Oral antipruritic agent

Abstract

Providing oral medication to relieve itching. [Solution] An oral antipruritic agent containing chlorogenic acids and a coffee bean extract with a caffeine / chlorogenic acid mass ratio of 0.015 or less as the active ingredient.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an oral itching improver.

Background Art

[0002] Itching can cause discomfort that can be recognized throughout the body and is said to be the most common symptom for visiting a dermatologist, but its onset mechanism has not yet been elucidated. In addition, itching induces scratching behavior, damages the skin, causes inflammation and infection, and creates a vicious cycle of further enhancing itching. Furthermore, when scales are generated due to damage to the skin caused by scratching behavior, the appearance of the skin is impaired. As factors causing such itching, histamine and metal components in sweat, static electricity, physical stimuli of fibers, etc. have been reported (Non-Patent Documents 1 to 3).

[0003] Generally, methods for caring for such itching are application of preparations containing a steroid component, an antihistamine component, etc. However, the current situation is that many people find it difficult to continue daily care because the application medicine has a poor feeling of use such as stickiness.

[0004] On the other hand, chlorogenic acids are a kind of polyphenol found in coffee beans, and it has been reported that they have physiological effects such as an effect of reducing visceral fat, an effect of suppressing sympathetic nerve activity, and an effect of alleviating mental stress symptoms (for example, Patent Document 1). In addition, it has been reported that oral ingestion of chlorogenic acids or a coffee bean extract containing the same has an effect of improving poor skin color and dullness and an effect of improving the visibility of pores (Patent Documents 2 and 3). However, there has been no report that chlorogenic acids or a coffee bean extract containing the same has an effect of improving itching.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

[0006] [Non-Patent Document 1] Int. J. Hum. Cult. Stud. 27, 210-212, 2017 [Non-Patent Document 2] Skin Science 16, 266-273, 2017 [Non-Patent Document 3] Descente Sports Science 34, 65-71, 2013 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0007] The present invention relates to providing an oral agent for relieving itching. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] As a result of diligent research to solve the above problems, the inventors of this invention have found that oral intake of coffee bean extract containing chlorogenic acids and low in caffeine is effective in improving itching.

[0009] In other words, the present invention provides an oral antipruritic agent containing chlorogenic acids and a coffee bean extract having a caffeine / chlorogenic acid mass ratio of 0.015 or less as an active ingredient. Furthermore, the present invention provides a food composition for improving itching, in which a coffee bean extract containing chlorogenic acids and having a caffeine / chlorogenic acid mass ratio of 0.015 or less is used as an active ingredient. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, it is possible to alleviate itching. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] This figure shows the change in electrostatic charge measurement values ​​after 1 minute of walking following the consumption of a test beverage. [Figure 2] A diagram showing the change in subjective evaluation of facial itchiness after consuming the test beverage. [Figure 3] A graph showing the change in impedance values ​​after consuming the test beverage. [Figure 4] A diagram showing changes in body composition after consuming the test beverage. (a) Muscle mass. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] The oral antipruritic agent of the present invention contains chlorogenic acids and a coffee bean extract having a caffeine / chlorogenic acid mass ratio of 0.015 or less as an active ingredient for improving itching. Hereinafter, in this specification, "coffee bean extract containing chlorogenic acids and having a caffeine / chlorogenic acid mass ratio of 0.015 or less" may be simply referred to as "coffee bean extract". In this specification, "chlorogenic acids" is a general term encompassing monocaffeoylquinic acids (3-caffeoylquinic acid, 4-caffeoylquinic acid, and 5-caffeoylquinic acid), monoferulaquinic acids (3-ferulaquinic acid, 4-ferulaquinic acid, and 5-ferulaquinic acid), and dicaffeoylquinic acids (3,4-dicaffeoylquinic acid, 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid, and 4,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid). In the present invention, it is sufficient to contain at least one of the above nine types. Among these, at least one selected from 3-caffeoylquinic acid, 4-caffeoylquinic acid, 5-caffeoylquinic acid, 3-ferulaquinic acid, 4-ferulaquinic acid, and 5-ferulaquinic acid is more preferred. Chlorogenic acids exist as stereoisomers and analogs, and include pure stereoisomers, analogs, or mixtures thereof.

[0013] Chlorogenic acids may be in the free form or in the form of salts or hydrates. By forming salts, the water solubility can be improved and the physiological effectiveness can be increased. The salts of chlorogenic acids used in the present invention may be pharmaceutically acceptable salts. Examples of such salts include salts with alkali metals such as lithium, sodium, potassium; salts with alkaline earth metals such as magnesium, calcium; salts of inorganic bases such as ammonium salts; salts with basic amino acids such as arginine, lysine, histidine, ornithine; salts with organic bases such as monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine, etc. Among these, salts with alkali metals or alkaline earth metals are preferred.

[0014] From the viewpoints of the content of chlorogenic acids and enhancing the physiological effects of chlorogenic acids, it is preferably to use coffee beans with an L value of 20 or more, more preferably 25 or more, still more preferably 30 or more, even more preferably 35 or more, and particularly preferably 40 or more. It is preferred to select one or more from raw coffee beans and lightly roasted coffee beans, and raw coffee beans are more preferred. Here, in the present specification, "lightly roasted coffee beans" refers to roasted coffee beans with an L value of 30 or more and 60 or less. The L value of lightly roasted coffee beans is preferably 32 or more, more preferably 34 or more, still more preferably 36 or more, even more preferably 38 or more, and even more preferably 40 or more from the viewpoints of the content of chlorogenic acids and enhancing the physiological effects of chlorogenic acids. The variety and origin of coffee beans are not particularly limited. In addition, in the present specification, the "L value" is the brightness of coffee beans measured with a color difference meter with black as L value 0 and white as L value 100.

[0015] The extraction method and extraction conditions can be appropriately selected. For example, extraction can be carried out by known methods such as batch extraction, drip extraction, column extraction, etc. using water, hot water, or a water-soluble organic solvent. Examples of the water-soluble organic solvent include lower alcohols such as ethanol. The extraction method can adopt, for example, the methods described in JP-A-58-138347, JP-A-59-51763, JP-A-62-111671, JP-A-5-236918, etc. The coffee beans to be extracted can be either unground or ground. For grinding the coffee beans, known methods and apparatuses can be used, such as grinding apparatuses like cutter mills, hammer mills, jet mills, impact mills, Wiley grinders, etc., and the method is not particularly limited. The average particle size of the ground coffee beans can be appropriately selected. After extraction, the obtained extract may be concentrated by known means such as atmospheric pressure concentration, reduced pressure concentration, membrane concentration, etc., or the extract or concentrated solution may be purified. Drying can be carried out by known means such as freeze drying, evaporation to dryness, spray drying, etc.

[0016] From the viewpoint of physiological effects, the content of chlorogenic acids in the total amount of the coffee bean extract is preferably 10% by mass or more, more preferably 15% by mass or more, and preferably 70% by mass or less, more preferably 60% by mass or less. The content of chlorogenic acids in the coffee bean extract is preferably 10 - 70% by mass, more preferably 15 - 60% by mass. In this specification, the content of chlorogenic acids is defined based on the total amount of the above 9 kinds. When the chlorogenic acids are in the form of salts or hydrates, the content of chlorogenic acids is taken as the value converted to the free acid form of chlorogenic acids.

[0017] The coffee bean extract is preferably decaffeinated. The mass ratio of caffeine / chlorogenic acids in the coffee bean extract of the present invention is 0.015 or less, preferably 0.014 or less, more preferably 0.010 or less, still more preferably 0.0066 or less, even more preferably 0.0050 or less, even more preferably 0.0020 or less, and even more preferably 0.0005 or less. In other words, the mass ratio of chlorogenic acids to caffeine in the coffee bean extract is preferably 65 or higher, more preferably 70 or higher, even more preferably 100 or higher, even more preferably 150 or higher, even more preferably 200 or higher, even more preferably 500 or higher, and even more preferably 2000 or higher.

[0018] Furthermore, from the viewpoint of physiological effects, the caffeine content in the coffee bean extract is preferably 0.5% by mass or less, more preferably 0.4% by mass or less, even more preferably 0.3% by mass or less, even more preferably 0.2% by mass or less, even more preferably 0.15% by mass or less, even more preferably 0.1% by mass or less, and even more preferably 0.05% by mass or less of the total amount, and it is even more preferable that the coffee bean extract contains substantially no caffeine (for example, below the detection limit of HPLC).

[0019] In this specification, the analysis of chlorogenic acids and caffeine shall be carried out according to the methods described in the examples below. Unless otherwise specified in this specification, the content of chlorogenic acids and caffeine in the coffee bean extract shall be given as their mass ratio to the solid content of the coffee bean extract. Here, "solid content" refers to the residue obtained by drying the sample in an electric constant-temperature dryer at 105°C for 3 hours and removing volatile substances.

[0020] Methods for selectively reducing caffeine in coffee bean extracts include, for example, using decaffeinated coffee beans in the extraction process, and subjecting the coffee bean extract or its concentrate to a decaffeination treatment. Decaffeinated coffee beans are coffee beans that have undergone a decaffeination treatment. Known methods can be used for the decaffeination treatment, such as the water method, supercritical carbon dioxide extraction, and organic solvent extraction. In particular, from the viewpoint of physiological effects, a method of decaffeination treatment of coffee bean extract or its concentrate is preferred. In this case, it is preferable to dissolve the coffee bean extract or its concentrate in a mixed solution of water and an organic solvent and then contact it with activated carbon and / or activated clay or acid clay. As for the decaffeination treatment of the coffee bean extract or its concentrate, for example, the method described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2011-4766 can be used. Commercially available products may be used for the extract or concentrate thereof of coffee beans that have undergone decaffeination.

[0021] As shown in the examples below, oral ingestion of the coffee bean extract of the present invention improved itching. Simultaneously, muscle mass increased, and impedance (electrical resistance) and charge decreased. There are reports that static electricity causes a tingling sensation and induces itching of the skin (see Non-Patent Literature 2 above). Therefore, it is thought that the coffee bean extract of the present invention suppresses the retention of electricity in a part of the body, thereby exhibiting the effect of improving itching. Accordingly, the coffee bean extract of the present invention can be used as an oral itch reliever, can be used to relieve itching, and can also be used to manufacture oral itch relievers. Here, "use" can refer to administration or ingestion to animals, including humans, and may be therapeutic or non-therapeutic use. "Non-therapeutic" is a concept that does not include medical procedures, i.e., methods of surgery, treatment, or diagnosis of humans, and more specifically, methods of surgery, treatment, or diagnosis performed on humans by a physician or a person under the direction of a physician. In the present invention, examples of non-therapeutic use include the use of coffee bean extract for cosmetic or aesthetic purposes.

[0022] In this specification, "itching" is a subjective sensation that can cause discomfort. The location of itching is not particularly limited and may include a wide area such as the whole body, scalp, face, back, arms, back of the hands, fingers, and legs, or a specific area.

[0023] The oral itch-relieving agent of the present invention may itself be a pharmaceutical, quasi-drug, or food product for relieving itching, or it may be a material or formulation used in combination with such pharmaceutical, quasi-drug, or food product.

[0024] The pharmaceutical product (including quasi-drugs; the same applies hereinafter) contains coffee bean extract as an active ingredient to relieve itching. Furthermore, the pharmaceutical product may contain pharmaceutically acceptable carriers or other active ingredients, pharmacological components, etc., as necessary, provided that the function of the active ingredient is not impaired. Examples of drug administration forms include oral solid preparations such as tablets (including chewable tablets), capsules, granules, powders, and lozenges, as well as oral liquid preparations such as oral solutions and syrups. Among these, oral liquid preparations are preferred. It is also preferable to use granules or powders and dissolve them in a beverage before administration. Such various dosage forms of formulations can be prepared according to standard methods by combining them as needed with pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, such as excipients, binders, bulking agents, disintegrants, surfactants, lubricants, dispersants, buffers, osmotic pressure adjusters, pH adjusters, emulsifiers, preservatives, stabilizers, thickeners, flow improvers, flavoring agents, foaming agents, fragrances, coating agents, diluents, etc., or other pharmaceutically active ingredients, as long as the function of the active ingredient is not lost.

[0025] This food product contains coffee bean extract as an active ingredient to alleviate itching. Foods include foods that claim to alleviate itching and for which such claims have been permitted or registered (Foods for Specified Health Uses, Foods with Function Claims). Foods for which functional claims have been permitted or registered can be distinguished from general foods. Foods may take the form of solid, semi-solid, or liquid (e.g., beverages). Examples include various food compositions (breads, cakes, noodles, confectionery, frozen foods, ice cream, candies, seasonings, soups, dairy products, shakes, beverages, condiments, etc.), as well as nutritional supplement compositions in forms similar to those of the oral preparations mentioned above (solid preparations such as granules, powders, tablets, capsules, microcapsules, and lozenges). Foods in various forms can be prepared according to standard methods by appropriately combining chlorogenic acids with any food material, other active ingredients, or food additives (e.g., solvents, softeners, oils, emulsifiers, preservatives, acidulants, sweeteners, bittering agents, pH adjusters, stabilizers, colorants, UV absorbers, antioxidants, humectants, thickeners, binders, dispersants, flow improvers, wetting agents, flavorings, seasonings, flavor modifiers), etc.

[0026] The oral liquid formulation or beverage described above may contain at least one solvent selected from water and ethanol. The proportion of water in the solvent in the oral liquid formulation or beverage is more preferably 95% by mass or more, even more preferably 97% by mass or more, even more preferably 99.5% by mass or more, and preferably 100% by mass or less, based on the total amount of solvent. Examples of water include deionized water, tap water, and natural water, with deionized water being particularly preferred from the viewpoint of taste. The solvent content in the oral liquid formulation or beverage is preferably 85% by mass or more, and even more preferably 90% by mass or more.

[0027] The amount of coffee bean extract in a formulation varies depending on the form of the formulation and cannot be stated in general terms, but for example, in an oral liquid formulation or beverage, the amount of chlorogenic acids is preferably 0.008% by mass or more, more preferably 0.02% by mass or more, even more preferably 0.05% by mass or more, and even more preferably 0.2% by mass or more, and also preferably 5% by mass or less, more preferably 3% by mass or less, even more preferably 1.1% by mass or less, even more preferably 0.5% by mass or less, and even more preferably 0.4% by mass or less. Furthermore, the coffee bean extract content in the oral liquid formulation or beverage is preferably 0.01% by mass or more, more preferably 0.05% by mass or more, even more preferably 0.08% by mass or more, and preferably 10% by mass or less, more preferably 4% by mass or less, and even more preferably 2% by mass or less, based on the solid content of the coffee bean extract in the total mass.

[0028] As an alternative dosage form, if the above-mentioned pharmaceutical, quasi-drug, or food is a solid composition (for example, an oral solid preparation, a solid food, or a supplement), the chlorogenic acid content in the solid composition is preferably 0.01% by mass or more, more preferably 0.05% by mass or more, even more preferably 0.2% by mass or more, and also preferably 70% by mass or less, more preferably 65% ​​by mass or less, and even more preferably 60% by mass or less, based on the total mass. Furthermore, the coffee bean extract content is preferably 0.1% by mass or more, more preferably 0.5% by mass or more, even more preferably 2% by mass or more, and preferably 95% by mass or less, more preferably 90% by mass or less, and even more preferably 80% by mass or less, based on the solid content of the coffee bean extract in relation to the total mass of the solid composition.

[0029] The oral dose or intake of the coffee bean extract of the present invention may be an amount sufficient to achieve the effects of the present invention. The oral dose or intake may vary depending on the species, weight, sex, age, condition, or other factors of the subject, but for an adult (60 kg) per day, it is preferably 50 mg or more, more preferably 70 mg or more, even more preferably 100 mg or more, and also preferably 1500 mg or less, more preferably 1000 mg or less, and even more preferably 500 mg or less, as chlorogenic acids. A preferred oral dose or intake is 50 to 1500 mg, more preferably 70 to 1000 mg, and even more preferably 100 to 500 mg, as chlorogenic acids, per adult per day. The above-mentioned formulation can be administered or ingested according to any dosage plan. In the present invention, it is preferable to administer or ingest the above dose orally in divided doses, for example, once, twice, or three or more times a day. More preferably, the above-mentioned dose of coffee bean extract is administered orally or ingested once a day.

[0030] The duration of administration or ingestion is not particularly limited, but is preferably continuous, more preferably 7 days or more, more preferably 14 days or more, and even more preferably 28 days or more. The timing of administration or ingestion is preferably between dinner and bedtime, and more preferably within one hour before bedtime.

[0031] The target recipients of the oral itch-relieving agent of the present invention are humans who need or desire relief from itching. [Examples]

[0032] [Analysis of chlorogenic acids] An HPLC system was used for the analysis. The model numbers of the instrument's components are as follows: • UV-VIS detector: SPD-20A (Shimadzu Corporation) • Column oven: CTO-20AC (Shimadzu Corporation) • Pump: LC-20AD (Shimadzu Corporation) • Autosampler: SIL-20AC (Shimadzu Corporation) • Column: Cadenza CD-C18, inner diameter 4.6 mm x length 150 mm, particle size 3 μm (Intact Co., Ltd.)

[0033] The analysis conditions are as follows: • Sample injection volume: 10 μL ·Flow rate: 1.0mL / min • UV-VIS detector setting wavelength: 325nm • Column oven setting temperature: 35℃ Eluent A: 50 mM acetic acid, 0.1 mM 1-hydroxyethane-1,1-diphosphonic acid, 10 mM sodium acetate, 5 (V / V) % acetonitrile solution • Eluent B: Acetonitrile

[0034] Concentration gradient conditions (volume %) Time Eluent A Eluent B 0.0 minutes 100% 0% 10.0 minutes 100% 0% 15.0 minutes 95% 5% 20.0 minutes 95% 5% 22.0 minutes 92% 8% 50.0 minutes 92% 8% 52.0 minutes 10% 90% 60.0 minutes 10% 90% 60.1 minutes 100% 0% 70.0 minutes 100% 0%

[0035] • 3-Caffeoylquinic acid: 5.3 min • 5-Caffeoylquinic acid: 8.8 min 4-Caffeoylquinic acid: 11.6 min • 3-ferulaquinic acid: 13.0 min • 5-ferulaquinic acid: 19.9 min • 4-ferulaquinic acid: 21.0 min • 3,4-Dicafeoylquinic acid: 36.6 min • 3,5-Dicafeoylquinic acid: 37.4 min • 4,5-Dicafeoylquinic acid: 44.2 min Using the area percentage obtained here, 5-caffeoylquinic acid (Tokyo Chemical Industries Co., Ltd.) was used as the standard substance, and the chlorogenic acid content (mass %) was determined. As described above, the caffeine content (mass %) was determined using reagent caffeine (Fujifilm Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.) as the standard substance.

[0036] [Test Example 1] 1. Production of green coffee bean extract 500g of Indonesian Robusta AP-1 green coffee beans were stirred and extracted in 5L of 98°C hot water for 4 hours. After cooling, solid-liquid separation was performed, and the extract was concentrated under reduced pressure at 40°C until the solid content concentration reached 20 w / v% to obtain green coffee bean extract. Ethanol was slowly added to a 20 w / v% solids concentration of green coffee bean extract to adjust the concentration to 60 w / v% ethanol. 63 g of acidic clay (Mizuka Ace #600, manufactured by Mizusawa Chemical Co., Ltd.) was added, the mixture was stirred for 2 hours, and then filtered through No. 2 filter paper. Next, the solution was passed through a column packed with 125g of activated carbon (Kuraraycol GW48 / 100D, manufactured by Kuraray Chemical Co., Ltd.) and a column packed with 32mL of H-type cation exchange resin (SK1BH, manufactured by Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation), and then re-filtered using a 0.2μm membrane filter. After removing ethanol from the filtrate at 40°C, the water content was adjusted to a solid content of 40 w / v%, which was then prepared as the "chlorogenic acid concentration adjustment solution." 10 g of this "chlorogenic acid concentration adjustment solution" was sampled into a centrifuge tube and centrifuged at 3000 r / min, 15°C, and 60 minutes to obtain the "green coffee bean extract." The chlorogenic acid and caffeine content in the obtained green coffee bean extract, based on the total amount of green coffee bean extract, was 13.01% by mass for monocaffeoylquinic acid (CQA), 2.62% by mass for monoferlaquinic acid (FQA), 3.72% by mass for dicaffeoylquinic acid (di-CQA), and 0.008% by mass for caffeine. The caffeine / chlorogenic acid mass ratio was 0.0004. The amount of chlorogenic acids relative to the solid content of the green coffee bean extract was 49.8% by mass.

[0037] 2. Manufacturing of test beverages Using the raw coffee bean extract produced in step 1 above, a test beverage (containing 270 mg / 100 mL of chlorogenic acids) and a placebo beverage (containing 0 mg / 100 mL of chlorogenic acids) were prepared according to the formulation table in Table 1 and used in the following examples.

[0038] [Table 1]

[0039] 3. Exam Overview (1) Method Forty-one healthy women aged 20-39 were divided into two groups: a chlorogenic acid group (21 women) and a placebo group (20 women). The chlorogenic acid group was given the test beverage prepared as described above (containing 270 mg / 100 mL of chlorogenic acid), while the placebo group was given a placebo beverage without chlorogenic acid, one bottle (100 mL) per day, daily before bedtime for four weeks.

[0040] The amount of charge was measured before consumption of the test beverage (week 0), and two weeks (week 2) and four weeks (week 4) after the start of consumption. The measurement of the charge amount was performed using a static electricity measuring instrument, Statiron (manufactured by Shishido Electrostatic Co., Ltd.). The evaluation was conducted on a conductive rubber mat. To keep the clothing constant, the subjects wore a 100% polyester T-shirt and trousers, put on a 100% nylon cardigan, and wore beach sandals made of natural rubber. First, they touched the conductive mat to discharge the electricity in their bodies. Then, they vigorously waved their arms at a speed of quarter note 120 on the sheet, stomped their feet in place for 1 minute, and measured the charge amount on their arms.

[0041] In addition, before the intake of the test beverage (0 week), and 2 weeks (2 weeks) and 4 weeks (4 weeks) after the start of the intake, a questionnaire on itching was conducted using VAS (Visual Analog Scale) as a subjective evaluation. The left end of a 10-cm line was set as the state of "no itching", and the right end was set as the state of "the strongest itching imaginable", and the subjects evaluated the current itching state of the facial skin.

[0042] In addition, the body composition was measured before the intake of the test beverage (0 week) and 4 weeks (4 weeks) after the start of the intake. The body composition was measured using Inbody (manufactured by Inbody Japan Co., Ltd.).

[0043] (2) Results Twenty-one subjects in the chlorogenic acid group and 18 subjects in the placebo group, excluding those who violated the wearing regulations, were used as the final analysis subjects for the charge amount. The results showed the measured raw values for the charge amount after 1 minute of walking. The numerical values were shown as the mean ± standard deviation. The statistically significant differences in the changes from the initial stage for both the chlorogenic acid group and the placebo group were described using Dunnett's test at †0.05 < p < 0.1.

[0044] For the subjective evaluation of itching, 21 subjects in the chlorogenic acid group and 20 subjects in the placebo group were used as the final analysis subjects. The results were measured as the length from the left and shown as the raw values. The numerical values were shown as the mean ± standard deviation. The statistically significant differences in the changes from the initial stage for both the chlorogenic acid group and the placebo group were described using Dunnett's test at †0.05 < p < 0.1.

[0045] Measurement using Inbody, impedance value, and muscle mass were analyzed for 21 subjects in the chlorogenic acid group and 20 subjects in the placebo group as the final analysis targets. The results were expressed as the change amount (Δ value) from before ingestion (week 0). The numerical values were shown as the mean ± standard deviation. The statistical significance between the two groups was described using a t-test, with *0.01 < p < 0.05 and †0.05 < p < 0.1.

[0046] Figure 1 shows the charge amount, Figure 2 shows the VAS evaluation value of itching, Figure 3 shows the impedance value, and Figure 4 shows the muscle mass. From Figures 1 to 4, in the chlorogenic acid group, an increase in body muscle mass was observed, along with a tendency for a decrease in impedance value, less skin charging, and improvement in itching. On the other hand, similar changes were not observed in the placebo group.

Claims

1. An oral antipruritic agent containing chlorogenic acids and a coffee bean extract with a caffeine / chlorogenic acid mass ratio of 0.015 or less as its active ingredient.

2. An oral antipruritic agent according to claim 1, which is administered orally or ingested in an amount of 50 to 1500 mg per day for adults as chlorogenic acid.

3. An oral antipruritic agent according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the chlorogenic acid comprises one or more selected from monocaffeoylquinic acid, monoferlaquinic acid, and dicaffeoylquinic acid.

4. An oral antipruritic agent according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the coffee bean extract contains 10 to 70% by mass of chlorogenic acids, and the chlorogenic acids include one or more selected from monocaffeoylquinic acid, monoferlaquinic acid, and dicaffeoylquinic acid.

5. An oral itch reliever according to claim 1 or 2, in the form of an oral liquid formulation.

6. A food composition for relieving itching, comprising a coffee bean extract containing chlorogenic acids and having a caffeine / chlorogenic acid mass ratio of 0.015 or less as an active ingredient.

7. The food composition for relieving itching according to claim 6, wherein chlorogenic acids are orally ingested in an amount of 50 to 1500 mg per day for adults.

8. The oral food composition for improving itching according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the chlorogenic acids include one or more selected from monocaffeoylquinic acid, monoferlaquinic acid, and dicaffeoylquinic acid.

9. The oral food composition for improving itching according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the coffee bean extract contains 10 to 70% by mass of chlorogenic acids, and the chlorogenic acids include one or more selected from monocaffeoylquinic acid, monoferlaquinic acid, and dicaffeoylquinic acid.

10. A food composition for improving itching according to claim 6 or 7, which is a beverage.

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