JP2005154301A - Soft capsule - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a soft capsule that has a moderately soft coating film of capsule with smooth surface, keeps protecting action of contents and easiness to swallow for a long period of time and is obtained by wrapping contents of L-carnitine of main component in a gelatin-coating film. <P>SOLUTION: The soft capsule is obtained by wrapping contents comprising 100 parts wt. of L-carnitine and 7.5-35 parts wt. of purified water in a capsule coating film consisting essentially of gelatin. Water absorption of the capsule coating film by L-carnitine is controlled and neither hardening nor cracking of capsule coating film occurs. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a soft capsule in which a content mainly composed of L-carnitine, which is said to help burn fat in the body and have a diet effect, is wrapped with a gelatin film.

  Conventionally, various soft capsules that are easy to drink are known as pharmaceutical preparations and health food preparations. For example, in Patent Document 1, soft capsules using gelatin are superior to tablets in terms of stability of content components, uniformity of content components content, and taste and smell of content components, such as health foods. In general, the outer skin of soft capsules is mainly made of gelatin and is easily soluble in water, so the contents are preferably lipophilic and the soft capsules are often It has been used in the case of lipophilic substances, and when non-oil-soluble substances such as water-soluble vitamins are softly encapsulated, it is usually dispersed in an oily liquid such as edible oil and softly encapsulated as an oily suspension. It is stated that it is a law.

JP 2002-291419 A (see paragraph numbers 0002 and 0004 of the specification)

  Soft capsule capsule film using gelatin has moderate softness and surface smoothness and protects the contents precisely, so the stability of the contents and the uniformity of the contents are maintained for a long time. It suppresses the taste and smell and makes it easier to drink.

  However, when a soft capsule having the main component L-carnitine is produced, the protective action of the normal soft capsule is demonstrated at the beginning of production, and the ease of drinking is good, but the change over time occurs in several months, It dries and cracks, losing its content protection and ease of drinking. This change with time seems to occur because the content of L-carnitine absorbs moisture from the capsule film.

  For this reason, the soft capsule of the content whose main component is L-carnitine could not be commercialized.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and the object of the present invention is to maintain the moderate softness of the capsule film, the smoothness of the surface, and the content protecting action for a long period of time. -To provide a soft capsule in which a content mainly composed of carnitine is wrapped with a gelatin film.

  The present invention achieves the above object by enclosing a content containing 7.5 to 35 parts by weight of purified water with 100 parts by weight of L-carnitine in a capsule film mainly composed of gelatin.

  According to the present invention, L-carnitine having a large water absorption absorbs purified water in the contents, thereby suppressing the absorption of moisture in the capsule film of L-carnitine and preventing the capsule film from drying and cracking. . When the purified water is less than 7.5 parts by weight, moisture absorption of the capsule film starts to occur, and when it exceeds 35 parts by weight, the moisture of the contents infiltrates into the capsule film and the capsule film softens or dissolves.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a soft capsule of L-carnitine that can maintain the content protecting action and ease of drinking without the capsule film being dried or cracked over a long period of time.

  Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below.

  Prepare ingredients of the composition shown in Table 1 and emulsify purified water, thickening beeswax and powdered L-carnitine, CO-Q10, vitamin B1, and vitamin E in saffron oil with glycerin fatty acid ester into the contents. Finished.

  The contents of the composition of Table 1 and a capsule film prepared by adding 100 parts by weight of gelatin to 85 parts by weight of purified water and 45 parts by weight of glycerin by a conventional method are supplied to a known soft capsule molding machine by a conventional method. The product was wrapped in a capsule film, molded into a soft capsule, and dried to finish.

  Raw materials having the composition shown in Table 2 were prepared, and the contents were finished in the same manner as in Example 1. Soft capsules were finished with the contents having the composition shown in Table 2.

  Raw materials having the composition shown in Table 3 were prepared, and the contents were finished in the same manner as in Example 1. Soft capsules were finished with the contents having the composition shown in Table 3.

  The safflower oil can be replaced with other widely used edible oils such as palm oil, wheat germ oil, soybean oil, rapeseed oil and the like.

  Next, in order to determine the amount of the component of the present invention, a capsule of a comparative example was manufactured.

  As Comparative Example 1, raw materials having the composition shown in Table 4 were prepared, and the contents were finished in the same manner as in Example 1. Soft capsules were finished with the contents having the composition shown in Table 4.

  As Comparative Example 2, raw materials having the composition shown in Table 5 were prepared, and the contents were finished in the same manner as in Example 1. Soft capsules were finished with the contents having the composition shown in Table 5.

  About said Examples 1-3 and Comparative Examples 1 and 2, the presence or absence of the time-dependent change of a capsule membrane | film | coat was confirmed by the following tests, and quality evaluation was performed.

  First, sample 100 capsules of each example and each comparative example were put in a transparent glass No. 12 standard bottle and sealed, and each bottle containing Examples 1 to 3 and each bottle containing Comparative Examples 1 and 2 were each 2 A total of 10 bottles were prepared.

  Next, each of the five bottles containing Examples 1 to 3 and Comparative Examples 1 and 2 was stored at 40 ° C., the remaining five bottles were stored at room temperature, and the appearance of each capsule was visually observed. Was observed.

  The results of the evaluation test are shown in Table 6 and Table 7. In Tables 6 and 7, ◯ indicates that no change over time was observed, the capsule film was found to be moderately soft, smooth in surface, and capable of maintaining the content protecting action and ease of drinking, Δ Indicates that the capsule film has been softened, or the capsule film surface has been dried, and the film has been slightly cured, and × indicates that the capsule film has dried and cracked, protecting the contents and It is recognized that the ease has been lost, or the capsule film has been significantly softened.

Claims (1)

  A soft capsule characterized in that a content containing 7.5 to 35 parts by weight of purified water with respect to 100 parts by weight of L-carnitine is wrapped in a capsule film mainly composed of gelatin.