Activity enhancement agent and food / beverage for enhancing activity

Abstract

Provided is an activity enhancement agent including a novel active ingredient. The activity enhancement agent includes 1,8-cineole as an active ingredient. In one embodiment, the activity enhancement agent may have a 1,8-cineole content of 2 ppm to 50 ppm. The activity enhancement agent may further include water as a solvent.

Description

Activity enhancers and food and beverages for improving activity

[0001] The present invention relates to an activity enhancer and a food or drink for enhancing activity.

[0002] 1,8-cineole is a type of monoterpenoid with a cyclic ether structure and is found in the leaves of bay leaves, mugwort, basil, rosemary, sage, and other plants. It is a colorless to pale yellow, clear liquid with a refreshing camphor-like odor and clean taste, and is used in food additives, fragrances, cosmetics, and the like. For example, International Publication No. 2018 / 123163 exemplifies 1,8-cineole as one of the active ingredients in fragrance compositions that improve concentration and reduce impulsivity corresponding to each menstrual stage in a woman's menstrual cycle. Furthermore, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2023-088316 exemplifies 1,8-cineole as one of the useful substances with anti-inflammatory properties.

[0003] One aspect of the present invention aims to provide an activity enhancer containing a novel active ingredient.

[0004] A first aspect is a activity improver containing 1,8-cineole as an active ingredient. In one aspect, the activity improver may have a 1,8-cineole content of 2 ppm to 50 ppm and may contain water as a solvent. In another aspect, the activity improver may have an intake amount of 1 mg to 6 mg of 1,8-cineole per dose and may be taken orally.

[0005] In one embodiment, the activity enhancer may improve energy and vitality and may increase cerebral blood flow.

[0006] A second aspect is a food or beverage for improving activity, which contains 1,8-cineole as an active ingredient. In one aspect, the food or beverage for improving activity may have a 1,8-cineole content of 2 ppm to 50 ppm and may contain water as a solvent. In another aspect, the food or beverage for improving activity may contain 1 mg to 6 mg of 1,8-cineole per serving, and may be taken orally.

[0007] In one embodiment, the food or drink for improving activity may improve vitality and energy, and may also increase cerebral blood flow.

[0008] A third aspect is a method for improving activity in a subject, the method comprising having the subject ingest the activity-enhancing agent of the first aspect. In one aspect, the method for improving activity may involve orally ingesting the activity-enhancing agent, and the amount of 1,8-cineole ingested per dose may be 1 mg or more and 6 mg or less.

[0009] According to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide an activity enhancer containing a novel active ingredient.

[0010] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the test procedure for subjective evaluation. Fig. 2 is the result of a psychological questionnaire evaluating the test beverage of Example 1 on a 9-point scale for "(psychological) sedation to (psychological) alertness." Fig. 3 is the result of a psychological questionnaire evaluating the test beverage of Example 1 on a 9-point scale for "(psychological) sedation to (psychological) alertness," showing the amount of change when the score before ingestion is set to 0. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing the test procedure for objective evaluation.

[0011] In this specification, the content of each component in a composition refers to the total amount of the components present in the composition unless otherwise specified, when the composition contains multiple substances corresponding to each component. Furthermore, the upper and lower limits of the numerical ranges described in this specification can be arbitrarily selected and combined from the numerical values ​​exemplified as numerical ranges. The following describes in detail the embodiments of the present invention. However, the embodiments described below are intended to exemplify activity enhancers and activity-enhancing foods and beverages, etc., in order to embody the technical concept of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the activity enhancers and activity-enhancing foods and beverages, etc., described below.

[0012] Activity Enhancer The activity enhancer contains 1,8-cineole as an active ingredient. When a subject ingests an activity enhancer containing 1,8-cineole, the subject's activity level is enhanced. As used herein, "enhancement of activity" refers to, for example, promotion of a psychological arousal state in the subject. Here, psychological arousal (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as arousal) refers to an excited state or energy expenditure associated with emotions. Psychological arousal is typically closely related to a person's assessment of the importance of an event and the physical strength of a stimulus. This psychological arousal is also illustrated by Russell's circumplex model, which posits emotions as being arranged two-dimensionally along the "pleasure-discomfort" axis and the "arousal-calmness" (or "activation-deactivation") axis. The ascending reticular activating system, which runs from the midbrain reticular formation to the cerebrum, is believed to be involved in maintaining a state of psychological arousal. Subjective assessments of the promotion of a psychological arousal state include, for example, increased activity and increased vitality and energy. The subjective evaluation can be performed, for example, by a psychological questionnaire. For example, the evaluation can be performed using a nine-point scale with scores ranging from "(psychological) sedation" to "(psychological) alertness." Furthermore, an objective evaluation result indicating that psychological alertness is promoted can be, for example, an increase in cerebral blood flow. In the present specification, the state of activity improvement may also include an improvement in physiological activity, or may be an improvement in only psychological activity without a substantial improvement in physiological activity. That is, the activity-enhancing agent may be a psychological activity-enhancing agent.

[0013] Examples of subjects whose activity is improved by ingesting an activity enhancer include mammals such as humans, and insects such as fruit flies. The subject may include at least a mammal, and the mammal may or may not include a human. That is, the subject may be a mammal including a human, or may be a human or a non-human mammal. The details of the mechanism by which activity is improved by ingesting an activity enhancer containing 1,8-cineole are unknown.

[0014] 1,8-cineole is a type of monoterpenoid and has a cyclic ether structure within the molecule. Its IUPAC systematic name is 1,3,3-trimethyl-2-oxabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (CAS number 470-82-6). 1,8-cineole is used in food additives, fragrances, cosmetics, etc. 1,8-cineole has been evaluated for safety and designated as a designated food additive.

[0015] The content of 1,8-cineole in the activity enhancer may be, for example, 2 ppm or more and 50 ppm or less. Preferably, it may be 5 ppm or more, or 8 ppm or more, and may be 30 ppm or less, or 20 ppm or less. In one aspect, the content of 1,8-cineole in the activity enhancer may be, for example, 2 ppm or more and 50 ppm or less, preferably 3 ppm or more and 30 ppm or less, or 8 ppm or more and 20 ppm or less. When the content of 1,8-cineole is within the above range, activity tends to be further improved.

[0016] The activity enhancer may contain at least water as a solvent in addition to 1,8-cineole. By containing water, for example, 1,8-cineole can be more efficiently ingested. The water content in the activity enhancer may be, for example, 99.995% by mass or more and 99.9998% by mass or less.

[0017] The activity enhancer may be in any desired state, such as a liquid, solid, or semi-solid (eg, gel).

[0018] The activity enhancer may further contain other active ingredients in addition to 1,8-cineole. The other active ingredients may be any active ingredients that have an activity enhancing effect or an activity enhancing effect. Examples of the other active ingredients include caffeine.

[0019] The activity enhancer may be substantially free of other active ingredients other than 1,8-cineole. "Substantially free of other active ingredients" means that the content of other active ingredients is less than the amount that exhibits an activity enhancing effect.

[0020] The activity enhancer may optionally contain carbon dioxide gas, flavorings, acidulants, sweeteners, colorings, antioxidants, pH adjusters, various nutritional components, etc. Details of these components will be described later.

[0021] Furthermore, the activity enhancer may be in any dosage form, such as powder, granules, tablets, capsules, lozenges, syrup, liquid, or injection. The method of ingestion may be selected from commonly used ingestion routes depending on the dosage form of the activity enhancer. Examples of ingestion routes for the activity enhancer include oral administration. The ingestion route is preferably oral. Since the activity enhancer can be taken orally, the activity enhancing effect can be easily obtained.

[0022] The amount of 1,8-cineole ingested by a subject to provide an activity-enhancing effect may be, for example, 1 mg to 6 mg, and preferably 2 mg to 5 mg, per administration, as the amount of 1,8-cineole ingested that can provide an activity-enhancing effect in a subject. The activity-enhancing agent may be ingested once a day or several times a day. The ingestion period may be, for example, one day or more, preferably one week or more, and more preferably one month or more.

[0023] The activity enhancer can be prepared by incorporating 1,8-cineole into a composition having a desired composition. 1,8-cineole may be incorporated into the composition using 1,8-cineole itself, or may be incorporated into the composition using essential oils containing 1,8-cineole. The method for incorporating 1,8-cineole may be appropriately selected depending on the composition to be incorporated.

[0024] Foods and beverages for improving activity. Foods and beverages used to improve activity contain 1,8-cineole as an active ingredient. Ingestion of foods and beverages containing 1,8-cineole can improve activity. Foods and beverages containing 1,8-cineole include general foods and beverages, health foods and beverages, and functional foods and beverages. The foods and beverages may preferably be functional foods and beverages. "Functional foods and beverages" refers to foods and beverages that have a certain functionality in the body, and includes, for example, foods and beverages designated as specified health uses (including conditional FOSHUs [Foods for Specified Health Uses]) and functional nutritional foods and beverages, foods and beverages for special dietary uses, dietary supplements, health supplements, supplements (e.g., tablets, coated tablets, sugar-coated tablets, capsules, and liquids), and beauty foods and beverages (e.g., diet foods and beverages). Functional foods and beverages also include health foods and beverages to which a health claim based on the Codex Alimentarius (Joint FAO / WHO Commission on Food Standards) applies.

[0025] Examples of foods and beverages include, but are not limited to, health foods and beverages (such as supplements, nutritional supplements, health supplements, and nutritionally balanced foods) in the form of tablets, tablets, chewable tablets, powders, capsules, granules, and drinks, as well as soft drinks, tea drinks, jelly drinks, sports drinks, coffee drinks, carbonated drinks, vegetable drinks, fruit juice drinks, fermented vegetable drinks, fermented fruit juice drinks, fermented milk drinks (such as yogurt), lactic acid bacteria drinks, milk drinks, powdered drinks, cocoa drinks, sweets (such as biscuits, cookies, chocolate, candy, chewing gum, gummies, and tablets), and jellies.

[0026] The food or beverage may be a fluid beverage. When the food or beverage is a beverage, the concentration of 1,8-cineole in the beverage may be, for example, 2 ppm or more and 50 ppm or less, preferably 5 ppm or more or 8 ppm or more, and 30 ppm or less, or 20 ppm or less. In one aspect, the content of 1,8-cineole in the beverage may be, for example, 2 ppm or more and 50 ppm or less, preferably 3 ppm or more and 30 ppm or less, or 8 ppm or more and 20 ppm or less.

[0027] The beverage may, for example, contain 1,8-cineole and a liquid medium such as water, fruit juice, etc. The beverage may, for example, be a tea beverage such as green tea, oolong tea, or black tea, a soft drink, a jelly drink, a sports drink, a milk drink, a carbonated drink, a vegetable drink, a fruit juice drink, a fermented vegetable drink, a fermented fruit juice drink, a fermented milk drink (such as yogurt), a lactic acid bacteria drink, a milk drink (such as coffee milk or fruit milk), a powdered drink, a cocoa drink, or an alcoholic beverage, or may be a beverage containing the composition and having milk, purified water, or the like as a liquid medium.

[0028] The food or drink may contain a sweetener to adjust the sweetness. The sweetener may be a sugar, and the sugar is not particularly limited as long as it is a commonly used sugar, and examples thereof include sucrose, glucose, fructose, fructooligosaccharides, galactooligosaccharides, etc. Alternatively, commonly used synthetic sweeteners such as aspartame and saccharin may be added instead of sugar. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0029] The food or drink may contain an acidulant. The acidulant is not particularly limited as long as it is a commonly used acidulant, and examples thereof include citric acid, malic acid, acetic acid, tartaric acid, glucono-delta-lactone, gluconic acid, phosphoric acid, succinic acid, ascorbic acid, phytic acid, lactic acid, and salts thereof. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0030] Foods and beverages may contain flavorings. The flavorings are not particularly limited as long as they are commonly used flavorings, and examples thereof include citrus oils such as lemon, lime, and orange, orange oil, and herb extracts. The flavorings may be natural flavorings or synthetic flavorings. The natural flavorings are not particularly limited as long as they are commonly used natural flavorings, and examples thereof include anise oil, angelica oil, allspice oil, orange oil, cassia oil, capsicum oil, guarana extract, cardamom oil, caraway oil, cumin oil, clary sage oil, grapefruit oil, clove oil, coriander oil, coffee oil, cognac oil, cola nut extract, cinnamon oil, ginger oil, thyme oil, nutmeg oil, peppermint oil, vanilla extract, bitter almond oil, fenugreek oil, fennel oil, pepper oil, peppermint oil, perilla oil, bergamot oil, mandarin oil, lemon oil, and rosemary oil. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0031] The synthetic fragrance is not particularly limited as long as it is a commonly used synthetic fragrance, and examples thereof include allyl caproate, γ-undecalactone, ethyl vanillin, ethyl butyrate, ethyl phenylglycidate, eugenol, nerol, geraniol, diacetyl, cyclotene, cinnamic aldehyde, terpineol, δ-decalactone, decanal, nonanal, γ-nonalactone, furaneol, furfuryl mercaptan, 2-hexenal, 3-hexenol, heliotropin, perillaldehyde, benzaldehyde, maltol, methyl anthranilate, methyl salicylate, menthol, α-ionone, and linalool.

[0032] The food or beverage may contain a coloring agent. The coloring agent is not particularly limited as long as it is a commonly used coloring agent, and examples thereof include caramel color, etc. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0033] The food or drink may contain an antioxidant. The antioxidant is not particularly limited as long as it is a commonly used antioxidant, and examples thereof include L-ascorbic acid, tocopherol, etc. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0034] The food or drink may contain a pH adjuster. The pH adjuster is not particularly limited as long as it is a commonly used pH adjuster, and examples thereof include phosphoric acid, lactic acid, etc. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0035] The activity-improving method includes having a subject ingest an activity-improving agent containing 1,8-cineole. When the subject ingests the activity-improving agent, the activity of the subject is improved by the action of the active ingredient, 1,8-cineole. Details of the composition of the activity-improving agent are as described above.

[0036] The method of taking the activity enhancer in the activity enhancing method may include oral ingestion, nasal administration, rectal administration, intravenous injection, drip infusion, etc. The method of ingestion may be preferably oral ingestion.

[0037] The amount of the activity enhancer to be ingested in the method for improving activity may be, for example, 1 mg or more and 6 mg or less, and preferably 2 mg or more or 5 mg or less, as the amount of 1,8-cineole to be ingested per administration. The activity enhancer may be ingested once a day or several times a day.

[0038] Examples of subjects in the activity-enhancing method include mammals such as humans, and insects such as fruit flies. The subject may include at least a mammal, and the mammal may or may not include a human. That is, the subject may be a mammal including a human, a human, or a non-human mammal.

[0039] Other aspects of the present invention may include the use of 1,8-cineole in the manufacture of an activity enhancer used in a method for improving activity, the use of an activity enhancer containing 1,8-cineole as an active ingredient in a method for improving activity, the use of 1,8-cineole in a method for improving activity, and 1,8-cineole for use in a method for improving activity.

[0040] The invention according to the present disclosure may include, for example, the following aspects: [1] An activity enhancer comprising 1,8-cineole.

[0041] [2] The activity improver according to [1], wherein the content of 1,8-cineole is 2 ppm or more and 50 ppm or less.

[0042] [3] The activity enhancer according to [1] or [2], further comprising water.

[0043] [4] The activity enhancer according to any one of [1] to [3], wherein the amount of 1,8-cineole taken per dose is 1 mg or more and 6 mg or less.

[0044] [5] The activity enhancer according to any one of [1] to [4], which is taken orally.

[0045] [6] The activity enhancer according to any one of [1] to [5], which improves vitality and energy.

[0046] [7] The activity enhancer according to any one of [1] to [6], which increases cerebral blood flow.

[0047] [8] A food or drink containing 1,8-cineole for improving activity.

[0048] [9] A method for improving activity in a subject, comprising having the subject ingest the activity-improving agent according to any one of [1] to [7].

[0049]

[10] The method for improving activity according to [9], wherein the amount of 1,8-cineole ingested per dose is 1 mg or more and 6 mg or less.

[0050]

[11] The method for improving activity according to [9] or

[10] , wherein the activity enhancer is orally ingested.

[0051] The present invention will be specifically described below with reference to examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.

[0052] Test Example 1 (Subjective Evaluation) In Test Example 1, each test beverage was consumed by each subject, and each subject's subjective evaluation was obtained by a psychological questionnaire. Test Example 1 was conducted as a single-dose crossover comparative study with 42 healthy Japanese men and women aged 20 to 39 years old. The subjects provided written informed consent before the study was conducted. The test method and results of Test Example 1 are described below.

[0053] Test Method In Test Example 1, as shown in Table 1, the test beverages used were a commercially available drinking water (Comparative Example 1) and an aqueous solution (Example 1) of commercially available drinking water (the same as Comparative Example 1) containing 1,8-cineole at a concentration of 10 ppm. The test was conducted twice, with an interval of at least 12 hours, and subjects were randomly assigned to ingest one of the test beverages. Ingestion of the test beverage in Example 1 corresponds to the ingestion of 2 mg of 1,8-cineole.

[0054]

[0055] Before conducting this study, subjects were instructed to refrain from drinking alcohol, excessive exercise, and restricting or overeating from the day before the study, and to try to maintain the same amount and quality of sleep as usual as much as possible.

[0056] Subjects were instructed to finish their meals two hours before the start of the test and to refrain from consuming anything other than water within two hours of the test. They were also instructed to avoid stimulants such as chili peppers, as well as caffeine-containing beverages such as energy drinks, coffee, black tea, and green tea, two hours before the test. Subjects were also instructed not to use scented products such as perfume, hair styling products, hand cream, and fabric softener, and to wear similar clothing during each test.

[0057] The test procedure is shown in Figure 1. Subjects drank 50 mL of commercially available drinking water at the test site and were allowed to rest for 5 minutes. They then consumed 200 mL of either the test beverage of Comparative Example 1 or Example 1 over 15 minutes, and were allowed to rest for 30 minutes after the end of the drinking period. Psychological questionnaires were administered to the subjects before ingesting the test beverage, after ingesting a sip, after ingesting the entire amount, 15 minutes after the end of ingestion, and 30 minutes after the end of ingestion. Subsequently, the psychological questionnaires were administered using a test beverage different from the one previously ingested, using the same procedure. The test beverages to be ingested were randomly assigned to each subject, and the test was conducted by having each subject ingest each test beverage once.

[0058] The psychological questionnaire was conducted using a 9-point scale. The subjects were asked to evaluate one item, "(psychological) sedation to (psychological) awakening."

[0059] The nine-point scale rating method was explained to the subjects as follows: "The low activity side refers to states of feeling sedated, relaxed, calm, sluggish, sleepy, etc. If you are feeling these emotions completely, please select 1. The high activity side refers to states of awakening, excitement, enthusiasm, nervousness, and being wide awake. If you are feeling these emotions completely, please select 9. You can answer with any emotion in between by scoring from 2 to 8."

[0060] Test Results The test results of Test Example 1 are shown in Figure 2. In Test Example 1, the test for statistically significant differences between groups was performed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. A significance level of p<0.05 was considered to indicate a significant difference, and p<0.1 was considered to indicate a significant tendency. In this test, statistical analysis was performed using the SciPy library (ver. 1.6.2) in the Python language. Unless otherwise specified, the test for significant differences was also performed in the following tests.

[0061] As shown in Figure 2, the score for "(psychological) sedation to (psychological) alertness" was significantly higher immediately after ingestion in the group that ingested the test beverage of Example 1 compared to the group that ingested the test beverage of Comparative Example 1. This confirmed the activity-enhancing effect (the effect of promoting a state of psychological alertness) of ingestion of the test beverage of Example 1.

[0062] Test Example 2 (Subjective Evaluation) In Test Example 2, each test beverage was consumed by a subject, and each subject's subjective evaluation was obtained by a psychological questionnaire. The test was conducted as a single-dose crossover comparative study using 11 male and female in-house sensory evaluation panel members aged 26 to 61 years old. The test was conducted after obtaining written informed consent from the subjects. The test method and results of Test Example 2 are described below.

[0063] Test Method In Test Example 2, the test beverages used were a commercially available drinking water (Comparative Example 1) and an aqueous solution (Example 1) of commercially available drinking water (the same as Comparative Example 1) containing 1,8-cineole at a concentration of 10 ppm. The test was conducted twice, with an interval of at least 12 hours, and subjects were randomly assigned to ingest one of the test beverages. The test beverage of Example 1 corresponds to an intake of 2 mg of 1,8-cineole. In this test, statistical analysis was performed using a paired t-test in Microsoft Excel. Subsequent evaluation methods were the same as in Test Example 1.

[0064] Test Results The test results of Test Example 2 are shown in Figure 3. The score for "(psychological) sedation to (psychological) alertness" tended to be significantly higher 30 minutes after ingestion in the group that ingested the test beverage of Example 1 compared to the group that ingested the test beverage of Comparative Example 1.

[0065] The results of Test Examples 1 and 2 are summarized in Table 2.

[0066]

[0067] Test Example 3 (Objective Evaluation: Cerebral Blood Flow Measurement Test) In Test Example 3, each subject ingested each test beverage, and frontal cerebral blood flow before and after ingestion was measured as an objective indicator using an OEG-16 (Spectratech). The OEG-16 is a device capable of measuring changes in oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin levels under the scalp using near-infrared light on 16 channels. For details about the OEG-16 and channel layout, see K. KANO et al., N-Back tasks for spatial and vertical working memory using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (ISASE 2020).

[0068] Test Example 3 was conducted as a single-dose crossover comparative study with 24 adult male and female subjects. The subjects provided written informed consent before the study was conducted. The specific test method and results of Test Example 4 are shown below.

[0069] Test Method In Test Example 4, as shown in Table 1, the test beverages used were a commercially available drinking water (Comparative Example 1) and a test beverage (Example 1) in which commercially available drinking water (the same as Comparative Example 1) was supplemented with 1,8-cineole at a concentration of 10 ppm. The test was conducted twice, with an interval of at least 12 hours, and subjects were randomly assigned to ingest one of the test beverages each time. The intake of the test beverage in Example 1 corresponds to the intake of 2 mg of 1,8-cineole.

[0070] In conducting Test Example 3, subjects were instructed to refrain from drinking alcohol, excessive exercise, dieting, and overeating from the day before the test, and to maintain the same amount and quality of sleep as usual.

[0071] On the day of the test, subjects were instructed to avoid stimulants such as chili peppers, and caffeine-containing drinks such as energy drinks, coffee, black tea, and green tea at least two hours before the test, and to refrain from eating or drinking anything other than water thereafter.Subjects were also instructed not to use scented products such as perfume, hair styling products, hand cream, and fabric softener, and to wear similar clothing for each test.

[0072] According to the conditions shown in Figure 4, the subjects completed a questionnaire before ingestion, then attached a cerebral blood flow meter and began measuring cerebral blood flow. They rested for 15 minutes, then ingested 200 mL of the test beverage over 3 minutes. They then rested for 30 minutes, and finally completed the post-ingestion questionnaire. The same measurements were performed once more. The test beverages to be ingested were randomly selected for each subject, and each subject ingested each beverage once.

[0073] Subjects for whom data on the intake of either test beverage was unavailable were excluded from the analysis. The time-dependent cerebral blood flow oxyhemoglobin data recorded at approximately 1.5 Hz was used to calculate the median value for each 2-minute period during rest and waiting after intake, as the amount of change from the 2-minute period immediately prior to intake. The analysis was conducted on 18 subjects.

[0074] Test Results The test results of Test Example 3 are shown in Tables 3 and 4. Table 3 shows the results for channel 6, and Table 4 shows the results for channel 10. In Test Example 3, statistically significant differences between groups were tested using a paired t-test for the mean values ​​of each group. A significance level of p<0.05 was considered to indicate a significant difference, and p<0.1 was considered to indicate a significant trend. In Test Example 3, data analysis was performed using the SciPy library (ver. 1.6.2) in the Python language and Microsoft Excel.

[0075]

[0076]

[0077] As shown in Table 3, in channel 6, the oxyhemoglobin levels from 21 to 22 minutes, 22 to 23 minutes, 23 to 24 minutes, and 24 to 25 minutes after ingestion were found to be higher in the group that ingested the test beverage of Example 1 compared to the group that ingested the test beverage of Comparative Example 1 (p<0.1). The oxyhemoglobin levels from 19 to 20 minutes and 20 to 21 minutes after ingestion were found to be significantly higher in the group that ingested the test beverage of Example 1 compared to the group that ingested the test beverage of Comparative Example 1 (p<0.05).

[0078] As shown in Table 4, in channel 10, the oxyhemoglobin levels from 20 to 21 minutes, 22 to 23 minutes, 25 to 26 minutes, 27 to 28 minutes, 28 to 29 minutes, and 29 to 30 minutes after the end of ingestion tended to be higher in the group that ingested the test beverage of Example 1 compared to the group that ingested the test beverage of Comparative Example 1 (p<0.1). The oxyhemoglobin levels from 23 to 24 minutes and 24 to 25 minutes after the end of ingestion were significantly higher in the group that ingested the test beverage of Example 1 compared to the group that ingested the test beverage of Comparative Example 1 (p<0.05). This result was similar to the timing of psychological evaluation onset in Test Example 2.

[0079] The OEG-16 used to measure cerebral blood flow is a device that uses near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to measure the state of blood in a living body (relative quantitative changes in oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin). When the brain is active, the demand for glucose and oxygen in the active area increases, resulting in an increase in cerebral blood flow (neurovascular coupling). This is accompanied by an increase in total hemoglobin and oxyhemoglobin, while the amount of deoxyhemoglobin decreases slightly. Therefore, areas where an increase in oxyhemoglobin is observed using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) can be determined to be experiencing increased activity. In other words, the results of Test Example 4 confirmed that the test beverage of Example 1 improves brain activity.

[0080] The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-104973 (filing date: June 28, 2024) is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. All documents, patent applications, and technical standards mentioned herein are incorporated herein by reference to the same extent as if each individual document, patent application, and technical standard was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

Claims

1. A performance enhancer containing 1,8-cineole as the active ingredient.

2. The activity enhancer according to claim 1, wherein the content of 1,8-cineole is 2 ppm or more and 50 ppm or less.

3. The activity enhancer of claim 1 or 2, further comprising water.

4. The activity enhancer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the amount of 1,8-cineole taken per dose is 1 mg or more and 6 mg or less.

5. The activity enhancer according to claim 1 or 2, which is taken orally.

6. The activity enhancer according to claim 1 or 2, which improves vitality and energy.

7. The activity enhancer according to claim 1 or 2, which increases cerebral blood flow.

8. Food and drink containing 1,8-cineole for improving activity.

9. A method for improving activity in a subject, comprising having the subject ingest the activity-enhancing agent according to claim 1 or 2.

10. The method for improving activity according to claim 9, wherein the amount of 1,8-cineole taken per dose is 1 mg or more and 6 mg or less.

11. The method for improving activity according to claim 9, wherein the activity enhancer is taken orally.

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