Blood sugar level suppressant and intestinal regulator

Abstract

To provide a hyperglycemic inhibitor which is significantly improved in blood glucose level rise inhibitory action and an intestinal function-controlling medicine which is significantly improved in controlling action for intestinal functions.SOLUTION: Provided are a hyperglycemic inhibitor and an intestinal function-controlling medicine which contain a processed product of barley and a processed product of at least one plant material selected from a group consisting of hop, mulberry, chlorella, kale, Peucedanum japonicum Thunb., sweet potato, Terminalia plants, turmeric, ginger, soybean, Salacia, gymnema, guava, and Eucommia ulmoides.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an agent for suppressing an increase in blood sugar level and an agent for regulating intestinal function, and more particularly to an agent for suppressing an increase in blood sugar level and an agent for regulating intestinal function, which contain processed barley and processed specific plant materials as active ingredients. [Background technology]

[0002] Examples of products that pursue the functions of processed barley include a collagen absorption promoter containing young barley leaves (see Patent Document 1) and an SOD (superoxide dismutase) gene expression promoter that contains young barley leaves as an active ingredient (see Patent Document 2). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-255512 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-140338 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] An object of the present invention is to provide an agent for suppressing an increase in blood glucose level, which contains processed barley products and has a dramatically improved inhibitory effect on an increase in blood glucose level, and an agent for regulating intestinal function, which has a dramatically improved intestinal regulating effect. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] Dietary fiber is thought to be effective in suppressing a rapid rise in blood glucose levels after a meal. The inventors focused on plant materials rich in dietary fiber and first selected young barley leaves, young rice leaves, young wheat leaves, and cabbage as the main plant materials. They investigated the effect of combining these with hop leaves to suppress an increase in blood glucose levels, and found that the best effect was observed when young barley leaves were used.

[0006] Therefore, the inventors of the present invention have conducted extensive research and studies into the blood glucose level inhibitory effect of combinations of young barley leaves and other plant materials, and have found that combining processed barley with specific plant materials can dramatically improve the blood glucose level inhibitory effect. That is, they have found that by combining processed barley with a plant material that has little or no blood glucose level inhibitory effect, or even if it does have such an effect, the blood glucose level inhibitory effect can be dramatically improved compared to the processed barley alone. At the same time, they have found that by combining processed barley with a plant material that has little or only a small intestinal regulating effect, the intestinal regulating effect can be dramatically improved compared to the processed barley alone.

[0007] That is, the present invention relates to a blood glucose level rise inhibitor characterized by comprising processed barley and at least one processed plant material selected from the group consisting of Terminalia, hops, mulberry, chlorella, kale, Chomeisou, sweet potato, turmeric, ginger, soybean, Salacia, Gymnema, guava, and Eucommia ulmoides.

[0008] The present invention also relates to an intestinal regulator characterized by comprising processed barley and at least one processed plant material selected from the group consisting of Terminalia, hops, mulberry, chlorella, kale, Chomeisou, sweet potato, turmeric, ginger, soybean, Salacia, Gymnema, guava, and Eucommia ulmoides.

[0009] The present invention also relates to an agent for suppressing blood glucose elevation, characterized by containing processed barley as an active ingredient and, further, a processed product of at least one plant material selected from the group consisting of Terminalia, hops, mulberry, chlorella, kale, Chomeiso, sweet potato, turmeric, ginger, soybean, Salacia, Gymnema, guava, and Eucommia ulmoides as an active ingredient.

[0010] The present invention also relates to an intestinal regulator characterized by containing processed barley as an active ingredient and at least one processed plant material selected from the group consisting of Terminalia, hops, mulberry, chlorella, kale, Chomeiso, sweet potato, turmeric, ginger, soybean, Salacia, Gymnema, guava, and Eucommia ulmoides.

[0011] The blood sugar level increase inhibitor and intestinal regulator are preferably in the form of tablets, granules, powder or capsules. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] The blood glucose level increase inhibitor of the present invention can dramatically improve the blood glucose level increase inhibitory effect compared to the processed barley product alone.Furthermore, the intestinal regulation agent of the present invention can dramatically improve the intestinal regulation effect compared to the processed barley product alone. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows the results of measuring blood glucose levels (changes) in male KK-Ay mice to which the agent for suppressing blood glucose level elevation of the present invention was administered. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 shows the results of measuring the number of feces in 24 hours in male KK-Ay mice to which the intestinal regulator of the present invention was administered. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 shows the results (changes) of body weight measurements of male KK-Ay mice to which the agent of the present invention was administered. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] The blood glucose level increase inhibitor and intestinal regulator of the present invention are characterized by containing processed barley and at least one processed plant material (hereinafter sometimes referred to as secondary material) selected from the group consisting of Terminalia, hops, mulberry, chlorella, kale, Chomeiso, sweet potato, turmeric, ginger, soybean, Salacia, Gymnema, guava, and Eucommia ulmoides. The secondary material may be used singly or in combination of two or more.

[0015] The processed barley products and processed plant materials used in the blood glucose level elevation inhibitor and intestinal regulator of the present invention may be any part of the plant, such as leaves, stems, roots, flowers, fruits, trunks, and branches, and processed plant materials such as crushed plant materials, squeezed juice, and extracts can be used. Examples of crushed plant materials include powders and granules. The squeezed juice and extracts may be in liquid form, but can also be used as a paste or dried powder. The extract can be obtained by extraction using an appropriate solvent, which may be heated if necessary. Examples of extraction solvents that can be used include water-soluble solvents such as water, ethanol, and aqueous ethanol. These processed barley products and processed auxiliary materials can be commercially available products.

[0016] [Processed barley] As barley, two-rowed barley, six-rowed barley, etc. are usable. In the present invention, stems and leaves are preferred, and young leaves are particularly preferred.

[0017] [Secondary material] (Terminaria) Examples of Terminalia include Terminalia bellirica (belerica), Terminalia catappa, Terminalia tomentosa, Terminalia citrina, Terminalia phellocarpa, Terminalia copelandii, Terminalia brassi, Terminalia ivorensis, Terminalia superba, Terminalia arjuna, and Terminalia chebula, and among these, Terminalia bellirica (belerica) and Terminalia chebula are preferred. The part used in the present invention is preferably the fruit excluding the seeds, and most preferably the skin or pulp of the fruit excluding the seeds. (hop) Hops are perennial vines of the Cannabaceae family. The parts used in the present invention are preferably the vines and leaves.

[0018] (mulberry) Mulberry is a plant belonging to the genus Morus in the family Moraceae. The parts used in the present invention are preferably stems and leaves, and particularly preferably leaves. (chlorella) Chlorella is a freshwater unicellular green algae of the genus Chlorella. The Chlorella used in the present invention can be whole algae of Chlorella obtained by culturing using a conventional method, and the culture solution, concentrate, dried powder, etc. of the whole algae of Chlorella can also be used.

[0019] (Kale) Kale is a plant of the Brassicaceae family, and the parts used in the present invention are preferably the leaves and stems. The variety of kale is not particularly limited, and various types of kale can be used, such as kitchen kale, tree kale, bush kale, marrow kale, collard greens, and green-leaf kale. (long life grass) Chomeisou is a perennial plant also called Peony, belonging to the genus Peony of the family Apiaceae. The parts used in the present invention are preferably the stems and leaves.

[0020] (sweet potato) Sweet potato refers to a plant belonging to the Convolvulaceae family, commonly known as Ipomoea batatas. The variety of sweet potato is not particularly limited, and examples include Suio, Joy White, Koganesengan, Shiroyutaka, Satsuma Starch, and Ayamurasaki. The parts used in the present invention are preferably stems and leaves, and particularly preferably young leaves. (Turmeric) Turmeric is a perennial plant of the genus Curcuma in the family Zingiberaceae, and has long been used as a dye, fragrance, etc. Examples of turmeric species include spring turmeric (Kyouou), autumn turmeric, and purple turmeric (Zejutsu), with autumn turmeric being particularly preferred. The rhizome is the preferred part of the plant used in the present invention.

[0021] (ginger) Ginger is a plant of the genus Zingiber in the family Zingiberaceae, and examples thereof include Sanshu ginger, yellow ginger, Kintoki ginger, and Yanaka ginger. The part of ginger used in the present invention is preferably the rhizome. (soy) Soybeans are annual plants of the genus Glycine in the family Fabaceae, including black soybeans, red soybeans, green soybeans, white soybeans, and black soybeans. The soybean part used in the present invention is preferably the seed. Soybeans may also be processed, with soybean flour being particularly preferred.

[0022] (Salacia) Salacia is a plant of the genus Salacia in the family Celastraceae that grows naturally mainly in Sri Lanka, India, and Southeast Asia, and examples thereof include Salacia reticulata, Salacia oblonga, Salacia fimbrisepala, Salacia mamba, Salacia miegei, and Salacia chinensis, with Salacia reticulata being particularly preferred. The root is preferred as the part used in the present invention.

[0023] (Gymnema) Gymnema is a vine plant belonging to the Apocynaceae family that is native to India and Sri Lanka, and examples thereof include Gymnema sylvestre. The parts used in the present invention are preferably the stems and leaves. (Guava) Guava is a plant of the genus Psidium in the family Myrtaceae, and examples thereof include Psidium guajava L. The parts used in the present invention are preferably the stems and leaves.

[0024] (Morizhong) Eucommia is a deciduous tree native to China, and the parts used in the present invention are preferably the stems and leaves, with eucommia leaves picked before they fall off being particularly preferred.

[0025] [Other materials] (pullulan) Pullulan is a water-soluble polysaccharide in which maltotriose, consisting of three glucose units linked by α-1,4 bonds, is linked in a chain form by repeating α-1,6 bonds. When this pullulan is blended alone with processed barley, it exhibits the same effects as the above-mentioned secondary materials. Pullulan can be blended alone with processed barley or together with the above-mentioned secondary materials. As a raw material for pullulan, fermented starch derived from corn, potato, sweet potato, etc. can be used. Filamentous fungi can be used for fermentation, and examples of filamentous fungi include Aureobasidium pullulans.

[0026] The blending mass ratio of the processed barley product to the processed plant product, calculated on a dry mass basis, is preferably in the range of 0.02:1 to 100:1, more preferably 0.05:1 to 50:1, even more preferably 0.1:1 to 40:1, and particularly preferably 0.5:1 to 30:1. When the blending ratio of the processed barley product to the processed plant product is in the above range, the effects of the present invention can be more effectively exhibited.

[0027] The content of the processed barley product and processed plant product (active ingredient) in the blood glucose level increase inhibitor and intestinal regulator of the present invention may be an appropriate amount within the range that still exhibits its effect. For example, in the blood glucose level increase inhibitor as a pharmaceutical product of the present invention, the active ingredient is preferably contained in an amount of 0.01 to 100% by mass, more preferably 0.1 to 85% by mass, and even more preferably 0.5 to 70% by mass, calculated on a dry mass basis.

[0028] The blood glucose level increase inhibitor and intestinal regulator of the present invention can be used as an oral preparation, and there is no particular limitation on the amount of intake, but from the viewpoint of more significantly exhibiting the effects of the present invention, it is preferable to take so that the daily intake of the active ingredient is 500 mg / day or more, more preferably 1000 mg / day or more, and even more preferably 1500 mg / day or more. The blood glucose level increase inhibitor and intestinal regulator of the present invention can be stored as a daily dose in a single container or divided into, for example, 2 to 3 multiple containers so that the daily intake is the above-mentioned amount.

[0029] Furthermore, in particular, from the viewpoint of more significantly exhibiting the effects of the present invention, the blood glucose level increase suppressant of the present invention is preferably ingested so that the daily intake amount in terms of dietary fiber is 600 mg / day or more, more preferably 1200 g / day or more, and even more preferably 1800 g / day or more. The blood glucose level increase suppressant of the present invention can be stored as a daily dose in a single container or divided into, for example, 2 to 3 multiple containers so that the daily intake amount is the above-mentioned intake amount.

[0030] Furthermore, in particular, in the case of the intestinal regulation agent of the present invention, from the viewpoint of more significantly exhibiting the effects of the present invention, it is preferable that the daily intake amount of dietary fiber is 650 mg / day or more, more preferably 1300 g / day or more, and even more preferably 1950 mg / day or more. The intestinal regulation agent of the present invention can be stored as a daily amount in one container or divided into, for example, 2 to 3 multiple containers so that the daily intake amount is the above-mentioned intake amount.

[0031] The blood glucose level rise inhibitor and intestinal regulator of the present invention are not particularly limited as long as they contain processed barley and a specified plant product and can be distinguished from other products in that they are used to inhibit blood glucose level rise or regulate the intestines. For example, the scope of the present invention includes pharmaceutical products that display on the product itself, packaging, instructions, or promotional materials that they have the function of inhibiting blood glucose level rise and / or regulating the intestines.

[0032] The blood glucose level increase inhibitor and intestinal regulator of the present invention can be produced by known formulation methods, by adding, as necessary, orally acceptable excipients, etc. Examples of excipients include calcium stearate, silicon dioxide, sucrose fatty acid esters, glycerin fatty acid esters, maltose, reduced maltose, reduced palatinose, cellulose, and hydroxypropyl cellulose.

[0033] Examples of the form of the blood glucose level increase inhibitor and intestinal regulator of the present invention include tablets, granules, powders, capsules, liquids, granules, rods, plates, blocks, solids, pills, pastes, creams, caplets, gels, chewable tablets, sticks, etc. Among these, tablets, granules, powders, capsules, and liquids are particularly preferred.

[0034] Furthermore, the blood glucose level increase inhibitor and intestinal regulator of the present invention may contain ingredients other than the processed barley product and the specified processed plant product, if necessary. Examples of ingredients other than the processed barley product and the specified processed plant product include vitamins such as water-soluble vitamins (vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12, B13, B15, B17, biotin, choline, folic acid, inositol, PABA, vitamin C, vitamin P) and oil-soluble vitamins (vitamins A, D, E, K), minerals such as calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and iron, sulfur-containing compounds found in taurine and garlic, flavanoids or flavonoids such as hesperidin and quercetin, proteins such as collagen, peptides, amino acids, animal fats and oils, vegetable fats and oils, and ground products or extracts of animals and plants. [Example]

[0035] The present invention will be described below based on examples. [Example 1] Male KK-Ay mice aged 8 to 19 weeks (a mouse model of spontaneously developing type 2 diabetes, resulting in obesity and hyperglycemia) were assigned to groups after an acclimation or resting period, so that blood glucose and body weight were uniform. Each test group was given free access to the test diet shown in Table 1 for 4 days.

[0036] [Table 1]

[0037] For barley, dried and crushed powder of young leaves was used. For hops, dried and ground powder of leaves and vines was used. For mulberry, dried and crushed stems and leaves were used. For chlorella, commercially available chlorella micropowder was used. For kale, dried and crushed powder of leaves was used. For Chomeisou, dried and crushed stems and leaves were used. For sweet potatoes, dried and crushed young leaves were used. For Terminalia, dried and crushed powder of a water extract of the fruit and peel of Terminalia bellirica was used. For turmeric, dried and crushed powder of autumn turmeric rhizome was used. For ginger, dried and crushed powder of the rhizome was used. For soybeans, commercially available soybean flour was used. For Salacia, a dried powder of a hydroethanolic extract of the roots of Salacia reticulatus was used. For Gymnema, a dried powder of a hydroethanolic extract of Gymnema sylvestre leaves was used. For guava, guava polyphenol concentrate (powder) extracted from the leaves with hydroethanol was used. For Eucommia ulmoides, dried powder of hot water extract of leaves was used.

[0038] For each test group, a blood glucose level measurement test, a test to confirm the intestinal regulation effect, and a weight measurement test were carried out. Specifically, the following tests were carried out.

[0039] (Blood Glucose Measurement Test) At the time of group allocation (day 0 of the study) and on day 3 of the study, blood was collected from the tail vein after approximately 1 hour of fasting, and blood glucose levels (mg / dL) were measured using a handheld blood glucose meter (Glutest Ace; Sanwa Kagaku Kenkyusho Co., Ltd.).

[0040] The blood glucose measurement results (changes) are shown in Figure 1. Compared to the blood glucose levels of the control, which was fed only the standard feed, and the standard feed blended with barley or each of the secondary ingredients alone, in the examples of the present invention in which barley and secondary ingredients were blended, a decrease in blood glucose levels was observed in all cases, confirming the synergistic effect of barley and each secondary ingredient.

[0041] (Test to confirm intestinal regulation effect) On the fourth day of the test, feces were collected for 24 hours before the measurement, and the number of feces for the 24 hours was measured.

[0042] The results of measuring the number of feces are shown in Figure 2. Compared to the number of feces in the control, which was fed only the standard feed, and the standard feed mixed with barley or each of the auxiliary ingredients alone, the number of feces was clearly increased in the examples of the present invention, which were fed with barley and auxiliary ingredients, confirming the synergistic intestinal regulating effect of barley and each of the auxiliary ingredients.

[0043] (Weight measurement test) Body weight was measured using an electronic balance at the time of group allocation (day 0 of the test) and on day 4 of the test.

[0044] The results of body weight measurements (changes) are shown in Figure 3. Compared to the rate of weight gain for the control, which was fed only the standard feed, and for the standard feed mixed with barley or each of the secondary ingredients alone, the rate of weight gain was smaller in all cases for the examples of the present invention in which barley and secondary ingredients were mixed, confirming the synergistic effect of barley and each secondary ingredient.

[0045] [Reference example] The same test as in Example 1 was conducted using pullulan instead of the above-mentioned secondary material. As a result, in the measurement of blood glucose level, the change was about +210 mg / dL in the feed containing pullulan alone, but it was significantly reduced to about -145 mg / dL in the feed containing barley and pullulan, confirming the synergistic effect of barley and pullulan. In addition, in the confirmation of the intestinal regulating effect, the number of counts was 61 in the feed containing pullulan alone, but it increased to 95 in the feed containing barley and pullulan, confirming the synergistic effect of barley and pullulan. Furthermore, in the measurement of body weight, the change was about +1.3 g in the feed containing pullulan alone, but it was about +0.2 g in the feed containing barley and pullulan, confirming the synergistic effect of barley and pullulan.

[0046] [Example 2] (Production of tablets) The ingredients were mixed in the proportions shown below and tableted using a tablet press.

[0047] Ingredients Composition (mg) Barley grass powder 135 Hop leaf powder 15 Dextrin 120 Vitamins 15 Anhydrous Citric Acid 15

[0048] By taking about 4 to 10 tablets of this tablet per day (daily intake of active ingredient: 600 to 1500 mg), it is expected that the effect of suppressing blood sugar rise and / or the effect of regulating the intestines can be obtained.

[0049] [Example 3] (Production of capsules) One part by weight of chlorella powder was mixed with 15 parts by weight of barley leaf powder, and the mixture was made into granules in a conventional manner. 300 mg of the granules were then filled into capsules to prepare capsules.

[0050] By taking six of these capsules per day (daily intake of active ingredient: 1,800 mg), it is expected that blood sugar level rise suppression and / or intestinal regulation effects can be obtained.

[0051] [Example 4] (Production of Granules) One part by weight of ginger powder was mixed with 15 parts by weight of processed barley, and the mixture was made into granules in a conventional manner, and 1.8 g of the granules were packed in an aluminum stick.

[0052] By taking three packets of this granule per day (daily intake of active ingredient: 5,400 mg), it is expected that blood sugar level rise suppression and / or intestinal regulation effects can be obtained. [Industrial Applicability]

[0053] The blood glucose level increase suppressant and intestinal regulator of the present invention have the effect of suppressing an increase in blood glucose level or the effect of regulating the intestines, and can be used as an oral preparation, and therefore are highly industrially useful.

Claims

[Claim 1] A composition for intestinal regulation, comprising processed young barley leaves and processed rhizomes of a plant of the Zingiberaceae family selected from ginger and turmeric.

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