Female hormone-like agents

Abstract

To provide a new agent that exhibits estrogen-like action.SOLUTION: An estrogen-like agent contains licorice extract, Astragali radix extract and / or rhubarb extract and Scutellaria root extract and exhibits excellent estrogen-like action.SELECTED DRAWING: None

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an agent having a female hormone-like action. [Background technology]

[0002] Estrogen is a steroid hormone synthesized from cholesterol and is also known as the follicular hormone or female hormone. The estrogen receptor is one of the classical ligand-activated transcription factors, and female hormones exert their physiological effects on various functions such as reproduction and bone physiology through this receptor.

[0003] A deficiency in female hormones can cause symptoms such as menopause and osteoporosis. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is widely used as a treatment to alleviate these symptoms. However, because HRT artificially supplements large amounts of female hormones, while it is highly effective, it also places a heavy burden on the body and is very difficult to adjust the dosage.

[0004] In recent years, plant-derived isoflavones have been attracting attention as components that exert female hormone-like effects. It is believed that such female hormone-like effects are due to the fact that the chemical structure of isoflavones is similar to that of estrogen. Among them, equol derived from isoflavones contained in soybeans is known to have high estrogenic activity (Non-Patent Documents 1 and 2) and has been in the limelight. In addition, it is known that the herbal medicine licorice contains isoflavones such as liquiritin, and the herbal medicine Astragalus chinensis contains isoflavones such as formononetin and ononin. [Prior art documents] [Non-patent literature]

[0005] [Non-Patent Document 1] Sathyamoorthy, N. and Wang, TT, Eur. J. Cancer, 33, 2384-2389 (1997) [Non-Patent Document 2] Schmitt, E. et al., Toxicol. In Vitro, 15, 433-439 (2001) Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] Although soy-derived equol is expected to be effective against symptoms caused by a decrease in female hormones, it cannot be used by people with soy allergies. Therefore, further options for plant-derived ingredients that are expected to have female hormone-like effects are desired. Although some herbal medicines such as licorice contain isoflavones, their female hormone-like effects are not sufficient.

[0007] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a new agent that exerts a female hormone-like action. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] As a result of intensive research, the present inventors have found that an unexpected and remarkable female hormone-like effect is achieved by combining licorice extract with Astragalus root extract and / or Rhubarb extract and Scutellaria root extract. Based on this finding, the present invention has been completed through further research.

[0009] That is, the present invention provides the following aspects. Item 1. A female hormone-like agent containing licorice extract, astragalus root extract and / or rhubarb extract and scutellaria root extract. Item 2. The female hormone-like agent according to Item 1, which contains a licorice extract and an astragalus extract. Item 3. The female hormone-like agent according to Item 1 or 2, which contains Boiyogito extract and / or Tokiinshi extract. Item 4. The female hormone-like agent according to Item 1, which contains licorice extract, rhubarb extract and Scutellaria root extract. Item 5. The female hormone-like agent according to Item 1 or 4, which contains Bofutsushosan extract. Effect of the Invention

[0010] According to the present invention, a new agent that exerts a female hormone-like action is provided, and it is expected that various symptoms caused by a decrease in female hormones will be improved. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] The female hormone-like agent of the present invention is characterized by containing a licorice extract, and an Astragalus Root extract and / or a Rhubarb extract and an Astragalus Root extract.

[0012] Licorice extract alone shows only a weak female hormone-like effect. Also, Astragalus extract alone shows only a weak female hormone-like effect. Although it is not known that Rhubarb extract and Scutellaria root extract contain isoflavones or have a female hormone-like effect, in the test carried out in the present invention, it was found that both of them show a weak female hormone-like effect alone. Among these herbal extracts, the combination of licorice extract and Astragalus root extract synergistically enhances the female hormone-like effect. Meanwhile, due to the newly discovered female hormone-like effect of Rhubarb extract and Scutellaria root extract, the combination of these herbal extracts with licorice extract exhibits an enhanced female hormone-like effect compared to licorice extract alone.

[0013] The licorice extract, Astragalus Root extract, Rhubarb extract, and Scutellaria Root extract contained in the female hormone-like agent of the present invention may each be a simple extract (simple licorice extract, simple Astragalus Root extract, simple Rhubarb extract, and simple Scutellaria Root extract), or an extract constituting a herbal extract (an extract of a mixed herbal medicine containing two or more selected from the group consisting of licorice, Astragalus Root, Rhubarb, and Scutellaria Root, or an extract of a mixed herbal medicine containing one or more selected from the group consisting of licorice, Astragalus Root, Rhubarb, and Scutellaria Root and one or more selected from the group consisting of licorice, Astragalus Root, Rhubarb, and Scutellaria Root).

[0014] Specific embodiments of the licorice extract, Astragalus Root extract, and / or Rhubarb extract and Scutellaria Root extract contained in the female hormone-like agent of the present invention include a mixture of plain extracts of herbal medicines, a Chinese herbal extract, a mixture of one Chinese herbal extract and another Chinese herbal extract, a mixture of plain extracts and a Chinese herbal extract, etc. Examples of mixtures of plain extracts of herbal medicines include a mixture of a plain extract of licorice, a plain extract of Astragalus Root, and / or a plain extract of Rhubarb and a plain extract of Scutellaria Root. Examples of Chinese herbal extracts include a mixed herbal extract containing licorice, Astragalus Root, and / or Rhubarb and Scutellaria Root. Examples of mixtures of one Chinese herbal extract and another Chinese herbal extract include a mixture containing one mixed herbal extract containing at least one selected from the group consisting of licorice, Astragalus Root, Rhubarb, and Scutellaria Root, and another mixed herbal extract containing at least one other selected from the group consisting of licorice, Astragalus Root, Rhubarb, and Scutellaria Root. Examples of mixtures of simple extracts and extracts of mixed herbal medicines include mixtures containing at least one simple extract selected from the group consisting of licorice, astragalus rhizome, rhubarb, and Scutellaria Root, and an extract of mixed herbal medicines including at least one other extract selected from the group consisting of licorice, astragalus rhizome, rhubarb, and Scutellaria Root.

[0015] The herbal extract used in the present invention may be in the form of either a liquid extract such as a soft extract, or a solid dry extract powder.

[0016] Licorice (licorice) is the root and stolons of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fischer or Glycyrrhiza glabra Linne of the leguminous family (Leguminosae), sometimes with the periderm removed (peeled licorice), and is used as a herbal medicine (Japanese Pharmacopoeia) mainly for expectorant, stomach ulcer medicine, etc. Commercially available licorice products are available from Nippon Powder Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Takasago Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Tochimoto Tenkaido Co., Ltd., etc. A plain extract of licorice is listed as licorice extract in the quasi-drug raw material standard and is known. Commercially available licorice extract products are available from Maruzen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Nippon Powder Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Alps Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., etc.

[0017] Astragalus membranaceus Bunge or Astragalus mongholicus Bunge is the root of Astragalus membranaceus Bunge or Astragalus mongholicus Bunge of the Leguminosae family, and is used as a herbal medicine (Japanese Pharmacopoeia) for purposes such as lowering blood pressure and diuresis. Commercially available Astragalus membranaceus products are commercially available from Takasago Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Tochimoto Tenkaido Co., Ltd., etc. Commercially available Astragalus membranaceus extracts are commercially available from, for example, Nippon Funa Yakuhin Co., Ltd., Alps Yakuhin Kogyo Co., Ltd., etc.

[0018] Rheum palmatum L., Rheum tanguticum Maximowicz, Rheum officinale Baillon, Rheum coreanum Nakai, or their interspecific hybrids, is usually the rhizome of Polygonaceae, and is used as a herbal medicine (Japanese Pharmacopoeia) mainly as a stomachic or laxative. Commercially available rhubarb products are commercially available from Sanwa Shoyaku Co., Ltd., Tochimoto Tenkaido Co., Ltd., etc. Commercially available rhubarb plain extract products are commercially available from, for example, Alps Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., etc.

[0019] Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi (Scutellaria root) is the root with the periderm removed from Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, which belongs to the Labiatae family, and is used as a herbal medicine (Japanese Pharmacopoeia) mainly for anti-inflammatory, antiallergic, antibacterial and antifungal purposes. Commercially available products of Scutellaria baicalensis are commercially available from Takasago Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Tochimoto Tenkaido Co., Ltd., etc. A plain extract of Scutellaria baicalensis is listed in the quasi-drug raw material standards as Scutellaria baicalensis extract and is well known. Commercially available products of Scutellaria baicalensis extract are commercially available from, for example, Ichimaru Pharcos Co., Ltd., etc.

[0020] In addition, the above-mentioned plain extract of herbal medicine may be obtained by extracting the above-mentioned plant parts with water or aqueous ethanol, preferably water, as an extracting solvent, and concentrating the obtained extract as necessary, or by drying the extract to obtain an extract powder. The drying method of the plain extract of herbal medicine is not particularly limited, and includes known methods such as spray drying and a method of adding a suitable adsorbent (e.g., silicic anhydride, starch, etc.) to a soft extract with a high concentration of the extract liquid to obtain an adsorbed powder.

[0021] Specific examples of the female hormone-like agent of the present invention include licorice extract and Astragalus Root extract. Furthermore, from the viewpoint of obtaining a more excellent female hormone-like action, it is preferable that the licorice extract and Astragalus Root extract are extracts constituting a Chinese herbal medicine extract. Such a Chinese herbal medicine extract is preferably an extract of a mixed herbal medicine containing licorice and Astragalus Root. Such a Chinese herbal medicine extract is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include Boi-ohgi-to extract, Toki-in-shi extract, Kamikihi-to extract, Kihi-to extract, Ouki-kenchu-to extract, Kiuki-kenchu-to extract, Keishi-ka-ohgi-to extract, Juzen-daiho-to extract, Seisho-eki-to extract, Seishin-ren-shi-in extract, Toki-to extract, Ninjin-yoei-to extract, Hochu-eki-to extract, Reizei-tsuuki-to extract, Reizei-tsuuki-to-ka-shini extract, Daibofu-to extract, etc. These Chinese herbal medicine extracts may be used alone or in combination of two or more kinds. Among these herbal extracts, from the viewpoint of obtaining even more excellent female hormone-like action, Boi-ogi-to extract and Toki-in-shi extract are preferable.

[0022] Another specific example of the female hormone-like agent of the present invention includes licorice extract, rhubarb extract and Scutellaria root extract. Furthermore, from the viewpoint of obtaining a more excellent female hormone-like action, it is preferable that the licorice extract, rhubarb extract and Scutellaria root extract are extracts constituting a Chinese herbal extract. Examples of such Chinese herbal extracts include bofutsushosan extract, otsujito extract, saikokaryuukotsuboreito extract, junchoto extract, megamisan extract and kamigedokuto extract. These Chinese herbal extracts may be used alone or in combination of multiple types. Among these Chinese herbal extracts, from the viewpoint of obtaining a more excellent female hormone-like action, bofutsushosan extract is more preferable.

[0023] According to the "Guide to General Kampo Prescriptions" (supervised by the Pharmaceutical Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, edited by the Kampo Specialist Committee of the Japan Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Associations, and published by Yakugyo Jihosha), the "17th Revised Japanese Pharmacopoeia," and the "Standards for Approval of the Manufacture and Sale of General Kampo Preparations" (implemented by the Pharmaceutical and Food Safety Bureau of the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare), the herbal medicines that make up Boihogito are Bowi, Astragalus Root, Byakujutsu (Sojutsu is also acceptable), Zingiber Root, Taiso, and Glycyrrhiza. In addition, as stipulated in the "Basic Handling Guidelines for Kampo Preparations" established by the Kampo Crude Drugs Research Council, Boihogito includes mixed herbal medicines (Kampo prescriptions) that are listed in currently commonly used Kampo-related letters.

[0024] Commercially available Boiohgito extract products include Boiohgito Dried Extract A and Boiohgito Dried Extract AZ (both manufactured by Nippon Powder Co., Ltd.), as well as Boiohgito Extract Powder and Boiohgito Dried Extract-F (both manufactured by Alps Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.).

[0025] According to the "Guide to General Kampo Prescriptions" (supervised by the Pharmaceutical Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, edited by the Kampo Specialist Committee of the Japan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association, and published by Yakugyo Times) and the "Standards for Approval of the Manufacturing and Sale of General Kampo Preparations" (enforced by the Pharmaceutical and Food Safety Bureau of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare), the herbal medicines that make up Angelica Root are: Angelica Root, Peony Root, Cnidium Root, Scilla Root, Boufu Root, Rehmannia Root, Astragalus Root, Polygonum Root, and Licorice.

[0026] Commercially available products of Angelica sinensis extract include Angelica sinensis extract granules (Matsuura Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.).

[0027] According to the "Guide to General Kampo Prescriptions" (supervised by the Pharmaceutical Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, edited by the Kampo Specialist Committee of the Japan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association, and published by Yakugyo Times), the "17th Revised Japanese Pharmacopoeia" and the "Standards for Approval of the Manufacturing and Sale of General Kampo Preparations" (enforced by the Pharmaceutical and Food Safety Bureau of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare), the herbal medicines that make up Bofu-tsushosan are: Angelica Root, Peony Root, Cnidium Root, Sanshiki Fruit, Forsythia Fruit, Mentha Root, Ginger Root, Japanese Cedar Root, Saxifraga Root, Ephedra Root, Rhubarb, Byakua Rhizome, Platycodon Root, Scutellaria Root, Glycyrrhiza Root, Scutellaria Root, and Polygala Root. In addition, the constituent herbal medicines of Bofutsushosan may be those listed above that do not contain Byakudo Root (for example, "Kenken Kampo Prescription Quantities Collection," edited by Otsuka Keisetsu and Yakazu Domyō, published by Ido no Nihonsha), those that do not contain Scutellaria Root (for example, "Zoku Kampo Are Kore," edited by Osaka Yomiuri Shimbun and published by Naniwasha), those that contain Glehnis Root instead of Saururus Root, and those that contain Soju Root instead of Byakudo Root.

[0028] Commercially available Bofutsushosan extract products include Bofutsushosan Dried Extract A, Bofutsushosan Dried Extract AM, Bofutsushosan Dried Extract E, and Bofutsushosan Dried Extract EM (all manufactured by Nippon Powder Co., Ltd.), as well as Bofutsushosan Dried Extract-C and Bofutsushosan Dried Extract-F (all manufactured by Alps Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.).

[0029] In addition, the above-mentioned herbal extract may be a commercially available product, or may be extracted from a mixture of the herbal medicines of the above-mentioned herbal medicine using water or aqueous ethanol, preferably water, as an extracting solvent, and the resulting extract may be concentrated as necessary to obtain an extract liquid, or may be dried to obtain an extract powder. The drying process of the herbal extract is not particularly limited, and may be any known method, such as a spray-drying method, or a method in which a suitable adsorbent (e.g., silicic anhydride, starch, etc.) is added to a soft extract with a high concentration of the extract liquid to obtain an adsorbed powder, etc.

[0030] In the female hormone-like agent of the present invention, the contents of licorice extract, Astragalus Root extract and / or Rhubarb extract and Scutellaria Root extract are not particularly limited as long as the effects of the present invention are achieved. Examples of the contents, calculated as the amount of raw herbal medicine per 100 parts by weight of the female hormone-like agent, include the following: the content of licorice extract is 0.1 to 10,000 parts by weight, and preferably 1 to 1,000 parts by weight; the content of Astragalus Root extract is 0.1 to 10,000 parts by weight, and preferably 1 to 1,000 parts by weight; the content of Rhubarb extract is 0.1 to 10,000 parts by weight, and preferably 1 to 1,000 parts by weight; and the content of Scutellaria Root extract is 0.1 to 10,000 parts by weight, and preferably 1 to 1,000 parts by weight.

[0031] In the female hormone-like agent of the present invention, the ratio of licorice extract to Astragalus extract and / or Rhubarb extract and Scutellaria root extract is not particularly limited as long as the effects of the present invention are achieved. For example, the amount of Astragalus extract in terms of raw herbal medicine per 1 part by weight of licorice extract in terms of raw herbal medicine may be 0.1 to 100 parts by weight, preferably 0.5 to 10 parts by weight, and more preferably 0.7 to 8 parts by weight; 0.05 to 100 parts by weight, preferably 0.09 to 10 parts by weight, and more preferably 0.09 to 1 part by weight; and 0.1 to 100 parts by weight, preferably 0.3 to 10, and more preferably 0.5 to 2 parts by weight of Scutellaria root extract.

[0032] The total amount of licorice extract, Astragalus Root extract and / or Rhubarb extract and Scutellaria root extract contained in the female hormone-like agent of the present invention is not particularly limited as long as the effects of the present invention are achieved, but is usually 1 to 100% by weight, preferably 5 to 90% by weight, more preferably 10 to 80% by weight, and even more preferably 20 to 60% by weight, calculated as the amount of dried extract powder. In the present invention, the amount calculated as the amount of dried extract powder refers to the amount of the dried extract powder itself when a dried extract powder is used, and refers to the amount calculated as the amount remaining after removing the solvent when a liquid extract is used. In addition, when the dried extract powder contains additives such as adsorbents added during production, the amount refers to the amount excluding the additives.

[0033] [Other ingredients] The female hormone-like agent of the present invention may contain other pharmacological ingredients as necessary, in addition to the above-mentioned herbal extract. The type of such pharmacological ingredients is not particularly limited, but examples thereof include antacids, stomachics, digestives, intestinal regulators, antispasmodics, mucosal repair agents, anti-inflammatory agents, astringents, antiemetics, antitussives, expectorants, anti-inflammatory enzymes, sedatives, hypnotics, antihistamines, caffeine, cardiac diuretics, antibacterial agents, vasoconstrictors, vasodilators, local anesthetics, herbal powders, herbal extracts, vitamins, and menthols. These pharmacological ingredients may be used alone or in combination of two or more. The content of these pharmacological ingredients may be appropriately set from known ones according to the type of pharmacological ingredient to be used.

[0034] The female hormone-like agent of the present invention may contain pharma- ceutically acceptable bases and additives, etc., as necessary, in order to prepare it into a desired dosage form. Examples of such bases and additives include excipients, binders, disintegrants, lubricants, isotonicity agents, plasticizers, dispersants, emulsifiers, solubilizers, wetting agents, stabilizers, suspending agents, adhesives, coating agents, glossing agents, water, oils and fats, waxes, hydrocarbons, fatty acids, higher alcohols, esters, water-soluble polymers, surfactants, metal soaps, lower alcohols, polyhydric alcohols, pH adjusters, buffers, antioxidants, UV protection agents, preservatives, flavorings, fragrances, powders, thickeners, dyes, and chelating agents. These bases and additives may be used alone or in combination of two or more. The content of these bases and additives may be appropriately set from known ones according to the type of additive component used, dosage form, etc.

[0035] [Dosage form] The dosage form of the female hormone-like agent of the present invention is not particularly limited, and may be any of tablets, granules, powders, pills, capsules, films, liquids (drinks), etc. Among these dosage forms, from the viewpoint of ease of administration, etc., preferred are tablets, granules, and films. These dosage forms can be prepared using pharma- ceutically acceptable base materials and additives, and the types and amounts of the base materials and additives are also known in the field of formulation technology.

[0036] When the female hormone-like agent of the present invention is provided as a tablet, the tablet may be either a gastrosoluble tablet (normal tablet) or an enteric-soluble tablet, and may be coated with a sugar-coating base, a water-soluble film-coating base, or the like, as necessary.

[0037] [Application] Since the female hormone-like agent of the present invention has binding activity to estrogen receptors, it is applied to applications in which physiological and pathophysiological effects expressed by the binding of female hormones to estrogen receptors are expected. Specifically, the female hormone-like agent of the present invention is used to prevent or improve symptoms caused by a decrease in female hormones, such as menopausal symptoms, menopausal disorders, osteoporosis, physical condition fluctuations, menstrual pain, and decreased skin or hair quality (collagen and / or elastin retention ability). Therefore, the female hormone enhancer of the present invention is applied to women with decreased female hormones, particularly women who are aware of symptoms caused by decreased female hormones. Specific examples of the target of application include women over 40 years old, menopausal women, women with premature ovarian failure after oophorectomy or chemotherapy, women after hysterectomy, and elderly women.

[0038] [Dosage / Usage] The female hormone-like agent of the present invention is administered orally. The dosage of the female hormone-like agent of the present invention is appropriately set according to the degree of female hormone reduction, age, etc., and for example, the daily intake amount is 0.01 to 50g, preferably 0.1 to 10g, of licorice extract in terms of raw herbal medicine, 0.01 to 50g, preferably 0.1 to 10g, of Astragalus root extract in terms of raw herbal medicine, 0.01 to 50g, preferably 0.1 to 10g, of Rhubarb extract in terms of raw herbal medicine, and 0.01 to 50g, preferably 0.1 to 10g, of Scutellaria root extract in terms of raw herbal medicine.

[0039] The dosage of the female hormone-like agent of the present invention is 400 to 10,000 mg, preferably 1,300 to 7,000 mg, calculated as the total amount of the herbal extract in terms of dried extract powder, and examples thereof include 1,300 to 4,800 mg for Boiyogi-to extract, 1,300 to 5,000 mg for Tokiinshi extract, and 1,600 to 6,000 mg for Bofutsushosan extract. There are no particular limitations on the timing of administration, and the agent may be administered before or after meals, or between meals, but is preferably administered before or between meals. EXAMPLES

[0040] The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.

[0041] 1. Preparation of extract powder (1) Plain herbal extract 100g each of licorice, astragalus serrata, rhubarb, Scutellaria baicalensis, bowi, byakua rheum, ginger, and trifolia were prepared as raw herbal medicines, and after chopping, 15 times the amount of water was added and extracted at approximately 100°C for 1 hour. The extract was then centrifuged to obtain a liquid that was concentrated under reduced pressure and freeze-dried to obtain 15.7g of licorice plain extract powder, 21.0g of astragalus serrata plain extract powder, 16.3g of rhubarb plain extract powder, 29.8g of Scutellaria baicalensis plain extract powder, 3.4g of bowi extract powder, 8.6g of byakua rheum plain extract powder, 4g of ginger plain extract powder, and 38.3g of trifolia plain extract powder.

[0042] (2) Boiogito Extract The raw herbal medicines used were 1 part (by weight, same below), 3 parts (by weight), 5 parts (by weight), 3 parts (by weight), 5 parts (by weight), 3 parts (by weight), 5 parts (by weight), and 1.5 parts (by weight) of Licorice. After chopping, a total of 100 g was extracted with 15 times its weight of water at approximately 100°C for 1 hour, centrifuged to obtain an extract, which was then concentrated under reduced pressure and freeze-dried to obtain 20.3 g of Boiogi-to extract powder.

[0043] (3) Angelica sinensis extract The raw herbal medicines used were in the following proportions: Angelica Root 2.5 parts (by weight, same below), Peony Root 1.5 parts, Cnidium Root 1.5 parts, Scilla Root 1.5 parts, Boufu Root 1.5 parts, Rehmannia Root 2.0 parts, Penicillium Root 0.75 parts, Astragalus Root 0.75 parts, Polygonum Root 1.0 parts, and Licorice Root 0.5 parts. After chopping, a total of 100 g was extracted with 15 times its weight of water at approximately 100°C for 1 hour and centrifuged to obtain an extract, which was then concentrated under reduced pressure and freeze-dried to obtain 18.3 g of Angelica Root extract powder.

[0044] (4) Bofutsushosan Extract The raw herbal ingredients were used in the following proportions: Platycodon grandiflorum 1.67 (parts by weight, same below), Byakujutsu Root 1.67, Licorice Root 1.67, Scutellaria Root 1.67, Glycyrrhiza Root 1.67, Gemstone Root 1.67, Rhubarb Root 1.25, Angelica Root 1.0, Peony Root 1.0, Cnidium Root 1.0, Sanshi Fruit 1.0, Forsythia Fruit 1.0, Mint Root 1.0, Celastrus Root 1.0, Saxifraga Root 1.0, Ephedra Root 1.0, Ginger Root 0.33, Kassoku Root 2.5, and Boshou Root 1.25. After chopping, a total of 100g was extracted with 15 times its weight of water at approximately 100°C for 1 hour, centrifuged to obtain an extract, which was then concentrated under reduced pressure and freeze-dried to obtain 24.1g of Bofu-tsushosan extract.

[0045] 2. Test Method A phenol red-free DMEM medium containing 50 U / ml penicillin, 50 mg / ml streptomycin, 3% fetal bovine serum (FBS), and 0.5 mM L-glutamine was prepared. MCF7 cells (KAC Co., Ltd.) derived from human breast cancer were prepared. MCF7 cells are cancer cells whose proliferation ability increases in an estrogen-dependent manner, and the proliferation of MCF7 cells is used as a detection system for estrogenic activity.

[0046] 4 x 10 in experimental medium 4 The MCF7 cell suspension adjusted to 1000 cells / ml was seeded in the wells of a 96-well plate at 50 μl / well. Next, 50 μl of medium containing the above-mentioned plain herbal extract powder or herbal extract powder and 0.2% by volume DMSO was added to each well so that the final concentration of each extract powder per well was the amount shown in Table 1 (unit: μg / mL). In addition, a well seeded with 50 μl of the MCF7 cell suspension was added with 50 μl of medium containing 0.2% by volume DMSO without extract powder as a control. The well plate was cultured at 37°C in the presence of CO2 for 48 hours.

[0047] After culturing, the absorbance at 450 nm (corresponding to the number of cells) was measured using a cell proliferation / cytotoxicity assay kit (product name "Cell Counting kit-8", Dojindo Science Institute, Inc.). The measured absorbance at 450 nm was used to calculate the cell proliferation promotion rate according to the following calculation formula. This test was performed with n=6, and the average of the obtained cell proliferation promotion rates was used as the evaluation value of the female hormone-like effect. The results are shown in Table 1.

[0048]

number

[0049] [Table 1]

[0050] 3.Results As shown in Comparative Examples 1-3, the licorice and Astragalus Root extracts, which are known to contain isoflavones, were confirmed to have female hormone-like effects, but the degree of the effects was weak. In addition, among the single extracts of Astragalus Root, ... As shown in Example 5, a significant female hormone-like effect was observed in the combination of extracts that were found to have a female hormone-like effect alone, but the degree of the effect was lower than the additive effect of licorice, rhubarb, and Scutellaria Root (Comparative Example 1, Reference Example 1, Reference Example 2), while the female hormone-like effect was synergistically enhanced and particularly significant in the combination of licorice extract and Astragalus Root extract alone, as shown in Examples 1 and 2. Furthermore, as shown in Examples 3, 4, and 6, a more significant female hormone-like effect was observed in the herbal extracts containing the combination of extracts that were found to have a female hormone-like effect alone (Boi-ohgi-to extract in Example 3 and Toki-in-shi extract in Example 4 are mixed herbal extracts containing licorice and Astragalus Root, and Bofu-tsusho-san extract in Example 6 is mixed herbal extract containing licorice, rhubarb, and Scutellaria Root).

Claims

1. A female hormone-like agent containing Boiogito extract (excluding those used for anti-obesity in menopausal obesity).

2. A female hormone-like agent containing Angelica sinensis extract.

3. A female hormone-like agent containing Bofutsushosan extract.

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