Mouthwash composition

Abstract

To provide a composition for mouthwash that exerts effective intraoral washing action on the basis of the coagulation action of saliva protein and can improve and prevent the factors of bad breath and various kinds of gingivitis.SOLUTION: A composition for mouthwash contains tea leaf extract and citric acid as active ingredients, the content of the citric acid being 0.03-0.15 mass%, and the composition substantially free of a surfactant or a glycerol. The composition further contains caramel as an active ingredient.SELECTED DRAWING: None

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a mouthwash composition. [Background technology]

[0002] Proteins contained in saliva are known to be essential substances in the process of plaque formation in the oral cavity. Oral plaque is composed of a wide variety of bacteria that account for more than 80% of its mass, and their metabolic products cause various oral diseases such as bad breath, gingivitis, oral inflammation, and dental caries. In the process of plaque formation, salivary proteins function as bacterial adhesion factors and agglutinins.

[0003] Therefore, if proteins in the oral cavity can be aggregated and efficiently removed, the formation of plaque can be suppressed, which can be expected to prevent and improve various oral diseases such as bad breath, gingivitis, oral inflammation, and dental caries.

[0004] If a substance can be obtained that aggregates and efficiently removes proteins in the oral cavity, it is expected that it will be effective in preventing and improving bad breath, gum disease, oral inflammation, and dental caries.

[0005] Conventionally, mouthwashes containing tea leaf extract and Chinese quince extract have been disclosed as materials that aggregate proteins in the oral cavity (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2018-090558 [Patent Document 2] Patent Publication No. 2009-256259 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] The mouthwashes known so far have not always been effective in aggregating proteins in the oral cavity, and the sensation of use when held in the mouth has also been unsatisfactory. Therefore, there has been a demand for the development of an active ingredient that exhibits better effects and a better sensation of use. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The inventor conducted research to develop a mouthwash that can effectively agglomerate salivary proteins, and discovered a mouthwash composition that, by combining tea leaf extract with a specific amount of citric acid, exhibits excellent effectiveness in agglomerating salivary proteins and has a satisfying feel when used.

[0009] That is, the present invention is [1] A mouthwash composition comprising tea leaf extract, citric acid, and caramel as active ingredients, wherein the content of the citric acid is 0.03 to 0.15% by mass, and the caffeine content in the mouthwash composition is 0.0 26 mass% below and the mouthwash composition is substantially free of surfactants or glycerin. [2] The mouthwash composition according to [1] above, having a pH of 4 or less, and [3] The mouthwash composition according to [1] or [2], wherein the amount of caramel per 100 parts by mass of citric acid is 20 to 140 parts by mass. Regarding. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] The mouthwash composition of the present invention has the effect of aggregating proteins in the oral cavity and efficiently removing them. Furthermore, by containing caramel in addition to the tea leaf extract and citric acid, it has the effect of exhibiting a significantly superior protein aggregating effect.

[0011] Furthermore, the mouthwash composition of the present invention has the effect of not having a strong bitter taste when placed in the mouth and having a good feel when used. In addition, the present invention can provide a safe mouthwash composition that is effective in preventing and improving various oral diseases such as gingivitis, oral inflammation, bad breath, and dental caries. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0012] The mouthwash composition of the present invention contains tea leaf extract and citric acid as active ingredients, the content of the citric acid is 0.03 to 0.15 mass%, and the composition is characterized by being substantially free of surfactants or glycerin.

[0013] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the mouthwash composition of the present invention will be described.

[0014] The tea leaf extract used is an extract extracted from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis (Camellia sinensis) evergreen shrub of the Theaceae family. By including tea leaf extract in the mouthwash composition of the present invention, oral proteins can be aggregated. Commercially available tea leaf extracts can be used.

[0015] The content of tea leaf extract in a mouthwash composition is not particularly limited as long as the desired effect is sufficiently achieved. However, from the viewpoint of efficiently aggregating oral proteins, it is generally preferable to contain the tea leaf extract in an amount of 0.001 to 10 mass% in terms of solids, and more preferably 0.01 to 5 mass%, based on 100 mass% of the composition.

[0016] The present invention is characterized by the use of tea leaf extract in combination with a specific amount of citric acid, which allows for efficient aggregation of oral proteins. Commercially available citric acid can be used.

[0017] The content of the citric acid is 0.03 to 0.15% by mass relative to 100% by mass of the composition. In the present invention, from the viewpoint of more significantly exhibiting the protein aggregation effect, it is most preferable that the citric acid be contained in an amount of 0.09 to 0.15% by mass.

[0018] The mouthwash composition of the present invention preferably contains caramel. By using this component, it is possible to exert a significantly superior protein aggregation effect. In addition, the caramel can be a commercially available product.

[0019] The content of the caramel is not particularly limited as long as the desired effect is sufficiently exhibited, but from the viewpoint of more significantly exhibiting the protein aggregation effect, it is generally preferable to include 0.01 to 0.8 mass% of the caramel in 100 mass% of the composition, more preferably 0.01 to 0.4 mass%, and most preferably 0.01 to 0.1 mass%.

[0020] In the mouthwash composition of the present invention, the content of the citric acid and the content of the caramel are preferably in the range of 20 to 140 parts by mass, more preferably 20 to 50 parts by mass, per 100 parts by mass of citric acid. By blending the caramel and citric acid in such a range, an exceptionally significant protein-aggregating effect can be exhibited.

[0021] In the present invention, from the viewpoint of providing a pleasant feeling of use without a strong bitter taste when put in the mouth, the caffeine content in the mouthwash composition is 0.0% by mass relative to 100% by mass of the composition. 26 mass% below It is preferred to be Shii .

[0022] The mouthwash composition of the present invention is substantially free of surfactants or glycerin. This suppresses the compatibility of the tea leaf extract and enables it to exert a particularly significant protein aggregation effect. In the present invention, "substantially free of surfactants or glycerin" means that no surfactants or glycerin are separately contained, and does not exclude small amounts of surfactants or glycerin contained in each of the blended ingredients.

[0023] In addition to the above-mentioned components, the mouthwash composition of the present invention may contain other known ingredients as needed, provided that the effects of the present invention are not impaired. Specifically, extracts other than tea leaf extract, sweeteners, colorants, flavorings, active ingredients, preservatives, etc. may be added.

[0024] Examples of extracts that can be used other than the above-mentioned tea leaf extract include juice obtained by compressing and extracting crushed plant material, steam distillates, crude extracts obtained with various extraction solvents, and extract fractions obtained by purifying crude extracts by partitioning or various types of chromatography such as column chromatography.

[0025] The part of the plant used for extraction is not particularly limited, and any part such as seeds, seed coats, flesh, flowers, leaves, stems, roots, rhizomes, or the whole plant can be appropriately selected and used. These can also be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0026] As the sweetener, for example, xylitol, maltitol, saccharin, saccharin sodium, stevioside, aspartame, etc. can be blended in usual amounts.

[0027] As the coloring agent, for example, highly safe water-soluble pigments such as Blue No. 1, Green No. 3, Yellow No. 4, and Red No. 105 can be added.

[0028] Examples of the active ingredient that can be added include disinfectants such as isopropylmethylphenol, chlorhexidine hydrochloride, and chlorhexidine gluconate, enzymes such as dextranase and mutanase, fluorides such as sodium fluoride and sodium monofluorophosphate, aluminum chlorohydroxyallantoin, allantoin, azulene, lysozyme chloride, vitamins and coenzymes such as vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, vitamin P, CoQ10, CoQ9, and CoQ8, dihydrocholesterol, glycyrrhetinic salts, glycyrrhetinic acids, hydrocholesterol, chlorophyll, copper chlorophyllin sodium, plant extracts such as thyme, Scutellaria Root, clove, and witch hazel, copper gluconate, callopeptide, sodium polyphosphate, water-soluble inorganic phosphate compounds, polyvinylpyrrolidone, anti-tartar agents, anti-plaque agents, potassium nitrate, and aluminum lactate.

[0029] Examples of the preservatives include paraoxybenzoic acid esters such as methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, and butylparaben, phenoxyethanol, ethanol, and dehydroacetic acid.

[0030] The remainder of the mouthwash composition of the present invention is water. The water used is not particularly limited, but purified water is preferred. The water content is not particularly limited, but is preferably 60 to 98% by mass, more preferably 65 to 95% by mass, of 100% by mass of the composition. If necessary, a lower monohydric alcohol such as ethanol may be added, but the amount added is preferably 30% by mass or less, more preferably 20% by mass or less, and particularly preferably 10% by mass or less.

[0031] In order to effectively exert the protein aggregation effect, the mouthwash composition of the present invention may be adjusted to have a pH in the acidic range. More specifically, the pH is preferably adjusted to 5 or less, more preferably 4 or less.

[0032] The form of the mouthwash composition of the present invention is not particularly limited, but it is preferably prepared as a liquid in which the ingredients are solubilized. Specifically, it can be used as a mouthwash that is used as is or as a concentrated mouthwash that is diluted before use.

[0033] The mouthwash composition of the present invention can be produced by a conventional method, such as by combining and mixing other ingredients as necessary. [Example]

[0034] The present invention will be specifically described below with reference to examples, but these examples are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0035] [Preparation of mouthwash composition] Mouthwash compositions were prepared by mixing the components in the proportions shown in Tables 1 to 7 below. Furthermore, 2 mL of artificial saliva (0.5% by mass albumin, 10% by mass sodium hydroxide, 7% by mass concentrated hydrochloric acid, water, pH 8.4) was added and mixed with 5 mL of each mouthwash composition prepared in the Examples and Comparative Examples, and the proteins that had condensed in the solution after 30 minutes were visually observed according to the evaluation criteria below.

[0036] [Usability evaluation criteria] ◎: Precipitation of protein aggregates was clearly observed, and a large amount had settled. ○: Protein aggregates were clearly observed and precipitated. △: Slight deposition of protein aggregates was observed. ×: No deposition of protein aggregates was observed.

[0037] [Evaluation of mouthwash compositions containing citric acid and protein aggregates]

[0038] [Table 1]

[0039] As shown in Table 1, no protein aggregate precipitates were observed in the mouthwash composition of Comparison Example 1, which did not contain citric acid, but protein aggregates were observed in the mouthwash compositions of Examples 1 to 5, and in particular, sedimentation of protein aggregates was observed in the mouthwash compositions of Examples 3 to 5, which contained 0.09 to 0.15 mass% citric acid.

[0040] [Evaluation of caramel-containing mouthwash compositions and protein aggregates]

[0041] [Table 2]

[0042] As shown in Table 2, the mouthwash compositions of Comparative Examples 2 to 7, which contained no citric acid but 0.04 to 0.8 mass % caramel, showed no precipitation of protein aggregates.

[0043] [Evaluation of mouthwash compositions containing citric acid and caramel and protein aggregates]

[0044] [Table 3]

[0045] As shown in Table 3, no precipitation of protein aggregates was observed in the mouthwash composition of Comparative Example 8, which did not contain citric acid. However, the mouthwash compositions of Examples 6 and 7, which contained 0.03% by mass and 0.06% by mass of citric acid and 0.04% by mass of caramel, showed precipitation of protein aggregates. In particular, the mouthwash compositions of Examples 8 to 10, which contained 0.09 to 0.15% by mass of citric acid and 0.04% by mass of caramel, showed clear precipitation of protein aggregates, with large amounts settling. This also demonstrates that the combination of tea leaf extract, citric acid, and caramel exhibits a particularly significant protein aggregation effect.

[0046] [Evaluation of mouthwash compositions containing phosphoric acid and protein aggregates]

[0047] [Table 4]

[0048] As shown in Table 4, in the mouthwash compositions of Comparative Examples 9 and 10, which had the same pH as Examples 6 and 7 but contained phosphoric acid instead of citric acid, no precipitation of protein aggregates was observed.

[0049] [Evaluation of mouthwash compositions containing surfactants or glycerin and protein aggregates]

[0050] [Table 5]

[0051] As shown in Table 5, in the mouthwash compositions of Comparative Examples 11 and 12, the tea leaf extract was dissolved by the action of the surfactant or glycerin, so no precipitation of protein aggregates was observed.

[0052] [Evaluation of mouthwash compositions and oral protein aggregates] As shown in Table 6 below, 10 panelists were asked to rinse their mouths for 10 seconds with each of the mouthwash compositions (20 mL) from Comparative Example 2, Comparative Example 3, Example 3, and Example 8, and the excreted mouthwash compositions were visually inspected.

[0053] [Evaluation criteria for mouthwash compositions and oral protein aggregates] The protein aggregates in the oral cavity after using the mouthwash composition were evaluated using the following rating scale. The average value of the 10 subjects was finally calculated, and the protein aggregates in the oral cavity were evaluated using the following average value criteria.

[0054] [Evaluator's rating criteria] 3: A large amount of protein aggregates is observed. 2: Protein aggregates are clearly observed. 1: A small amount of protein aggregates is observed. 0: No protein aggregates observed.

[0055] ◎: 2.5 points or more ○: 1.6 points or more and less than 2.5 points △: 0.5 points or more and less than 1.6 points ×: Less than 0.5 points

[0056] [Table 6]

[0057] As shown in Table 6, no protein aggregates were observed in the mouthwash compositions of Comparative Examples 2 and 3, but protein aggregates were clearly observed in the mouthwash composition of Example 3. Furthermore, a large amount of protein aggregates was observed in the mouthwash composition of Example 8.

[0058] [Evaluation of the usability of mouthwash compositions] In Table 7 below, 10 panelists rinsed their mouths with each of the mouthwash compositions (20 mL) of Examples 11 to 13 and Comparative Example 13 for 10 seconds, and the sensation of use was evaluated.

[0059] [Evaluation criteria for usability of mouthwash compositions] The sensation after use of the mouthwash composition was evaluated using the following rating scale. Finally, the average value of the 10 panelists was calculated, and the sensation after use was evaluated using the following average value criteria.

[0060] [Evaluator's rating criteria] 3: It feels good to use. 2: Slightly bitter / unpleasant taste. 1: Bitterness or unpleasant taste is felt. 0: Strong bitterness or unpleasant taste.

[0061] ◎: 2.5 points or more ○: 1.6 points or more and less than 2.5 points △: 0.5 points or more and less than 1.6 points ×: Less than 0.5 points

[0062] [Table 7]

[0063] As shown in Table 7, Comparative Example 13 had a strong bitter taste, but Examples 11 and 12 had a good feel when used.

[0064] These results show that the combined use of tea leaf extract and citric acid has a good protein aggregation inhibitory effect. Even more surprisingly, the addition of caramel to the tea leaf extract and citric acid produced a particularly remarkable synergistic protein aggregation inhibitory effect. Furthermore, it has been found that the mouthwash composition of the present invention has a good feel when used without a strong bitter taste. In addition, the present invention has made it possible to provide a safe mouthwash composition that is effective in preventing and improving various oral diseases such as gingivitis, oral inflammation, bad breath, and dental caries.

Claims

1. A mouthwash composition comprising tea leaf extract, citric acid, and caramel as active ingredients, wherein the citric acid content is 0.03 to 0.15% by mass, the caffeine content in the mouthwash composition is 0.026% by mass or less, and the mouthwash composition is substantially free of surfactants or glycerin.

2. The mouthwash composition according to claim 1, having a pH of 4 or less.

3. The mouthwash composition according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the amount of caramel per 100 parts by mass of citric acid is 20 to 140 parts by mass.

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