JP2006246943A - Biological function improving air and living space improving method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide air capable of imparting the effect of improving the biological function of a person regardless of the individual preference of fragrance, and a method for improving a living space. <P>SOLUTION: The biological function improving air contains 1,3-dimethoxy-5-methylbenzene for 0.03-0.2 ppm by spatial concentration. Thus, even though the fragrance of DMMB can not be practically recognized, biological function improving effects such as a relaxing effect and skin problem improving effect are imparted to the human being. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an air and human living space improving method for improving human biological functions, and more particularly to an air and living space improving method capable of imparting a biological function improving effect regardless of an individual's preference for fragrance.

  Conventionally, a great deal of attention has been given to the functions of fragrances, and a great many effects have been traditionally confirmed, particularly with respect to the effects of improving human biological functions. For example, since ancient times it has been known that lavender and camomil have a sedative effect, and these have been used as a perfume, blended in a beverage such as herbal tea or a bath. In recent years, due to the development of science and technology, scientific elucidation about the function of fragrance has been widely attempted, and many findings have been reported so far. And as an example of the effect by such a fragrance, it is known that 1,3-dimethoxy-5-methylbenzene can obtain a sedative effect and a rough skin improvement effect (for example, refer to Patent Documents 1 and 2).

  As for the improvement of biological function due to scents, the scent components volatilized in the air are generally detected by the nose, and sensory information such as “good scent” or “savory scent” is recognized by the brain. After that, it is transmitted to each part of the body through the autonomic nervous system, causing various changes such as pupil enlargement, muscle tension, heart rate increase, blood pressure increase, and also to the endocrine system (hormone) and immune system It is thought to have influenced. However, the effect of such a scent is greatly influenced by the preference of the individual scent (how the scent is perceived). There was a problem that would affect.

  For example, in the case of the 1,3-dimethoxy-5-methylbenzene (generally said to have a green note scent), the scent is intended to give a soothing effect. Depending on the individual, there may be a problem that an arousal state is caused by disgust in the scent. In response to such problems, the addition of other fragrances may change the overall fragrance, but depending on the type of fragrance added, the fragrance may not be compatible. In general, there are many people who dislike the presence of the fragrance itself (which prefers odorlessness), and the current situation is that such an individual has to give up a prescription based on the fragrance.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 06-172781 JP 2000-159666 A

  That is, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems of the prior art, and the purpose thereof is air that can impart an effect of improving human biological functions regardless of personal preference for fragrance, and The purpose is to provide a method for improving the living space.

  As a result of intensive studies by the present inventors in view of the problems of the prior art, in 1,3-dimethoxy-5-methylbenzene, even if the concentration is below the minimum level at which a human can perceive a fragrance, It was clarified that a relaxing effect on the skin and an effect of improving the rough skin were observed. That is, when the spatial concentration of 1,3-dimethoxy-5-methylbenzene in the air is 0.03 to 0.2 ppm, the scent of 1,3-dimethoxy-5-methylbenzene can be perceived by humans. In spite of the absence, the present inventors have found that the effect of improving human biological functions can be obtained, and have completed the present invention.

That is, the first subject of the present invention is biological function improving air characterized by containing 0.03-0.2 ppm of 1,3-dimethoxy-5-methylbenzene in a spatial concentration.
The second subject of the present invention is to adjust the air present in the human living space so that it contains 0.03-0.2 ppm of 1,3-dimethoxy-5-methylbenzene in a spatial concentration. It is a living space improvement method characterized by doing.

The third subject of the present invention is characterized in that air containing 0.03-0.2 ppm of 1,3-dimethoxy-5-methylbenzene in a spatial concentration is sucked into a human and a relaxing effect is imparted to the human. It is the biological function improvement method.
In addition, the fourth subject of the present invention is to cause a human to inhale air containing 0.03-0.2 ppm of spatial concentration of 1,3-dimethoxy-5-methylbenzene and to give the human a rough skin improving effect. It is the biological function improvement method characterized by this.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, it becomes possible to provide the relaxation effect and the rough skin improvement effect with respect to a human irrespective of a personal preference with respect to a fragrance.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail by giving specific examples, but the present invention is not limited thereto.
The biological function-improving air according to the present invention is characterized by containing 0.03-0.2 ppm of 1,3-dimethoxy-5-methylbenzene in a spatial concentration. In the present invention, the spatial concentration (ppm) is expressed in parts per million of the gas volume ratio.
That is, by letting a human to inhale the biological function-improving air according to the present invention, a relaxation effect is exerted on the human even though the scent of 1,3-dimethoxy-5-methylbenzene cannot be substantially recognized. And biological function improvement effects such as a rough skin improvement effect. Here, the relaxation effect in the present invention acts on the human autonomic nervous system and relaxes the human by improving the parasympathetic nervous system to a dominant state. Moreover, the said rough skin improvement effect in this invention improves the rough skin of this human by restoring the skin barrier function which a human has originally. In the present invention, the biological function improving effect specifically refers to the relaxing effect and the rough skin improving effect.

The 1,3-dimethoxy-5-methylbenzene used in the biological function-improving air according to the present invention is a compound that is contained a lot during the flowering of modern roses typified by hybrid tea species, and is moist and fresh. It is said that it has a green note and has a calm odor, but also has a phenolic odor (chemical odor). In addition, this compound is not included in the roses of Rosa damasena and Rosa centifolia used as perfume raw materials, but it is contained in the range of several to 70% as an aroma component of modern roses. It has been known. Although 1,3-dimethoxy-5-methylbenzene is known to exhibit a sedative effect and a rough skin improvement effect (Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 06-172781 and 2000-159666), the detection threshold ( It has not yet been confirmed that these effects are exerted at a concentration equal to or lower than the minimum concentration at which a human can detect a scent.
The structure of 1,3-dimethoxy-5-methylbenzene is shown in the following general formula 1.

  There are two main methods for determining the detection threshold of odorous substances (minimum concentration at which humans can detect scents), one is the method of measuring odorous substances in the vapor phase, and the other is In this method, the odor substance is dissolved in the liquid phase. The threshold values measured by the two methods are naturally different, and the detection threshold value measured in the gas phase is generally much lower.

  The inventors first conducted a test on the detection threshold of the 1,3-dimethoxy-5-methylbenzene in the gas phase and in the liquid phase. In the present invention, 1,3-dimethoxy is obtained by the three-point comparison odor bag method when volatilized in the gas phase, or by the three-limb forced selection method when dissolved in the liquid phase. The detection threshold for -5-methylbenzene was determined. As a result, the detection threshold of the 1,3-dimethoxy-5-methylbenzene was 0.2 ppm in the gas phase and 0.11% by mass in the liquid phase. That is, when the spatial concentration of 1,3-dimethoxy-5-methylbenzene in air is 0.2 ppm or less, or the solution concentration of 1,3-dimethoxy-5-methylbenzene dissolved in the liquid phase is 0.11. If it is less than mass%, most humans cannot perceive the scent of 1,3-dimethoxy-5-methylbenzene.

The test methods and results used in the determination of the detection threshold are shown below.
(1) Detection threshold of 1,3-dimethoxy-5-methylbenzene in the gas phase The detection threshold in the gas phase was determined based on the three-point comparative odor bag method defined in the Odor Prevention Law. (Refer to “Odor measurement method of odor” edited by the Institute of Odor Control Research). That is, three odor bags filled with odorless air are prepared, and 1,3-dimethoxy-5-methylbenzene is injected into one of them so as to obtain a predetermined dilution factor. The sachets were answered in order by increasing the dilution factor. The results are shown in Table 1 below. In addition, the highest value and the lowest value of the results were finally cut out of the results of 6 people (indicated by X in Table 1 below), and the average value of the results of the remaining 4 people was calculated as 1,3-dimethoxy-5- The detection threshold for methylbenzene in the gas phase was used.

(2) Detection threshold of 1,3-dimethoxy-5-methylbenzene in the liquid phase The detection threshold in the liquid phase was determined based on the three-limb forced selection method (extreme method) (Koster EP, Human psychophysics in olfaction method in olfactory research. (1975)). Attach 5 μL of ethanol solution adjusted to various concentrations of 1,3-dimethoxy-5-methylbenzene to the tip of the cotton, leave it for 1 minute to remove the ethanol odor, and present the scented cotton to 6 subjects Then, the dilution factor was increased and the answers were made sequentially. In addition, as for the sample to be presented, the order of presenting 3 products is randomized as 1 product of 1,3-dimethoxy-5-methylbenzene-ethanol and 2 products of ethanol per test, and presented in order one by one. It was not possible to re-smell. The test was performed in order from the sample with the lowest concentration, and the thinnest concentration when the answer was correct three times in succession was taken as the detection threshold value in the liquid phase. Finally, among the results of 6 people, the highest value and the lowest value of the results were cut (Table 2 ×), and the average value of the results of the remaining 4 people was 1,3-dimethoxy-5-methyl. The detection threshold in the liquid phase of benzene was used. The results are shown in Table 2.

  In the biological function-improving air according to the present invention, the upper limit of the spatial concentration of 1,3-dimethoxy-5-methylbenzene is 0.2 ppm, which is below the detection threshold in the gas phase. It can be seen that the scent of 1,3-dimethoxy-5-methylbenzene cannot be detected even if aspirated. In addition, as long as other scent components are not present in the air in excess of the detection threshold, it can be made substantially odorless. The biological function-improving air according to the present invention may contain other scent components, but it is preferable that their spatial concentration is also adjusted to be equal to or lower than the detection threshold value so as to be substantially odorless.

  In the biological function-improving air according to the present invention, the spatial concentration of 1,3-dimethoxy-5-methylbenzene is 0.03 to 0.2 ppm. If it is less than 0.03 ppm, the biological function improvement effect by 1,3-dimethoxy-5-methylbenzene cannot be sufficiently obtained. On the other hand, if it exceeds 0.2 ppm, human is 1,3-dimethoxy-5-methyl. Since it comes to recognize the scent of benzene, depending on the individual, an aversion to the scent or the like may occur, which may adversely affect the biological function improvement effect. In the biological function-improving air according to the present invention, components other than 1,3-dimethoxy-5-methylbenzene are not particularly limited, and most of the components are generally common air components such as nitrogen. Oxygen, argon, water, carbon dioxide and the like.

  In addition, by adjusting the air present in the human living space to air containing 0.03-0.2 ppm of 1,3-dimethoxy-5-methylbenzene in the spatial concentration, The biological function improvement effect can be imparted to a living human. Such a method for improving a living space is also within the scope of the present invention. In the present invention, the human living space is not particularly limited. For example, a personal living space such as a living room, a bedroom, a kitchen, a toilet, a bathroom, or a house space, or a car space. Spaces, and public living spaces such as offices, shops, hotels, hospitals, libraries, train stations, trains, airplanes, and the like.

  The method for adjusting the air in the living space is not particularly limited, and 1,3-dimethoxy-5-methylbenzene is volatilized or distributed in the space by a known method, so that a predetermined spatial concentration is obtained. What is necessary is just to adjust so that it may hold | maintain. Further, the volatilization / distribution amount of 1,3-dimethoxy-5-methylbenzene may be appropriately adjusted according to the size of the living space or the elapsed time. As a method of volatilizing and distributing 1,3-dimethoxy-5-methylbenzene in the space, for example, volatilization by a natural state (normal temperature, normal pressure), volatilization by heating, blowing, ultrasonic irradiation treatment, etc. There are spraying etc. Various devices for volatilizing and spreading the perfume are known to those skilled in the art. For example, JP-A-7-148237, JP-A-7-275336, JP-A-9-84865, JP-A-9- It can adjust so that it may become the air which contains 0.03-0.2 ppm of 1, 3- dimethoxy-5-methylbenzene by a spatial concentration using the fragrance device described in No. 327506.

  FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of a fragrance device (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-275336) used in one embodiment of the present invention. The fragrance device 10 includes a fragrance unit 19, a control unit 21, and a blower unit 20. The fragrance unit 19 uses the force of a spring or the like to press the open / close lid 15 against the lid outer frame 16 from above, so that the fragrance container 17 filled with the fragrance solution or fragrance gel ensures a sealed state. . Then, by opening the opening / closing lid 15, the fragrance in the fragrance container 17 is supplied to the upper space in the housing 1. The blower unit 20 is a unit that discharges the fragrance atomized and vaporized by the fragrance unit 19 toward the outside of the housing 1, and the control unit 21 further performs the operations of the fragrance unit 19 and the sending unit 20. It is something to control.

  Here, the amount of air blown by the blower unit 20 is controlled by the control unit 21, and the fragrance atomized and vaporized by the fragrance unit 19 can be sent out of the apparatus by the amount of air set by the control unit 21. The opening / closing of the opening / closing lid 15 is also controlled by the control unit 21, and the fragrance atomized and vaporized by the fragrance unit 19 is supplied to the upper space in the housing 1 only when the opening / closing lid 15 is opened. . For this reason, by controlling the opening / closing of the opening / closing lid 15 by the control unit 21, it is also possible to control the amount of fragrance delivered to the outside of the apparatus by the blower unit 20.

  In one embodiment of the present invention, for example, the fragrance device 10 in which the fragrance container 17 is filled with a solution or gel containing an appropriate amount of 1,3-dimethoxy-5-methylbenzene is placed in a human living space. By installing and controlling the opening / closing lid 15 and the blower unit 20 by the control unit 21, the spatial concentration of 1,3-dimethoxy-5-methylbenzene in the living space becomes 0.03 to 0.2 ppm. Can be adjusted. More specifically, in the control unit 21, according to the concentration of 1,3-dimethoxy-5-methylbenzene filled in the fragrance container 17 in advance and the size of the living space, By setting the air flow rate in the air blowing unit 20, the spatial concentration of 1,3-dimethoxy-5-methylbenzene can be adjusted to a predetermined value. Alternatively, by installing a sensor capable of detecting the spatial concentration of 1,3-dimethoxy-5-methylbenzene in the living space and feeding back the spatial concentration data obtained thereby to the control unit 21, The spatial concentration of 1,3-dimethoxy-5-methylbenzene can be adjusted to a predetermined value.

  Further, in the living space improvement method according to the present invention, a conventionally known air conditioner, ventilator, humidifier, air purifier or in-vehicle air conditioner is used to combine the means for volatilizing and distributing the fragrance. Alternatively, by incorporating it, the spatial concentration of 1,3-dimethoxy-5-methylbenzene in the space may be adjusted to a predetermined value. In addition, an air conditioner or the like having a means for volatilizing and distributing a fragrance and / or an adjusting means for generating a fragrance is also known in the art, and such an air conditioner can also be used in the present invention.

  EXAMPLES Hereinafter, although the Example of this invention is shown and this invention is demonstrated in more detail, this invention is not limited to this. Hereinafter, 1,3-dimethoxy-5-methylbenzene is abbreviated as DMMB.

Relationship between DMMB Concentration and Relaxing Effect The inventors first examined the relationship between DMMB concentration and relaxing effect. As a method for evaluating the relaxation effect, various methods are known, such as a psychological questionnaire method, an electroencephalogram measurement method, and a physiologically active substance measurement method in saliva. Here, an example in which parasympathetic nerve activity is measured as an index is given. In other words, the autonomic nervous system is broadly divided into two systems, the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system. It is said that an evaluation method using the activity of the parasympathetic nervous system as an index is widely used as a method for physiologically evaluating the relaxing action. Therefore, the present inventors measured the parasympathetic nerve activity when a DMMB solution having a detection threshold value or less was presented by the test method shown below, and compared with the case where DMMB was not presented, so that the DMMB concentration at which no scent was perceived was obtained. The relaxation effect was examined. The results are shown in FIG.

Test method Parasympathetic nerve activity was measured by analyzing the heart rate measurement results. The parasympathetic nerve activity can be calculated by frequency analysis of the heartbeat interval. For example, it is known that the high frequency component (HF component) of the fluctuation of the electrocardiographic R wave interval indicates the parasympathetic nerve activity. Each subject entered the room at 1 pm in the constant temperature room where the light was extinguished, placed the bed horizontally with his upper body raised at an angle of 25 degrees, placed the measurement device on the bed, rested for 20 minutes, and then continuously. An electrocardiographic heart rate was measured using an electrocardiographic heart rate measuring device (COLIN BP-508, manufactured by Nippon Chorin Co., Ltd.). Based on the obtained electrocardiographic heart rate measurements, frequency analysis was performed on the fluctuation of the R wave interval using an autonomic nervous system activity analysis system (Fraclet, manufactured by Dainippon Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.), and the parasympathetic nerve activity value was calculated. . DMMB was dissolved in ethanol, soaked in cotton, affixed under the nose, and presented to the subject. Based on the detection threshold in the liquid phase determined by the method described above, a DMMB-ethanol solution of 0.05% by mass was used so that the DMMB concentration was equal to or less than the detection threshold during inhalation of the subject. The cotton impregnated with 5 μL of this solution was attached to the subject's nose and aspirated with natural breathing for 5 minutes, and then the measurement of the electrocardiogram was started. For comparison, the same measurement was performed using only cotton (blank) and a 2% by mass DMMMB solution (above the detection threshold). The relaxation effect was evaluated by comparing the parasympathetic nerve activity value at the time of DMMB solution presentation with the blank value.

  From the results shown in FIG. 1, the parasympathetic nerve activity is activated in comparison with the blank under the condition where a 0.05% by mass DMMB solution that is equal to or less than the DMMB detection threshold value during inhalation of the subject is obtained. Was found to be more relaxed. Further, this result is almost the same as the case where a 2.0% by mass DMMB solution, which is a concentration range in which the DMMB scent can be perceived, is presented, that is, low enough that the scent of DMMB cannot be perceived. It was revealed that an excellent relaxing effect can be obtained even with a concentration of DMMB.

Following the relationship between the DMMB concentration and the rough skin improvement effect , the present inventors examined the relationship between the DMMB concentration and the rough skin improvement effect. Physiological evaluation methods for improving rough skin are known to measure various physiological indices of the epidermis, texture analysis of the skin surface, and evaluation methods using transdermal moisture transpiration as an index. However, here, an example in which the amount of transdermal moisture transpiration is measured as an index is shown. That is, the present inventors measured the amount of transdermal water transpiration when presenting a DMMB solution below the detection threshold by the test method described below, and detected the scent by comparing with the case where DMMB was not presented. The effect of improving the rough skin at the DMMB concentration was examined. The results are shown in FIG.

Test method Skin barrier function recovery effect test was performed with reference to the method of Denda et al. (See M. Denda, et.al., British Journal of Dermatology 2000: 142: 1007-1010). After the subject entered the humidity chamber for 1 hour and the inner arm was acclimatized to the room environment, the stress state was measured by the STAI psychological questionnaire. Then, cotton soaked with 5 μL of DMMB-ethanol solution of 0.05% by mass (below the detection threshold) or 0.5% by mass (above the detection threshold), or cotton alone (blank) is attached to the subject's nose, Experimental skin roughening was performed on the inner arm 2 cm × 2 cm by a tape stripping method, followed by stress loading by the Stroop color word test. After the Stroop Color Ward test was conducted for 1 hour, the stress state by the STAI psychological questionnaire was evaluated again, and the skin was transdermalized 1.5 hours and 3 hours later with a moisture transpiration measuring device (Mecometer, manufactured by Mieco). The amount of water transpiration was measured. The skin barrier function recovery rate was calculated from the measurement results according to the following formula, and the skin barrier function recovery effect was evaluated.
Skin barrier function recovery rate (%) = (BC) / (BA) × 100
A: Transcutaneous moisture transpiration immediately before skin barrier function lowering treatment (tape stripping) B: Transdermal moisture transpiration immediately after skin barrier function lowering treatment (tape stripping) C: Fixed time from skin barrier function lowering treatment (tape stripping) Transdermal moisture transpiration after elapse

  As shown in FIG. 2, the skin barrier function recovery rate is remarkably improved as compared with the blank under the condition where a 0.05% by mass DMMB solution having a DMMB detection threshold value or less is presented, and the DMMB detection threshold value is 0. Even when compared with the case where a 5% by mass DMMB solution was presented, it was inferior. From this, it was clarified that an excellent skin barrier function recovery effect can be obtained despite the low concentration of DMMB where the scent of DMMB cannot be detected.

  From the above results, when the amount of DMMB present in the space is set to be equal to or less than the detection threshold, a living body such as a relaxation effect and a rough skin improvement effect for humans even though the scent of DMMB cannot be substantially detected. It became clear that a function improvement effect can be provided.

The parasympathetic nerve activity value when a DMMB solution of 0.05% by mass (below the detection threshold) and 2% by mass (above the detection threshold) is presented is shown as a relative value to the blank. It shows the skin barrier function recovery rate (%) when a DMMB solution of 0.05% by mass (below the detection threshold) and 0.5% by mass (above the detection threshold) is presented. 1 is an overall view of a fragrance device used in an embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Housing 10 Fragrance Device 15 Opening / Closing Lid 16 Lid Outer Frame 17 Air Freshener Container 18 Control Unit 19 Fragrance Unit 20 Blow Unit 21 Control Unit 22 Opening

Claims (4)

  A biological function-improving air comprising 0.03-0.2 ppm of 1,3-dimethoxy-5-methylbenzene in a spatial concentration.   A method for improving living space, characterized in that air existing in a human living space is adjusted to air containing 0.03-0.2 ppm of 1,3-dimethoxy-5-methylbenzene in a spatial concentration.   A method for improving biological function, characterized by causing a human to inhale air containing 0.03-0.2 ppm of a spatial concentration of 1,3-dimethoxy-5-methylbenzene and imparting a relaxing effect to the human. A method for improving biological function, characterized by causing a human to inhale air containing 0.03-0.2 ppm of a spatial concentration of 1,3-dimethoxy-5-methylbenzene and imparting a rough skin improving effect to the human.

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