly polysaccharides containing β-D-glucan and its protein complex) is known for its usefulness such as anti-tumor effects (Patent Document 3), anti-diabetic effects (Patent Document 4), and activation effects on immune cells (Patent Document 5), and is widely used in the fields of alternative medicine and food and beverages.

Prior Art Documents

Non-Patent Documents

[0006] [Non-Patent Document 1] Journal of the Japanese Pharmacological Society, Vol. 67, p. 213, 1995. [Non-Patent Document 2] Biol.Pharm.Bull., 16, 1291-1293 (1993), ibid., 19, 294-296 (1996) [Non-Patent Document 3] Prog.Med.,12,1172-1174(1992) [Non-Patent Document 4] "Proceedings of the Japanese Society for Immunology," Vol. 18, p. 665 (1988) [Non-Patent Document 5] "Journal of the Japanese Society for Bacteriology," Vol. 45, p. 763 (1990) [Patent Documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2008-054687 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2019-198245 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2001-103927 [Patent Document 4] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-80014 [Patent Document 5] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2002-121147 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0008] However, beverages containing Cordyceps sinensis and Agaricus mushrooms have an unpleasant taste characteristic of herbal medicines, resulting in low palatability and making them difficult to drink repeatedly.

[0009] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a beverage containing Cordyceps sinensis and Agaricus mushroom that is easy to drink by improving the unpleasant taste characteristic of herbal medicines. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] The present invention has the following aspects. (1) A beverage containing (A) to (E). (A) Cordyceps (B) Agaricus blazei (C) Trehalose (D) Momordica grosvenori extract and / or stevia extract (E) Malt extract

Effect of the Invention

[0011] The beverage of the present invention exhibits the effect of improving the unpleasant taste specific to crude drugs of the beverage containing Cordyceps and Agaricus blazei.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0012] Hereinafter, a mode for carrying out the present invention will be described.

[0013] The beverage of the present invention includes not only beverages having fluidity but also beverages in a jelly-like dosage form.

[0014] The beverage of the present invention contains (A) to (E). (A) Cordyceps (B) Agaricus blazei (C) Trehalose (D) Momordica grosvenori extract and / or stevia extract [[ID=4,7]](E) Malt extract

[0015] (A) Cordyceps The Cordyceps used in this invention is not particularly limited, and any Cordyceps that parasitizes insects of the order Lepidoptera and Coleoptera, or their larvae, forming sclerotia within their bodies and producing fruiting bodies on the surface of the host insect or its larva in the summer is acceptable. In this invention, a particularly preferred Cordyceps is Cordyceps sinensis, which parasitizes the larvae of the family Scyphozoidae (Hepialus armoricanus Ober), forming sclerotia within their bodies and producing rod-shaped fruiting bodies from the head in the summer. In addition, other Cordyceps species known to have medicinal properties as crude drugs include Cordyceps sobolifera B, Cordyceps militaris Link, and Cordyceps nutans Pat, which can also be preferably used in this invention. Furthermore, while the beverage according to the present invention can be formulated with either fruiting bodies or mycoplasma, it is particularly preferable to use fruiting bodies.

[0016] While Cordyceps sinensis can be used in beverages in its crushed form, it is preferable to pre-treat it to improve its dispersibility in beverages. A suitable pre-treatment method involves extracting the components by water extraction, alcohol aqueous solution extraction, etc., followed by micronization with an excipient. The excipient is not particularly limited, but dextrin is commonly used.

[0017] The Cordyceps obtained in this way can be used as is, but it may also be purified by deodorization, decolorization, concentration, etc., to the extent that its effectiveness is not lost, or it may be used as a fraction using column chromatography, etc. These extracts, purified products, and fractions can be dried by removing the solvent from them, and can also be used in a form solubilized in a solvent such as alcohol, or in the form of an emulsion.

[0018] (B) Agaricus mushroom In the present invention, Agaricus mushrooms refer to mushrooms belonging to the genus Agaricus in the family Agaricaceae, and specific examples include Agaricus campestris, Agaricus blazei and Agaricus blasiliensis (native to Brazil), Agaricus subrufescens (native to North America), Agaricus rufotegulis (native to Europe), etc., button mushroom (A. bisporus), Agaricus arvensis (white giant agaricus or horse mushroom), Agaricus silvicola, Agaricus subrutilescens, etc. In the present invention, it is preferable to use Agaricus blazei Murill.

[0019] In the present invention, Agaricus mushrooms can be used as they are, or their extracts can be used alone or in combination.

[0020] When using Agaricus mushroom extract, any of the fruiting body extract, mycelial extract, or mycelial culture filtrate of Agaricus mushroom can be used without distinction, but it is preferable to use the fruiting body and / or mycelial extract.

[0021] When obtaining an extract from Agaricus mushrooms, either fresh or dried Agaricus mushrooms may be used. For handling purposes, dried products are preferred in terms of preservation and extraction efficiency. As an extraction solvent for obtaining Agaricus mushroom extracts, one or more mixed solvents selected from polar solvents such as water, alcohols such as ethanol, methanol, isopropanol, isobutanol, n-hexanol, methylamyl alcohol, 2-ethylbutanol, and n-octyl alcohol, polyhydric alcohols or their derivatives such as glycerin, ethylene glycol, ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, propylene glycol, propylene glycol monomethyl ether, propylene glycol monoethyl ether, triethylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, and hexylene glycol, ketones such as acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, and methyl-n-propyl ketone, esters such as ethyl acetate and isopropyl acetate, and ethers such as ethyl ether, isopropyl ether, and n-butyl ether can be suitably used. Furthermore, polar solvents to which inorganic salts such as phosphate-buffered saline have been added, or polar solvents to which surfactants have been added, may also be used, and there are no particular limitations. Among the above extraction solvents, one solvent or a mixture of two or more solvents selected from ethanol, methanol, 1,3-butylene glycol, and water, and solvents to which inorganic salts or surfactants have been added are preferably used.

[0022] Examples of extraction methods include impregnation at room temperature, cooled, or heated; distillation methods such as steam distillation; and pressing methods that directly press raw Agaricus mushrooms to obtain the extract. These methods may be used individually or in combination of two or more.

[0023] The ratio of Agaricus mushroom to solvent during extraction is not particularly limited, but a ratio of 0.5 to 1000 times the mass of solvent to Agaricus mushroom is preferred, especially in terms of extraction operation and efficiency, with a ratio of 0.5 to 100 times the mass being preferred. Furthermore, the extraction temperature is conveniently set in the range from room temperature to below the boiling point of the solvent under atmospheric pressure, and the extraction time varies depending on the extraction temperature, but is preferably in the range of 2 hours to 2 weeks.

[0024] Furthermore, the Agaricus mushroom extract obtained in this manner can be used as is, but it may also be purified by deodorization, decolorization, concentration, etc., to the extent that the efficacy is not lost, or it may be used as a fraction using column chromatography, etc. These extracts, purified products, and fractions can be dried by removing the solvent, and can also be used in a form solubilized in a solvent such as alcohol, or in the form of an emulsion. They can also be used encapsulated in vesicles such as liposomes or microcapsules.

[0025] (C) Trehalose Trehalose is a type of disaccharide formed by the 1,1-glycosidic linkage of glucose molecules, and is not particularly limited as long as it can be used in food and beverages. The amount of trehalose used will vary depending on the amounts of Cordyceps sinensis and Agaricus mushroom used, as well as the type and amount of other sweeteners used in combination, but it is preferable to use 0.01 to 10 parts by mass per 100 mL.

[0026] (D) Monk fruit extract and / or stevia extract Monk fruit extract and / or stevia extract are not particularly limited as long as they can be used in food and beverages. It is preferable to use monk fruit extract and stevia extract in combination to improve the unpleasant taste characteristic of herbal medicines such as Cordyceps sinensis and Agaricus mushroom. The amount of monk fruit extract and stevia extract to be blended will vary depending on the amount of Cordyceps sinensis and Agaricus mushroom blended, and the type and amount of other sweeteners used in combination, but it is preferable to blend 1 to 100 mg per 100 mL.

[0027] (E) Malt extract The malt extract is not particularly limited as long as it can be used in food and beverages, but a malt extract obtained by concentrating and saccharifying malt juice extracted from malt or roasted malt is used.

[0028] The pH of the beverage of the present invention is not particularly limited, but from the viewpoint of flavor and preservative properties, the pH range of the beverage composition at a temperature of 20°C is preferably 2.5 to 4.0.

[0029] Organic and inorganic edible acids can be used as pH adjusters. The acids may be used in their undissociated forms or in the form of their salts, such as potassium or sodium hydrogen phosphate, potassium or sodium dihydrogen phosphate, etc. Preferred acids include edible acids such as citric acid, malic acid, fumaric acid, adipic acid, phosphoric acid, gluconic acid, tartaric acid, phytic acid, ascorbic acid, orotic acid, acetic acid, phosphoric acid, or mixtures thereof. Bicarbonates can also be used.

[0030] The pH of a beverage can be measured using a general-purpose pH meter. In this invention, the value measured at 20°C using a HORIBA F-52 (product name) meter is used.

[0031] To produce a beverage with this pH adjusted, it is preferable that the beverage be produced in a packaged form. There are no particular restrictions on the type of container; any container can be used, such as molded containers mainly composed of polyethylene terephthalate (so-called PET bottles); metal cans; paper containers composited with metal foil or plastic film; or glass bottles.

[0032] The beverage of the present invention may contain other sweeteners as appropriate to enhance palatability. Examples of sweeteners that can be used include carbohydrates such as sucrose and glucose; high-intensity sweeteners such as aspartame, thaumatin, and acesulfame K; sugar alcohols such as maltitol, sorbitol, erythritol, and xylitol; and glycerols such as glycerin.

[0033] The beverage of the present invention may contain, as appropriate, selected ingredients that can be used in beverages in the fields of health functional foods, foods, pharmaceuticals, and quasi-drugs, such as vitamins other than those mentioned above, organic acids, inorganic acids, herbal medicines, colorants, flavorings, preservatives, thickeners, oligosaccharides, polysaccharides, etc., as well as chitosan compounds, nutritional fortifiers, tonics, and other ingredients. [Examples]

[0034] The present invention will be specifically described below with reference to examples, but this will not limit the scope of the present invention.

[0035] [Cordyceps sinensis] The Cordyceps used in the embodiments of this invention was prepared according to the following procedure. 1. Dry 10g of Cordyceps sinensis and then crush it. 2. Extract with hot water for 90 minutes, then filter [using a filter cloth (PP), a 10μm filter (PP), and so on], and dry the filtrate to obtain Extract 1. The residue from the filtration process in 3.2 is treated with enzymes, and the filtrate is used as the enzyme-treated powder, while the finely ground residue is used as Extract 2. 4. Mix dextrin with extract 1 and adjust the weight to 6g to obtain the extract powder. 5. Add twice the amount of dextrin to extract 2 to improve its formulation properties, and use this as a processed powder. 6. The extract powder, enzyme-treated powder, and processed powder produced by the above process are mixed together and used as raw materials.

[0036] [Agaricus mushroom] A mixed extract of the fruiting body and mycelium of Agaricus blazei murrill, to which dextrin was added, was used as the Agaricus mushroom sample.

[0037] [Improves the unpleasant taste characteristic of herbal medicines] The examples or comparative examples were cooled to 5°C, and the herbal odor masking effect was evaluated. The evaluation was conducted independently by three specialists in sensory evaluation of beverages, and was determined by consensus based on the following criteria. ○: Very effective in improving the condition △: Incomplete improvement effect ×: Not improved

[0038] [Table 1]

[0039] As shown in Table 1, the beverage of the present invention was very easy to drink, with the herbal odor from Cordyceps sinensis and Agaricus mushrooms masked.

Claims

[Claim 1] A beverage containing (A) to (E). (A) Cordyceps sinensis (B) Agaricus mushroom (C) Trehalose (D) Monk fruit extract and / or stevia extract (E) Malt extract

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