Amber Extract Agent for Suppressing Alpha-Glucosidase Activity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current solutions for managing postprandial blood glucose levels are limited, particularly in easy-to-take food and drink forms, as they often require medical supervision and can have side effects, with no reported effect of amber extract on suppressing α-glucosidase activity or glucose absorption.

Innovation Solution

An amber extract, obtained using a hydroalcoholic solution as the extraction solvent, is used to create an agent that suppresses α-glucosidase activity and glucose absorption, which can be integrated into food and drink products, effectively delaying carbohydrate decomposition and absorption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional diabetic medicines (incretin associated drugs, biguanide drugs, sulfonylurea drugs, etc.) are used to suppress postprandial blood glucose elevation, then blood glucose control effectiveness is improved, but medical supervision requirement and side effects increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblood glucose control effectivenessVSAvoidside effects and medical supervision requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses food materials with short half-lives (fruits, vegetables, herbs) that can be consumed daily instead of long-term pharmaceutical treatment. These natural materials provide temporary but repeated blood glucose control effects through regular dietary intake, eliminating the need for continuous medical supervision and reducing cumulative side effects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces food materials as intermediaries between diet and blood glucose control. These materials (containing compounds like polyphenols, fiber, or specific enzymes) mediate the relationship between carbohydrate intake and blood glucose elevation, providing a gentler alternative to direct pharmaceutical intervention while still achieving therapeutic effects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If succiic acid is used to suppress blood glucose elevation in diabetic models, then blood glucose control effect is observed, but the mechanism of action remains unclear and it is not reported to suppress α-glucosidase activity or glucose absorption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblood glucose control effectVSAvoidmechanism of action information

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the blood glucose control mechanism into specific actionable components: α-glucosidase inhibition and glucose absorption suppression. By identifying and isolating these specific mechanisms through fractionation and activity testing of amber extract components, the patent reveals the previously unknown mechanism of action, transforming an empirical observation into a understood biochemical pathway.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If amber extract is used as a food material to suppress postprandial blood glucose elevation, then ease of daily intake is improved, but the effect on α-glucosidase activity and glucose absorption was previously unreported and needed verification

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of daily intakeVSAvoidblood glucose suppression effect

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent systematically varies parameters of amber extract (extraction solvents including ethanol, methanol, acetone, and their mixtures with water; extraction temperatures; concentrations) to optimize the blood glucose suppression effect. By changing these extraction parameters, the patent identifies the most effective extract composition while maintaining the natural food material advantage of ease of intake.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The amber extract agent effectively suppresses α-glucosidase activity and glucose absorption, thereby delaying the increase in blood glucose levels, providing a useful food and drink option for long-term prevention or improvement of diabetes and obesity-related hyperglycemia.

Implementation Method 1

an amber extract has an effect to suppress α-glucosidase activity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEnzyme inhibition: Enzyme

Implementation Method 2

an amber extract has an effect to suppress glucose absorption

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption inhibition: Absorption (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS11007237B2Agent for suppressing carbohydrate breakdown and absorption

Publication Date: 2021.05.18 KOHAKU BIO TECH CO LTD

AI summary

The problem to be solved is to suppress an elevation of blood glucose level by suppressing decomposition and absorption of a carbohydrate in the body; and further prevent or improve diabetes and obesity derived from hyperglycemic symptoms and chronic hyperglycemia, for a long time. To attain the object, an agent for suppressing α-glucosidase activity and an agent for suppressing glucose absorption containing an amber extract as an active ingredient were invented.