Method for producing purified Salacia plant extracts

Abstract

To provide a method for producing refined extract of a Salacia plant in which the salacinol concentration can be maintained without a large decrease in the recovery rate of salacinol at the time of refining and has an improved flavor (smell and / or bitterness).SOLUTION: A method for producing refined extract of a Salacia plant includes a process of adding 0.01-1 mass% of sodium hypochlorite to extraction liquid containing extract of a Salacia plant and a solvent or a process of adding at least one of hypochlorite acid and its salts at 30-5000 mg / L of the effective chlorine concentration to the extraction liquid.SELECTED DRAWING: None

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a method for producing a purified Salacia plant extract.

Background Art

[0002] The roots and / or stems of Salacia plants have been used as natural medicines in the traditional medicine Ayurveda in India and Sri Lanka. In Sri Lanka, the root bark of Salacia reticulata has been passed down as being effective in treating rheumatism, gonorrhea, and skin diseases, and in using the above root bark for treating early-stage diabetes.

[0003] In recent years, it has been reported that Salacia plant extracts contain various polyphenols (and mangiferin which is a xanthone glycoside). Polyphenols are felt as bitterness, astringency, astringent taste, eg taste, and off-flavor, and may give discomfort to consumers when ingested as food. Components such as polyphenols are felt as bitterness, astringency, astringent taste, eg taste, and off-flavor, and may give discomfort to consumers when ingested as food.

[0004] When purifying a Salacia plant extract, improvement in reducing the flavor, particularly the odor and / or bitterness peculiar to Salacia plants, is required. As such improvement, it has been reported that activated carbon is used for a Salacia plant extract to reduce bitter substances (Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] Conventional purification methods for Salacia plant extracts have been able to reduce bitterness, but have struggled to reduce the color of the extract. When using Salacia plant extracts in food, their color can limit their applications. Therefore, there is a need for the development of purified Salacia plant extracts with reduced color. Furthermore, when purifying Salacia plant extracts, it is necessary to maintain the recovery rate of salacinol, the active ingredient in the extract, and to avoid reducing its concentration.

[0007] The decrease in the recovery rate of the active ingredient salacinol due to purification is undesirable from the standpoint of manufacturing costs. Furthermore, a decrease in salacinol concentration reduces the activity of the Salacia plant extract, which may lead to increased intake and a greater burden on the user. In addition, in order to produce a purified Salacia plant extract that can be taken orally as is without processing into pharmaceuticals or food products, it is important to reduce the bitterness and make the extract easy to consume.

[0008] In view of the above-mentioned aspects, this disclosure aims to provide a method for producing a purified Salacia plant extract that does not reduce the recovery rate of salacinol during purification and improves the color and flavor (odor and / or bitterness, etc.), a purified Salacia plant extract, and a method for producing a food or supplement that includes a step of incorporating the same. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] When obtaining purified Salacia plant extract from Salacia plant extract, purification is generally not performed because the recovery rate of the active ingredient tends to decrease during purification.

[0010] However, through diligent research by the present inventors, a method for producing purified Salacia plant extracts has been discovered, The process includes adding sodium hypochlorite at a concentration of 0.01% to 1% by mass to an extract containing a Salacia plant extract, which includes at least one Salacia plant and Salacia plant pulverized material, and a solvent, or The process includes adding at least one of the Salacia genus plants and Salacia genus powder to an extract containing a solvent, and at least one of hypochlorous acid and its salts, in an effective chlorine concentration range of 30 to 5000 mg / L. This demonstrated that this is an effective means of solving the above problems.

[0011] Regarding this point, the inventors speculate as follows: The distinctive color and flavor (odor and / or bitterness, etc.) of Salacia plants are thought to be caused by components such as polyphenols and lipids (hereinafter also referred to as specific components) contained in Salacia plants. Sodium hypochlorite, hypochlorous acid, or their salts react with and remove these specific components, resulting in a relative decrease in the content of specific components in the purified Salacia plant extract compared to before purification. As a result, the color and flavor of the Salacia plant extract are thought to improve.

[0012] Furthermore, the above inferences are not intended to limit the effects of one embodiment of this disclosure, but are provided as an example.

[0013] The following embodiments are included as specific means to solve the above problems.

[0014] [1] A method for producing a purified Salacia plant extract, comprising the step of adding 0.01% to 1% by mass of sodium hypochlorite to an extract containing a Salacia plant extract and a solvent. [2] A method for producing a purified Salacia plant extract as described in [1] above, wherein the pH of the extract is 5.0 to 8.0. [3] A method for producing a purified Salacia plant extract according to [1] or [2] above, wherein the Salacia plant extract is obtained from an extract containing at least one Salacia plant and Salacia plant pulverized material and a solvent, and is extracted at 0°C to 30°C. [4] A purified plant extract of the genus Salacia, produced by the manufacturing method described in any one of the above items [1] to [3]. [5] A method for producing a food or supplement, comprising the step of incorporating a refined Salacia plant extract produced by any one of the manufacturing methods described in [1] to [3] above. [6] A method for producing a purified Salacia plant extract, comprising the step of adding at least one of hypochlorous acid and its salts to an extract containing a Salacia plant extract and a solvent at an effective chlorine concentration of 30 mg / L to 5000 mg / L. [7] A method for producing a purified Salacia plant extract as described in [6] above, wherein the pH of the extract is 5.0 to 8.0. [8] A method for producing a purified Salacia plant extract according to [6] or [7] above, wherein the Salacia plant extract is extracted from an extract solution containing at least one Salacia plant and Salacia plant pulverized material and a solvent, and is extracted at 0°C to 30°C. [9] A purified plant extract of the genus Salacia, produced by the manufacturing method described in any one of the above items [6] to [8].

[10] A method for producing a food or supplement, comprising a step of incorporating a refined Salacia plant extract produced by any one of the manufacturing methods described in [6] to [8] above. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] According to this disclosure, it is possible to provide a method for producing a purified Salacia plant extract and a purified Salacia plant extract that does not significantly reduce the recovery rate of active ingredients such as salacinol during purification, and improves the color and flavor (odor and / or bitterness). Furthermore, this disclosure provides a method for producing a purified Salacia plant extract that can be taken orally without processing into a pharmaceutical product or food, and also provides a purified Salacia plant extract. Furthermore, this disclosure provides a method for producing a food or supplement that includes incorporating a purified Salacia plant extract produced by the manufacturing method of this disclosure. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0016] Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the following embodiments, and can be implemented with appropriate modifications within the scope of the object of the present disclosure.

[0017] In this specification, the numerical range indicated by "~" means a range including the numerical values described before and after "~" as the minimum value and the maximum value, respectively. In the numerical ranges described stepwise in this specification, the upper limit value or the lower limit value described in one numerical range may be replaced with the upper limit value or the lower limit value of the other numerically described ranges. Also, in the numerical ranges described in this specification, the upper limit value or the lower limit value of the numerical range may be replaced with the value shown in the examples.

[0018] In this specification, the term "step" includes not only an independent step but also a step in which the intended purpose of the step is achieved even if it cannot be clearly distinguished from other steps.

[0019] (Plant of the genus Salacia) Plants of the genus Salacia are plants of the family Celastraceae that grow naturally mainly in Sri Lanka, India, and Southeast Asia. Specific examples of plants of the genus Salacia include one or more plants selected from Salacia reticulata, Salacia oblonga, Salacia prinoides, Salacia chinensis, Salacia latifolia, Salacia burunoniana, Salacia grandiflora, and Salacia macrosperma. As plants of the genus Salacia, it is preferable that they are at least one plant selected from Salacia reticulata, Salacia oblonga, and Salacia chinensis. For plants of the genus Salacia, parts such as the roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits of plants of the genus Salacia can be used.

[0020] As plants of the genus Salacia and pulverized products of plants of the genus Salacia, parts such as the roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits of plants of the genus Salacia and / or their pulverized products can be used. As plants of the genus Salacia and pulverized products of plants of the genus Salacia, parts such as the roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits of plants of the genus Salacia and / or their dried products can be used. The dried product may be a dried powder or an extract powder of the plant. When preparing plants of the genus Salacia and / or pulverized products, at least one part of plants of the genus Salacia may be mixed and used. From the perspective of efficiently producing a purified extract of plants of the genus Salacia, the extract of plants of the genus Salacia is preferably an extract (extract) of plants of the genus Salacia extracted from a part selected from the roots and / or stems or an extract powder obtained by drying the extract.

[0021] The dried powder (extract powder) can preferably be obtained by extracting a part of plants of the genus Salacia with a solvent and drying the extract obtained above.

[0022] (Extracts from Salacia plants and methods for producing the same) The Salacia plant extract of this disclosure is a Salacia plant extract obtained from an extract containing at least one Salacia plant and / or Salacia plant pulverized material and a solvent.

[0023] To obtain a Salacia plant extract (preferably for extraction) from at least one Salacia plant or Salacia plant pulverized material, water and / or an organic solvent can be used as a solvent (preferably an extraction solvent). The type of water used is not particularly limited; tap water, distilled water, deionized water, natural water, etc., can be selected and used as appropriate. Furthermore, when using organic solvents, examples include alcohols such as ethanol and methanol, ketones such as acetone, and esters such as ethyl acetate. Hydrophilic organic solvents such as alcohols and ketones are preferred, and considering use in pharmaceuticals or food products, alcohols are more preferred, and ethanol is even more preferred. As for ketones, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, or cyclohexane are preferred.

[0024] Among the above, water, alcohol, a mixed solvent of water and alcohol, or a mixed solvent of water and ketone are preferred, and water, alcohol, or a mixed solvent of water and alcohol are more preferred.

[0025] The alcohol content in a mixed solvent of water and alcohol is preferably 30% to 90% by mass, and more preferably 40% to 70% by mass, relative to the mass of the mixed solvent. There are no particular restrictions on the drying method used when drying the extract to obtain a dried powder (extract powder), and known drying methods such as spray drying and freeze-drying can be used.

[0026] From the viewpoint of increasing extraction efficiency, the extraction time for at least one of the Salacia species plants and / or Salacia plant pulverized material is preferably 5 minutes or more, and more preferably 30 minutes or more. Furthermore, from the viewpoint of further enhancing α-glucosidase activity inhibition, the extraction time is preferably 5 hours or less, and more preferably 3 hours or less.

[0027] When extracting at least one of the Salacia genus plant and / or Salacia genus pulverized material, the extraction temperature is preferably 0°C to 100°C, and more preferably 0°C to 70°C, from the viewpoint of enhancing the α-glucosidase activity inhibitory ability of the resulting Salacia plant extract. Furthermore, an extraction temperature of 0°C to 30°C is preferable because it can further suppress the elution of bitter or color components.

[0028] In the step of obtaining a Salacia plant extract from at least one Salacia plant and Salacia plant pulverized material, it is preferable to further include a step of contacting the extract with activated carbon in an amount of 0.1 to 20% by mass relative to the mass of the extract, in the presence of a solvent (preferably an extraction solvent).

[0029] Activated carbon can be used without limitations on its type or characteristics. Examples of activated carbon materials include plant-based materials such as coconut shells, palm oil, fruit seeds, sawdust, eucalyptus, and pine; coal-based materials; petroleum-based coke and pitch charred products derived from these materials; phenolic resin; polyvinyl chloride resin; and vinylidene chloride resin. However, activated carbon derived from plant-based materials such as coconut shells, palm oil, fruit seeds, sawdust, eucalyptus, and pine is preferred.

[0030] Commercially available activated carbon can be used, such as Shirasagi (registered trademark) C, WH2c, W2c, WH2x, X7000H, X7100H, LGK-100, WHA, M, A, P, Carboraffin, Strong Shirasagi, Purified Shirasagi, Specialty Shirasagi, Granular Shirasagi LH2c, Granular Shirasagi KL, Granular Shirasagi MAC-W (all trade names, manufactured by Osaka Gas Chemical Co., Ltd.), Taiko S type (Taiko S, Taiko DP, Taiko SA1000), Taiko K type (Taiko K, Taiko A, Taiko KA, Taiko M) (all trade names, manufactured by Futamura Chemical Co., Ltd.). Furthermore, activated carbon that has been further purified may also be used.

[0031] From the viewpoint of obtaining a purified Salacia plant extract with enhanced α-glucosidase activity inhibition, the average pore size of the activated carbon is preferably 0.5 to 10 nm, more preferably 1 to 10 nm, even more preferably 3 to 8 nm, and even more preferably 3 to 6 nm.

[0032] The specific surface area of ​​activated carbon should be between 500 and 2500 m² to maximize recovery. 2 / g is preferred. 1000-2000m 2 / g is more preferable, 1200~1800m 2 / g is even more preferable.

[0033] For commercially available activated carbon, the average pore size and specific surface area can be the values ​​listed in the catalog. If these values ​​are unknown, regardless of whether the activated carbon is commercially available, they can be measured using the specific surface area measurement method by gas adsorption in accordance with JIS Z 8830 (2013) and ISO 9277 (2010).

[0034] When activated charcoal is used, it is presumed that by selectively removing specific components contained in the extract, the activity of compounds that inhibit α-glucosidase activity can be further enhanced, or the color and flavor (odor and / or bitterness) characteristic of Salacia plants can be reduced, but this is not limited to these possibilities.

[0035] In the step of contacting with activated carbon, the extract is brought into contact with 0.1% to 20% by mass of activated carbon relative to 100% by mass of the extract (total amount) in the presence of the solvent. The amount of activated carbon to be brought into contact is preferably 0.2% by mass or more, more preferably 1% by mass or more, and even more preferably 3% by mass or more, relative to the extract containing the Salacia plant and the solvent. Furthermore, from the viewpoint of increasing the recovery rate, it is preferably 15% by mass or less, and more preferably 10% by mass or less, relative to the extract containing the Salacia plant and the solvent.

[0036] The contact time with activated carbon can be the same as the time required to extract at least one of the Salacia plants and Salacia plant pulverized material described above.

[0037] The temperature used when contacting the activated carbon can be the same as the temperature used to extract at least one of the Salacia plants and Salacia plant pulverized material described above.

[0038] The means of contacting the material with activated carbon are not particularly limited, and known methods can be employed. For example, a batch method may be used in which a solvent and activated carbon are added to at least one of a Salacia plant and a Salacia plant pulverized material, followed by stirring for adsorption, and then the activated carbon is recovered by filtration, or a column method in which contact is carried out by continuous processing using a column packed with activated carbon.

[0039] The batch method is preferable from a productivity standpoint because it easily enables prolonged contact.

[0040] In the process of contacting the activated carbon, it is preferable from a productivity standpoint to add the solvent, then gradually heat the solvent, and then add the activated carbon.

[0041] The obtained extract can be subjected to one or more solid-liquid separation treatments selected from filtration, centrifugation, precipitation, membrane treatment, etc., to remove the solid components of Salacia plants and activated carbon, thereby obtaining a Salacia plant extract.

[0042] Filtration is not particularly limited, and filter separation using, for example, filter paper, metal filters, or gaff filters can be employed. The mesh size of the filter is not particularly limited as long as it can reliably remove the solid matter of Salacia plants and activated carbon.

[0043] Centrifugal separation is not particularly limited and can be carried out using known equipment such as separation plate type, cylindrical type, or decanter type. The operating conditions (rotation speed and time) for centrifugal separation are not particularly limited as long as the solid matter and activated carbon of the Salacia plants can be reliably removed.

[0044] Membrane processing is a process in which a material is passed through a membrane made of polymer material with a pore size of 10 μm or less. Examples of membrane forms include flat membranes and hollow fiber membranes.

[0045] In the separation process, from the viewpoint of improving purification efficiency, a concentration step may be added to increase the concentration of the extract obtained in the extraction step by concentration or drying, or the concentration step may be used in the middle of the separation process. Alternatively, the obtained extract may be dried to obtain a purified extract powder. There are no particular limitations on the concentration or drying method, and known methods can be used.

[0046] (Method for producing purified Salacia plant extracts) The present disclosure provides a method for producing a purified Salacia plant extract, which includes the step of adding sodium hypochlorite in an amount of 0.01% to 1% by mass to an extract containing the Salacia plant extract and a solvent.

[0047] In the method for producing purified Salacia plant extracts, the solvent used to obtain Salacia plant extracts from at least one of the Salacia plants and Salacia plant pulverized material described above (water and / or organic solvent) can be used in the same manner.

[0048] Among the above, water, alcohol, a mixed solvent of water and alcohol, or a mixed solvent of water and ketone are preferred, water, alcohol, or a mixed solvent of water and alcohol are more preferred, and water, ethanol, or a mixed solvent of water and ethanol at 0°C to 30°C is even more preferred. The alcohol content in the mixed solvent of water and alcohol is preferably 30% to 90% by mass, and more preferably 40% to 70% by mass.

[0049] In the method for producing purified Salacia plant extracts described herein, The process includes adding sodium hypochlorite at a concentration of 0.01% to 1% by mass to an extract containing a plant extract of the genus Salacia and a solvent. or The process includes adding at least one of hypochlorous acid and its salts to an extract containing a plant extract of the genus Salacia and a solvent, at an effective chlorine concentration of 30 mg / L to 5000 mg / L.

[0050] In aspects of this disclosure, in order to obtain a purified Salacia plant extract, the method includes adding sodium hypochlorite at a concentration of 0.01% to 1% by mass per 100% by mass of the extract (total amount) in an extract containing the Salacia plant extract and a solvent. Commercially available sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) can be used. The amount of sodium hypochlorite added is preferably 0.02% to 0.8% by mass, more preferably 0.05% to 0.6% by mass, and particularly preferably 0.1% to 0.5% by mass. The sodium hypochlorite contains an effective chlorine concentration of 4.0% by mass or more, but in this disclosure, it is preferable to use sodium hypochlorite containing an effective chlorine concentration of 4.0% by mass or more and 12% by mass or less, and it is preferable to use sodium hypochlorite containing 6.0% by mass or more and 12% by mass or less.

[0051] Another aspect of this disclosure includes a step of adding at least one of hypochlorous acid and its salts to an extract containing the Salacia plant extract and a solvent at an effective chlorine concentration of 30 mg / L to 5000 mg / L in order to obtain a purified Salacia plant extract. At least one of the hypochlorous acid and its salts can be commercially available. Examples of hypochlorous acid salts include sodium hypochlorite, potassium hypochlorite, and calcium hypochlorite.

[0052] When using at least one of hypochlorous acid and its salts, the effective chlorine concentration should be in the range of 30 mg / L to 5000 mg / L (equivalent to ppm). The effective chlorine concentration is preferably 50 mg / L to 4000 mg / L, more preferably 100 mg / L to 3000 mg / L, and particularly preferably 200 mg / L to 3000 mg / L.

[0053] The effective chlorine concentration (also called the total residual chlorine concentration) of at least one of the hypochlorous acid and its salts can be measured using known methods such as test strips, kits, and measuring devices capable of measuring effective chlorine concentration. Examples of test strips capable of measuring effective chlorine concentration include Chlor test strips (0 ppm to 100 ppm, for hypochlorous acid water; Advantec Toyo Co., Ltd.) and high-concentration hypochlorous acid test strips (WAP-CLO(C); Kyoritsu Chemical Research Institute Co., Ltd.). Examples of kits include the effective chlorine concentration measurement kit (for food hygiene management measures) AQ-202P type (Shibata Scientific Co., Ltd.). In this disclosure, it is preferable to use the diethyl-p-phenylenediamine method described in Appendix 1 of Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Notification No. 318 of 2003 (last amended by Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Notification No. 96 of 2020) as a method for measuring the effective chlorine concentration for at least one of hypochlorous acid and its salts (preferably a method for confirming the concentration obtained by the known method described above).

[0054] In a method for producing purified Salacia plant extract, the pH of the extract containing the Salacia plant extract and solvent is preferably in the range of 5.0 to 8.0, and more preferably in the range of 6.0 to 7.0. By setting the pH of the extract containing the Salacia plant extract and solvent to the range of 5.0 to 8.0, it is possible to suppress the odor and / or bitterness of the resulting purified Salacia plant extract without reducing the recovery rate of salacinol during purification. This is an unexpected effect.

[0055] If the pH of the extract is not within the range of 5.0 to 8.0, the pH of the extract can be adjusted to the desired pH by adding an acid or alkali acceptable for use in food or supplements. Examples of acids acceptable for use in food or supplements include hydrochloric acid, citric acid, gluconic acid, glutamic acid, acetic acid, fumaric acid, aspartic acid, tartaric acid, succinic acid, malic acid, inosinic acid, guanylic acid, and ascorbic acid. Examples of alkalis acceptable for use in food or supplements include metal hydroxides, carbonates, or bicarbonates such as sodium, potassium, and calcium, or inorganic bases such as ammonia; and organic bases such as ethanolamine, diethanolamine, and triethanolamine.

[0056] In the method for producing purified Salacia plant extract, the temperature of the extraction step is preferably 0°C to 100°C, and more preferably 0°C to 70°C, from the viewpoint of increasing the salacinol concentration of the obtained purified Salacia plant extract. The extraction time is preferably 0.5 to 8 hours when the extraction temperature is 25°C or higher, and 1 to 18 hours when the extraction temperature is 25°C or lower.

[0057] In the method for producing purified Salacia plant extracts according to this disclosure, it is preferable to remove insoluble matter generated by treatment with sodium hypochlorite, hypochlorous acid, and its salts, if necessary. The means for the step of removing insoluble matter (separation step) are not limited, but separation means such as centrifugation, filtration, and settling residue can be used. Before or after the above extraction step, activated carbon or styrene-based synthetic resin may be brought into contact with the extract, if necessary.

[0058] The extract obtained through the extraction process can be subjected to one or more solid-liquid separation treatments selected from filtration, centrifugation, precipitation, membrane treatment, etc., to remove solid components, insoluble matter, etc. from Salacia plants and obtain a purified Salacia plant extract.

[0059] The filtration method is not particularly limited; for example, filter separation using filter paper, metal filters, gaff filters, etc., can be employed. The mesh size of the filter is not particularly limited as long as it can reliably remove solid and insoluble matter from Salacia plants.

[0060] Centrifugal separation is not particularly limited and can be carried out using known equipment such as separation plate type, cylindrical type, or decanter type. The conditions for using centrifugal separation (rotation speed and time) are not particularly limited as long as it is possible to reliably remove solid and insoluble matter from Salacia plants.

[0061] Membrane processing is a process in which a material is passed through a membrane made of polymer material with a pore size of 10 μm or less. Examples of membrane forms include flat membranes and hollow fiber membranes.

[0062] In the separation process, from the viewpoint of improving purification efficiency, a concentration step may be added to increase the concentration of the extract obtained in the extraction step by concentration or drying, or the concentration step may be used in the middle of the separation process. There are no restrictions on the method of drying the extract obtained in the extraction step to obtain a dried powder (extract powder), and known drying methods such as spray drying and freeze-drying can be used.

[0063] The manufacturing method disclosed herein makes it possible to obtain a purified Salacia plant extract with a reduced odor and / or bitterness characteristic of Salacia plants, while maintaining salacinol recovery, and with an increased content of the active ingredient. As a result, a purified Salacia plant extract can be taken orally without processing into a pharmaceutical product or food. Furthermore, after obtaining the purified Salacia plant extract (purified extract) through the extraction process described above, the purified Salacia plant extract may be concentrated (concentrated purified extract) or dried (purified extract powder). There are no particular restrictions on the concentration or drying method, and known methods can be used.

[0064] The manufacturing method of the present disclosure may include, if necessary, steps for sterilization by boiling, decomposition of sodium hypochlorite or hypochlorous acid or a salt thereof, after the separation step.

[0065] The purified Salacia plant extract obtained by the manufacturing method disclosed herein exhibits excellent storage stability over time. Specifically, it can reduce discoloration and / or odor generation during storage at room temperature. Although the detailed mechanism is unknown, it is presumed that the selective removal of the aforementioned specific components suppresses deterioration of these components due to the effects of moisture and / or oxygen in the air over time, or the reaction between these specific components and the active ingredients in the Salacia plant extract, thereby improving the storage stability of the purified Salacia plant extract.

[0066] (Purified Salacia plant extract) The purified Salacia plant extract described herein has an improved flavor and is therefore suitable for oral intake without processing into formulations or foods. Specifically, the characteristic odor and / or bitterness of Salacia has been reduced, and it possesses the following properties.

[0067] The purified Salacia plant extract contains less than 10% by mass of polyphenols and lipids in total relative to the total amount of the purified Salacia plant extract. In this specification, polyphenols refer to compounds that can be measured by the FOLIN-CIOCALTEU method in accordance with ISO 14502-1 (2005), such as catechins. Lipids refer to compounds that can be measured by acid hydrolysis, which are used in the analysis of lipids in food, such as cholesterol and glycerin. As described above, purified Salacia plant extracts have reduced levels of polyphenols and lipids, thus reducing the characteristic odor and / or bitterness of Salacia plants, as well as reducing discoloration and / or odor development that occurs during storage over time. The purified Salacia plant extract may be dried (to obtain a purified extract powder), or it may be used as a powder with added excipients, or it may be further granulated to increase the particle size. The type and properties of the excipients are not particularly limited and can be used.

[0068] The bitterness of purified Salacia plant extracts can be judged by the content of epicatechin and epigallocatechin among the polyphenols. From the viewpoint of further reducing bitterness, the content of epicatechin and epigallocatechin relative to the mass (total amount) of the purified Salacia plant extract is preferably less than 0.001% by mass, and more preferably less than 0.0005% by mass.

[0069] In this specification, "recovery rate of Salacia plant extract" or "recovery rate" refers to the amount of solid content of the purified Salacia plant extract as a percentage of the amount of solid content of the Salacia plant extract obtained without the extraction treatment described above. The upper limit of the recovery rate is not particularly limited and may be 100% by mass.

[0070] The salacinol content in purified Salacia plant extracts can be determined by measuring it using a salacinol standard. For example, when using high-performance liquid chromatography, it can be confirmed by detection under the following conditions. Column: Shodex Asahipak NH2P-50 4E Flow rate: 1mL / min Eluent: 80% acetonitrile + 20% water Oven temperature: 30℃ Injection volume: 25 μL Detector: Charged Aerosol Detector (CAD)

[0071] The uses of purified Salacia plant extracts are not particularly limited and include, for example, foods (including functional foods, beverages, and supplements), food ingredients, quasi-drugs, pharmaceuticals, pharmaceutical ingredients, and quasi-drug ingredients. Specifically, examples include those described in paragraphs 0031 to 0060 of Japanese Patent Publication No. 2017-132763, and the effects of this disclosure are more effectively realized when applied to foods, food ingredients, quasi-drugs for oral intake, pharmaceuticals, pharmaceutical ingredients, and quasi-drugs.

[0072] The method for producing a food or supplement according to this disclosure includes a step of incorporating a purified Salacia plant extract produced by the method for producing purified Salacia plant extract according to this disclosure. When producing a food or supplement, the purified Salacia plant extract produced by the method for producing purified Salacia plant extract according to this disclosure may be incorporated with other raw materials. In this disclosure, "food or supplement" includes foods with functional claims. The amount of purified Salacia plant extract added per 100% by mass of the food or supplement is not particularly limited, but it is preferable to add it in an amount of 0.01% to 100% by mass.

[0073] Other ingredients that can be added include, but are not limited to, sweeteners, acidulants, flavorings, colorings, fruit juices, and food additives (preservatives, antioxidants, thickeners / stabilizers, emulsifiers, dietary fiber, pH adjusters), which are commonly used in the manufacture of foods or supplements. [Examples]

[0074] The present disclosure will be further described below with reference to examples, but the present disclosure is not limited to the following examples unless it exceeds the spirit of the disclosure.

[0075] Comparative Example 1: Preparation of Salacia plant extracts After crushing the root portion of Salacia reticulata, the solution was extracted in 70°C hot water for 2 hours. The resulting solution was centrifuged (rotation speed: 1000 rpm, time: 10 minutes), the supernatant of the mixed solution was collected, filtered, sterilized by boiling, and cooled to room temperature to obtain a Salacia plant extract (extract) (Comparative Example 1).

[0076] Comparative Example 2: Preparation of Salacia plant extracts A mixed solution was obtained by adding 1% by mass of activated carbon to the Salacia plant extract prepared according to the procedure of Comparative Example 1 while stirring. The resulting mixed solution was reacted with the activated carbon while stirring for 60 minutes, then centrifuged (rotation speed: 1000 rpm, time: 10 minutes), the supernatant of the mixed solution was collected, filtered, sterilized by boiling, and cooled to room temperature to obtain the Salacia plant extract (extract) (Comparative Example 2).

[0077] Examples 1-5: Preparation of purified Salacia plant extracts To 100% by mass of the Salacia plant extract (extract) prepared according to the procedure of Comparative Example 1, sodium hypochlorite solution (manufactured by Fujifilm Wako Pure Chemical Industries: food additive, effective chlorine concentration of 5% or more) was added to the concentrations shown in Table 1. After adjusting the pH with 1N hydrochloric acid (manufactured by Fujifilm Wako Pure Chemical Industries), the resulting solution was centrifuged (rotation speed: 1000 rpm, time: 10 minutes), the supernatant of the mixed solution was collected, filtered, sterilized by boiling, and decomposed of hypochlorous acid, and then cooled to room temperature to obtain a purified Salacia plant extract.

[0078] [evaluation] The following evaluations were performed on the comparative example's Salacia plant extract and the purified Salacia plant extract used in the example. The results are shown in Table 1.

[0079] <Salacinol concentration> The salacinol concentrations of Comparative Examples 1-2 and Examples 1-5 were measured using the experimental method described above. Subsequently, the salacinol concentration of Comparative Example 1 was set to 100, and the relative salacinol concentrations of the Examples and Comparative Examples were calculated.

[0080] <Salacinol recovery rate> The salacinol recovery rates for the examples and comparative examples were calculated based on the following formula. Salacinol recovery rate (%) = Recovery rate of Salacia plant extract (%) × Salacinol concentration

[0081] <Evaluation of coloring> The sample was dissolved in pure water to a concentration of 0.7%, and the absorbance at a wavelength of 550 nm was measured by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy using a cell with a path length of 1 cm. The measuring instrument used was an ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer (model name: U-3310, Hitachi, Ltd.), and pure water was used for the blank test. The absorbance of Comparative Example 1 was set to 100, and the relative absorbance values ​​of the Examples and Comparative Examples were calculated.

[0082] <Odor evaluation> The evaluation was conducted using the following procedure with five subjects. (1) Comparative Example 1 was set as the baseline 5, and each subject was evaluated according to the following criteria. 1: It does not have the characteristic odor of Salacia plants and is easy to take orally. 2: A slight odor characteristic of Salacia plants may be noticeable, but there are absolutely no problems with oral ingestion. 3: Although it has an odor characteristic of Salacia plants, it can be taken orally. 4. The characteristic odor of Salacia plants is somewhat strong, making oral ingestion difficult. 5. The Salacia genus plants have a strong odor, making oral ingestion difficult.

[0083] (2) The values ​​in (1) above were given an arithmetic mean for each example and comparative example, and evaluated according to the following criteria. A: 1.0 or more and less than 2.0 B: 2.0 or higher, less than 3.0 C: 3.0 or higher and less than 4.0 D: 4.0 or more and 5.0 or less Note that A, B, or C are within the acceptable range for the product.

[0084] <Bitterness evaluation> The evaluation was conducted using the following procedure with five subjects. (1) Comparative Example 1 was set as the baseline 5, and each subject was evaluated according to the following criteria. 1: It has no bitter taste and is easy to take orally. 2: A slight bitterness may be detected, but there are absolutely no problems with oral ingestion. 3: It has a bitter taste, but it can be taken orally. 4: The bitterness is quite strong, making oral intake difficult. 5: It has a strong bitter taste and is difficult to ingest orally.

[0085] (2) The values ​​in (1) above were given an arithmetic mean and evaluated according to the following criteria. A: 1.0 or more and less than 2.0 B: 2.0 or higher, less than 3.0 C: 3.0 or higher and less than 4.0 D: 4.0 or more and 5.0 or less Note that A, B, or C are within the acceptable range for the product.

[0086] [Table 1]

[0087] In Table 1, under the pH adjustment column, the numerical value represents the pH value of the extract, and "None" means that the pH of the extract was not adjusted.

[0088] Based on the results above, Examples 1 to 5 significantly reduced the coloration of the purified Salacia plant extract and suppressed the generation of odor and / or bitterness without reducing the recovery rate of salacinol, the active ingredient.

Claims

1. A method for producing a purified Salacia plant extract, comprising the step of adding 0.01% to 1% by mass of sodium hypochlorite to an extract containing a Salacia plant extract and a solvent.

2. A method for producing a purified Salacia plant extract according to claim 1, wherein the pH of the extract is 5.0 to 8.

0.

3. A method for producing a purified Salacia plant extract according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the Salacia plant extract is obtained from an extract solution containing at least one Salacia plant and Salacia plant pulverized material and a solvent, and the extraction is performed in the range of 0°C to 30°C.

4. A method for producing a food or supplement, comprising the step of incorporating a purified Salacia plant extract produced by the manufacturing method described in any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. A method for producing a purified Salacia plant extract, comprising the step of adding at least one of hypochlorous acid and its salts to an extract solution containing a Salacia plant extract and a solvent, at an effective chlorine concentration of 30 mg / L to 5000 mg / L.

6. A method for producing a purified Salacia plant extract according to claim 5, wherein the pH of the extract is 5.0 to 8.

0.

7. The method for producing a purified Salacia plant extract according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the Salacia plant extract is extracted from an extract solution containing at least one of a Salacia plant and a Salacia plant pulverized material and a solvent, and the extraction is performed at 0°C to 30°C.

8. A method for producing a food or supplement, comprising the step of incorporating a purified plant extract of the genus Salacia produced by the manufacturing method described in any one of claims 5 to 7.

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