Composition for preventing, alleviating, or treating cognitive dysfunction, containing zophobas atratus extract as active ingredient

Abstract

The present invention relates to a composition for preventing, alleviating, or treating cognitive dysfunction, containing a Zophobas atratus extract as an active ingredient. Specifically, when the Zophobas atratus extract of the present invention is administered to a scopolamine-induced cognitive dysfunction animal model, the cognitive function of learning ability and memory is enhanced, the expression of postsynaptic density protein-95 (PSD95), neuronal nuclear antigen (NeuN), and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) proteins is increased, and the expression of acetylcholine esterase (AChE) proteins is reduced. Therefore, the Zophobas atratus extract of the present invention can be useful as a material for functional health foods, medicines, feed additives for companion animals, and the like for preventing, alleviating, or treating cognitive dysfunction.

Description

Composition for preventing, improving or treating cognitive dysfunction containing an extract of American king worm as an active ingredient

[0001] The present invention relates to a composition for preventing, improving or treating cognitive dysfunction containing an extract of the American king worm as an active ingredient.

[0002]

[0003] This research was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (Mid-career Researcher Support Program) funded by the government (Ministry of Science and ICT) (NRF-2021R1A2C1005980).

[0004] Cognitive ability encompasses memory, spatial and temporal perception, judgment, language, and computational abilities, enabling individuals to carry out daily life without assistance. However, any form of brain damage, whether rapid neuronal cell death caused by stroke or trauma, or slow neuronal cell death resulting from degenerative brain diseases, immediately leads to irreversible dysfunction of neural circuits. Ultimately, cognitive ability declines, leading to conditions such as forgetfulness, memory impairment, dementia, and Alzheimer's disease, making it impossible to maintain a normal level of daily life. The number of patients with cognitive impairment, which not only causes personal suffering but also leads to a decline in the productive population, is expected to increase to over 74.7 million by 2030, making the development of health functional foods and pharmaceuticals for these disorders an urgent issue.

[0005] Meanwhile, companion animals, unlike the traditional concept of pets, are living creatures that share emotional bonds and coexist with humans. In modern society, companion animals are increasingly recognized as family members, leading to increased interest in their nutrition and health, and the development of diverse related products. Cognitive impairment (cognitive dysfunction) in companion animals is classified as a disease similar to dementia in humans. Given the inability of companion animals to communicate, key symptoms that may indicate cognitive impairment include decreased memory and intimacy with family members, changes in sleep patterns, deviations in elimination habits, changes in eating habits, and aversion to unfamiliar environments. With the average lifespan of companion dogs and cats estimated at approximately 15 years, cognitive impairment typically begins to develop in companion animals around the age of 11. As in humans, cognitive impairment in companion animals is believed to be closely related to brain function. Therefore, there is a growing need to develop pharmaceuticals or functional feeds that address cognitive impairment and improve brain function in companion animals.

[0006] Meanwhile, the American mealworm (Zophobas atratus) is an insect in the order Coleoptera, with a dark black body and an adult size of about 5-6 cm. The larvae of the American mealworm are larger than those of the same Coleoptera family, and are called "super mealworms." Their high protein and unsaturated fatty acid content makes them a versatile food ingredient. They are commonly used as food for birds, lizards, frogs, and turtles.

[0007] Prior art related to cognitive dysfunction includes Korean Patent Publication No. 2023-0140344, which discloses a "composition for improving cognitive function and preventing or treating degenerative brain diseases, comprising a black hornet's venom as an active ingredient," and Korean Patent Publication No. 2022-0166062, which discloses a "composition for preventing, improving, or treating degenerative brain diseases, comprising a mixture of licorice, sorghum, and silkworm pupa as an active ingredient." However, the "composition for preventing, improving, or treating cognitive dysfunction, comprising a mealworm extract as an active ingredient," according to the present invention, has not yet been disclosed.

[0008] The present invention was derived from the above-mentioned needs, and the present invention provides a composition for preventing, improving, or treating cognitive dysfunction containing an extract of the American giant beetle as an active ingredient, and more specifically, when the American giant beetle extract of the present invention was administered to an animal model of cognitive dysfunction induced by scopolamine, the cognitive functions of learning ability and memory were improved, and the expression of PSD95 (Postsynaptic density protein-95), NeuN (Neuronal nuclear antigen), and ChAT (choline acetyltransferase) proteins was increased, and the expression of AChE (Acetylcholine esterase) protein was decreased, thereby completing the present invention.

[0009] In order to solve the above problem, the present invention provides a health functional food composition for improving cognitive function or memory containing an extract of American king worm as an effective ingredient.

[0010] In addition, the present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition for preventing or treating cognitive dysfunction containing an extract of the American king worm as an active ingredient.

[0011] In addition, the present invention provides a veterinary composition for preventing or treating cognitive dysfunction containing an extract of the American king worm as an active ingredient.

[0012] In addition, the present invention provides a pet feed additive for improving cognitive function or memory containing an extract of the American king worm as an effective ingredient.

[0013] In addition, the present invention provides a pet food containing the above feed additive.

[0014] The present invention relates to a composition for preventing, improving or treating cognitive dysfunction containing an extract of the American giant beetle as an active ingredient, and more specifically, when the American giant beetle extract of the present invention is administered to an animal model of cognitive dysfunction induced by scopolamine, cognitive functions such as learning ability and memory are improved, and the expression of PSD95 (Postsynaptic density protein-95), NeuN (Neuronal nuclear antigen) and ChAT (choline acetyltransferase) proteins is increased, and the expression of AChE (Acetylcholine esterase) protein is decreased.

[0015] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of an experiment to confirm the cognitive function improvement effect of administering the American king worm extract of the present invention to a scopolamine-induced cognitive dysfunction mouse model.

[0016] Figure 2 shows the results of confirming the change in body weight according to the administration of the American giant beetle extract of the present invention in a scopolamine-induced cognitive dysfunction mouse model. CTL is a control group treated with physiological saline, Sco is a group administered scopolamine (1 mg / kg) alone, Sco+Done is a positive control group administered scopolamine and donepezil (3 mg / kg), Sco+Za is a group administered scopolamine and American giant beetle extract (10 g / kg), and Za is a group administered American giant beetle extract (10 g / kg) alone.

[0017] Figure 3 shows the results of a water maze test to confirm the memory improvement effect of administering the American giant worm extract of the present invention to a scopolamine-induced cognitive dysfunction mouse model. A is the result of measuring the number of times the target point was passed, B is the result of measuring the time spent at the target point, and C is the result of measuring the time taken to find the target point.

[0018] Figure 4 shows the results of confirming the memory improvement effect of the American king worm extract of the present invention in a scopolamine-induced cognitive dysfunction mouse model through a Y-maze test.

[0019] Figure 5 shows the results of a light / dark test confirming the memory improvement effect of administering the American king worm extract of the present invention to a scopolamine-induced cognitive dysfunction mouse model.

[0020] Figure 6 shows the results of confirming changes in the expression of (A) PSD95 (Postsynaptic density protein-95) and NeuN (Neuronal nuclear antigen) proteins and (B) ChAT (choline acetyltransferase) and AChE (Acetylcholine esterase) proteins following administration of the American king beetle extract of the present invention in a scopolamine-induced cognitive dysfunction mouse model. α-tubulin is a loading control.

[0021] In order to achieve the purpose of the present invention, the present invention provides a health functional food composition for improving cognitive function or memory containing an extract of American king worm as an effective ingredient.

[0022] The above American king worm extract can be prepared by a method including, but not limited to, the following steps:

[0023] (1) A step of extracting the American king worm by adding an extraction solvent;

[0024] (2) a step of filtering the extract of step (1); and

[0025] (3) A step of preparing an extract by drying the filtered extract of step (2).

[0026] In the above step (1), the extraction solvent is preferably selected from water, C1 to C4 lower alcohol, or a mixture thereof, more preferably water, but is not limited thereto.

[0027] In the above manufacturing method, the extraction method may be any conventional method known in the art, such as filtration, hot water extraction, immersion extraction, reflux cooling extraction, and ultrasonic extraction. It is preferable to extract the extraction solvent by adding 1 to 20 times the weight of the American giant mealworm, and the extraction time is preferably 1 to 30 hours, and more preferably 5 to 20 hours, but is not limited thereto. In the above method, the drying in step (3) is preferably, but is not limited to, reduced pressure drying, vacuum drying, boiling drying, spray drying, or freeze drying.

[0028] The health functional food composition for improving cognitive function or memory of the present invention is preferably manufactured in any one formulation selected from powder, granules, pills, tablets, capsules, candy, syrup, and beverage, but is not limited thereto.

[0029] When the health functional food composition of the present invention is used as a food additive, the American king worm extract can be added as is or used together with other foods or food ingredients, and can be used appropriately according to a conventional method. The mixing amount of the active ingredient can be appropriately determined depending on the purpose of use (prevention or improvement). Generally, when manufacturing a food or beverage, the composition of the present invention is added in an amount of 15 parts by weight or less, preferably 10 parts by weight or less, based on the raw material. However, in the case of long-term intake for the purpose of health and hygiene or health control, the amount may be below the above range, and since there is no problem in terms of safety, the active ingredient can also be used in an amount above the above range.

[0030] There are no specific restrictions on the types of the above foods. Examples of foods to which the American king worm extract can be added include meat, sausage, bread, chocolate, candy, snacks, confectionery, pizza, ramen, other noodles, gum, dairy products including ice cream, various soups, beverages, tea, drinks, alcoholic beverages, and vitamin complexes, and include all health functional foods in the conventional sense.

[0031] When the composition of the present invention is used as a health beverage, it may contain various flavoring agents or natural carbohydrates as additional ingredients, as in conventional beverages. The natural carbohydrates mentioned above are monosaccharides such as glucose and fructose, disaccharides such as maltose and sucrose, polysaccharides such as dextrin and cyclodextrin, and sugar alcohols such as xylitol, sorbitol, and erythritol. As a sweetener, a natural sweetener such as thaumarin or stevia extract, or a synthetic sweetener such as saccharin or aspartame can be used. The proportion of the natural carbohydrate is generally about 0.01 to 0.04 g, preferably about 0.02 to 0.03 g, per 100 g of the composition of the present invention. The composition of the present invention may contain various nutrients, vitamins, electrolytes, flavoring agents, coloring agents, pectic acid and its salts, alginic acid and its salts, organic acids, protective colloid thickeners, pH adjusters, stabilizers, preservatives, glycerin, alcohol, carbonating agents used in carbonated beverages, etc. In addition, the composition of the present invention may contain fruit pulp for the production of natural fruit juice, fruit juice drinks, and vegetable drinks. These components may be used independently or in mixtures. The proportion of these additives is not particularly important, but the composition of the present invention is typically selected in the range of 0.01 to 0.1 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight.

[0032] In addition, the present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition for preventing or treating cognitive dysfunction containing an extract of the American king worm as an active ingredient.

[0033] The above cognitive impairment may be any one selected from, but is not limited to, dementia, Alzheimer's disease, ischemic stroke, traumatic brain injury, amnesia, Parkinson's disease, Pick's disease, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, and mild cognitive impairment.

[0034] The composition of the present invention may further include a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, excipient, or diluent in addition to the above-mentioned effective ingredient, and may be in various oral or parenteral dosage forms. When formulated, it is prepared using diluents or excipients such as commonly used fillers, bulking agents, binders, wetting agents, disintegrants, and surfactants. Solid preparations for oral administration include capsules, powders, granules, tablets, pills, etc., and these solid preparations are prepared by mixing one or more compounds with at least one excipient, such as starch, calcium carbonate, sucrose, lactose, gelatin, etc. In addition to simple excipients, lubricants such as magnesium stearate and talc are also used. Liquid preparations for oral administration include suspensions, emulsions, syrups, and aerosols. In addition to commonly used simple diluents such as water and liquid paraffin, they may contain various excipients such as wetting agents, sweeteners, fragrances, and preservatives. Preparations for parenteral administration include sterile aqueous solutions, non-aqueous solvents, suspensions, emulsions, lyophilizers, and suppositories. Non-aqueous solvents and suspending agents can be propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, vegetable oils such as olive oil, and injectable esters such as ethyl oleate. Suppository bases can include witepsol, macrogol, Tween 61, cacao butter, laurin butter, and glycerogelatin. For parenteral administration, it is preferable to select a method such as topical application on the skin or intraperitoneal, rectal, intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous, intrauterine, epidural, or intracerebrovascular injection.

[0035] The pharmaceutical composition according to the present invention is administered in a pharmaceutically effective amount. In the present invention, "pharmaceutically effective amount" means an amount sufficient to treat a disease at a reasonable benefit / risk ratio applicable to medical treatment. The level of the effective amount may be determined based on factors including the type and severity of the patient's disease, the activity and sensitivity of the drug to the drug, the time of administration, the route of administration and excretion rate, the duration of treatment, concurrently used drugs, and other factors well known in the medical field. The composition of the present invention may be administered as an individual therapeutic agent or in combination with other therapeutic agents, may be administered sequentially or simultaneously with conventional therapeutic agents, and may be administered singly or in multiple doses. It is important to take all of the above factors into consideration and administer an amount that achieves the maximum effect with the minimum amount without causing side effects, and this can be easily determined by those skilled in the art.

[0036] In addition, the present invention provides a veterinary composition for preventing or treating cognitive dysfunction containing an extract of the American king worm as an active ingredient.

[0037] The veterinary composition comprising the American giant beetle extract of the present invention may further comprise suitable excipients and diluents according to conventional methods. Excipients and diluents that may be included in the veterinary composition comprising the American giant beetle extract of the present invention include lactose, dextrose, sucrose, sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, erythritol, maltitol, starch, acacia gum, alginate, gelatin, calcium phosphate, calcium silicate, cellulose, methyl cellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, water, methylhydroxybenzoate, propylhydroxybenzoate, talc, magnesium stearate, cetanol, stearyl alcohol, liquid paraffin, sorbitan monostearate, polysorbate 60, methylparaben, propylparaben, and mineral oil.

[0038] The veterinary composition comprising the American king worm extract according to the present invention may further include fillers, anticoagulants, lubricants, wetting agents, flavoring agents, emulsifiers, preservatives, etc. The veterinary composition according to the present invention may be formulated using a method well known in the art so as to provide rapid, sustained or delayed release of the active ingredient after administration to an animal, and the formulation may be in the form of a powder, granule, tablet, capsule, suspension, emulsion, solution, syrup, aerosol, soft or hard gelatin capsule, suppository, sterile injection solution, sterile external preparation, etc.

[0039] The veterinary composition according to the present invention may vary depending on the age, sex, and weight of the animal, but may be administered once or several times a day, and the dosage may be increased or decreased depending on the route of administration, severity of the disease, sex, weight, age, etc. Therefore, the above dosage does not limit the scope of the present invention in any way.

[0040] In addition, the present invention provides a pet feed additive for improving cognitive function or memory containing an extract of the American king worm as an effective ingredient.

[0041] In the present invention, the term "companion animal" means a dog, cat, rabbit, ferret, guinea pig, hamster, etc. raised for companion purposes, and the scope of the animal includes without limitation any animal that lives with humans.

[0042] The feed additive of the present invention corresponds to supplementary feed under the Feed Management Act. The term 'feed' in the present invention may mean any natural or artificial diet, meal, etc., or ingredients of the meal, which are suitable for or intended for animals to eat, ingest, and digest. The type of the feed is not particularly limited, and feed commonly used in the relevant technical field may be used. Non-limiting examples of the feed include plant feeds such as grains, roots, fruits, food processing by-products, algae, fibers, pharmaceutical by-products, oils and fats, starches, meal, or grain by-products; and animal feeds such as proteins, inorganic substances, oils and fats, mineral substances, oils and fats, single-cell proteins, zooplankton, or food. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0043] In addition, the present invention provides a pet food containing the above feed additive.

[0044] The pet food of the present invention may further include additives commonly included in pet food in the art, and specifically, may further include a vitamin mixture including vitamin C and vitamin D, a mineral mixture including iron and copper, a gelling agent such as agar, taurine, etc. The content of the additives may be determined by the amount generally combined in the art, and is not limited thereto. However, the pet food of the present invention is characterized in that it does not include preservatives, coloring agents, sweeteners, or seasonings.

[0045]

[0046] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail by examples. However, the following examples are only illustrative of the present invention, and the content of the present invention is not limited to the following examples.

[0047]

[0048] Manufacturing Example 1. Manufacturing of American giant mealworm (Zophobas atratus) extract

[0049] American king worm powder was purchased from Baekmandoli Co., Ltd. and used in the experiment. 10 g of American king worm powder was homogenized with 30 ml of sterilized water. The mixture was then stirred at 180 rpm for 12 hours for extraction, centrifuged at 1,500 rpm for 15 minutes, and the supernatant was filtered through a 0.2 μm pore size cellulose filter. The supernatant was frozen in liquid nitrogen and then freeze-dried to produce a powder.

[0050]

[0051] Manufacturing Example 2. Measurement of extraction yield and re-dissolution

[0052] After measuring the weight of the freeze-dried American king worm extract of Manufacturing Example 1, the extraction yield (%) was calculated by substituting it into the calculation formula.

[0053] Calculation formula 1: Extraction yield (%) = (Weight after drying) / (Weight of powder used before extraction) × 100

[0054] As a result, the extraction yield of the American king worm extract according to Manufacturing Example 1 was confirmed to be 13.54%. The powder obtained after freeze-drying was dissolved again using sterilized water to calculate the concentration.

[0055]

[0056] Example 1. Establishment of animal experiment design

[0057] Six-week-old male ICR mice weighing 20–25 g purchased from Damul Science (Daejeon, South Korea) were used as experimental animals. For the cognitive dysfunction induction experiment, the mice were divided into five groups (n=8): (1) control group (CTL; ​​saline), (2) Sco (Scopolamine 1 mg / kg, Sigma-Aldrich, #S0929, anticholinergic drug), (3) Sco+Don (Scopolamine 1 mg / kg + Donepezil 3 mg / kg; acetylcholinesterase inhibitor), (4) Sco+Za (Scopolamine 1 mg / kg + American giant beetle powder extract 10 g / kg), (5) Za (American giant beetle powder extract 10 g / kg).

[0058] As described in Fig. 1, scopolamine and donepezil were injected intraperitoneally using a syringe, and the American giant beetle extract (Za) was administered orally. The drugs were administered a total of 16 times daily over a 19-day experimental period, and on the 19th day after the final administration, the mice were sacrificed and brain tissues were extracted for various histological and biochemical analyses. The isolated brain tissues were either lyophilized or lysed to measure antioxidant activity using Western blotting and ELISA analysis.

[0059]

[0060] Example 2. Confirmation of the efficacy of American giant beetle extract in improving memory and cognitive function in a mouse model of scopolamine-induced cognitive disorder.

[0061] Cognitive dysfunction was induced in mice by intraperitoneal injection of scopolamine for 10 days. As described above, donepezil and mealworm extract (Za), as positive controls, were administered intraperitoneally and orally, respectively, 30 minutes prior to scopolamine treatment. After drug administration, the mice were weighed, and behavioral analyses were performed on a time-based basis to assess their spatial memory, including the Morris water maze test, Y-maze test, and light / dark test.

[0062]

[0063] 1) Weight change

[0064] As disclosed in Fig. 2, the body weight of the scopolamine-only administration group (Sco) did not increase during the experimental period compared to the normal group (CTL), whereas the body weight of the scopolamine and American king worm extract of the present invention administration group (Sco+Za) showed an increase.

[0065]

[0066] 2) Morris water maze test

[0067] To assess the spatial memory of mice, the Morris water maze test was performed. Specifically, mice rely on exploratory skills to find a submerged escape platform. This test used a circular pool (122 cm) with a hidden platform. Mice were trained continuously for four days before drug administration to ensure they found a short, direct path from the starting position to the hidden platform. After drug administration, the maze test was performed, and spatial acquisition was measured and data analyzed using SMART 3.0 software (Ver. 3.0, Harvard Apparatus, Holliston, MA 01746, USA).

[0068] As a result, as shown in Fig. 3A, in the case of the scopolamine-only administration group (Sco) compared to the control group (CTL), the number of times the target point was passed was significantly reduced to 8, and in contrast, in the scopolamine and American king worm extract of the present invention administration group (Sco+Za), the number of times the target point was passed was increased to 15.

[0069] In addition, in the results of measuring the time spent at the target point, it was confirmed that the time spent in the scopolamine-only administration group (Sco) was significantly reduced compared to the control group (CTL), whereas the time spent in the scopolamine and American giant worm extract administration group (Sco+Za) was increased to a level similar to that of the positive control group (Fig. 3B).

[0070] Finally, the time taken for the mouse to find the target point again was measured, and as shown in Fig. 3C, it took about 40 seconds in the scopolamine-only administration group (Sco) compared to the control group (CTL), whereas it took about 20 seconds in the scopolamine and American giant worm extract administration group (Sco+Za), confirming a significant reduction in the time taken to find the target point.

[0071]

[0072] 3) Y-maze test

[0073] The present invention conducted a Y-maze analysis to evaluate spatial and reference memory by extracts of the American king worm. The Y-maze experiment was conducted by having each experimental group of mice recognize the location of food, changing the location of the food, and measuring the time required to find the food.

[0074] Each experimental group of mice was made to recognize the location of the food, the location of the food was changed, and the time taken was measured. As a result, as shown in Fig. 4, in the case of the group administered scopolamine alone (Sco), the dwell time was confirmed to be approximately 20 seconds because the group did not recognize the location where the food had previously been (target zone), but in the group administered scopolamine and the American giant worm extract of the present invention (Sco+Za), the dwell time was confirmed to have significantly increased to approximately 80 seconds.

[0075]

[0076] 4) Light / Dark test

[0077] A light / dark test was conducted on each experimental group of mice. The light / dark test was conducted by exposing each group of mice to a light and dark environment and measuring the time they spent in each environment.

[0078] As a result, as disclosed in Fig. 5, in the case of the scopolamine-only administration group (Sco), the mice stayed for 90 seconds and 200 seconds, respectively, under light / dark conditions, but in the scopolamine and American king worm extract of the present invention administration group (Sco+Za), the mice stayed for 180 seconds and 120 seconds, respectively.

[0079]

[0080] Example 3. Confirmation of the efficacy of American giant beetle extract on brain neurons in a mouse model of scopolamine-induced cognitive disorder.

[0081] To determine the effect of the American king worm extract according to the present invention on the neurons of mice with cognitive dysfunction, the brains of each group were extracted on the 19th day after 16 drug administrations over 19 days, homogenized using a tissue lysis buffer, and centrifuged at 4°C and 12,000 rpm for 20 minutes to precipitate the brain tissue. The supernatant was recovered and used as a protein sample for Western blot analysis.

[0082] As a result, as shown in Fig. 6A, the expression levels of PSD95 (Postsynaptic density protein-95) and NeuN (Neuronal nuclear antigen) proteins in the scopolamine-only administration group (Sco) decreased compared to the control group (CTL), but in the scopolamine and American giant beetle extract of the present invention administration group (Sco+Za), it was confirmed that the expression of PSD95 and NeuN proteins increased to a level similar to that of the control group (CTL).

[0083] In the case of protein expression of AChE (Acetylcholine esterase) and ChAT (choline acetyltransferase), the expression of ChAT decreased and the expression of AChE increased in the scopolamine-only administration group (Sco) compared to the control group (CTL), but in the scopolamine and American giant beetle extract administration group of the present invention (Sco+Za), the expression of ChAT increased to a level similar to the control group (CTL) and the expression of AChE decreased (Fig. 6B).

Claims

1. A health functional food composition for improving cognitive function or memory containing an extract of the American king worm as an effective ingredient.

2. In paragraph 1, the extraction solvent of the American king worm extract is water, C 1 ~C 4 A health functional food composition for improving cognitive function or memory, characterized by comprising low-grade alcohol or a mixture thereof.

3. A health functional food composition for improving cognitive function or memory, characterized in that the composition in the first paragraph is in one formulation selected from powder, granules, pills, tablets, capsules, candy, syrup, and beverage.

4. A pharmaceutical composition for preventing or treating cognitive dysfunction containing an extract of the American king worm as an effective ingredient.

5. A pharmaceutical composition for preventing or treating cognitive dysfunction, characterized in that in paragraph 4, the cognitive dysfunction is any one selected from dementia, Alzheimer's disease, ischemic stroke, traumatic brain injury, amnesia, Parkinson's disease, Pick's disease, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, and mild cognitive dysfunction.

6. A pharmaceutical composition for preventing or treating cognitive dysfunction, characterized in that in paragraph 4, in addition to the effective ingredient, it further comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, excipient or diluent.

7. A pharmaceutical composition for preventing or treating cognitive dysfunction, characterized in that the composition in claim 4 is manufactured in any one formulation selected from capsules, powders, granules, tablets, suspensions, emulsions, syrups, and aerosols.

8. A veterinary composition for preventing or treating cognitive dysfunction containing an extract of the American king worm as an active ingredient.

9. A pet feed additive for improving cognitive function or memory containing American king worm extract as an effective ingredient.

10. Pet food containing feed additives of Article 9.

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