Spleen enlargement inhibitors, including swallow's nest

Abstract

To provide effective splenomegaly inhibitors or food allergy reaction inhibitors.SOLUTION: The present invention provides splenomegaly inhibitors or food allergy reaction inhibitors, containing bird's nest.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an agent for inhibiting spleen hypertrophy, comprising swallow's nest. [Background technology]

[0002] Allergies are classified into four types (I to IV) according to the classification method of Gell and Coombs. Of these, type I allergies are immunoglobulin E (IgE)-dependent allergies, and are also called immediate allergies because symptoms appear relatively quickly after an allergen enters the body.

[0003] Type I allergic reactions consist of a sensitization phase reaction in which sensitization is established, and an elicitation phase reaction in which symptoms are induced. In the sensitization phase, IgE specific to the allergen that has entered the body is produced and binds to IgE receptors on the surface of mast cells that are widely present in tissues throughout the body (perivascular, skin, subcutaneous tissue, lungs, digestive tract, liver, spleen, etc.), resulting in sensitization. In the elicitation phase, the allergen that has sensitized enters the body again and binds to the allergen-specific IgE on the mast cells, which causes inflammatory mediators such as histamine and leukotriene to be released from the mast cells, resulting in the elicitation of allergic symptoms.

[0004] Food allergies are generally classified as type I allergies. The allergens in food allergies are mainly proteins, and allergies to various foods such as wheat, soybeans, chicken eggs, milk, shellfish, fruits, buckwheat, fish, and peanuts have been reported. Among food allergies, chicken egg allergy is particularly common, and it is said that more than 50% of food allergy patients under the age of one have chicken egg allergy.

[0005] The number of people with food allergies has been increasing in recent years, and in Japan, it is said that 1-2% of the total population has some kind of food allergy. The prevalence of food allergies is particularly high in infants, at 5-10%, but while food allergies in infants can be cured naturally as they acquire tolerance as they grow, food allergies in adults are difficult to acquire tolerance to and often require continuous elimination of the causative food.

[0006] Symptoms of food allergies appear in the skin, respiratory tract, mucous membranes, digestive tract, or nerves, but anaphylaxis, a condition in which these symptoms appear throughout the body in multiple organs, can be life-threatening.

[0007] Currently, oral immunostimulation therapy and other treatments are being used to treat food allergies, which can be considered a modern disease, but the results are not necessarily satisfactory. In addition, antihistamines and other drugs are used to improve allergic symptoms, but antihistamines have side effects such as drowsiness. Therefore, there is a need for substances that can suppress allergies, including food allergies.

[0008] In addition, allergies such as food allergies may be accompanied by spleen hypertrophy. Spleen hypertrophy may cause symptoms such as loss of appetite, bloating, abdominal pain, and back pain due to pressure on the stomach, but no substance has been found to suppress spleen hypertrophy. Therefore, a substance that suppresses spleen hypertrophy is also needed.

[0009] On the other hand, bird's nest (called bird's nest in Chinese medicine) is a nest made by birds of the Apodiformes order, family Apodiidae (which usually live in Southeast Asia) in caves (cavities) from mucous membrane substances secreted from the salivary glands, and has long been used in soups and desserts as a luxury ingredient in medicinal cuisine.

[0010] According to Halimi et al. (Non-Patent Document 1), commercially available bird's nest contains about 16% by weight of moisture, about 58% by weight of protein, about 1% by weight of lipids, about 3% by weight of ash, and about 22% by weight of carbohydrates, and the main amino acids that can constitute protein are glutamic acid (9.6% by weight), aspartic acid (6.3% by weight), lysine (5.4% by weight), and leucine (5.3% by weight).

[0011] According to the Compendium of Materia Medica, a Chinese medicine book, Bird's Nest is described as "sweet and mild in taste, great for nourishing the lungs, transforming phlegm and stopping coughs, stimulating and clearing the body, and is used as a sacred medicine for treating deficiency and labor damage," and is said to have the effect of stimulating the body and promoting qi, and is effective mainly for fatigue recovery, pulmonary tuberculosis, chronic diarrhea, chest congestion, nausea, etc. Patent Document 1, for example, describes that an enzyme decomposition product of bird's nest has a skin-beautifying effect.

[0012] However, the function of swallow's nest has not yet been fully elucidated. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0013] [Patent Document 1] JP 2003-95961 A [Non-patent literature]

[0014] [Non-Patent Document 1] Nurfatin Mohd Halimi et al., 2014, AIP Conf. Proc., 1614, 476-481 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0015] An object of the present invention is to provide an effective agent for suppressing spleen enlargement or food allergic reaction. [Means for solving the problem]

[0016] As a result of intensive research to solve the above-mentioned problems, the inventors discovered that bird's nest suppresses splenic enlargement and the production of allergen-specific IgE associated with allergic reactions, and thus completed the present invention.

[0017] That is, the present invention includes the following. [1] Spleen suppressants, including swallow's nest, to suppress spleen enlargement associated with allergic reactions. [2] The spleen hyperplasia inhibitor described in [1], wherein the allergic reaction is a food allergy reaction. [3] The spleen hyperplasia inhibitor described in [2], wherein the food allergy reaction is a food allergy reaction to chicken eggs. [4] A spleen hypertrophy inhibitor according to any one of [1] to [3], for oral administration. [5] A food allergy reaction suppressant, including bird's nest, for suppressing sensitization to allergens in food allergy reactions. [6] The food allergy reaction suppressant described in [5], wherein the food allergy reaction is a food allergy reaction to chicken eggs. [7] A food allergy reaction suppressant described in [5] or [6] for oral administration. [8] A food allergy reaction suppressant according to any one of [5] to [7] for reducing the risk of developing a food allergy. [9] A food or beverage containing bird's nest for suppressing splenomegaly associated with an allergic reaction and / or for suppressing sensitization to allergens in a food allergic reaction.

[10] A diet containing bird's nest to inhibit splenomegaly associated with allergic reactions and / or to inhibit sensitization to allergens in food allergy reactions.

[11] Medications containing swallow nests to reduce splenomegaly associated with allergic reactions and / or to reduce sensitization to allergens in food allergy reactions. Effect of the Invention

[0018] According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress spleen enlargement associated with allergic reactions, or sensitization to allergens in food allergy reactions. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a graph showing the spleen weight of mice that were fed a diet containing or without bird's nest and then administered physiological saline or OVA. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a graph showing plasma total IgE concentrations in mice fed a diet containing or without bird's nest, and administered saline or OVA. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a graph showing plasma OVA-specific IgE concentrations in mice fed a diet containing or without bird's nest, which were administered physiological saline or OVA. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] The present invention will be described in detail below.

[0021] The present invention relates to the use of bird's nest for inhibiting allergic reactions or pathological conditions related thereto. In particular, the present invention relates to the use of bird's nest for inhibiting spleen hypertrophy and for inhibiting food allergic reactions.

[0022] (1) Spleen enlargement inhibitors The present invention relates to a spleen hypertrophy inhibitor containing bird's nest (hereinafter also referred to as "the spleen hypertrophy inhibitor of the present invention"). The spleen hypertrophy inhibitor of the present invention can be used to inhibit spleen hypertrophy associated with allergic reactions in particular.

[0023] In this specification, "bird's nest" means a nest (so-called "bird's nest") made by birds (swifts) of the order Apodiformes and family Apodidae from mucous substances secreted from the salivary glands. The bird's nest is preferably edible. Birds of the order Apodiformes and family Apodidae that make edible bird's nests include, for example, birds of the genus Aerodramus, such as the Java Swift (Aerodramus fuciphagus) and the common Swift (Aerodramus maximus).

[0024] The bird's nest may be collected from a natural cave or may be obtained by controlled cultivation in an artificial house, etc. The bird's nest may be the whole nest or a part of the nest.

[0025] The bird's nest may be a bird's nest that has been subjected to, for example, washing, soaking, feather removal, molding, drying, crushing, or sterilization (including sterilization), or any combination thereof. The washing, soaking, feather removal, molding, drying, crushing, and sterilization of the bird's nest can be performed by a normal method. The washing of the bird's nest can be performed, for example, by washing the bird's nest with water. The soaking of the bird's nest can be performed, for example, by immersing the bird's nest in water. The molding of the bird's nest can be performed, for example, by placing the bird's nest in a metal mold or a non-metal mold. In the molding process, a molding additive may be used. The drying of the bird's nest can be performed by drying in the sun or by drying with a dryer, and may be, for example, freeze-drying, normal pressure drying, heat drying, or vacuum drying. The bird's nest can be crushed by, for example, an impact crusher, a cutter mill, a ball mill, a roller mill, a jet mill, a hammer mill, or a pin mill. The bird's nest can be sterilized by, for example, heat sterilization (e.g., boiling sterilization, dry heat sterilization), pressure sterilization, superheated steam treatment, sterilization with a sterilizing agent (e.g., sodium hypochlorite, etc.), or sterilization with electromagnetic waves (e.g., gamma rays, X-rays, ultraviolet rays, etc.). The bird's nest may be one that has not been subjected to a treatment for decomposing sugar chains (e.g., enzyme treatment or hydrolysis treatment).

[0026] Bird nests are commercially available and can be obtained, for example, from G-Foods Trading Co., Ltd. Commercially available bird nests are usually ones that have been harvested, washed with water to remove impurities, soaked in water, de-feathered, and optionally molded with additives, and then dried.

[0027] The bird's nest to which no additives are added may, for example, contain 10-20% by weight of water, 50-70% by weight of protein, 0-5% by weight of lipid, 0-10% by weight of ash, and 15-30% by weight of carbohydrate, or may, for example, contain 13-15% by weight of water, 59-61% by weight of protein, 0-2% by weight of lipid, 2-4% by weight of ash, and 21-23% by weight of carbohydrate. The bird's nest to which no additives are added may, for example, contain 3-15% by weight of glutamic acid, 0-10% by weight of aspartic acid, 0-10% by weight of lysine, and 0-10% by weight of leucine, or may, for example, contain 4-5% by weight of glutamic acid, 5-6% by weight of aspartic acid, 2-3% by weight of lysine, and 4-5% by weight of leucine. The bird's nest to which no additives are added may also contain 8-12% by weight of N-acetylneuraminic acid in the form of a sugar chain.

[0028] As shown in the Examples below, bird's nest has an effect of suppressing spleen enlargement, particularly the effect of suppressing spleen enlargement associated with allergic reactions. Therefore, bird's nest can be used as an active ingredient of a spleen enlargement suppressant, particularly an agent for suppressing spleen enlargement associated with allergic reactions.

[0029] Recent research suggests that when food allergy occurs, differentiation of precursor cells into mast cells and significant proliferation of mast cells occur in the spleen (Shota Toyoshima et al., 2017, International Immunology, Vol. 29, No. 1, pp. 31-45). Therefore, without being bound by theory, it is believed that bird's nest exhibits the above-mentioned inhibitory effect on splenic hypertrophy by suppressing the proliferation of mast cells in the spleen.

[0030] In this specification, the term "spleen" refers to an organ having functions such as lymphocyte production, destruction and removal of aged red blood cells, storage of blood components such as white blood cells and platelets, and blood cell production during infancy. The spleen is one of the tissues in which antigen-specific T cell responses and antibody production by B cells occur, and it is known that immune responses in the spleen also play an important role in the development of allergies.

[0031] As used herein, "splenomegaly" refers to an increase in spleen weight or volume. Splenomegaly may be splenomegaly associated with an allergic reaction, for example, splenomegaly caused by an allergic reaction. Splenomegaly may be an increase in splenomegaly weight or volume relative to normal (for example, when no allergic reaction is occurring) splenomegaly.

[0032] As used herein, "allergy" refers to a systemic or local disorder caused by an abnormal reaction of the immune system to a specific antigen. As used herein, "allergic reaction" refers to an abnormal reaction of the immune system to a specific antigen.

[0033] In the present specification, the term "allergen" refers to an antigen that causes allergy. The allergen may be an allergen that enters the body via oral, mucosal, respiratory, skin, intravenous, or other routes. The allergen may be a protein. The allergen may be an allergen contained in dust, mold, dust mites, pollen, food, bee venom, or the like, but is preferably an allergen contained in food (i.e., a food allergen). Examples of food allergens include proteins contained in foods such as wheat, soybeans, chicken eggs, milk, crustaceans, fruits, buckwheat, fish, and peanuts, such as prolamins (e.g., gliadin, etc.), glutenin, egg white albumin (e.g., chicken egg white albumin, etc.), ovomucoid, ovotransferrin, lysozyme, casein, β-lactoglobulin, tropomyosin, PR-10 (Pathogenesis-related protein-10), profilin, valvalbumin, and the like.

[0034] In the present specification, the allergic reaction may be, for example, an allergic reaction to a food allergen (food allergy reaction), for example, a food allergy reaction to chicken eggs. The allergic reaction may be, for example, a food allergy reaction to ovalbumin, such as chicken ovalbumin.

[0035] As shown in the Examples below, the spleen hypertrophy suppression effect can be evaluated, for example, using the spleen weight as an index. For example, mice are raised for about 3 weeks on food supplemented with or without a test substance (bird's nest or the spleen hypertrophy suppressant of the present invention), and then physiological saline with or without an allergen (e.g., ovalbumin) is intraperitoneally administered to the mice. After about 2 weeks, the mice are dissected to measure the spleen weight. (Hereinafter, mice that did not ingest the test substance and were not administered an allergen will be referred to as "non-test substance, allergen-administered mice", mice that did not ingest the test substance and were administered an allergen will be referred to as "non-test substance, allergen-administered mice", mice that ingested the test substance and not administered an allergen will be referred to as "test substance, allergen-administered mice", and mice that ingested the test substance and administered an allergen will be referred to as "test substance, allergen-administered mice".) If the statistical analysis by Newman-Keus multiple comparisons shows that the spleen weight of the mice that did not ingest the test substance and were administered an allergen is significantly increased compared to the spleen weight of the mice that did not ingest the test substance and were administered an allergen, but that the spleen weight of the mice that ingested the test substance and were administered an allergen is not significantly increased compared to the spleen weight of the mice that ingested the test substance and were administered an allergen., then the test substance can be determined to have an inhibitory effect on spleen enlargement (particularly the effect of inhibiting spleen enlargement associated with allergic reactions).

[0036] Spleen hypertrophy can cause symptoms such as loss of appetite, bloating, abdominal pain, back pain, etc., due to pressure on the stomach. Therefore, the spleen hypertrophy inhibitor of the present invention can be used, for example, to prevent or reduce the onset of symptoms caused by spleen hypertrophy (loss of appetite, bloating, abdominal pain, back pain, etc., due to pressure on the stomach).

[0037] In addition, as the spleen hypertrophy progresses, the blood supply to the spleen becomes insufficient, and the part that is no longer supplied with sufficient blood may be damaged, causing bleeding or necrosis, which may lead to a decrease in the function of the spleen and, in turn, a decrease in the defense ability against bacterial or viral infections. Therefore, the spleen hypertrophy inhibitor of the present invention may also be used to prevent or reduce the decrease in the function of the spleen caused by splenic hypertrophy.

[0038] The spleen enlargement inhibitor of the present invention may further contain additives (e.g., carriers (such as solid or liquid carriers), excipients, diluents, disintegrants, binders, coating agents, lubricants, glidants, lubricants, flavorings, sweeteners, colorants, emulsifiers, surfactants, solubilizers, suspending agents, preservatives, buffers, pH adjusters), etc. Examples of additives include titanium dioxide, lactose, mannitol, dextrin, dietary fiber, talc, gelatin, starch, cellulose and its derivatives, sugar, ascorbic acid, citric acid, polyethylene glycol, glycerin, animal and vegetable oils and fats, etc. The spleen enlargement inhibitor of the present invention may contain, in addition to bird's nest, other pharmacological components having pharmacological activity. The spleen enlargement inhibitor of the present invention may be a composition.

[0039] The spleen hypertrophy inhibitor of the present invention may be administered by any route, for example, orally. In a preferred embodiment, the spleen hypertrophy inhibitor of the present invention may be for oral administration.

[0040] The subject (subject) to which the spleen hypertrophy inhibitor of the present invention is administered may be any mammal, including humans, livestock (horses, cows, sheep, goats, pigs, etc.), pets (dogs, cats, rabbits, etc.), and experimental animals (mice, rats, monkeys, etc.), and is preferably humans. In the present invention, the subject may be a young or adult. The subject may also be male or female. The subject may be a subject at high risk of developing food allergies. Subjects at high risk of developing food allergies include, for example, subjects with a genetic or environmental predisposition to food allergies, subjects with a history of allergies, etc.

[0041] The dosage or intake amount of the spleen hypertrophy inhibitor of the present invention can be appropriately determined taking into consideration various factors such as the administration route, and the age, body weight, and symptoms of the subject.

[0042] The spleen hypertrophy inhibitor of the present invention may contain an effective amount of bird's nest. The spleen hypertrophy inhibitor of the present invention may contain, for example, 0.01% by weight to 99.99% by weight of bird's nest, for example, 0.1% by weight to 90% by weight, 0.1% by weight to 50% by weight, 0.1% by weight to 10% by weight, 0.1% by weight to 5% by weight, or 0.5% by weight to 5% by weight.

[0043] The spleen hypertrophy suppressant of the present invention may be administered once, or multiple times at intervals of several hours to several months.

[0044] (2) Food allergy reaction suppressants As described above, bird's nest is believed to be able to suppress the proliferation of mast cells in the spleen associated with allergic reactions. In addition, as shown in the Examples below, bird's nest can also suppress the production of allergen-specific IgE.

[0045] Such effects of bird's nest (inhibition of proliferation of mast cells in the spleen and inhibition of production of allergen-specific IgE) result in inhibition of food allergy reactions, which are IgE-dependent type I allergic reactions involving mast cells, and bird's nest can therefore be used as an active ingredient in a food allergy reaction inhibitor. Therefore, the present invention also provides a food allergy reaction inhibitor containing bird's nest (hereinafter also referred to as the "food allergy reaction inhibitor of the present invention").

[0046] In the food allergy reaction suppressant of the present invention, the meanings of the terms "bird's nest" and "food allergy reaction" are as described in "(1) Spleen enlargement suppressant". In the food allergy reaction suppressant of the present invention, the food allergy reaction is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, a food allergy reaction to chicken eggs. The food allergy reaction may also be a food allergy reaction to ovalbumin such as chicken ovalbumin. In the food allergy reaction suppressant of the present invention, the food allergy reaction is particularly a type I allergy reaction, i.e., an immediate type food allergy reaction.

[0047] In this specification, "type I allergy" refers to allergy classified as type I according to the classification method of Gell and Coombs. Type I allergy is an IgE-dependent allergy, and is also called immediate-type allergy because symptoms appear relatively shortly (less than 1 hour) after an allergen enters the body. Symptoms of type I allergy can appear in the skin, respiratory tract, mucous membrane, digestive tract, nerves, etc. Symptoms of type I allergy are typically as follows: Skin symptoms: itching, hives, swelling, redness, eczema, etc. Respiratory symptoms: sneezing, runny nose, stuffy nose, coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing, etc. Mucous membrane symptoms: redness or swelling of the eyes, tears, itching, discomfort or swelling in the mouth, lips, or tongue, etc. Digestive symptoms: diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, bloody stool, etc. Neurological symptoms: headache, loss of energy, confusion, etc.

[0048] Type I allergic reactions consist of a sensitization phase reaction in which sensitization is established and an elicitation phase reaction in which symptoms are induced. The sensitization phase reaction includes a series of reactions from the invasion of an allergen into the body to the establishment of sensitization to the allergen, specifically, the uptake of the allergen by dendritic cells and the presentation of the allergen to T cells, the interaction between activated T cells and B cells, the differentiation of B cells into plasma cells, the production of allergen-specific IgE, and the binding of allergen-specific IgE to IgE receptors on the surface of mast cells (i.e., the establishment of sensitization to the allergen). The elicitation phase reaction includes a series of reactions from the invasion of an allergen that has established sensitization into the body to the induction of symptoms, specifically, the binding of the allergen to allergen-specific IgE on mast cells, the release of inflammatory mediators such as histamine and leukotriene from mast cells, and the onset of allergic symptoms.

[0049] The food allergy reaction inhibitor of the present invention, which inhibits the production of allergen-specific IgE, can be used particularly to inhibit sensitization to allergens in food allergy reactions. In the food allergy reaction inhibitor of the present invention, the meaning of the term "allergen" is as described in "(1) Spleen hypertrophy inhibitor." In this specification, "sensitization to allergens in food allergy reactions" refers to a state in which allergen-specific IgE is produced and binds to IgE receptors on the surface of mast cells.

[0050] As used herein, "suppression of food allergic reactions" means suppression of food allergic reactions, and includes suppression of reactions in the sensitization phase and / or elicitation phase of food allergic reactions.

[0051] As shown in the examples below, the food allergy reaction suppressing effect can be determined, for example, using plasma IgE concentration as an index. For example, mice are raised for about 3 weeks on food supplemented with or not supplemented with a test substance (bird's nest or the food allergy reaction suppressor of the present invention), and then physiological saline with or without an allergen (e.g., ovalbumin) is intraperitoneally administered to the mice. After about 2 weeks, the mice are dissected and the plasma allergen-specific IgE concentration is measured. When the results of statistical analysis by t-test show that the plasma allergen-specific IgE concentration of the mice not ingesting the test substance and administered with the allergen is significantly increased compared to the plasma allergen-specific IgE concentration of the mice not ingesting the test substance and administered with the allergen, but the plasma allergen-specific IgE concentration of the mice not ingesting the test substance and administered with the allergen is not significantly increased compared to the plasma allergen-specific IgE concentration of the mice not ingesting the test substance and administered with the allergen, the test substance can be determined to have a food allergy reaction suppressing effect.

[0052] The food allergic reaction suppressant of the present invention can be intended to suppress sensitization to allergens in food allergic reactions, for example, by suppressing the proliferation of mast cells in the spleen and / or the production of allergen-specific IgE.

[0053] The food allergy reaction suppressant of the present invention may contain, in addition to bird's nest, other pharmacological components having pharmacological activity. The food allergy reaction suppressant of the present invention may further contain additives (e.g., carriers (solid or liquid carriers, etc.), excipients, diluents, disintegrants, binders, coating agents, lubricants, glidants, lubricants, flavorings, sweeteners, colorants, emulsifiers, surfactants, solubilizers, suspending agents, preservatives, buffers, pH adjusters), etc. Examples of additives include titanium dioxide, lactose, mannitol, dextrin, dietary fiber, talc, gelatin, starch, cellulose and its derivatives, sugar, ascorbic acid, citric acid, polyethylene glycol, glycerin, animal and vegetable oils and fats, etc. The food allergy reaction suppressant of the present invention may be a composition.

[0054] The route of administration, subjects of administration, and dosage or intake amount of the food allergy reaction suppressant of the present invention are the same as those of the spleen hypertrophy suppressant of the present invention. The food allergy reaction suppressant of the present invention may be, for example, for oral administration.

[0055] The food allergy reaction suppressant of the present invention may contain an effective amount of bird's nest. The food allergy reaction suppressant of the present invention may contain, for example, 0.01% by weight to 99.99% by weight of bird's nest, for example, 0.1% by weight to 90% by weight, 0.1% by weight to 50% by weight, 0.1% by weight to 10% by weight, 0.1% by weight to 5% by weight, or 0.5% by weight to 5% by weight.

[0056] The food allergic reaction suppressant of the present invention may be administered once, or multiple times at intervals of several hours to several months.

[0057] The food allergy reaction suppressant of the present invention can suppress sensitization to allergens, which is the early stage of food allergy reactions, and can therefore be used to reduce the risk of developing food allergies or prevent the onset of food allergies. For example, the food allergy reaction suppressant of the present invention can be used to reduce the risk of developing food allergies or prevent the onset of food allergies in subjects who do not have food allergies. The food allergy reaction suppressant of the present invention can also be used to reduce the risk of developing food allergies to a certain allergen or prevent the onset of food allergies to another allergen in subjects who have a food allergy to another allergen.

[0058] In one embodiment, the food allergy reaction suppressant of the present invention can be used to suppress a food allergy reaction and suppress splenomegaly. In one embodiment, the food allergy reaction suppressant of the present invention can be used to suppress sensitization to an allergen in a food allergy reaction and suppress splenomegaly associated with an allergic reaction.

[0059] (3) Food and beverages Bird's nest, the spleen enlargement inhibitor of the present invention, or the food allergy reaction inhibitor of the present invention can be added to food and drink. Thus, the present invention also provides food and drink containing bird's nest, the spleen enlargement inhibitor of the present invention, or the food allergy reaction inhibitor of the present invention for inhibiting spleen enlargement and / or inhibiting food allergy reactions (hereinafter also referred to as "food and drink of the present invention").

[0060] The food and drink of the present invention containing bird's nest, the spleen enlargement inhibitor of the present invention, or the food allergy reaction inhibitor of the present invention can be used for the same purpose as the spleen enlargement inhibitor of the present invention or the food allergy reaction inhibitor of the present invention. The food and drink of the present invention can be, for example, for suppressing spleen enlargement associated with an allergic reaction, and / or for suppressing sensitization to an allergen in a food allergy reaction. In the food and drink of the present invention, the allergic reaction may be a food allergy reaction, for example, a food allergy reaction against chicken eggs. The allergic reaction may also be, for example, a food allergy reaction against ovalbumin such as chicken ovalbumin.

[0061] The food and drink of the present invention may contain an effective amount of bird's nest. The food and drink of the present invention may contain, for example, 0.01% by weight to 99.99% by weight of bird's nest, for example, 0.1% by weight to 90% by weight, 0.1% by weight to 50% by weight, 0.1% by weight to 10% by weight, 0.1% by weight to 5% by weight, or 0.5% by weight to 5% by weight.

[0062] The food and beverage of the present invention may further contain additives acceptable for the production of foods and beverages (food additives; for example, carriers (such as solid and liquid carriers), excipients, diluents, disintegrants, binders, coating agents, lubricants, gliding agents, glidants, flavoring agents, sweeteners, colorants, emulsifiers, surfactants, solubilizers, suspending agents, preservatives, buffers, pH adjusters), etc.

[0063] The food and drink of the present invention may be in any form such as processed food, side dish, confectionery, seasoning, beverage, etc., for example, jelly, pudding, gummy, chewing gum, candy, fruit juice drink, fermented milk, tea, carbonated drink, etc. The food and drink of the present invention may be preferably a functional food.

[0064] In the present invention, the term "functional food" refers to food that can impart a specific functionality to the living body, and includes all types of health foods, such as foods for specified health uses (including conditional FOSHU [foods for specified health uses]), foods with functional claims, health functional foods including foods with nutrient functions, foods for special dietary uses, dietary supplements, health supplements, supplements (for example, tablets, coated tablets, sugar-coated tablets, capsules, liquids, and other dosage forms), beauty foods (for example, diet foods), etc. In addition, in the present invention, "functional food" includes health foods to which a health claim based on the food standards of Codex Alimentarius (the Joint FAO / WHO Commission on Food Standards) is applied.

[0065] The food and drink of the present invention may be prepared in any form, such as solid, liquid, mixture, suspension, paste, gel, powder, granule, capsule, etc. The food and drink of the present invention may contain bird's nest, the spleen enlargement inhibitor of the present invention, or the food allergy reaction inhibitor of the present invention, by any appropriate method available to a person skilled in the art. Specifically, the food and drink of the present invention may contain bird's nest, the spleen enlargement inhibitor of the present invention, or the food allergy reaction inhibitor of the present invention in a capsule, or may be wrapped in an edible film or edible coating agent, or may be formed into any form, such as a tablet, after mixing (adding) a suitable excipient, etc., with bird's nest, the spleen enlargement inhibitor of the present invention, or the food allergy reaction inhibitor of the present invention. The food and drink of the present invention may be produced by processing a composition containing bird's nest, the spleen enlargement inhibitor of the present invention, or the food allergy reaction inhibitor of the present invention and other food ingredients. The food and beverage products of the present invention can also be produced, for example, by blending (adding) bird's nest, the spleen enlargement inhibitor of the present invention, or the food allergy reaction inhibitor of the present invention to various foods (drinks, liquid foods, foods for the sick, nutritional foods, frozen foods, processed foods, other commercially available foods, etc.).

[0066] The subjects (subjects) to which the food and beverage of the present invention is administered can be set in the same manner as the subjects (subjects) to which the spleen enlargement inhibitor or food allergy reaction inhibitor of the present invention is administered as described above, but the subjects to which the food and beverage of the present invention is administered are particularly humans.

[0067] (4) Feed Bird's nest, the spleen enlargement inhibitor of the present invention, or the food allergic reaction inhibitor of the present invention can be added to feed. Thus, the present invention also provides a feed containing bird's nest, the spleen enlargement inhibitor of the present invention, or the food allergic reaction inhibitor of the present invention (hereinafter also referred to as "the feed of the present invention") for inhibiting spleen enlargement and / or inhibiting food allergic reaction.

[0068] The feed of the present invention containing bird's nest, the spleen enlargement inhibitor of the present invention, or the food allergy reaction inhibitor of the present invention can be used for the same purpose as the above-mentioned spleen enlargement inhibitor of the present invention or the food allergy reaction inhibitor of the present invention. The feed of the present invention can be, for example, for suppressing spleen enlargement associated with an allergic reaction and / or for suppressing sensitization to an allergen in a food allergy reaction. In the feed of the present invention, the allergic reaction can be a food allergy reaction, for example a food allergy reaction against chicken eggs. The allergic reaction can also be, for example, a food allergy reaction against ovalbumin, such as chicken ovalbumin.

[0069] The feed of the present invention may contain an effective amount of bird's nest. The feed of the present invention may contain, for example, 0.01% by weight to 99.99% by weight of bird's nest, for example, 0.1% by weight to 90% by weight, 0.1% by weight to 50% by weight, 0.1% by weight to 10% by weight, 0.1% by weight to 5% by weight, or 0.5% by weight to 5% by weight.

[0070] The feed of the present invention may further contain additives acceptable for the production of feed (feed additives; for example, carriers (such as solid or liquid carriers), excipients, diluents, disintegrants, binders, coating agents, lubricants, gliding agents, glidants, flavoring agents, sweeteners, colorants, emulsifiers, surfactants, solubilizers, suspending agents, preservatives, buffers, pH adjusters), etc.

[0071] The feed of the present invention may be prepared in any form, such as solid, liquid, mixture, suspension, paste, gel, powder, granule, capsule, etc. The feed of the present invention may contain bird's nest, the spleen enlargement inhibitor of the present invention, or the food allergy reaction inhibitor of the present invention by any suitable method available to those skilled in the art. The feed of the present invention may be produced, for example, by a method similar to the method for producing the food and drink of the present invention described above.

[0072] The subject (subject) to which the feed of the present invention is administered may be any non-human mammal, including livestock (horses, cows, sheep, goats, pigs, etc.), pets (dogs, cats, rabbits, etc.), and laboratory animals (mice, rats, monkeys, etc.). In the present invention, the subject may be a young animal or an adult. The subject may also be male or female. The subject may be a subject at high risk of developing food allergies. Subjects at high risk of developing food allergies include, for example, subjects with a genetic or environmental predisposition to food allergies, subjects with a history of allergies, etc.

[0073] (5) Pharmaceuticals Bird's nest, the spleen enlargement inhibitor of the present invention, or the food allergy reaction inhibitor of the present invention can be added to a medicine. Thus, the present invention also provides a medicine containing bird's nest, the spleen enlargement inhibitor of the present invention, or the food allergy reaction inhibitor of the present invention for inhibiting spleen enlargement and / or inhibiting food allergy reaction (hereinafter also referred to as "the medicine of the present invention").

[0074] The pharmaceutical product of the present invention, including bird's nest, the spleen enlargement inhibitor of the present invention, or the food allergy reaction inhibitor of the present invention, can be used for the same purpose as the spleen enlargement inhibitor of the present invention or the food allergy reaction inhibitor of the present invention. The pharmaceutical product of the present invention can be, for example, for suppressing spleen enlargement associated with allergic reactions and / or for suppressing sensitization to allergens in food allergy reactions. In the pharmaceutical product of the present invention, the allergic reaction can be a food allergy reaction, for example a food allergy reaction to chicken eggs. The allergic reaction can also be, for example, a food allergy reaction to ovalbumin, such as chicken ovalbumin.

[0075] The pharmaceutical composition of the present invention may contain an effective amount of bird's nest. The pharmaceutical composition of the present invention may contain, for example, 0.01% by weight to 99.99% by weight of bird's nest, for example, 0.1% by weight to 90% by weight, 0.1% by weight to 50% by weight, 0.1% by weight to 10% by weight, 0.1% by weight to 5% by weight, or 0.5% by weight to 5% by weight.

[0076] The pharmaceutical of the present invention may further contain pharma- ceutical acceptable additives (pharmaceutical additives; for example, carriers (such as solid or liquid carriers), excipients, diluents, disintegrants, binders, coating agents, lubricants, glidants, glidants, flavorings, sweeteners, colorants, emulsifiers, surfactants, solubilizers, suspending agents, preservatives, buffers, pH adjusters), etc. In this case, the additives, etc. can be appropriately selected depending on the dosage form of the preparation.

[0077] The pharmaceutical of the present invention may be formulated in any dosage form, such as solid preparations such as tablets, granules, powders, pills, and capsules, liquid preparations such as liquids, suspensions, and syrups, gels, and aerosols. When the pharmaceutical is used as a liquid preparation, it can also be formulated as a dry product intended to be reconstituted with, for example, physiological saline just before use. In addition, the pharmaceutical of the present invention can be appropriately set in the amount of swallow's nest, and the amount can be changed depending on the dosage form, additives, and the severity of the target disease. Preferred administration routes of the pharmaceutical of the present invention include, but are not limited to, oral administration. The pharmaceutical of the present invention can be, for example, for oral administration.

[0078] The subjects (subjects) to which the pharmaceutical product of the present invention is administered can be set in the same manner as the subjects (subjects) to which the above-mentioned spleen enlargement inhibitor or food allergic reaction inhibitor of the present invention is administered.

[0079] (6) Method for inhibiting spleen enlargement The present invention also provides a method for suppressing spleen enlargement in a subject, comprising administering to the subject bird's nest, the spleen enlargement inhibitor of the present invention, a food or drink, a feed, or a medicine (hereinafter also referred to as the "method for suppressing spleen enlargement of the present invention"). The method for suppressing spleen enlargement of the present invention can be, for example, for suppressing spleen enlargement associated with an allergic reaction.

[0080] In the method for suppressing splenomegaly of the present invention, the allergic reaction may be a food allergy reaction, for example, a food allergy reaction to chicken eggs. The allergic reaction may also be a food allergy reaction to ovalbumin, for example, chicken ovalbumin.

[0081] In the method for inhibiting spleen hypertrophy of the present invention, the route of administration, the subject of administration, and the dosage of the bird's nest, the spleen hypertrophy inhibitor of the present invention, the food, drink, feed, or medicine are as described for the spleen hypertrophy inhibitor, the food, drink, feed, or medicine of the present invention. In the method for inhibiting spleen hypertrophy of the present invention, the bird's nest, the spleen hypertrophy inhibitor of the present invention, the food, drink, feed, or medicine of the present invention are, for example, orally administered.

[0082] In the method for suppressing spleen hypertrophy of the present invention, the bird's nest, the spleen hypertrophy inhibitor of the present invention, the food or drink, the feed, or the pharmaceutical agent may be administered once or multiple times at intervals of several hours to several months.

[0083] (7) Method for suppressing food allergy reactions The present invention also provides a method for suppressing a food allergic reaction in a subject (hereinafter also referred to as "the food allergic reaction suppression method of the present invention"), which comprises administering to the subject bird's nest, the food allergic reaction suppressant of the present invention, a food or drink, a feed, or a medicine. The food allergic reaction suppression method of the present invention may be for suppressing, for example, sensitization to an allergen in a food allergic reaction. In the allergic reaction suppressant of the present invention, the food allergic reaction may be, for example, a type I food allergy reaction to chicken eggs. The food allergy reaction may also be, for example, a food allergy reaction to ovalbumin such as chicken ovalbumin. The food allergy reaction suppression method of the present invention may be for suppressing sensitization to an allergen in a food allergic reaction by suppressing the production of allergen-specific IgE.

[0084] In the method for suppressing a food allergy reaction of the present invention, the route of administration, the subject of administration, and the dosage of the bird's nest, the food allergy reaction suppressant of the present invention, the food or drink, the feed, or the medicine are as described for the food allergy reaction suppressant, the food or drink, the feed, or the medicine of the present invention. In the method for suppressing a food allergy reaction of the present invention, the bird's nest, the food allergy reaction suppressant of the present invention, the food or drink, the feed, or the medicine is, for example, orally administered.

[0085] In the method for suppressing a food allergic reaction of the present invention, the bird's nest, the food allergic reaction suppressant of the present invention, the food or drink, the feed, or the pharmaceutical may be administered once or multiple times at intervals of several hours to several months. EXAMPLES

[0086] The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to examples, although the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to these examples.

[0087] <Spleen enlargement and allergic reaction suppression effects of swallow's nest> Using egg white allergy model mice, we investigated the inhibitory effects of bird's nest on spleen enlargement and allergic reaction.

[0088] Specifically, 6-week-old male Balb / c mice (Charles River Laboratories Japan, Inc.) were pre-bred for 1 week, then divided into a group fed with a diet containing 1% by weight of bird's nest and a group fed with a diet not containing bird's nest, and bred for 3 weeks (n=12). A commercially available solid feed (CRF-1; Oriental Yeast Co., Ltd.) was used as the feed. The bird's nest was 100% bird's nest powder obtained by crushing commercially available bird's nest (G-Foods Trading Co., Ltd.) in a cutter mill and sterilizing it with superheated steam. The feed was given ad libitum. Feces were collected once a week for 24 hours during the 3-week breeding period, and the IgA concentration in the feces was measured.

[0089] After 3 weeks of feeding, each group was further divided into two groups, one receiving ovalbumin (OVA) (allergen) from chicken eggs and the other receiving saline. The former group was intraperitoneally administered 200μL of saline containing 20μg of OVA, and the latter group was intraperitoneally administered 200μL of saline without OVA (n=6). After 2 weeks, the mice were weighed and then dissected to measure the weight of each organ (liver, spleen, kidney, and white adipose tissue), total IgE concentration in plasma, and OVA-specific IgE concentration. Fecal IgA concentration was also measured immediately before dissection.

[0090] The measurement results of body weight and the weight of each organ are shown in Table 1 below and FIG.

[0091] Statistical analysis by Newman-Keus multiple comparison showed that spleen weight increased significantly in mice not fed bird's nest after OVA administration. In contrast, no significant increase in spleen weight was observed in mice fed bird's nest after OVA administration. These results and Figures 2 and 3 below show that intake of bird's nest suppresses spleen enlargement associated with allergic reactions.

[0092] Recent research suggests that when food allergies occur, precursor cells differentiate into mast cells in the spleen and mast cells proliferate significantly (Shota Toyoshima et al., 2017, International Immunology, Vol. 29, No. 1, pp. 31-45). Therefore, it is believed that the above-mentioned splenic hypertrophy is due to the proliferation of mast cells, and that bird's nest suppresses the proliferation of such mast cells.

[0093] [Table 1]

[0094] The results of measuring the total IgE concentration in plasma are shown in Figure 2. The plasma total IgE concentration increased by OVA administration in mice that were not given bird's nest, but the increase was suppressed in mice that were given bird's nest (Figure 2).

[0095] The results of measuring the OVA-specific IgE concentration in plasma are shown in Figure 3. The results of the t-test showed that the plasma OVA-specific IgE concentration was significantly increased by OVA administration in mice that were not fed bird's nest, but no significant increase was observed in mice that were fed bird's nest (Figure 3). Furthermore, the plasma OVA-specific IgE concentration in mice that were fed bird's nest and were administered OVA was significantly lower than the plasma OVA-specific IgE concentration in mice that were not fed bird's nest and were administered OVA. These results indicate that ingestion of bird's nest suppresses sensitization to allergens, which is the initial stage of a food allergic reaction, and reduces the risk of developing a food allergy.

[0096] Regarding food intake and activity, no differences were observed among the four groups.

[0097] Furthermore, there was no significant difference between the groups in fecal IgA concentrations before OVA administration, and no significant difference was observed between the groups in fecal IgA concentrations immediately before dissection.

Claims

1. A spleen enlargement inhibitor for oral administration, which comprises bird's nest for inhibiting spleen enlargement accompanying an allergic reaction, provided that the bird's nest is not subjected to an enzymatic treatment.

2. The spleen hypertrophy inhibitor according to claim 1, wherein the allergic reaction is a food allergy reaction.

3. The spleen hypertrophy inhibitor according to claim 2, wherein the food allergy reaction is a food allergy reaction to chicken eggs.

4. A food or drink containing bird's nest for suppressing splenomegaly associated with an allergic reaction, with the proviso that the bird's nest is not subjected to enzymatic treatment.

5. A feed containing bird's nest for suppressing splenomegaly associated with an allergic reaction, with the proviso that the bird's nest is not subjected to enzymatic treatment.

6. 1. A pharmaceutical for oral administration comprising bird's nest for inhibiting splenomegaly associated with an allergic reaction, wherein the bird's nest is not enzymatically treated.

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