Agent for improving floaters and method for improving floaters

Abstract

A floater improving agent containing Senshinren as an active ingredient is highly safe and can prevent or treat floaters by taking it daily.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an agent for improving mosquito floaters and a method for improving mosquito floaters. [Background technology]

[0002] When you look at a bright place, a white wall, or a blue sky, you may see floating objects such as bugs or lint in front of your eyes. They seem to move with you even if you move your eyes, and they do not disappear even if you blink or rub your eyes, but you do not notice them in a dark place. This symptom is medically called "floaters."

[0003] Most of the inside of the eye is filled with a jelly-like transparent substance called the vitreous, and light that enters from the outside through the cornea and the lens passes through the lens and reaches the retina. If the vitreous becomes cloudy for some reason, when you look at a bright spot, the shadow of the cloudiness is projected onto the retina and moves with the movement of the eyeball, making it look like there are "floating objects" such as insects or lint flying, and this is perceived as floaters.

[0004] The cause of vitreous clouding is age-related changes in the vitreous. As we age, the composition of the vitreous changes, degenerating from a gel-like state to a liquid state, and voids filled with liquid form inside the vitreous, causing clouding. In addition, as the vitreous degenerates, its volume shrinks, and the posterior surface of the vitreous separates from the adhesion to the retina (posterior vitreous detachment), which can also cause clouding. When the vitreous degenerates in this way, the retina is pulled by the vitreous with rapid eye movement, and the photoreceptor cells are stimulated by this, resulting in the symptom of photopsia, where light flashes in the field of vision. Posterior vitreous detachment is common in people in their early 60s, but in recent years, with the increase in the amount of time spent using smartphones, the number of cases of floaters occurring even among younger people is increasing.

[0005] Treatments for floaters include laser therapy, which uses laser light to vaporize opacities in the vitreous body and cut the vitreous cords, and vitreous surgery, which uses instruments to remove the vitreous body inside the eyeball. However, because the treatment is expensive and invasive, these surgeries are rarely performed.

[0006] However, vitreous opacification significantly reduces contrast sensitivity, affecting vision and decreasing quality of life (QOL), so a less invasive and easier method to improve floaters is desirable.

[0007] For example, an agent for improving floaters that uses an ingredient derived from a plant of the genus Curcuma of the Zingiberaceae family has been proposed (Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2022-99937 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] An object of the present invention is to provide an agent for improving floaters that is highly safe and can prevent or treat floaters by daily ingestion. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] As a result of intensive research aimed at solving the above problems, the present inventors have found that Panax moniliformes has an excellent effect of improving floaters, and have completed the present invention.

[0011] That is, the present invention is an agent for improving floaters, posterior vitreous detachment or photopsia, which contains Panax notoginseng as an active ingredient.

[0012] The present invention also relates to a method for improving mosquito floaters, posterior vitreous detachment or photopsia, which comprises administering Panax gracilis to a human. Effect of the Invention

[0013] Senshinren, the active ingredient of the floaters improving agent of the present invention, has been used for many years as a herb or natural medicine for maintaining health, is highly safe, and by ingesting it, excellent therapeutic and preventive effects against floaters can be obtained. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] The agent for treating floaters of the present invention contains Panax notoginseng as an active ingredient.

[0015] Andrographis paniculata (scientific name: Andrographis paniculata) is a plant of the genus Andrographis in the family Acanthaceae. It is an annual plant with branches and leaves, 0.5 to 1 m tall, that grows abundantly in Southeast Asian countries such as India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia, and contains diterpene lactone compounds such as andrographolide. The part of Andrographis paniculata used in the present invention is not particularly limited, and leaves, stems, roots, flowers, seeds, fruits, whole plants, etc. can be used, but among these, leaves are preferably used because they contain 2% by mass or more of andrographolide (diterpene lactone). The Andrographis paniculata, which is the active ingredient of the present invention, includes the plant itself, or the juice obtained by squeezing it, the dried plant or its crushed product, or an extract extracted from these, but crushed Andrographis paniculata is preferred in terms of the effect of improving floaters, etc.

[0016] The method for crushing Panax notoginseng is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a method in which Panax notoginseng is dried, cut into appropriate sizes, sterilized, and crushed with a crusher such as a hammer mill, a mill, a mortar, a stone mill, etc. The size of Panax notoginseng after crushing is not particularly limited, and is, for example, about 1 mm to 1 μm, and preferably about 1 mm to 10 μm.

[0017] The method for extracting Panax notoginseng with a solvent is not particularly limited. For example, Panax notoginseng may be immersed in water, alcohol, liquid oil or the like and appropriately extracted at room temperature or the like.

[0018] The form of the floater improving agent of the present invention is not particularly limited, and can be in the form of a human medicine, quasi-drug, food and drink, supplement, etc. As a medicine or quasi-drug, Senshinren can be formulated as it is or, if necessary, in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Furthermore, if necessary, conventional additives can be added appropriately. Although the dosage form is not particularly limited, a dosage form that can be taken orally is preferable because it can exert its effect orally, for example, capsules, liquids, powders, granules, tablets, etc. can be mentioned. These can be manufactured according to conventional methods.

[0019] When it is made into a form of food or drink, Senshinren can be prepared as it is or, if necessary, by mixing with known food additives and food materials according to a conventional method. The form is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include foods such as bread, cookies, cakes, noodles, etc., confectionery such as gum, candy, Japanese sweets, etc., meat foods such as ham and sausage, fish foods such as chikuwa and kamaboko, seafood foods, seasonings such as dressing, soy sauce, jam, furikake, etc., beverages such as tea, juice, soft drinks, and alcoholic beverages, as well as functional foods, foods for specified health uses, and foods with functional claims in the same form as the above-mentioned medicines, etc. (capsules, liquids, powders, granules, tablets).

[0020] The floater improving agent of the present invention described above can improve the symptoms of floaters by administering it to mammals including humans, and the number of floaters in the field of vision can be reduced or eliminated compared to before administration. The method of administration of the floater improving agent of the present invention is not particularly limited, but oral administration is preferred because it can be effective orally. In the present invention, the floater improving agent includes both treatment and prevention of floaters. As described above, posterior vitreous detachment and photopsia are closely related to floaters, and the present invention also includes the use of improving (preventing and treating) posterior vitreous detachment and / or photopsia.

[0021] The agent for improving muscae floaters, posterior vitreous detachment, or photopsia of the present invention may be labeled with, for example, an indication that it prevents or treats muscae floaters, prevents or treats posterior vitreous detachment, prevents or treats photopsia, improves contrast sensitivity, clears vision, etc. The act of labeling includes inscribing the indication on the main body, container, packaging, etc. of the product, inscribing on documents such as instructions, package inserts, pamphlets, and other printed matter disclosing product information, inscribing on various leaflets, advertisements used for promotion including the Internet, and the like.

[0022] When the floaters improving agent of the present invention is administered to a mammal, for example, a human, the amount is 1200 mg or more of Senshinren (21.6 mg or more as andrographolide), preferably 1200 to 2400 mg (21.6 to 43.2 mg as andrographolide) per administration, and this amount is administered three times a day, in the morning, afternoon, and evening. The amount is preferably 3600 mg or more of Senshinren (64.8 mg or more as andrographolide), preferably 3600 to 7200 mg (64.8 to 129.6 mg as andrographolide) per day. It is preferable to take this continuously for at least 5 days or more, preferably 14 days or more, and preferably 1 month or more. EXAMPLES

[0023] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples in any way.

[0024] Manufacturing Example 1 Manufacturing of Senshinren Capsules: The leaves of Panax notoginseng were cut to an appropriate size, sterilized, and then pulverized to about 100 to several hundred μm in a hammer mill to obtain a fine powder of Panax notoginseng leaves. The andrographolide content of this Panax notoginseng leaf fine powder was measured by HPLC and found to be 5.4 mass%. 300 mg of this Panax notoginseng leaf fine powder was filled into a No. 1 transparent hard capsule (made of gelatin) and sealed with rapeseed hardened oil in the usual manner to produce Panax notoginseng capsules.

[0025] Example 1 Floater Improvement Test: Patients A to F, who suffer from floaters, were asked to take 5 capsules of Senshinren capsules obtained in Production Example 1 in the morning, afternoon and evening for 2 to 4 months. The results of the diagnoses and examinations by ophthalmologists and the subjective evaluations of the patients themselves before and after taking the capsules were recorded.

[0026] (1) Patient A Before drinking: I had light floaters and felt them whenever I looked at a white wall. I went to an eye doctor for an examination and was diagnosed with floaters. After drinking: After one month of drinking the water, I had an eye examination at an eye clinic and it was confirmed that although I still had floaters, they had become much less noticeable. After four months of drinking the water, I felt that the floaters had disappeared.

[0027] (2) Patient B Before drinking: The patient had previously suffered from floaters in the eyes and had been visiting the hospital for two years, but no improvement was observed. After undergoing an eye examination, the patient was diagnosed with floaters in the eyes. After drinking: After 2 months of drinking the water, the floaters seemed to have disappeared. After 3 months of drinking the water, an eye examination at an ophthalmologist confirmed that there were no more floaters.

[0028] (3) Patient C Before drinking: After an eye examination, he was diagnosed with floaters. After drinking: After one month of taking the medicine, I no longer saw any floaters.

[0029] (4) Patient D Before drinking: I had been suffering from floaters in my eyes for about 10 years. After an eye exam, I was diagnosed with floaters. After drinking: After 2 months of taking the medicine, the floaters became thinner and visibility improved. After 4 months of taking the medicine, floaters were no longer seen.

[0030] (5) Patient E Before drinking: I had been suffering from floaters in my eyes for about five years. After an eye exam, I was diagnosed with floaters. After drinking: After 2, 4, and 6 months of drinking the water, the patient underwent eye examinations at an eye clinic and no problems were found at any time. After 2 months of drinking the water, the patient no longer saw small, slowly moving black shadows or black shooting stars that he had previously seen when he shifted his gaze widely.

[0031] In this way, patients who were diagnosed with floaters were found to see improvement in their floaters by taking Senshinren. [Industrial Applicability]

[0032] The agent for improving mosquito floaters of the present invention can be used as medicines, foods and beverages, etc. for improving mosquito floaters.

Claims

1. A medicine for improving floaters that contains Senshinren as an active ingredient.

2. A method for improving floaters, which comprises administering Senshinren to a mammal other than a human.