Hygiene products for the mouth, nose or throat made from seaweed and its extracts

Abstract

To provide hygiene products for the oral cavity, nostrils, or throat with seaweeds and extracts thereof.SOLUTION: Provided are hygiene products for the oral cavity or nasal cavity, including a mouthwash and an oral, nasal, or throat cleaning agent, which consist of seaweeds such as Laminariaceae, Undaria pinnatifida, and Ulva, and / or extracts thereof, and have an inactivating effect on viruses including SARS-CoV-2, influenza virus, norovirus, and the like, and have a bactericidal effect on bacteria including Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Here, the oral hygiene products include a throat lozenge, chewing gum, and pacifier food that stay in the mouth for a certain time to promote saliva secretion.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to hygiene products including toothpaste (including paste, liquid or powder forms), tongue polish, mouthwash, dental rinse, mouthwash and other mouthwashes, as well as oral, nasal or throat cleansers and spray liquids for the oral cavity, throat or nostrils, which have the effect of inactivating viruses and killing bacteria through the use of seaweed, a natural foodstuff that has been eaten and ingested by humans for many years and whose safety has been confirmed, and / or its extracts, and further relates to foods such as throat lozenges and chewing gum that remain in the oral cavity for a certain period of time and are useful for maintaining hygiene in the oral cavity and throat, including the teeth, gums, tongue and throat.

[0002] Here, the present invention is a hygiene product for maintaining a healthy and hygienic state in the oral cavity, nostrils, or throat, and is not a vaccine or disinfectant that inactivates a specific virus, or a therapeutic drug or medicine for treating a specific disease. [Background technology]

[0003] The human mouth (oral cavity) is the digestive organ through which food is first introduced into the body when eating or drinking, and therefore is the first place susceptible to invasion by foreign substances such as mold, bacteria, and viruses from the outside world.

[0004] Furthermore, the nostrils and throat are the respiratory organs that first take in air (oxygen) into the body (lungs) through breathing, and are formed integrally with the oral cavity. Furthermore, the nose and throat are connected to the respiratory organs of the airway (trachea) and lungs (alveoli). Therefore, like the oral cavity, they are the first places that are easily invaded by foreign substances such as mold and viruses from the outside world.

[0005] Humans digest food and drink taken in through the mouth in the stomach, absorb nutrients from the food digested in the stomach mainly in the small intestine, and absorb water in the large intestine. The nutrients and water taken into the body in this way combine with oxygen taken in through the pharyngeal organs (nose, mouth, throat) and the respiratory organs connected to them (airways and lungs) and are oxidized in various parts of the body, thereby generating energy for the activity of living organisms and forming human tissues such as flesh and bones.

[0006] Humans become infected with respiratory diseases such as pneumonia and bronchitis when the causative viruses or bacteria adhere to the mucous membranes of the nose, throat, trachea, or other parts of the throat through breathing.

[0007] In addition, digestive diseases such as food poisoning in humans occur when viruses such as norovirus and mold bacteria that have entered food or drink are taken up by the digestive organs in the body via the oral cavity and esophagus.

[0008] In this way, respiratory and digestive diseases caused by viruses and bacteria can occasionally be transmitted through mucous membranes such as the skin or eyes, but most often they occur by entering the body through the throat (mouth, throat, and trachea) for breathing and the oral cavity (lips, inside of the mouth, teeth, tongue, and esophagus) for taking in food and drink.

[0009] The mouth is the trachea at the beginning of the digestive system of humans and animals, and is used primarily for ingesting nutrients and oxygen. Many animals have appendages to their digestive system, such as tongues, teeth, and exocrine glands, which are used not only to assist in eating through chewing with teeth, but also as a means of defense against external enemies.

[0010] The oral cavity of many vertebrates, including humans, is equipped with chewing organs equivalent to teeth, which, in addition to the functions of chewing food and mixing it with digestive fluids (saliva), also serve as an organ for assisting various actions such as tasting, vocalization, and breathing. Sometimes the term "mouth" refers to only the outer lips and the opening and closing part.

[0011] Morphologically, the mouth is an opening in the front of the face that opens and closes with the aid of the temporomandibular joint, and is the open end of the digestive system, the inner surface of which is covered with mucous membrane and has various appendages.

[0012] Teeth are used for chewing food as part of the digestion process, as well as attacking external objects and grasping objects. The tongue not only controls taste, but also stirs food that enters the oral cavity. There are many salivary glands, including the submandibular gland, parotid gland, and sublingual gland, which secrete saliva to aid in digestion.

[0013] The oral mucosa is part of the digestive mucosa and also an auxiliary organ for taste. Because the mucosa is more likely to absorb chemical substances with small molecular weights than the outer skin, it can also be said to play the role of an absorptive organ, as food tends to remain in the oral cavity.

[0014] Thus, the mouth is the entrance to the digestive system and the source of oxygen, making it one of the most important openings on the surface of the body. Around it are well-developed muscles for ingesting (swallowing) food. There are also organs around it for ingesting and cutting food. Their shapes vary greatly depending on the type of food being ingested.

[0015] Diseases caused by viruses, such as food poisoning caused by epidemic influenza, parainfluenza, norovirus, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), acute viral bronchitis and pneumonia, measles, and more recently the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) that causes the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), which was designated a pandemic by the WHO in the spring of 2020, are transmitted from person to person or from animal to person via droplets expelled mainly from the trachea when an infected person coughs or sneezes, fine particles containing the virus floating in the air, viruses attached to handles such as train straps and everyday objects, or mold or bacteria infected with these viruses.

[0016] It has also been confirmed that many viruses and bacteria, including the new coronavirus, are present in large amounts in the saliva of infected people.

[0017] As will be discussed later, although saliva is known to have antiviral and antibacterial properties, the amount of saliva secreted per day decreases with age, making elderly people more susceptible to viral and bacterial infections and more likely to develop severe infections if they do become infected.

[0018] In addition, when viruses attach to objects or the surface of the human body in cold environments (low temperature and low humidity), they can survive for a relatively long time without dying. In particular, when the temperature of the human respiratory organs, including the throat, drops, the cilia in the lining of the upper respiratory tract dry out and ciliary activity (upper respiratory tract barrier function) decreases, making it more likely that the virus will spread from person to person than in warm environments.

[0019] For patients infected with these viruses, medications such as Tamiflu for influenza and Remdesivir (generic name: Veklury) and Favipiravir (generic name: Avigan) for Ebola hemorrhagic fever and COVID-19 are used, and clinical trials of their therapeutic effects are underway. However, these medications carry the risk of causing side effects in pregnant women and those with specific constitutions, and considering the risk of the emergence of resistant viruses, it is important to first avoid infection and to prevent the infecting of others.

[0020] From the perspective of preventing viral infection, it has been proven through use cases and various experiments around the world that wearing a mask is effective in minimizing the range of droplets released into the air by coughing and sneezing, and in reducing the amount of droplets released into the outside air. It goes without saying that frequent hand washing and gargling are also important.

[0021] Furthermore, it is also important to frequently disinfect people's hands and familiar objects that people touch using various disinfectants that are effective in killing viruses and bacteria, such as alcohol and sodium hypochlorite water.

[0022] However, these disinfectants and sterilants generally have tissue-damaging effects on the skin, mucous membranes, etc., and there are certain restrictions on their use. In particular, when used in direct contact with the skin or mucous membranes, there are clear restrictions on their use for each virus disinfectant. Infants and young children are particularly susceptible to skin rashes and inflammation when exposed to alcohol or sodium hypochlorite water, and there is a risk of atopic dermatitis worsening in allergy sufferers.

[0023] As such, in order to prevent the spread of viral infections, it is important to first wear a mask, wash your hands and gargle frequently, and disinfect your hands and objects that people may touch with alcohol or other disinfectants in order to prevent the virus from spreading from person to person.

[0024] Incidentally, not only in Japan but also around the world, when multiple people are placed in an environment or situation where viral infection is possible, there have been many cases where some people have been infected with the virus while others have not. For example, in the case of epidemic influenza infection, among the many people who commute on crowded trains on a daily basis, some have never been infected with epidemic influenza for decades, while others are infected with influenza almost every year, regardless of whether they have been vaccinated against the influenza.

[0025] Furthermore, with regard to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), which became a global pandemic infection in 2020, many cases have been reported in which, for example, even when several people, including one or more asymptomatic infected individuals, are in a very small, enclosed space, crowded and in close contact, talking loudly, singing, eating and drinking together for a long period of time, not everyone in the room is necessarily infected with the novel coronavirus, or even if they are infected, they do not develop the novel coronavirus-related illness.

[0026] Possible reasons why some people in the same environment may or may not become infected with a virus include each person's past history of infection with the same or similar type of virus, the presence or absence of immune antibodies against certain viruses, their constitution, or differences in each individual's health and nutritional status at the time.However, it is also thought that differences in the amount of saliva secreted and ciliary activity (upper respiratory tract barrier function) that eliminates viruses and bacteria that have entered a person's upper respiratory tract also play a role.

[0027] In addition, in the case of the new coronavirus, it is also true that at present, the number of infected people and deaths from the coronavirus among Japanese people (including people from East Asia such as China, South Korea, and Taiwan) is significantly lower in proportion to their population than other developed countries such as Europe and the United States.

[0028] Reasons for this large discrepancy in the number of infected people and deaths per capita have been pointed out, including differences in social customs in everyday life in Europe and the United States, such as handshakes and hugs, whether or not there is resistance to wearing masks under normal circumstances during the period of virus infection due to low temperatures and humidity, and differences in the strength of awareness of social norms.However, in Europe and the United States, as the infection spread, so-called regional lockdowns were implemented, with curfews being issued, eating in restaurants being prohibited, and mask wearing being encouraged, but even now, the spread of the new coronavirus in Europe and the United States remains extremely serious in terms of population ratio compared to Japan.

[0029] On the other hand, as will be described later, there are foods and extracts thereof that have been known throughout human history to have bactericidal or inactivating effects against viruses and bacteria, and whose safety has been confirmed over many years even when ingested or brought into contact with the mucous membranes in the oral cavity.

[0030] For this reason, the inventors of the present application have considered that one of the reasons for such differences in infection levels of viruses, etc. is differences in dietary habits, focusing in particular on foods and ingredients that are commonly eaten by people in East Asia, including the Japanese, on a daily basis, but that are not commonly eaten by people in Western countries. They selected several such ingredients and conducted tests to confirm the antiviral effects, virus inactivation effects, and bactericidal effects of each ingredient in preventing viral infection in humans, as well as the bactericidal effects of E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus.

[0031] Incidentally, as a prior example that has confirmed the virus inactivation effect of such elements contained in foodstuffs, a document has been disclosed that shows that at least one selected from the group consisting of proteoglycans, mucopolysaccharides (e.g., glycosaminoglycans, etc.), and sugar chain-peptide isolates of proteoglycans have a virus inactivation effect, and further shows that a proteoglycan-containing extract obtained from sea hare and sea cucumber, particularly sea cucumber, and the sugar chain-peptide isolates of proteoglycans in said extract have a high virus inactivation effect (see Patent Document 1).

[0032] It has also long been reported that menthol and some herbs have antiviral properties, and examples of such herbs include rose hips, thyme, and echinacea, which are rich in vitamin C. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0033] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2019-19085 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0034] However, the nameko mushrooms, sea hares, and extracts thereof, which are shown to have a virus inactivating effect as disclosed in Patent Document 1, are not ingredients that are consumed on a daily basis by Japanese people, etc. Furthermore, these foods and their processed products are expensive, and even if these ingredients are shown to have a high virus inactivating effect, it would be difficult for many people to consume them on a daily basis.

[0035] Furthermore, the hearsay that vitamin C and some herbs have antiviral effects has not been clearly confirmed by scientific clinical trials, and there are many research reports that deny or question their physiological effects.

[0036] The present invention aims to provide a hygiene product for the oral cavity, nasal cavity or throat that does not exert an immune effect against only specific viruses like a vaccine, and does not have the risk of causing serious side effects in some people like a vaccine, and that contains a naturally occurring virus inactivator that can be eaten or its components ingested on a daily basis to make people less susceptible to infection with various viruses or prevent the disease from becoming serious even if people do become infected with a virus.

[0037] Considering that respiratory and digestive diseases caused by viruses and bacteria all first enter the body via the throat (mouth, throat and trachea) for breathing or the oral cavity (lips, inside of the mouth, teeth, tongue and esophagus) for taking in food and drink, the present invention aims to provide hygiene products for the oral cavity, nasal cavity or throat that inactivate viruses, including the novel coronavirus "SARS-CoV-2", that have entered the oral cavity and throat from the outside world, and kill bacteria.

[0038] Another object of the present invention is to provide hygiene products for the oral cavity and nasal passages that promote good saliva secretion, activate ciliary activity to eliminate viruses and bacteria that have entered the larynx and upper respiratory tract, thereby enhancing the barrier function of the upper respiratory tract, and have virus inactivation and bacterial killing effects through a combination of natural foods or extracts thereof whose safety has been confirmed, and specific additives whose safety has previously been confirmed.

[0039] There are various particularly important objectives that the sanitary product of the present invention must achieve, but they can be summarized as achieving the following objectives (1) to (4): (1) It is not a vaccine that inactivates a specific virus or a drug that kills a specific bacterium, but rather it inactivates a variety of viruses and kills a variety of bacteria. (2) It is not a drug or medicine for treating a specific disease, and there is no risk of health safety issues even if it is taken / used for a long period of time. Also, there is no risk of resistant viruses or bacteria developing. (3) When the seaweed and its extract according to the present invention are ingested or taken in contact with sensitive mucous membranes in the human body, such as the throat, nostrils, oral cavity, or respiratory organs, including the bronchi, they do not cause pain, discomfort, or discomfort, and there are no problems with the texture, taste, or smell.

[0040] Prior to conducting the first through eighth series of meticulous and long-term efficacy confirmation tests, which are described in detail in the specification of this application, the applicant conducted tests to confirm that the seaweed and / or its extract according to the present invention would not cause pain, discomfort, or discomfort when it came into contact with the sensitive throat, nostrils, oral cavity, or bronchi of the human body, and would not cause any problems with texture, taste, or smell when taken or ingested.

[0041] As a result of this preliminary confirmation test, the applicant confirmed that if the seaweed and / or extract thereof according to the present invention is extremely finely crushed to a size of approximately 5 μm and this extremely fine powder is dissolved in physiological saline (cold water and boiled water) and ingested, it can be ingested or taken without any discomfort as a hygiene product for the mouth, throat, and nasal passages. Therefore, the first to eighth efficacy confirmation tests described below were conducted by crushing the seaweed and / or extract thereof according to the present invention extremely finely to a size of approximately 5 μm and dissolving this extremely fine powder in physiological saline (cold water and boiled water).

[0042] Physiological saline is an aqueous solution of sodium chloride (NaCl) that has been prepared to have an osmotic pressure roughly equivalent to that of human body fluids. The Japanese Pharmacopoeia and prescription drugs define "physiological saline" as saline containing 0.9 w / v% sodium chloride.

[0043] Based on these conditions, the inventors and applicants of the present application focused on and selected several natural ingredients from among the foods and ingredients that Japanese people eat on a daily basis, which many people in Western countries rarely eat, and actually confirmed the virus inactivation and bactericidal effects of the selected various ingredients through several tests over a long period of time.

[0044] As a result, it was confirmed that seaweed such as kelp, wakame seaweed, and sea lettuce, or extracts of such seaweed, have a significant effect of reducing and inactivating viruses, and have a significant test effect of killing bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. [Means for solving the problem]

[0045] For this reason, the present invention ,Kon Cloth, seaweed such as wakame and ulva, and / or One or more of the above seaweeds Extraction of Something Rasō the law of nature, SARS-CoV-2, a novel coronavirus The non- activation effect play a role mouthwash ,nose Contains cavity or throat rinses Muei It provides daily necessities. The extracts are kelp powder, fucoidan powder, laminarin powder and iodine powder, and are used by remaining in the oral cavity, nasal cavity or throat for at least 15 seconds.

[0046] Here, the mouthwash includes toothpaste, mouthwash, dental rinse, and mouthwash in paste, liquid, or powder form. The oral cavity cleanser includes oral spray liquid. The nasal cleanser includes nasal drops and nasal spray liquid. The throat cleanser includes throat spray liquid.

[0047] These mouthwashes, dental rinses, mouthwashes, and other mouth, nasal, or throat rinses remain in the mouth, nostrils, or throat for a period of time (often about 10 seconds to 1 minute), thereby stimulating saliva secretion and, as will be described later, enhancing the effectiveness of their virus inactivation through interaction with saliva. Furthermore, the sanitary product according to the present invention has been shown to have a strong bactericidal effect against bacteria, including Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, in tests described later, effectively preventing viruses that are unable to replicate their own cells from infecting the human body via bacteria.

[0048] Therefore, the present invention includes throat lozenges, chewing gum, and pacifier foods. Like the oral hygiene products described above, these foods remain in the mouth for a certain period of time to stimulate saliva secretion, and the dissolved substances mixed with saliva come into contact with the trachea and esophagus for a certain period of time, thereby inactivating viruses and killing bacteria present in the mucous membranes of the mouth, throat, esophagus, etc. Furthermore, because they are foods, there is absolutely no risk of them having adverse effects on the human body, unlike chemicals or disinfectants, even if they penetrate the mucous membranes of the human body or are absorbed and digested.

[0049] The seaweed extract in the present invention is one or a combination of viscous polysaccharides, such as fucoidan, laminaran, arginine, alginic acid (sodium alginate), mannuronic acid, guluronic acid, or iodine, which were later revealed through several experimental results.

[0050] Extracts from these seaweeds have been confirmed to have antiviral and antiviral effects, including the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), through several rigorous tests conducted by the applicant (described below).

[0051] Fucoidan, laminaran, arginine, sodium alginate, mannuronic acid, and guluronic acid are storage polysaccharides found in seaweed and mushrooms. They are easily extracted with water, and many of them are mucilaginous components. They have long been known to have antitumor, antithrombotic, and antihypertensive effects. In addition to these previously known effects, these extracts were confirmed to have virus-inactivating and bactericidal effects through this test.

[0052] The sanitary product of the present invention may also contain either or both of citric acid and baking soda. Citric acid and baking soda are nutrients whose safety has been confirmed. Their refreshing acidity and carbon dioxide-generating action promote saliva secretion and have their own antibacterial properties. Furthermore, the refreshing acidity and mild irritation of citric acid and baking soda activate the mucous membranes and cilia that line the inner walls of the human respiratory tract, from the throat to the lungs.

[0053] Furthermore, saliva itself has antiviral activity, and it is presumed that this antiviral activity is achieved by the binding of sialic acid in saliva to viruses, preventing infection before they reach receptors on the cell surface in the throat and upper respiratory tract. In other words, since viral infection is suppressed according to the amount of binding sialic acid in sublingual saliva, the intake of citric acid and baking soda, in combination with the product extracted from kelp or seaweed belonging to brown algae and seaweed extracts according to the present invention, suppresses viral infectivity.

[0054] Furthermore, published test results have shown that when an appropriate amount of citric acid or baking soda is ingested, saliva secreted from multiple sites, such as the parotid gland, sublingual gland, and submandibular gland, is secreted in greater amounts from the sublingual saliva, which is secreted from the palate of the tongue. This sublingual saliva is known to have stronger antiviral, virus inactivation, and bactericidal effects than other saliva.

[0055] In the present invention, aminolevulinic acid and / or L-glutamic acid are added to the sanitary product. Aminolevulinic acid is a starting material for the porphyrin synthesis pathway and is used in the plastids of prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Recently, 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) has been confirmed to have an inhibitory effect on viral infection in cultured cells using viruses. In the present invention, a more significant inhibitory effect on viral infection was confirmed when used in combination with seaweed and its extracts.

[0056] Furthermore, various tests conducted by the applicant have confirmed that adding polyphenols to the sanitary products of the present invention produces better results. Polyphenols are bitter and pigment components present in most plants, and are generally known to have strong antioxidant properties, similar to vitamin C and vitamin E, converting harmful substances such as active oxygen into harmless substances and helping to prevent lifestyle-related diseases such as arteriosclerosis. In the present invention, a significant viral infection suppression effect has been confirmed when used in combination with seaweed and its extracts.

[0057] Furthermore, in the present invention, the combined use of drinking alcohol (red wine) with seaweed and its extracts in the sanitary products has been confirmed to have a viral infection suppressing effect. Red wine contains polyphenols and alcohol, and its slight acidity stimulates saliva secretion, making it one of the best foods and drinks for inactivating viruses.

[0058] Furthermore, in the present invention, it is preferable to add beta-carotene to the sanitary product. Because beta-carotene is converted into vitamin A and acts in vivo, it maintains the health of the skin and mucous membranes and contributes to the proliferation and differentiation of mucosal cells. It has also been reported that beta-carotene has antioxidant and immunostimulatory effects. In the present invention, the addition of drinking alcohol to the sanitary product in combination with seaweed and its extracts has been confirmed to have a viral infection-suppressing effect.

[0059] As such, the hygiene products of the present invention are made entirely from safe materials, including natural or naturally derived ingredients, their components, and additives, and rigorous confirmation tests described below have confirmed that they have an inactivating effect on various viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, and a bactericidal effect on bacteria, including E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus.

[0060] The seaweed extract is produced by dissolving dried seaweed powder in saline or physiological saline, and the salt weight ratio in the saline or physiological saline is 0.9 to 3.4%.

[0061] When humans breathe, the air that enters through the mouth and nose passes through the throat and trachea and then into the lungs. The air inhaled in this way contains foreign substances such as dust, soot, mold, bacteria, and viruses. It is known that the mucous membranes and cilia that line the inner walls of the airways act to prevent foreign substances in the air from entering the trachea or reaching the lungs.

[0062] Furthermore, if the hygiene product for the oral cavity, nostrils and throat according to the present invention is ingested and left in the oral cavity for a certain period of time, periodontal bacteria in the oral cavity can be reduced.

[0063] Incidentally, periodontal bacteria are a bacterial infection caused by periodontal disease bacteria in periodontal plaque that cause inflammation of the gums and destroy the surrounding tissue, and in recent years, research papers have been published stating that this is one of the causes of diabetes, brain disease, and heart disease. Furthermore, it has been reported that large amounts of periodontal bacteria have been detected in the mouths of many people who have died from COVID-19 recently, and that many of those with severe COVID-19 infections have severe periodontal disease. It has also long been reported that reducing oral bacteria through proper brushing and tongue scraping can reduce the incidence of influenza by about one-tenth.

[0064] Based on many such cases, it is speculated that viruses that do not have the ability to replicate on their own have infiltrated their genes into bacteria such as periodontal bacteria, and that bacteria containing viral cells are then multiplying in the human mouth and mucous membranes.

[0065] Therefore, in order to avoid infection with viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 and various influenza viruses, it is important to maintain good hygiene by promoting good saliva secretion and reducing bacteria in the mouth, throat, and nasal cavity. [Effects of the Invention]

[0066] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a hygiene product for the oral cavity, nasal cavity or throat that does not cause side effects like vaccines, and does not have the effect of preventing infection only against specific viruses like vaccines.By taking or ingesting this product on a daily basis without difficulty, it makes it difficult to become infected with various viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, or does not worsen symptoms if infected, and furthermore has a sterilizing or disinfecting effect against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, etc. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0067] [Figure 1] The results of a test (1) on the effectiveness of the oral, nasal or throat hygiene products of the present invention against PED virus, a coronavirus with a morphology similar to SARS-CoV-2. [Figure 2] The following shows the results of a test (2) on the effectiveness of kelp, a type of seaweed that is a hygiene product for the oral cavity, nasal passages, or throat according to the present invention, as well as the effectiveness of alginic acid, fucoidan, and iodine, which are the main components of seaweed, and a mixture of alginic acid, fucoidan, and iodine, against the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. [Figure 3] The test results (3) show the effect of adding alcohol to the hygiene product of the present invention on the PED virus. [Figure 4]The results of tests (4) on the effectiveness of the seaweeds kelp and wakame, which are the sanitary products of the present invention, as well as the components of seaweed, iodine, arginine, and fucoidan, and the combined components of iodine, arginine, and fucoidan, against the PED virus are shown. [Figure 5A] The test results (5) of the bactericidal effect of the sanitary product of the present invention on Escherichia coli are shown. [Figure 5B] 5 shows the test results (5) of the bactericidal effect of the sanitary product of the present invention against Staphylococcus aureus. [Figure 6] The test results (6) for the effects on PED virus of each of the elements or additives constituting the hygiene product of the present invention, L-glutamic acid, β-carotene (β-carotene), Ulva, red wine (containing 14% alcohol and polyphenols), laminaran, and fucoidan, are shown. [Figure 7] The test results (7) of the effectiveness of the sanitary product of the present invention against influenza viruses are shown. [Figure 8] The results of a test (8) on the effectiveness of the oral, nasal or throat hygiene products according to the present invention against SARS-CoV-2, a new coronavirus. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0068] The antiviral agent or virus inactivating agent contained in the oral hygiene product or food product according to the present invention is derived from a product extracted from kelp or seaweed belonging to brown algae and a seaweed extract.

[0069] Therefore, before describing the detailed description of the invention in detail, a brief description of kelp and its components will be provided.

[0070] Kelp belongs to the seaweed family, which is a general term for algae that grow in the sea. Unlike seaweed, algae do not flower but reproduce through spores. Most seaweed is edible.

[0071] Seaweed is classified by color into species such as cyanobacteria, diatoms, green algae, brown algae, and red algae, with kelp belonging to the brown algae family. However, the color of kelp depends on the depth of the water where it grows, i.e., the amount of sunlight that reaches it; it is green in shallow waters, brown in deeper areas, and red in areas with the least amount of light. Many of the brown algae that kelp belongs to are used as food, including wakame, hijiki, mozuku, and mekabu. Green laver belongs to the green algae family, while funori and amanoiri belong to the red algae family.

[0072] There are 14 genera and 45 species of kelp, a type of brown seaweed, identified in Japan. Of these, kelp, a cold-water brown seaweed, is found along the Pacific coast north of Miyagi Prefecture and in the seas throughout Hokkaido, with Hokkaido being the main production area. Most of the domestic kelp production is harvested in Hokkaido.

[0073] Kelp contains arginine, alginic acid, and fucoidan, a unique mucilaginous polysaccharide found only in seaweed. Arginine is known to have a blood pressure lowering effect, while fucoidan is known to have anti-thrombus and cancer-preventing effects.

[0074] Fucoidan is a type of sulfated polysaccharide. It is a dietary fiber found in large amounts in the mucilage of brown algae such as kelp, wakame (including Mekabu, a part of it), and mozuku. Similar substances have also been found in animals such as sea cucumbers, which have antiviral properties as described in Patent Document 1 above.

[0075] The arginine, alginic acid, and fucoidan contained in kelp are compounds consisting of tens to hundreds of thousands of L-fucose (polysaccharide) molecules linked together via A1-2 and A1-4 bonds, with an average molecular weight of approximately 200,000. Fucoidan is classified into U-fucoidan, which contains glucuronic acid; F-fucoidan, which consists only of sulfated fucose; and G-fucoidan, which contains galactose.

[0076] Unlike mushrooms (such as agaricus) and other polysaccharide (sugar chain) components, L-fucose has a sulfate group bound to it. L-fucose is found in large amounts in brown algae (such as mozuku, mekabu, kelp, akamoku, and Sargassum species such as seaweed), and is often described as the sticky component of seaweed.

[0077] In contrast, arginine is an acidic polysaccharide composed of two types of uronic acid, called mannuronic acid (M) and guluronic acid (G). The hardness and elasticity of arginine change significantly depending on the ratio of (M) and (G) bonds, so it is used in a variety of applications, such as as an ingredient in puddings, jellies, ice cream, and jams, as an emulsifier for yogurt and cheese, and in artificial salmon roe. In kelp, it exists in a jelly state, bound with calcium and magnesium.

[0078] Arginine is known to have the following physiological actions (1) to (3). (1) Blood pressure lowering effect Excessive salt intake disrupts the balance of sodium and potassium ions in the blood, causing blood vessels to constrict and raising blood pressure. In particular, when arginine bound to potassium is ingested with food, stomach acid separates the potassium from the arginine. The arginine then travels to the intestines, where it binds with the sodium ions contained in the food and is carried out of the body. Meanwhile, potassium separated from arginine becomes potassium ions, is absorbed by the intestines, and expels sodium from the blood. In this way, arginine has a dual function of lowering blood pressure. (2) Activating digestive enzymes When arginine is taken with food, it promotes digestion by increasing the activity of digestive enzymes such as amylase and protease in the intestine. (3) Removal of harmful substances When harmful substances and pollutants accumulate in the body, they can cause various abnormalities and diseases. In an experiment in which arginine was given to laboratory animals contaminated with radioactive strontium, it was reported that it helped excrete the radioactive element from the body.

[0079] By the way, kelp is rich in dietary fiber, the main components of which are arginine and fucoidan, which have a different chemical structure from the dietary fiber found in vegetables and grains.

[0080] As mentioned above, these two polysaccharides are contained in the slimy components of kelp. In addition to dietary fiber, dried kelp also contains amino acids that create umami and mannitol, which has a sweet taste. It also contains minerals such as magnesium and calcium, as well as iodine, making it an excellent food for nutritional supplementation.

[0081] Fucoidan, the slippery component contained in kelp and other seaweeds according to the present invention, is said to have numerous biological activities, such as anticoagulant action, cell adhesion inhibitory action, anti-inflammatory action, cell protection from viral infection, and antitumor action.

[0082] Iodine is an essential mineral found mainly in kelp and other foods, and has long been used as the main ingredient in mouthwash to reduce inflammation in the back of the mouth and trachea. However, the amount of iodine required by the human body is said to be 0.095-0.13 mg per day (equivalent to 40-60 mg in kelp), so if you are taking it on a daily basis, you must be careful not to exceed this limit.

[0083] Fucoidan, a water-soluble dietary fiber that is a slimy component found in kelp, is said to slow the movement of ingested food from the stomach to the small intestine. When digestion slows down in the stomach, fucoidan stimulates the stomach lining using sulfate groups.

[0084] The antiviral or virus inactivating agent containing the product extracted from kelp or seaweed and seaweed extract according to the present invention may be part of this function of fucoidan.

[0085] In other words, fucoidan and its components contained in kelp may contribute to enhancing the defensive capabilities of immune cells throughout the body by stimulating mucosal immune function in the intestines. For example, when fucoidan is held by M cells present in the human body, lymphocytes (NK cells, T cells, B cells) attack it, NK cells, a type of lymphocyte involved in immunity, are activated, and when activated lymphocytes enter the bloodstream, they promote the secretion of antibodies, thereby boosting immunity.

[0086] Furthermore, in the present invention, it is preferable to produce the product by adding citric acid to seaweed and seaweed extracts. Here, citric acid is an organic compound contained in citrus fruits and is a hydroxy acid. It has a refreshing sour taste and is widely used as a food additive, so there are no safety issues.

[0087] Citric acid also inhibits the activity of phosphofructokinase in the glycolytic pathway and is one of the factors that regulate the influx from glycolysis to the citric acid cycle, and because it indirectly breaks down lactic acid in the muscles in the citric acid cycle, it was once said to have a post-exercise fatigue-reducing effect. This is because citric acid also forms a chelate complex with calcium, which is considered to be one of the fatigue-causing substances, and this calcium binding is generally important in the trade-off with the reduction in acidosis in lactic acid breakdown, which is why it can be seen as having an effect on fatigue reduction.

[0088] Depending on age, approximately 1000 to 1500 mL of saliva is secreted per day. It has also been confirmed that the amount of saliva secreted decreases with age. This makes the elderly more susceptible to viral and bacterial infections, and if infected, the condition is more likely to become severe.

[0089] For this reason, what is extremely important in relation to the present invention is that the sour taste of citric acid stimulates saliva secretion when eaten.

[0090] Most of the water in saliva is secreted by the parotid and submandibular glands, with additional saliva from minor salivary glands (palatine, lingual, buccal, labial, molar, and Ébner's glands). At rest, 60-70% of saliva comes from the submandibular gland. The site of excretion of saliva from the submandibular and sublingual glands is the area under the tongue (floor of the mouth).

[0091] On the other hand, when citric acid is consumed, its taste stimulating effect promotes saliva secretion. Saliva has been confirmed to have functions such as digestion, oral self-cleaning, oral mucosal protection, pH regulation, and even antibacterial and antiviral effects. In this way, the large amount of saliva excreted by citric acid and the antiviral effects of saliva suppress the amount of virus and the prolonged infectivity.

[0092] Furthermore, in the present invention, it is preferable to produce the product by adding baking soda to seaweeds and seaweed extracts. As mentioned above, baking soda is a highly safe food additive that has traditionally been consumed as baking powder, a weakly alkaline food ingredient used to make cookies, pancakes, etc. rise.

[0093] Baking soda, made in accordance with the provisions of the Food Sanitation Act, is sometimes used as a medicine to treat excess stomach acid as an antacid. Because gastric juice contains hydrochloric acid, the sodium bicarbonate that makes up baking soda breaks down, producing carbon dioxide bubbles. These bubbles stimulate the taste buds and stomach, promoting the secretion of more saliva and gastric juices.

[0094] I. [Confirmation Test (1)] In light of the above, the applicant of the present application first conducted a test (1) using an external testing institution to test the inactivation effect of the seaweed that constitutes the oral, nasal or throat hygiene product according to the present invention on the PED virus, which is the coronavirus whose morphology is closest to that of SARS-CoV-2.

[0095] It should be noted that I. [Confirmation Test (1)] to VIII. [Confirmation Test (8)], which will be described in order below in this application, were conducted by the applicant at an external, authoritative testing institution, and this application presents the reports of the first through eighth test results from said testing institution without any manipulation or evaluation of the test results. However, because the virus reduction numbers of the test materials showing the confirmation test results are expressed in logarithmic notation of 10, a table has been added in which the logarithmic values ​​are converted to decimal notation to make the values ​​easier to understand.

[0096] (A) Test materials: seaweed and seaweed extracts Test material I: Seaweeds and seaweed extracts were dissolved in saline to make a 2% solution.

[0097] Test material II: Seaweeds and seaweed extracts were dissolved in boiling water (100°C) in physiological saline to a concentration of 2% and then cooled before use. Sterile phosphate buffer was used as a control material.

[0098] (B) Test microorganism The microorganism (virus) used in the test was the P-5V strain of PED virus (Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus).

[0099] The PED virus (Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus), commonly known as the swine infectious disease virus, is a member of the Alphacoronavirus genus of the Coronaviridae family. It has spikes that protrude radially (like a crown or corona) from the envelope surface, and its genome is a positive-stranded single-stranded RNA. It is the type of coronavirus most similar to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) that caused the 2020 pandemic.

[0100] It has been scientifically proven that viruses belonging to the Alphacoronavirus genus of the Coronaviridae family have corona-shaped spikes that protrude radially from the surface of the envelope, and the tips of these spikes attach to the surface of the cell membranes that make up the human body, allowing the virus to penetrate into the human body and ultimately lead to infection.

[0101] Therefore, since the inactivation effect against the PED virus belonging to the genus Alphacoronavirus of the Coronaviridae family was confirmed in the above-mentioned confirmatory test of the present application, it is expected that there is an extremely high possibility that the inactivation effect will also be exerted against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

[0102] Vero cells were used to culture PED virus (porcine epidemic diarrhea virus). Vero cells are derived from kidney epithelial cells of African green monkeys and are a cell line used for cell culture. Along with Hela cells, they are one of the most commonly used cell lines.

[0103] (C) Establishment of wards In the test group, 0.1 mL of the virus solution was added to 1 mL of the above-mentioned test material (a 2% solution of seaweed and seaweed extract dissolved in physiological saline), and the sensitization time was set to 1 minute after the start of the test.

[0104] As a control, 0.1 mL of the virus solution was simply added to 1 mL of phosphate buffer without adding any of the above test materials, and the sensitization times were 0 and 1 minute after the start of the test.

[0105] (D) Test Method The test was carried out with reference to "Virus Experimental Science, General Theory, Revised Second Edition, Maruzen Co., Ltd., Virus Neutralization Test Method."

[0106] (E) Test Procedures (E-1) Preliminary Exam: Prior to the test, the effects of the test materials on cultured cells (cytotoxicity) were investigated.

[0107] The test material was diluted 10-fold with phosphate buffer solution and then inoculated into cultured cells. The highest concentration that showed normal cell condition after culture was confirmed, and the virus concentration to be used in the test was determined. As a result, poor cell growth was confirmed in the 100-fold solution of the test material for cytotoxicity. For this reason, it was found that the test required diluting the mixture of the test material and virus solution 100 times or more before inoculating the cells. For this reason, the virus addition concentration was set at 10 6 TCID 50 / mL or more.

[0108] (E-2) Main test: Mixing test liquids According to the test category, 1 mL of each test material and phosphate buffer solution was taken, and the virus solution was added to the concentration determined in the preliminary test.

[0109] After adding the virus solution, the mixture was allowed to stand at room temperature (25°C) for a predetermined period of time.

[0110] (E-3) Main test: Cell inoculation and bacterial count After the sensitization for each test section, the mixture was serially diluted 10-fold, and 100 μL of each was inoculated onto cells cultured in a 96-well plate.

[0111] The determination was made by culturing the cells at 37°C in carbon dioxide gas (5%) for 5 days, then observing the cultured cells under a microscope and confirming the presence or absence of viral growth by detecting CPE (cytopathic encephalopathy) in the cultured cells, and calculating the concentration.

[0112] (F)Result Figure 1 shows the results of a test (1) on the effectiveness of oral, nasal or throat hygiene products according to the present invention against PED virus, a coronavirus whose morphology is similar to that of SARS-CoV-2. Table 1 summarizes the results of this test.

[0113] The vertical axis of FIG. 1, as well as the subsequent FIGS. 2 to 7, is expressed as an exponent of 10, meaning that each step down is one-tenth.

[0114] In the control group (a comparative test group without test materials), no change in the amount of virus was observed from the start of the test until 1 minute after the start of the test (10 6.1 TCID 50 / mL).

[0115] [Table 1]

[0116] On the other hand, in the test group, <10 3.5 TCID 50 / mL (below the detection limit: reduction of 99.7% or more). This result of "below the detection limit: reduction of 99.7% or more" indicates an astonishingly high virus inactivation effect.

[0117] (G) Consideration This time, we tested the inactivation effect of the test material on the PED virus (Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus), commonly known as the swine coronavirus.The results showed that the material had an astonishing viral inactivation effect of over 99.7% within one minute of contact.

[0118] As mentioned above, the genome of the PED virus (Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus) is a positive single-stranded RNA, and since it is the type of coronavirus that is most similar to the new coronavirus (COVID-19), it was predicted that it would also have a significant inactivation effect on the new coronavirus "SARS-CoV-2."

[0119] II. [Confirmation Test (2)] Therefore, having confirmed the remarkable antiviral and virus inactivation effects of the seaweed in the sanitary product of the present invention against the PED virus described above, the applicant of the present application next conducted a test to confirm its effectiveness against the new coronavirus "SARS-CoV-2." The details of this test are described below.

[0120] (A) Test materials: seaweed and seaweed extracts Test material 1: 2% kelp powder particle size 5 μm saline solution Test material 2: 2% kelp powder particle size 5 μm saline solution (prepared by dissolving in boiling water) Test material 3: 2% arginine powder in saline Test material 4: 2% fucoidan powder in saline solution (prepared by dissolving in boiling water) Test material 5: 2% iodine powder in saline solution (prepared by dissolving in boiling water) Test material 6: 2% (arginine + fucoidan + iodine) powder in saline solution As a control material, sterilized phosphate buffer solution was used.

[0121] (B) Test microorganism The microorganism (virus) used was SARS-CoV-02 (novel coronavirus). This SARS-CoV-02 is a human isolate that was isolated and cultured from saliva using Vero cells, and amplification of the SARS-CoV-2 gene was confirmed using real-time PCR (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare notification method).

[0122] The cultured cells, Vero cells, are an established cell line derived from the kidney epithelium of African green monkeys.

[0123] (C) Establishment of wards As a control, 0.1 mL of the virus solution was added to 1 mL of phosphate buffer solution, and the sensitization time was set to 0 seconds and 60 seconds after the start of the test.

[0124] In the test group, 0.1 mL of the virus solution was added to 1 mL of the above test material, and the sensitization time was set to 15 seconds, 30 seconds, and 60 seconds after the start of the test.

[0125] (D) Test Method The test was carried out with reference to "Virus Experimental Science, General Theory, Revised Second Edition, Maruzen Co., Ltd., Virus Neutralization Test Method."

[0126] (E) Test Procedures (E-1) Preliminary Exam: Prior to the test, the effects of the test materials on cultured cells (cytotoxicity) were investigated.

[0127] The test material was serially diluted 10-fold with phosphate buffer and then inoculated into cultured cells. The highest concentration that showed normal cell condition after culture was confirmed, and the virus concentration to be used in the test was determined.

[0128] As a result, the cytotoxicity was as shown in the table below, and poor cell growth was confirmed at a maximum of 10 times the test material. Therefore, it was found that when testing, it was necessary to dilute the mixture of test material and virus solution by 10 times or more before inoculating it into the cells. In addition, the virus addition concentration was 10 6 TCID 50 / mL or more.

[0129] [Table 2A]

[0130] (E-2) Main test: Mixing test liquids According to the test category, 1 mL of each test material and phosphate buffer solution was taken, and the virus solution was added to the concentration determined in the preliminary test.

[0131] After adding the virus solution, the mixture was allowed to stand at room temperature (25°C) for a predetermined period of time.

[0132] (E-3) Main test: Cell inoculation and bacterial count After sensitization for each test section, the mixture was serially diluted 10-fold, and 100 μL of each was inoculated onto cells cultured in a 96-well plate.

[0133] The determination was made by culturing the cells at 37°C in carbon dioxide gas (5%) for 5 days, then observing the cultured cells under a microscope to confirm the presence or absence of virus growth based on the appearance of CPE (cytopathic encephalopathy) in the cultured cells, and calculating the concentration.

[0134] (F)Result Figure 2 shows the results of tests on the effectiveness of kelp, a type of seaweed used in oral, nasal, or throat hygiene products according to the present invention, as well as the effectiveness of alginic acid, fucoidan, and iodine, which are major components of seaweed, and a mixture of alginic acid, fucoidan, and iodine, against the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Tables 2A, 2B, and 2C summarize the details of the test results shown in Figure 2. Table 2C is an easier-to-understand version of Table 2B.

[0135] In the control group, no change in viral load was observed between the start of the test and 60 seconds after the start of the test (10 6.5 TCID 50 / mL).

[0136] On the other hand, in test area 1, the virus infectivity was reduced by 99.7% at 15 seconds and 99.9% at 60 seconds after the start; in test area 2, the virus infectivity was reduced by 99.7% at 15 seconds and 99.9% at 60 seconds; in test area 3, the virus infectivity was reduced by 59.3% at 15 seconds and 93.7% at 60 seconds; in test area 4, the virus infectivity was reduced by 97.5% at 15 seconds and 99.7% at 60 seconds; in test area 5, the virus infectivity was reduced by 90.0% at 15 seconds and 99.0% at 60 seconds; and in test area 6, the virus infectivity was reduced by 98.4% at 15 seconds and 99.8% at 60 seconds.

[0137] The viral infectivity titers for SARS-CoV-02 mentioned above were generally close to the detection limit, and this test confirmed an astonishingly high viral inactivation effect.

[0138] Furthermore, since both the seaweed and seaweed extract are 2% solutions and the particle size of the kelp powder is 5 μm, it has been found that the present invention can be used without discomfort when applied to hygiene products including mouthwash, oral, nasal or throat cleansers.

[0139] [Table 2B]

[0140] [Table 2C]

[0141] (G) Consideration This time, a test was conducted to determine the inactivation effect of the test materials on SARS-CoV-2, and the results showed that a maximum of 60 seconds of contact had an inactivation effect of 93.7-99.9%.

[0142] III. [Confirmation Test (3)] Furthermore, the applicant of the present application conducted a test to confirm the effect of adding alcohol to the hygiene product of the present invention on the PED virus, the details of which are described below.

[0143] (A) Test materials: seaweed and seaweed extracts Test material 1: 2% kelp powder particle size 5 μm saline solution Test material 2: 2% kelp powder particle size 5 μm saline solution (prepared by dissolving in boiling water) Test material 3: 1% kelp powder particle size 5 μm saline solution (prepared by dissolving in boiling water) Test material 4: 0.5% kelp powder particle size 5 μm saline solution (prepared by dissolving in boiling water) Test material 5: 25% alcohol content barley shochu diluted 3 times with purified water (prepared by dissolving in boiling water) Test material 6: 25% 5% alcohol kelp shochu diluted 3 times with purified water (prepared by dissolving in boiling water) Sterile phosphate buffer was used as a control material.

[0144] (B) Test microorganism The microorganism (virus) used in the test was the P-5V strain of PED virus (Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus).

[0145] The cultured cells were Vero cells (a cell line derived from the kidney epithelium of African green monkeys).

[0146] (C) Establishment of wards In the test group, 0.1 mL of the virus solution was added to 1 mL of the above test material, and the sensitization time was set to 15 seconds, 30 seconds, and 60 seconds after the start of the test.

[0147] As a control, 0.1 mL of the virus solution was added to 1 mL of phosphate buffer solution, and the sensitization time was set to 0 seconds and 60 seconds after the start of the test.

[0148] (D) Test Method The test was carried out with reference to "Virus Experimental Science, General Theory, Revised Second Edition, Maruzen Co., Ltd., Virus Neutralization Test Method."

[0149] (E) Test Procedures (E-1) Preliminary Exam: Prior to the test, the effects of the test materials on cultured cells (cytotoxicity) were investigated.

[0150] The test material was serially diluted 10-fold with phosphate buffer and then inoculated into cultured cells. The highest concentration that showed normal cell condition after culture was confirmed, and the virus concentration to be used in the test was determined.

[0151] As a result, the cytotoxicity was as shown in the table below, and poor cell growth was confirmed at a maximum of 10 times the test material. Therefore, it was found that when testing, it was necessary to dilute the mixture of test material and virus solution by 10 times or more before inoculating it into the cells. In addition, the virus addition concentration was 10 6 TCID 50 / mL or more.

[0152] [Table 3A]

[0153] (E-2) Main test: Mixing test liquids According to the test category, 1 mL of each test material and phosphate buffer solution was taken, and the virus solution was added to the concentration determined in the preliminary test.

[0154] After adding the virus solution, the mixture was allowed to stand at room temperature (25°C) for a predetermined period of time.

[0155] (E-3) Main test: Cell inoculation and bacterial count After sensitization for each test section, the mixture was serially diluted 10-fold, and 100 μL of each was inoculated onto cells cultured in a 96-well plate.

[0156] The determination was made by culturing the cells at 37°C in carbon dioxide gas (5%) for 5 days, then observing the cultured cells under a microscope to confirm the presence or absence of virus growth based on the appearance of CPE (cytopathic encephalopathy) in the cultured cells, and calculating the concentration.

[0157] (F)Result The test results for PED virus are shown in Figure 3 and Tables 3A, 3B, and 3C. Table 3C is an easier-to-understand version of Table 3B.

[0158] In the control group, no change in viral load was observed between the start of the test and 60 seconds after the test started (10 6.7 TCID 50 / mL).

[0159] On the other hand, in test area 1, the virus infectivity was reduced by 99.7% at 15 seconds and 99.9% at 60 seconds after the start, in test area 2 by 99.7% at 15 seconds and 99.9% at 60 seconds, in test area 3 by 99.8% at 60 seconds, in test area 4 by 97.4% at 60 seconds, in test area 5 by 93.6% at 60 seconds, and in test area 6 by 97.4% at 60 seconds after the start.

[0160] [Table 3B]

[0161] [Table 3C]

[0162] (G) Consideration This time, we conducted a test to determine the inactivation effect of the test material on PED virus (porcine infectious coronavirus).The results showed that a maximum of 60 seconds of contact had an inactivation effect of 93.6-99.9%.

[0163] IV. [Confirmation Test (4)] Furthermore, the applicant of the present application has conducted tests to confirm the effects of the seaweeds kelp and wakame seaweed, which are the sanitary products of the present invention, on the PED virus, as well as on the main components of seaweed, iodine, arginine, and fucoidan, and on a mixture of iodine, arginine, and fucoidan. The details are described below.

[0164] (A) Test materials: seaweed and seaweed extracts Test material 1: 2% kelp powder in saline solution Test material 2: 2% kelp powder saline solution (prepared by dissolving in boiling water) Test material 3: 2% kelp powder aqueous solution Test material 4: 2% wakame powder in saline solution Test Material 5: 2% iodine powder in saline solution Test material 6: 2% arginine powder in saline Test material 7: 2% fucoidan powder in saline solution Test material 8: 2% (iodine + fucoidan + arginine powder) saline solution Sterile phosphate buffer solution was used as a control material.

[0165] (B) Test microorganism The microorganism (virus) used in the test was the P-5V strain of PED virus (Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus), a coronavirus infectious to pigs.

[0166] The cultured cells were Vero cells (a cell line derived from the kidney epithelium of African green monkeys).

[0167] (C) Establishment of wards In the test group, 0.1 mL of the virus solution was added to 1 mL of the above test material, and the sensitization time was set to 15 seconds, 30 seconds, and 60 seconds after the start of the test.

[0168] As a control, 0.1 mL of the virus solution was added to 1 mL of phosphate buffer, and the sensitization time was set to 0, 15, 30, and 60 seconds after the start of the test.

[0169] (D) Test Method The test was carried out with reference to "Virus Experimental Science, General Theory, Revised Second Edition, Maruzen Co., Ltd., Virus Neutralization Test Method."

[0170] (E) Test Procedures (E-1) Preliminary Exam: Prior to the test, the effects of the test materials on cultured cells (cytotoxicity) were investigated.

[0171] The test material was serially diluted 10-fold with phosphate buffer and then inoculated into cultured cells. The highest concentration that showed normal cell condition after culture was confirmed, and the virus concentration to be used in the test was determined.

[0172] The results of the cytotoxicity tests are as shown in the table below. Poor cell growth was confirmed even at a maximum of 100 times the test material. For this reason, it was found that the test required diluting the mixture of test material and virus solution by 100 times or more before inoculating the cells. 6 TCID 50 / mL or more.

[0173] [Table 4A]

[0174] (E-2) Main test: Mixing test liquids According to the test category, 1 mL of each test material and phosphate buffer solution was taken, and the virus solution was added to the concentration determined in the preliminary test.

[0175] After adding the virus solution, the mixture was allowed to stand at room temperature (25°C) for a predetermined period of time.

[0176] (E-3) Main test: Cell inoculation and bacterial count After sensitization for each test section, the mixture was serially diluted 10-fold, and 100 μL of each was inoculated onto cells cultured in a 96-well plate.

[0177] The determination was made by culturing the cells at 37°C in carbon dioxide gas (5%) for 5 days, then observing the cultured cells under a microscope to confirm the presence or absence of virus growth based on the appearance of CPE (cytopathic encephalopathy) in the cultured cells, and calculating the concentration.

[0178] (F)Result The test results for PED virus are shown in Figure 4, Table 4A, Table 4B, and Table 4C. Table 4C is a table that makes Table 4B easier to understand.

[0179] In the control group, no change in viral load was observed between the start of the test and 60 seconds after the test started (10 6.5 TCID 50 / mL).

[0180] On the other hand, the virus infectivity reduction was 99.8% at 30 seconds after the start in test area 1, over 99.9% at 30 seconds after the start in test area 2, 99.7% at 60 seconds after the start in test area 3, 98.4% at 60 seconds after the start in test area 4, 98.4% at 60 seconds after the start in test area 5, 59.3% at 60 seconds after the start in test area 6, 99.0% at 60 seconds after the start in test area 7, and 99.5% at 60 seconds after the start in test area 8.

[0181] [Table 4B]

[0182] [Table 4C]

[0183] (G) Consideration This time, we conducted a test to determine the inactivation effect of the test material on PED virus (porcine infectious coronavirus).The results showed that a maximum of 60 seconds of contact had an inactivation effect of 59.3 to 99.9%.

[0184] V. [Confirmation Test (5)] Furthermore, the applicant of the present application conducted a test to confirm the bactericidal effect of the sanitary product of the present invention against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, the details of which are described below.

[0185] (A) Test materials: seaweed and seaweed extracts Test material 1: 2% kelp powder in saline solution Test material 2: 2% kelp powder saline solution (prepared by dissolving in boiling water) Sterile saline was used as a control material.

[0186] (B) Test microorganism The microorganisms used in the test were Escherichia coli (ATCC117775) and Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC6538).

[0187] The above microorganisms were pre-cultured in a nutrient medium and then added to sterilized purified water for approximately 10 minutes. 8 The test bacterial solution was prepared to a concentration of CFU / mL.

[0188] (C) Establishment of wards In the test group, 0.1 mL of test bacteria solution was added to 10 mL of the control material, and the sensitization time was set to 30 seconds and 60 seconds after the start of the test.

[0189] As a control group, 0.1 mL of test bacteria solution was added to 10 mL of the test material, and the sensitization time was set to 0, 30, and 60 seconds after the start of the test.

[0190] (D) Test Method The test was carried out with reference to "JIS Z 2801 (antibacterial processed products - antibacterial testing method, disinfection effect)" and the carbolic acid coefficient method.

[0191] (E) Test Procedures (E-1) Microbiological testing method (measurement of bacterial count in test solution) The test solution was diluted appropriately with sterile saline and cultured on nutrient agar medium and each selective medium (Escherichia coli: desoxycholate agar medium, Staphylococcus aureus: egg yolk-added mannitol salt medium). Culture was carried out under aerobic conditions at 35°C for 24 to 48 hours, and the number of colonies that grew after culture was counted to obtain the bacterial count.

[0192] (E-2) Test Method The test material and the control material were placed in a sterilized test tube, and 0.1 mL of the test bacteria solution was added to 10 mL of the material and mixed well.

[0193] According to the test settings, the number of remaining viable bacteria was measured immediately after mixing and after reacting at room temperature for a certain period of time according to the microbiological testing method.

[0194] (F)Result [E. coli] The test results are shown in Table 5A. In the control group, the number remained the same from the start to the end of the test, at 640,000 CFU / mL. Sixty seconds after the start of the test, the number in test group 1 was 360,000 CFU / mL (a 43.7% decrease), and in test group 2 it was 320,000 CFU / mL (a 50.0% decrease).

[0195] [Table 5A]

[0196] [Staphylococcus aureus] The test results are shown in Table 5B. In the control group, the number remained almost the same from the start to the end of the test, at 2,300,000 CFU / mL. 60 seconds after the start of the test, the number in test group 1 was 1,100,000 CFU / mL (a 52.1% decrease), and in test group 2 it was 1,600,000 CFU / mL (a 30.4% decrease).

[0197] [Table 5B]

[0198] (G) Consideration As a result of the test, a 43.7% reduction in Escherichia coli was confirmed in Test Material 1 after 60 seconds of contact, and a 50.0% reduction in Test Material 2. Additionally, a 52.1% reduction in Staphylococcus aureus bacteria was confirmed in Test Material 1 after 60 seconds of contact, and a 30.4% reduction in Test Material 2.

[0199] VI. [Confirmation Test (6)] Furthermore, the applicant conducted tests to confirm the effects of L-glutamic acid, beta-carotene, red wine (containing 14% alcohol and polyphenols), laminaran, and fucoidan, which are constituent elements or additives of the sanitary product of the present invention, on the PED virus. The details are described below.

[0200] (A) Test materials: seaweed, seaweed extracts, and additives Test material 1: 2% L-glutamic acid powder in physiological saline solution (prepared by boiling water solution) Test material 2: 2% beta-carotene powder in saline solution (prepared by dissolving in boiling water) Test material 3: 2% Ulva microparticle powder in physiological saline solution (prepared by dissolving in boiling water) Test material 4: 14% alcohol red wine liquid Test material 5: 1% kelp 5μm powder, 14% alcohol content red wine solution (prepared by dissolving in boiling water) Test material 6: 1% laminaran powder in saline solution (prepared by dissolving in boiling water) Test material 7: Fucoidan aqueous solution Sterile phosphate buffer solution was used as a control material.

[0201] (B) Test microorganism The microorganism (virus) used in the test was the P-5V strain of PED virus (Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus), a coronavirus infectious to pigs.

[0202] The cultured cells were Vero cells (a cell line derived from the kidney epithelium of African green monkeys).

[0203] (C) Establishment of wards In the test group, 0.1 mL of the virus solution was added to 1 mL of the above test material, and the sensitization time was set to 15 seconds, 30 seconds, and 60 seconds after the start of the test.

[0204] As a control, 0.1 mL of the virus solution was added to 1 mL of phosphate buffer solution, and the sensitization time was set to 0 seconds and 60 seconds after the start of the test.

[0205] (D) Test Method The test was carried out with reference to "Virus Experimental Science, General Theory, Revised Second Edition, Maruzen Co., Ltd., Virus Neutralization Test Method."

[0206] (E) Test Procedures (E-1) Preliminary Exam: Prior to the test, the effects of the test materials on cultured cells (cytotoxicity) were investigated.

[0207] The test material was serially diluted 10-fold with phosphate buffer and then inoculated into cultured cells. The highest concentration that showed normal cell condition after culture was confirmed, and the virus concentration to be used in the test was determined.

[0208] As a result, the cytotoxicity was as shown in Table 6A, and poor cell growth was confirmed at a maximum of 10 times the test material. Therefore, it was found that when testing, it was necessary to dilute the mixture of test material and virus solution by 10 times or more before inoculating it into the cells. In addition, the virus addition concentration was 10 6 TCID 50 / mL or more.

[0209] [Table 6A]

[0210] (E-2) Main test: Mixing test liquids According to the test category, 1 mL of each test material and phosphate buffer solution was taken, and the virus solution was added to the concentration determined in the preliminary test. After adding the virus solution, the mixture was left to stand at room temperature (25°C) for the specified time.

[0211] (E-3) Main test: Cell inoculation After sensitization for each test section, the mixture was serially diluted 10-fold, and 100 μL of each was inoculated onto cells cultured in a 96-well plate.

[0212] The determination was made by culturing the cells at 37°C in carbon dioxide gas (5%) for 5 days, then observing the cultured cells under a microscope to confirm the presence or absence of virus growth based on the appearance of CPE (cytopathic encephalopathy) in the cultured cells, and calculating the concentration.

[0213] (F)Result The test results are shown in Figure 6 and Tables 6A, 6B, and 6C. Table 6C is a table that makes Table 6B easier to understand.

[0214] In the control group, no change in viral load was observed between the start of the test and 60 seconds after the test started (10 6.5 TCID 50 / mL).

[0215] In test area 1, the virus infectivity was reduced by 37.5% at 15 seconds and 90.0% at 60 seconds; in test area 2, the virus infectivity was reduced by 75.3% at 15 seconds and 90.0% at 60 seconds; in test area 3, the virus infectivity was reduced by 59.3% at 15 seconds and 93.7% at 60 seconds; in test area 4, the virus infectivity was reduced by 37.5% at 15 seconds and 99.7% at 60 seconds; in test area 5, the virus infectivity was reduced by 99.7% at 15 seconds and 99.9% at 60 seconds; in test area 6, the virus infectivity was reduced by 95.9% at 15 seconds and 99.3% at 60 seconds; and in test area 7, the virus infectivity was reduced by 98.4% at 15 seconds and 99.8% at 60 seconds.

[0216] [Table 6B]

[0217] [Table 6C]

[0218] (G) Consideration This time, we conducted a test to determine the inactivation effect of the test material on PED virus (porcine infectious coronavirus).The results showed that a maximum of 60 seconds of contact had an inactivation effect of 90.0-99.9%.

[0219] VII. [Confirmation Test (7)] Furthermore, the applicant of the present application conducted the following tests to confirm the effectiveness of the sanitary product of the present invention against influenza viruses, the details of which are described below.

[0220] (A) Test materials: seaweed and seaweed extracts Test material 1: 2% kelp powder particle size 5 μm saline solution Test material 2: 2% kelp powder particle size 5 μm saline solution (prepared by dissolving in boiling water) Sterile phosphate buffer was used as a control material.

[0221] (B) Test microorganism The test microorganism (virus) used was influenza virus (swine influenza virus H1N1 IOWA strain).

[0222] The cultured cells are MDCK cells (a cell line derived from canine kidney).

[0223] (C) Establishment of wards In the test group, 0.1 mL of the virus solution was added to 1 mL of the above test material, and the sensitization time was set to 15 seconds, 30 seconds, and 60 seconds after the start of the test.

[0224] As a control, 0.1 mL of the virus solution was added to 1 mL of phosphate buffer solution, and the sensitization time was set to 0 seconds and 60 seconds after the start of the test.

[0225] (D) Test Method The test was carried out with reference to "Virus Experimental Science, General Theory, Revised Second Edition, Maruzen Co., Ltd., Virus Neutralization Test Method."

[0226] (E) Test Procedures (E-1) Preliminary Exam: Prior to the test, the effects of the test materials on cultured cells (cytotoxicity) were investigated.

[0227] The test material was serially diluted 10-fold with phosphate buffer and then inoculated into cultured cells. The highest concentration that showed normal cell condition after culture was confirmed, and the virus concentration to be used in the test was determined.

[0228] As a result, poor cell growth was confirmed in all test materials diluted 10 times. Therefore, it was found that the test material and virus solution mixture must be diluted 10 times or more before inoculating the cells. 6 TCID 50 / mL or more.

[0229] (E-2) Main test: Mixing test liquids According to the test category, 1 mL of each test material and phosphate buffer solution was taken, and the virus solution was added to the concentration determined in the preliminary test. After adding the virus solution, the mixture was left to stand at room temperature (25°C) for the specified time.

[0230] (E-3) Main test: Cell inoculation After sensitization for each test category, the mixture was diluted 10-fold and 100 μL of each was inoculated onto cells cultured in a 96-well plate.

[0231] After culturing at 37°C in carbon dioxide gas (5%) for 5 days, the culture supernatant in each well was collected, and the presence or absence of virus growth was confirmed by hemagglutination reaction, and the virus concentration was calculated.

[0232] (F)Result The test results are shown in Figure 7 and Tables 7A and 7B.

[0233] In the control group, no change in viral load was observed between the start of the test and 60 seconds after the test started (10 6.9 TCID 50 / mL).

[0234] In test area 1, the virus infectivity was reduced by 99.3% at 15 seconds and 99.9% at 60 seconds after the start of the test, and in test area 2, the virus infectivity was reduced by 99.3% at 15 seconds and 99.9% at 60 seconds.

[0235] [Table 7A]

[0236] [Table 7B]

[0237] (G) Consideration This time, we conducted a test to see if the test material could inactivate influenza viruses. The results showed that contact for 15 to 60 seconds had an inactivation effect of 99.3 to 99.9%.

[0238] VIII. [Confirmation Test (8)] Based on the results of the above [Confirmation Test (1)] to [Confirmation Test (7)], the applicant further conducted Confirmation Test (8) to confirm in more detail the inactivation effect of kelp and its extracts against viruses, including SARS-CoV-2.

[0239] Figure 8 shows the results of a test (8) on the effectiveness of oral, nasal or throat hygiene products according to the present invention against the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.

[0240] (A) Test materials: seaweed and seaweed extracts Test material 1: 2% kelp powder particle size 5 μm saline solution Test material 2: 2% kelp powder particle size 5 μm saline solution Test material 3: 2% kelp powder particle size 5 μm saline solution (prepared by boiling water solution) Test material 4: 2% kelp powder particle size 5 μm saline solution (prepared by boiling water solution) Test material 5: 2% kelp powder particle size 5 μm saline solution (prepared by boiling water solution) Test material 6: 2% kelp powder particle size 5 μm saline solution (prepared by boiling water solution) Test material 7: 2% kelp powder particle size 5 μm saline solution (prepared by boiling water solution) Test material 8: 2% laminaran powder in saline solution Test material 9: 2% phloroglucinol powder in saline solution (prepared by boiling water solution) Test material 10: 2% Eriocheir powder in saline solution (prepared by dissolving in boiling water) As a control material, sterilized phosphate buffer solution was used.

[0241] Incidentally, the above-mentioned "Test Materials 1," "Test Materials 2," and "Test Materials 3" to "Test Materials 7" are the same, but this is done to confirm the variation in effects under the same test conditions and to understand the reliability of the test results.

[0242] (B) Test microorganism The microorganism (virus) used in this study was SARS-CoV-02 (novel coronavirus). This SARS-CoV-02 was a human isolate, isolated and cultured from saliva using Vero cells. Real-time PCR was then used to confirm amplification of the SARS-CoV-2 gene (as required by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare). The cultured cells used in this study were Vero cells (a cell line derived from the kidney epithelium of African green monkeys).

[0243] (C) Establishment of wards As a control, 0.1 mL of the virus solution was added to 1 mL of phosphate buffer solution, and the sensitization time was set to 0 seconds and 60 seconds after the start of the test.

[0244] In the test group, 0.1 mL of the virus solution was added to 1 mL of the above test material, and the sensitization time was set to 15 seconds, 30 seconds, and 60 seconds after the start of the test.

[0245] (D) Test Method The test was carried out with reference to "Virus Experimental Science, General Theory, Revised Second Edition, Maruzen Co., Ltd., Virus Neutralization Test Method."

[0246] (E) Test Procedures (E-1) Preliminary Exam: Prior to the test, the effects of the test materials on cultured cells (cytotoxicity) were investigated.

[0247] The test material was serially diluted 10-fold with phosphate buffer and then inoculated into cultured cells. The highest concentration that showed normal cell condition after culture was confirmed, and the virus concentration to be used in the test was determined.

[0248] As a result, the cytotoxicity was as shown in the table below, and poor cell growth was confirmed at a maximum of 10 times the test material. Therefore, it was found that when testing, it was necessary to dilute the mixture of test material and virus solution by 10 times or more before inoculating it into the cells. In addition, the virus addition concentration was 10 6 TCID 50 / mL or more.

[0249] [Table 8A]

[0250] (E-2) Main test: Mixing test liquids According to the test category, 1 mL of each test material and phosphate buffer solution was taken, and the virus solution was added to the concentration determined in the preliminary test.

[0251] After adding the virus solution, the mixture was allowed to stand at room temperature (25°C) for a predetermined period of time.

[0252] (E-3) Main test: Cell inoculation and bacterial count After sensitization for each test section, the mixture was serially diluted 10-fold, and 100 μL of each was inoculated onto cells cultured in a 96-well plate.

[0253] The determination was made by culturing the cells at 37°C in carbon dioxide gas (5%) for 5 days, then observing the cultured cells under a microscope to confirm the presence or absence of virus growth based on the appearance of CPE (cytopathic encephalopathy) in the cultured cells, and calculating the concentration.

[0254] (F)Result The test results for SARS-CoV-02 are shown in Figure 8, Table 8A, Table 8B, Table 8C, and Table 8D. Tables 8C and 8D are simplified versions of Table 8B for easier understanding.

[0255] In the control group, no change in viral load was observed between the start of the test and 60 seconds after the test started (10 6.3 TCID 50 / mL).

[0256] On the other hand, in test area 1, it was 99.3% at 15 seconds and 99.9% at 60 seconds after the start, in test area 2 it was 99.6% at 15 seconds and 99.9% at 60 seconds, in test area 3 it was 99.7% at 15 seconds and 99.7% at 60 seconds, in test area 4 it was 99.3% at 15 seconds and 99.9% at 60 seconds, in test area 5 it was 99.6% at 15 seconds and 99.9% at 60 seconds, in test area 6 it was 99.6% at 15 seconds and 99.9% at 60 seconds, In test area 1, the virus infectivity was reduced by 99.3% in 15 seconds and 99.9% in 60 seconds; in test area 7, the virus infectivity was reduced by 99.6% in 15 seconds and 99.9% in 60 seconds; in test area 8, the virus infectivity was reduced by 90.0% in 15 seconds and 96.0% in 60 seconds; in test area 9, the virus infectivity was reduced by 96.0% in 15 seconds and 98.4% in 60 seconds; and in test area 10, the virus infectivity was reduced by 99.0% in 15 seconds and 99.6% in 60 seconds.

[0257] [Table 8B]

[0258] [Table 8C]

[0259] [Table 8D]

[0260] The detailed results of the above-mentioned I. [Confirmation Test (1)] to VIII. [Confirmation Test (8)] are summarized in Tables 9 to 12D.

[0261] Table 9 summarizes the virus inactivation effect of each seaweed component.

[0262] As shown in Table 9, the major components of the seaweed of the present invention have been confirmed to have a significant inactivation effect (reduction in virus count) on the novel coronavirus "SARS-CoV-2" that causes COVID-21 and the "PED virus," which is similar to "SARS-CoV-2." This suggests that they will also have a similar significant inactivation effect on mutated strains of the novel coronavirus "SARS-CoV-2."

[0263] [Table 9]

[0264] Table 10 summarizes the virus inactivation effect (virus reduction rate) for SARS-CoV-2, PEDV (PED virus), and influenza virus. In addition, the number of tests was increased for saline solution containing 2% kelp powder with a particle size of 5 μm and saline solution containing a boiled solution of the same 2% kelp powder with a particle size of 5 μm, and the variation in the inactivation effect was confirmed.

[0265] As shown in Table 10, similar to Table 10 above, it has been confirmed that the major components of the seaweed of the present invention have a significant inactivation effect (drastically reduced virus count) on the novel coronavirus "SARS-CoV-2" that causes COVID-21, "influenza virus," and "PED virus" similar to SARS-CoV-2. From this, it is easy to predict that they will also have a similar significant inactivation effect on various types of "influenza virus" such as the Hong Kong type and the Soviet type, and various mutant species of "SARS-CoV-2."

[0266] [Table 10]

[0267] Table 11 summarizes the inactivation effect of saline containing 2% powdered microparticles of several types of seaweed (kelp, wakame, ulva, and tsuruarame) on PED virus.

[0268] As shown in Table 11, it was confirmed that it has a significant inactivation effect (dramatic reduction in the number of viruses) on the PED virus, which is similar to the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-21.

[0269] [Table 11]

[0270] Table 12A summarizes the inactivation effect of the seaweed powder of the present invention on PED viruses, which are similar to SARS-CoV-2.

[0271] As shown in Table 12A, similar to Table 10 above, it was confirmed that the seaweed powder of the present invention has a significant inactivation effect (dramatic reduction in the number of viruses) against the "PED virus" which is similar to "SARS-CoV-2."

[0272] [Table 12A]

[0273] Table 12B summarizes the inactivation effects of the main components and various additives that make up the seaweed of the present invention on the novel coronavirus "SARS-CoV-2" that causes COVID-21 and the "PED virus" that is similar to "SARS-CoV-2."

[0274] As shown in Table 12B, it has been confirmed that the main components and various additives that make up the seaweed of the present invention have a significant inactivation effect (dramatic reduction in the number of viruses) on the novel coronavirus "SARS-CoV-2" that causes COVID-21 and the "PED virus" that is similar to "SARS-CoV-2."

[0275] [Table 12B]

[0276] Table 12C summarizes the inactivation effect of alcohol and kelp-containing alcoholic beverages on the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-21 and the PED virus, which is similar to the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

[0277] As shown in Table 12C, as has been previously known, it has been confirmed that wine containing alcohol and kelp components has a significant inactivation effect (dramatic reduction in virus counts) on the PED virus, which is similar to the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-21.

[0278] [Table 12C]

[0279] Table 12D is a table summarizing the results of the bactericidal effect of the seaweed powder according to the present invention against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus.

[0280] As shown in Table 12D, it was confirmed that the seaweed powder according to the present invention has a significant bactericidal effect against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. From this, it can be understood that the seaweed powder according to the present invention also has a bactericidal effect against other bacteria that cause food poisoning.

[0281] [Table 12D]

[0282] Table 13 summarizes the inactivation effect (dramatic reduction in virus count) of the main components and additives that make up the seaweed of the present invention against the novel coronavirus "SARS-CoV-2" that causes COVID-21 and the "PED virus" that is similar to "SARS-CoV-2."

[0283] As shown in Table 13, it has been confirmed that the main components and additives that make up the seaweed of the present invention have a significant inactivation effect (dramatic reduction in the number of viruses) on the novel coronavirus "SARS-CoV-2" that causes COVID-21 and the "PED virus" that is similar to "SARS-CoV-2."

[0284] Table 13 summarizes the inactivation effect of the seaweed powder and its components of the present invention against viruses such as the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-21, the PED virus similar to SARS-CoV-2, and the norovirus, as well as the bactericidal effect against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus.

[0285] As shown in Table 13, it has been confirmed that the seaweed powder and its ingredients according to the present invention not only have a significant inactivating effect on viruses such as SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-21, PED virus, which is similar to SARS-CoV-2, and norovirus, but also have a bactericidal effect on Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus.

[0286] [Table 13]

[0287] (G) Consideration This time, a test was conducted to determine the inactivation effect of the test materials on SARS-CoV-2. The results showed that a maximum of 60 seconds of contact had an inactivation effect of 96.0-99.9%.

[0288] The antiviral agent or virus inactivator containing seaweed such as kelp, wakame seaweed, and seaweed powder, or a product extracted from seaweed extracts according to the present invention, does not produce side effects like vaccines, and does not have an infection-preventing effect only against specific viruses. Rather, by eating it on a daily basis or ingesting extracts extracted from it, it is expected to have the effect of making it difficult to become infected with various viruses, or to inactivate viruses so that symptoms do not worsen even if infected with a virus.

[0289] Furthermore, what is important in relation to the seaweeds and seaweed extracts of the present invention is that the sourness of citric acid stimulates saliva secretion when ingested. Furthermore, when ingesting citric acid, the taste stimulating effect promotes saliva secretion. Furthermore, saliva exerts digestive functions, oral self-cleaning functions, oral mucosal protection functions, pH regulation, and even antibacterial and antiviral functions.

[0290] Furthermore, in relation to the seaweeds and seaweed extracts of the present invention, baking soda is a food additive made in accordance with the provisions of the Food Sanitation Act, and as a medicine it is sometimes used as an antacid for excess stomach acid. Not only does it have bactericidal and antiviral effects, but it also stimulates saliva secretion.

[0291] The seaweeds and seaweed extracts that have been confirmed to have an inactivating effect on the coronavirus described above were prepared by dissolving them in saline or physiological saline (confirmed at a weight ratio of 0.9% in the test). Therefore, they can be used on a daily basis as food additives to add umami components to foods such as candy and kelp tea, as well as cooked foods, and are therefore desirable.

[0292] Furthermore, kelp typically contains about 5% fucoidan, a mucilaginous polysaccharide, and it is expected that the previously confirmed fucoidan (F, U, and G types) will promote the production of influenza-specific secretory Ig antibodies in the human trachea and other organs.

[0293] Furthermore, iodine, which is abundant in kelp, is present in the thyroid gland in the human body and is a component of thyroid hormones. Thyroid hormones control physiological processes such as reproduction, growth, and development, and in particular promote the development and growth of the brain, peripheral tissues, and skeleton in fetuses and infants. Therefore, there is no problem with pregnant women and infants consuming appropriate amounts of iodine, and it is a nutrient that is actually recommended for active intake.

[0294] Periodontal bacteria, which are said to be a cause of tooth loss, are one of the lifestyle diseases that have developed in parallel with the Westernization of diet. While many inflammatory diseases are primarily caused by dental plaque, they are caused by a number of complex factors other than dental plaque alone. There are also many cases of periodontal disease that are not related to dental plaque at all (non-plaque-related). Furthermore, the causative factors vary from person to person, and the susceptibility to and progression of periodontal disease differs from person to person.

[0295] According to a report by the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 38% of the world's population is iodine deficient. It is estimated that Japanese people consume an average of approximately 1.5 milligrams of iodine per day, but no cases of decreased thyroid function or goiter due to iodine intake have been reported.

[0296] However, there have been reports of thyrotoxicosis occurring after a year's daily intake of 28 milligrams, primarily from kelp stock, so it is advisable to avoid excessive intake over long periods of time, and it has been reported that in Japan the daily limit should be 2.2 milligrams.

[0297] The kelp extract is produced by adding an infusion agent such as water (including salt water) to finely chopped seaweed and its extract, leaving it for a certain period of time to infuse the various components contained in the kelp, and then filtering the infusion or concentrating it under reduced pressure at, for example, 85°C or below so as not to lose volatile components.

[0298] Such a concentrated solution can be made into a starch syrup-like concentration and added in the conventional manufacturing process of candy, throat lozenges, chewing gum, pacifier kelp, troches, drinking water, etc., to produce food products such as candy, chewing gum, pacifier kelp, and drinking water.

[0299] Similarly, concentrates containing kelp extract can be used as supplements such as tablets or capsules, as quasi-drugs, as mouthwashes or nasal rinses.

[0300] In addition to being ingested, kelp extract can also be used as a mouthwash, nasal wash, disinfectant, and soaps (shampoo, bar soap, hand wash, etc.).

[0301] In this way, since respiratory and digestive diseases caused by viruses and bacteria enter the body through the throat (mouth, throat and trachea) for breathing and the oral cavity (lips, inside of the mouth, teeth, tongue and esophagus) through which food and drink are taken in, the oral hygiene products and foods of the present invention can provide oral hygiene products and foods that are extremely effective in killing viruses and bacteria that have entered the oral cavity and throat from the outside world without causing any side effects to the human body.

[0302] Furthermore, it was confirmed that the hygiene product of the present invention is not a vaccine that inactivates specific viruses or a drug that kills specific bacteria, but is able to inactivate a variety of viruses and kill a variety of bacteria.

[0303] Furthermore, the sanitary product of the present invention is not a therapeutic drug or medicine for treating a specific disease, and there is no risk of health safety issues even if it is ingested / used over a long period of time, and there is no risk of resistant viruses or bacteria developing.

[0304] Furthermore, what is particularly noteworthy is that the seaweed and / or extract thereof according to the present invention are extremely finely ground to a size of approximately 5 μm so that even when ingested or taken in contact with sensitive mucous membranes in the human body, such as the throat, nostrils, oral cavity, or respiratory organs such as the bronchi, they do not cause pain, distress, or discomfort, and there are no problems with the texture, taste, or smell.In an effect confirmation test in which this extremely fine powder was dissolved in saline (cold water and boiling water), significant virus inactivation and bactericidal effects were confirmed.

[0305] Here, since the oral hygiene product or food of the present invention is used by leaving it in the oral cavity for a certain period of time in a manner that does not cause discomfort to the person, it can be expected to have the effect of sterilizing not only Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus other than viruses, but also cariogenic bacteria and periodontal bacteria.

[0306] Furthermore, periodontal disease is a bacterial infection caused by periodontal bacteria in plaque, which causes inflammation of the gums and destroys the surrounding tissue. In recent years, research papers have been published stating that this is one of the causes of diabetes, brain disease, and heart disease, and the oral hygiene products or foods of the present invention can be expected to have these secondary effects.

Claims

1. A hygiene product comprising a mouthwash or nasal or throat cleanser containing kelp powder as an active ingredient, which has the effect of inactivating SARS-CoV-2 (Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) and is to be left in the oral cavity, nasal cavity or throat for at least 15 seconds.

2. A sanitary product as described in claim 1, containing kelp powder having a particle size of 5 μm at a weight ratio of 2% in a saline solution.

3. A hygiene product comprising a mouthwash or nasal or throat cleanser containing fucoidan powder as an active ingredient, which has the effect of inactivating SARS-CoV-2 (Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) and is to be left in the oral cavity, nasal cavity, or throat for at least 15 seconds.

4. A sanitary product as described in claim 3, containing 2% by weight of fucoidan powder in a saline solution.

5. A hygiene product comprising a mouthwash or nasal or throat cleanser containing laminaran powder as an active ingredient, which has the effect of inactivating SARS-CoV-2 (Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) and is to be left in the oral cavity, nasal cavity or throat for at least 15 seconds.

6. A sanitary product as described in claim 5, containing 2% by weight of laminaran powder in a saline solution.

7. A hygiene product comprising a mouthwash or nasal or throat cleanser containing iodine powder as an active ingredient, which has the effect of inactivating SARS-CoV-2 (Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) and is to be left in the oral cavity, nasal cavity or throat for at least 15 seconds.

8. A sanitary product as described in claim 7, containing 2% by weight of iodine powder in a saline solution.

9. The hygiene product for the mouth or throat according to claim 2, 4, 6 or 8 includes lozenges, throat lozenges, chewing gum and pacifier foods.

10. 9. The hygiene product of claim 2, 4, 6 or 8, wherein the mouthwash comprises drinking water.

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