Agent for improving vitreous floaters and method for improving vitreous floaters

Abstract

This agent for improving vitreous floaters, which contains Andrographis paniculata as an active ingredient, has superior safety and can be taken on a daily basis to prevent or treat vitreous floaters.

Description

Agent for improving floaters and method for improving floaters

[0001] The present invention relates to an agent for improving floaters and a method for improving floaters.

[0002] When gazing at bright places, white walls, blue skies, etc., it can sometimes appear as if there are floating objects such as insects or lint floating in front of your eyes. They seem to move with your gaze even when you move your eyes, and they don't go away even if you blink or rub your eyes, but they become less noticeable in dark places. Medically, this symptom is known as "floaters."

[0003] Most of the inside of the eye is filled with a jelly-like, transparent substance called the vitreous humor, and light that enters from outside through the cornea and lens passes through the lens and reaches the retina. If this vitreous humor becomes cloudy for some reason, when you look at a bright spot, the cloudy shadow is projected onto the retina and moves with the movement of the eyeball, making it look like there are "floating objects" such as insects or lint flying around, and this is perceived as floaters.

[0004] Age-related changes in the vitreous are one cause of vitreous clouding. With age, the composition of the vitreous changes, transforming from a gel to a liquid state. This leads to the formation of fluid-filled voids within the vitreous, resulting in cloudiness. Furthermore, as the vitreous degenerates, its volume shrinks, potentially causing the posterior surface of the vitreous to separate from its adhesion to the retina (posterior vitreous detachment), which can also lead to cloudiness. When the vitreous degenerates in this way, rapid eye movement can cause the retina to be pulled by the vitreous, stimulating the photoreceptor cells and resulting in the appearance of photopsia, a condition in which flashes of light appear in the field of vision. Posterior vitreous detachment is most common in people in their early 60s, but in recent years, with increased use of smartphones and other devices, there has been an increase in the incidence of floaters in younger age groups.

[0005] Treatments for floaters include laser therapy, which uses laser light to vaporize opacities in the vitreous and cut the vitreous cords, and vitreous surgery, which uses instruments to remove the vitreous from inside the eyeball. However, because these treatments are expensive and invasive, they are rarely performed proactively.

[0006] However, opacification of the vitreous significantly reduces contrast sensitivity, affecting vision and reducing quality of life (QOL), so there is a need for a less invasive and easier method to improve floaters.

[0007] For example, an agent for improving floaters using a component derived from a plant of the genus Curcuma of the Zingiberaceae family has been proposed (Patent Document 1).

[0008] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2022-99937

[0009] An object of the present invention is to provide a floater improving agent that is highly safe and can prevent or treat floaters by taking it daily.

[0010] As a result of intensive research to solve the above problems, the present inventors have found that Panax paniculata has an excellent effect of improving floaters, and have completed the present invention.

[0011] That is, the present invention is an agent for improving floaters, posterior vitreous detachment or photopsia, which contains Panax notoginseng as an active ingredient.

[0012] The present invention also provides a method for improving floaters, posterior vitreous detachment, or photopsia, which comprises administering Panax notoginseng to a human.

[0013] The active ingredient of the floaters improving agent of the present invention, Senshinren, has been used for many years as a herb or crude drug for maintaining health, is highly safe, and by taking it, excellent therapeutic and preventive effects against floaters can be obtained.

[0014] The agent for improving floaters of the present invention contains Panax notoginseng as an active ingredient.

[0015] Andrographis paniculata (scientific name: Andrographis Paniculata) is a plant of the genus Andrographis in the family Acanthaceae. It is a branched, leafy annual plant 0.5 to 1 m tall that grows abundantly in Southeast Asian countries such as India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia, and contains diterpene lactone compounds such as andrographolide. The part of Andrographis paniculata used in the present invention is not particularly limited, and leaves, stems, roots, flowers, seeds, fruits, and the whole plant can be used. However, leaves are preferred because they contain 2% by mass or more of andrographolide (diterpene lactone). The Andrographis paniculata active ingredient of the present invention includes the whole plant, juice obtained by squeezing the plant, dried or crushed plant matter, or extracts extracted from these. However, crushed Andrographis paniculata is preferred in terms of its effectiveness in improving floaters, etc.

[0016] The method for crushing Panax notoginseng is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a method in which Panax notoginseng is dried, cut into pieces of an appropriate size, sterilized, and then crushed in a crusher such as a hammer mill, mill, mortar, stone mill, etc. The size of the Panax notoginseng after crushing is not particularly limited, but is, for example, about 1 mm to 1 μm, and preferably about 1 mm to 10 μm.

[0017] The method for extracting Panax paniculata with a solvent is not particularly limited. For example, Panax paniculata may be immersed in water, alcohol, liquid oil, or the like, and extracted appropriately at room temperature, for example.

[0018] The form of the floater alleviating agent of the present invention is not particularly limited, and can be in the form of a human medicine, quasi-drug, food or drink, supplement, etc. As medicines and quasi-drugs, Senshinren can be formulated as is or, if necessary, in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Furthermore, if necessary, conventional additives can be appropriately added. The dosage form is not particularly limited, but since it can exert its effect orally, a dosage form that can be taken orally is preferred, such as capsules, liquids, powders, granules, tablets, etc. These can be manufactured according to conventional methods.

[0019] When it is made into the form of food or drink, Senshinren can be prepared as it is or, if necessary, by blending known food additives and food materials according to a conventional method. The form is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include foods such as bread, cookies, cakes, noodles, etc., confectioneries such as gum, candy, Japanese sweets, etc., meat foods such as ham, sausage, etc., fish foods such as chikuwa, kamaboko, etc., seafood foods, seasonings such as dressings, soy sauce, jam, furikake, etc., beverages such as tea, juice, soft drinks, alcoholic beverages, as well as functional foods, foods for specified health uses, foods with functional claims, etc. in the same form as the above-mentioned pharmaceuticals, etc. (capsules, liquids, powders, granules, tablets, etc.).

[0020] The floater-reducing agent of the present invention described above can improve the symptoms of floaters by administering it to mammals, including humans, and can reduce or eliminate floaters in the field of vision compared to before administration. The method of administration of the floater-reducing agent of the present invention is not particularly limited, but oral administration is preferred because it is effective orally. In the present invention, the floater-reducing agent encompasses both the treatment and prevention of floaters. Furthermore, as mentioned above, posterior vitreous detachment and photopsia are closely related to floaters, and the present invention also encompasses applications for the improvement (prevention and treatment) of posterior vitreous detachment and / or photopsia.

[0021] The agent for improving muscae floaters, posterior vitreous detachment, or photopsia of the present invention may be labeled with, for example, an indication that it prevents or treats muscae floaters, prevents or treats posterior vitreous detachment, prevents or treats photopsia, improves contrast sensitivity, clears vision, etc. The act of labeling includes inscription on the product itself, container, packaging, etc.; inscription on documents such as instructions, package inserts, pamphlets, and other printed materials disclosing product information; inscription on various leaflets and advertisements used for promotion, including those on the Internet; and the like.

[0022] When the floater alleviating agent of the present invention is administered to a mammal, for example, a human, the amount administered per dose is 1200 mg or more of Senshin (21.6 mg or more as andrographolide), preferably 1200 to 2400 mg (21.6 to 43.2 mg as andrographolide), three times a day, in the morning, afternoon, and evening. The daily dose is 3600 mg or more of Senshin (64.8 mg or more as andrographolide), preferably 3600 to 7200 mg (64.8 to 129.6 mg as andrographolide). It is preferable to administer this continuously for at least 5 days, preferably 14 days or more, and preferably 1 month or more.

[0023] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples in any way.

[0024] Manufacturing Example 1: Manufacturing of Oriental Oriental Capsules: Oriental ...

[0025] Example 1 Test to improve floaters: Patients A to F, who had floaters, were asked to take five capsules of Senshinren capsules obtained in Production Example 1 morning, noon, and night for two to four months. The results of diagnoses and tests by ophthalmologists and the subjective evaluations of the patients themselves before and after taking the capsules were recorded.

[0026] (1) Patient A Before drinking: He had light floaters and felt them when looking at a white wall. He was examined at an ophthalmologist and was diagnosed with floaters. After drinking: After drinking one month, he was examined at an ophthalmologist and it was confirmed that although the floaters were still there, they had become much lighter. After drinking for four months, he felt that the floaters (floating objects) had disappeared.

[0027] (2) Patient B Before drinking: He had been suffering from floaters for two years and had been visiting the doctor, but no improvement was seen. After an eye examination, he was diagnosed with floaters. After drinking: After two months of drinking, he felt that the floaters had disappeared. After three months of drinking, he was examined at an eye clinic and it was confirmed that there were no more floaters.

[0028] (3) Patient C Before drinking: He was examined at an ophthalmologist and diagnosed with floaters. After drinking: After one month of drinking, he no longer saw floaters (floating objects).

[0029] (4) Patient D Before drinking: He had suffered from floaters for about 10 years. After an eye examination, he was diagnosed with floaters. After drinking: After two months of drinking, the floaters became thinner and his vision became clearer. After four months of drinking, he no longer saw floaters (floating objects).

[0030] (5) Patient E Before drinking: He had been suffering from floaters for about five years. He was examined at an ophthalmologist and was diagnosed with floaters. After drinking: He was examined at an ophthalmologist two, four and six months after drinking, and no problems were found at any time. After two months of drinking, he no longer saw small, slowly moving black shadows or black shooting stars that he had previously seen when he shifted his gaze widely.

[0031] In this way, patients diagnosed with floaters were found to see improvement in their floaters by taking Senshinren.

[0032] The agent for improving floaters of the present invention can be used as a medicine, food or drink for improving floaters.

Claims

1. A medicine to improve floaters, containing Senshinren as the active ingredient.

2. A drug for improving posterior vitreous detachment, containing Senshinren as the active ingredient.

3. A photopsia improvement drug whose active ingredient is Senshinren.

4. A method for improving floaters, comprising administering Senshinren to a human.

5. A method for improving posterior vitreous detachment, comprising administering Senshinren to a human.

6. A method for improving photopsia, comprising administering Senshinren to a human.