JP2008100935A - Prevotella intermedia inhibitor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a Prevotella intermedia inhibitor capable of effectively inhibiting the proliferation of the Prevotella intermedia in an oral cavity. <P>SOLUTION: This Prevotella intermedia inhibitor is characterized by containing lactoferrin derived from a cow as an active ingredient, and orally administered three times daily by 10 to 50 mg/kg body weight amount based on the lactoferrin amount. The lactoferrin has preferably 10 to 30% degree of iron saturation. And also, the Prevotella intermedia inhibitor preferably has a troche preparation form. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a prevotella intermedia inhibitor for suppressing the proliferation of prevotella intermedia.

Periodontal disease is two major diseases of dentistry along with caries (decayed teeth), and is a disease with a high morbidity regardless of region or race. Periodontal disease is a general term for diseases of tissues around teeth and refers to inflammatory lesions of periodontal tissues. It is roughly classified into gingivitis in which inflammation occurs in the gingiva and periodontitis in which inflammation spreads to the alveolar bone and periodontal ligament (see Non-Patent Document 1).
The mechanism of the occurrence and progression of periodontal disease is considered as follows. That is, when suffering from periodontal disease, a periodontal pocket is formed between the tooth and the gingiva, and periodontopathic bacteria having endotoxin (endotoxin) are greatly increased in the periodontal pocket, and a plaque is formed. Endotoxins produced by periodontopathic bacteria in the periodontal pockets cause direct and indirect inflammation of the surrounding area and destroy the alveolar bone that supports the teeth. Furthermore, proteolytic enzymes produced by periodontopathic bacteria cause periodontal disease by injuring periodontal tissues and generate volatile sulfur compounds such as hydrogen sulfide and methyl mercaptan that cause bad breath (non-patented) Reference 2).
Periodontopathic bacteria present in the periodontal pocket include Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, Prevotella nigrescens, and Tanerella forss. ), Gram-negative anaerobes such as Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and Fusobacterium nucleatum are known (see Non-Patent Document 2).
As a method for treating periodontal disease, a method of removing plaque and tartar mechanically by scaling or the like, and a method of using chemical substances such as antibiotics and disinfectants are common. However, all of these methods have a large effect on humans. For example, the use of antibiotics has problems such as administration methods, side effects, resistant bacteria, and killing of microorganisms beneficial to the host (see Non-Patent Document 2).
Therefore, a safer method for preventing and treating periodontal disease has been required.

So far, various proposals have been made for the treatment and prevention of periodontal disease. For example, Patent Literature 1 (pharmaceutical composition for treatment / prevention of periodontal disease), Patent Literature 2 (propagation and improvement agent for periodontal disease), Patent Literature 3 (composition for oral cavity), Patent Literature 4 (treatment of oral disease) And the like, Patent Document 5 (Method for neutralizing endotoxin of periodontal disease bacteria and method for suppressing adhesion), and the like disclose techniques relating to the preventive and therapeutic effects of lactoferrin on periodontal disease.
Lactoferrin is an iron-binding glycoprotein having a molecular weight of about 80,000 contained in exocrine fluids such as milk, saliva and tears of mammals including humans and neutrophils. For example, it is said that about 5 μg / ml lactoferrin is contained in human saliva (see Non-Patent Document 3).
Lactoferrin is known to have antibacterial action, antiviral action, antioxidant action, immunoregulatory action, anti-inflammatory action, and various other cell function regulating actions (see Non-Patent Document 4). In addition, lactoferrin is known to have antibacterial activity against pathogenic bacteria while promoting the growth of bacteria beneficial to the host such as lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria (see Non-Patent Document 5).

Studies have also been conducted on the activity of lactoferrin against periodontopathic bacteria. For example, Non-Patent Document 6 uses a concentration of 2 mg / ml human lactoferrin for the antibacterial activity (in vitro) of lactoferrin against periodontopathic bacteria Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, Prevotella nigrescens. Have been investigated. Apo-lactoferrin that does not bind iron does not act as a bactericidal agent against these three bacterial species, suppresses the growth of Porphyromonas gingivalis, but prevents the other two bacterial species including Prevotella intermedia. On the other hand, it has been reported that growth is not suppressed. Furthermore, it has been reported that iron-saturated lactoferrin does not exhibit antibacterial activity at all against these three bacterial species, either in a bactericidal manner or in growth-inhibiting manner. In other words, lactoferrin does not directly suppress the growth of Prevotella intermedia and Prevotella nigrecens.
In Non-Patent Document 7, peptides corresponding to N-terminal 17-30 residues or 19-37 residues of bovine lactoferrin inhibit the growth of Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, and Fusobacterium nucleatum. It has been reported.
Non-Patent Document 8 reports that human and bovine lactoferrin suppress the adhesion of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and Prevotella intermedia to fibroblasts and epithelial cells.
JP-A-5-279266 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-315014 JP 2001-89339 A JP-T-2004-529950 JP 2005-306890 A FFI Journal, Vol. 210, 2005, p. 331-339 Food Style 21, Vol. 8, 2004, p. 33-40 Biological Trace Element Research, USA, Vol. 57, 1997, p. 1-8 Annual Review of Nutrition, USA, Vol. 15, 1995, p. 93-110 Journal of Medical Microbiology, UK, Vol. 48, 1999, p. 541-549 FEMS Immunology and Medical Microbiology, Netherlands, Vol. 21, 1998, p. 29-36 FEMS Microbiology Letters, The Netherlands, 179, 1999, p. 217-222 APMI, Denmark, Vol. 103, 1995, p. 154-160

Among the above-mentioned periodontopathogenic bacteria, Prevotella intermedia has been detected more frequently in periodontal disease patients, especially gingivitis patients, compared to healthy subjects. It is suggested to be greatly involved.
Prevotella intermedia is also highly resistant to antibiotics, so it may not work with antibiotics. For example, 31 strains of Porphyromonas gingivalis showed susceptibility to all 18 antibiotics examined, whereas 99 strains of Prevoterra intermedia were resistant to β-lactam, erythromycin, clindamycin, and tetracycline. It was about 10%, and those strains had a resistance gene.
Furthermore, LPS produced by Prevotella intermedia causes inflammation by inducing IL-8. In addition, the bacterial cell component of Prevotella intermedia suppresses the proliferation of lymphocytes (B cells, T cells) that play important cellular immunity in defense against infection. For this reason, Prevotella intermedia is considered difficult to be excluded from the living body.
Prevotella intermedia also tends to be increased by sex hormones (estrogens, progesterone, testosterone), causing periodontal disease during puberty and pregnancy. In particular, periodontal disease during pregnancy causes pregnancy disorders such as premature birth.

However, as mentioned above, although there has been a report that a specific peptide of bovine lactoferrin suppresses the growth of Prevotella intermedia, it has been reported that lactoferrin does not directly suppress the growth of Prevotella intermedia. Yes.
Until now, it has not been studied whether lactoferrin can sufficiently suppress the growth of Prevotella intermedia in vivo, particularly in the oral cavity, to the extent that it does not lead to the development of periodontal disease. Of course, the administration route, dose and administration interval of lactoferrin effective for suppressing Prevotella intermedia have not been studied.
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a prevotella intermedia inhibitor that can effectively suppress the proliferation of prevotella intermedia in the oral cavity.

As a result of intensive studies, the inventors have found that lactoferrin can be effectively suppressed by the oral administration at a specific dose and a specific administration interval, thereby effectively suppressing the proliferation of Prevotella intermedia in the oral cavity. Completed the invention.
That is, the present invention contains bovine-derived lactoferrin as an active ingredient, and is orally administered three times daily at an amount of 10-50 mg / kg body weight per day as the amount of lactoferrin. It is a media inhibitor.
The Prevotella intermedia inhibitor of the present invention has preferable embodiments in which the lactoferrin is lactoferrin having an iron saturation of 10 to 30% and / or in the form of a lozenge.

  According to the Prevotella intermedia inhibitor of the present invention, the growth of Prevotella intermedia in the oral cavity can be effectively suppressed.

Next, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. However, the present invention is not limited to the following preferred embodiments, and can be freely changed within the scope of the present invention. In the present specification, percentages are expressed by mass unless otherwise specified.
The Prevotella intermedia (Prevotella intermedia) inhibitor of the present invention (hereinafter sometimes abbreviated as “inhibitor of the present invention”) is a Prevotella intermedia, particularly, Prevotella intermedia present in the oral periodontal pocket. It has a remarkable inhibitory effect on intermedia. Here, “suppression” of Prevoterra intermedia in the present invention means that its proliferation can be suppressed to an extent that does not lead to the onset of periodontal disease. Therefore, the inhibitor of the present invention is effective for prevention and / or treatment of periodontal disease.

  The bovine lactoferrin used as the active ingredient of the inhibitor of the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it is derived from bovine, and may be a commercially available product such as bovine colostrum, transitional milk, normal milk, terminal milk. Or lactoferrin separated from these processed products, such as skim milk and whey, by a conventional method such as ion exchange chromatography. In addition, lactoferrin and the like produced by a recombinant dairy cow (transgenic cow) obtained by a recombinant DNA technique can also be used in the present invention.

In the present invention, lactoferrin having an iron saturation degree of 10 to 30% is particularly preferable because of its excellent effect of suppressing Prevotella intermedia.
Here, “iron saturation (%)” is the ratio (%) of “the iron content actually contained” to the “theoretical iron binding ability” of the lactoferrin. Theoretically, two molecules of iron (Fe: molecular weight = 56) atoms per molecule can be bound to lactoferrin, and the iron binding ability of lactoferrin is calculated by the following equation.
Iron binding ability = 56 × 2 / molecular weight of lactoferrin For example, when the molecular weight of lactoferrin is about 80,000 daltons, theoretically, a maximum of 140 mg of iron can be bound in 100 g of the lactoferrin. That is, lactoferrin having a molecular weight of about 80,000 daltons has an iron binding capacity of about 140 mg / 100 g.

In order to effectively inhibit Prevotella intermedia, the inhibitor of the present invention needs to be orally administered three times daily as a lactoferrin amount in an amount of 10 to 50 mg / kg body weight per day.
The dose varies depending on the dosage form, symptoms, patient age, body weight and the like, but the amount of lactoferrin is preferably 20 to 40 mg / kg body weight per day, more preferably 25 to 35 mg / kg body weight.

The inhibitor of the present invention is preferably a pharmaceutical composition formulated into a desired formulation using any additive.
Specific examples of the preparation include tablets (including sugar-coated tablets, enteric-coated tablets, buccal tablets), powders, capsules (including enteric capsules and soft capsules), granules (including those coated), and rounds. Examples thereof include agents, troches, encapsulated liposomes, solutions, and pharmaceutically acceptable sustained-release preparations thereof.
The content of lactoferrin in the pharmaceutical composition depends on the dosage form, but is usually preferably 0.1 to 50% by weight, more preferably 1 to 30% by weight, based on the total solid content of the pharmaceutical composition. 10-20 mass% is especially preferable.

Additives that can be used for formulation are not particularly limited, and generally pharmaceutical compositions such as excipients, binders, disintegrants, lubricants, stabilizers, flavoring agents, diluents, solvents for injections, etc. The additive currently used for the thing can be used.
Excipients include lactose, glucose, sucrose, mannitol, potato starch, corn starch, calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate, calcium sulfate, crystalline cellulose, licorice powder, gentian powder, and binders such as starch, gelatin, syrup, polyvinyl Examples include alcohol, polyvinyl ether, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, hydroxypropyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose and the like.
Examples of the disintegrant include starch, agar, gelatin powder, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, calcium carboxymethyl cellulose, crystalline cellulose, calcium carbonate, sodium hydrogen carbonate, sodium alginate, and the like.
Examples of lubricants include magnesium stearate, hydrogenated vegetable oil, and macrogol, and examples of colorants include red No. 2, yellow No. 4, and blue No. 1 that are allowed to be added to pharmaceuticals. can do.
When the preparation is a tablet or granule, the preparation may be converted into sucrose, hydroxypropylcellulose, purified shellac, gelatin, sorbitol, glycerin, ethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, polyvinylpyrrolidone, cellulose phthalate acetate as necessary. , Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose phthalate, methyl methacrylate, and a methacrylic acid polymer.

In particular, the inhibitor of the present invention is preferably in the form of a lozenge because lactoferrin can be present at a high concentration in the oral cavity for a long time and is excellent in the effects of the present invention.
When the inhibitor of the present invention is in the form of a lozenge, it is preferably formulated so that lactoferrin remains in the oral cavity at a concentration of 40 μg / ml or more for 1 hour or more.
The remaining time at a lactoferrin concentration of 40 μg / ml or more in the oral cavity is, for example, physical properties such as the size, mass and hardness of the lozenge, the amount of lactoferrin, the type and amount of additives used, and the tableting speed. It can be adjusted by adjusting the tableting conditions. Specifically, for example, by setting the mass per tablet of troche to 1 to 3 g, the remaining time can be lengthened.
10-30 mass% is preferable with respect to the total mass of the said lozenge agent, and, as for content of the lactoferrin in a troche agent, 15-25 mass% is more preferable.

As described above, lactoferrin is known not to directly inhibit the growth of Prevotella intermedia, but according to the inhibitor of the present invention, Prevotera is known as one of periodontopathic bacteria.・ Intermediate suppression effect can be obtained. The reason why such an effect is obtained is not clear, but by ingesting a specific amount at a specific interval, lactoferrin is maintained in a high concentration state in the oral cavity, thereby improving immunity of the gingival mucosa. It is presumed that the system was activated, and the ability to exclude Prevotella intermedia from the periodontal pocket was improved.
Moreover, since the inhibitor of this invention has an effect which suppresses the proliferation of the Prevotella intermedia in an oral cavity to such an extent that periodontal disease does not develop, it is useful for the prevention or treatment of periodontal disease.
In addition, since lactoferrin, which is an active ingredient of the inhibitor of the present invention, is one of food components, it is highly safe and has little risk of side effects even when continuously administered for a long period of time. Therefore, according to the inhibitor of the present invention, it is possible to avoid problems such as side effects caused by the administration of antibiotics and disinfectants, which are conventional treatments for periodontal disease, resistant bacteria, and killing of microorganisms beneficial to the host. it can.
Furthermore, since the inhibitor of the present invention has few side effects and is less likely to cause resistant bacteria, it can be applied to many patients with periodontal disease regardless of age or sex. Moreover, according to the inhibitor of this invention, the burden of the outpatient treatment in a dental clinic can also be reduced.

The inhibitor of this invention may be used independently and may be used together with another pharmaceutical composition or food-drinks. As the other pharmaceutical composition or food or drink, those having an effect on the suppression of Prevotella intermedia are preferable. The combined use with such a pharmaceutical composition or food and drink can further enhance the effect of suppressing Prevotella intermedia.
The pharmaceutical composition or food or drink used in combination with the inhibitor of the present invention may or may not contain lactoferrin.
You may commercialize the said other pharmaceutical composition or food-drinks in combination with the inhibitor of this invention as a pharmaceutical composition or food-drinks etc. separate from the inhibitor of this invention.

In the present invention, the inhibitor of the present invention can be contained in a food or drink and ingested in the form of a food or drink. Since lactoferrin is a highly safe ingredient as a food ingredient, the food and drink containing the inhibitor of the present invention is safe and useful for health maintenance and health promotion.
The food / beverage products containing the inhibitor of this invention can be manufactured, for example by adding a lactoferrin to a drink or a foodstuff material. Preferred forms for food and drink include, for example, tablet confectionery, soft drinks, dairy products, health foods, confectionery, and the like.

Further, in the present invention, lactoferrin, which is an active ingredient of the inhibitor of the present invention, is added to foods and drinks and used as foods and drinks for various uses such as utilizing the inhibitory effect of Prevotella intermedia. Is also possible. The food or drink in that case is a food or drink that indicates the purpose of suppressing Prevotella intermedia, for example, a food or drink that has the effect of suppressing Prevotella intermedia and is displayed as "Prevotella intermedia suppression" ”,“ A food and drink containing lactoferrin, which is indicated for prebotella intermedia control ”, and the like.
Note that the wording used for the above display is not limited to the wording “for suppressing Prevotella intermedia”, and other words are also used to suppress Prevotella intermedia. Needless to say, any word that expresses an effect or a preventive or therapeutic effect of a disease caused by Prevotella intermedia, such as periodontal disease, is included in the scope of the present invention. Such wording is based on various uses, for example, to make consumers recognize the inhibitory effect of Prevotella intermedia and / or the preventive or therapeutic effect of diseases caused by Prevotella intermedia. Display is also possible.
The “display” act (display act) includes all acts for informing consumers of the use, and if it is a display that can recall and analogize the use, the purpose of the display Regardless of the contents of the display, the object / medium to be displayed, etc., all fall under the “display” act of the present invention. However, it is preferable to display in such an expression that the consumer can directly recognize the application. Specifically, the act of describing the above-mentioned use in the product or the product packaging relating to the food or drink of the present invention can be cited as a display act, and further, the product or product packaging describing the above-mentioned use is assigned, Display for distribution, transfer or delivery, importing, displaying advertisements on products, price lists or transaction documents for display or distribution, or listing the use for information Thus, an act provided by an electromagnetic (such as the Internet) method can be exemplified.
On the other hand, the displayed content (display content) is a display approved by the government or the like (for example, a display that is approved based on various systems determined by the government and is performed in a mode based on such approval). It is preferable to attach such display contents to advertising materials at sales sites such as packaging, containers, catalogs, pamphlets, POPs, and other documents.
Further, for example, indications as health food, functional food, enteral nutrition food, special purpose food, health functional food, food for specified health, functional nutrition food, quasi drug, etc. can be exemplified. In particular, a display approved by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, for example, a display approved by a food system for specific health use or a system similar thereto can be exemplified. Examples of the latter can include a display as a food for specified health use, a display as a condition specific food for specified health use, a display that affects the structure and function of the body, a display for reducing disease risk, etc. Speaking of the health promotion law enforcement regulations (April 30, 2003 Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare Ordinance No. 86) labeling as food for specified health use (especially labeling the use of health), and similar The display can be listed as a typical example.

EXAMPLES Next, although an Example is shown and this invention is demonstrated further in detail, this invention is not limited to a following example.
[Production Example 1]
Lactoferrin (Morinaga Milk Industry Co., Ltd., iron saturation 15%) 300 g, reduced maltose syrup (Towa Kasei Co., Ltd.) 810 g, powdered candy (Showa Sangyo Co., Ltd.) 172.5 g, corn starch (manufactured by Saneigen FFI Co., Ltd.) 165 g, Stevia sweetener (manufactured by Saneigen FFI Co., Ltd.) 1.5 g, yogurt flavorant (manufactured by Hasegawa Fragrance Co., Ltd.) 6 g, and 45 g of glycerin fatty acid ester (manufactured by Saneigen FFI Co., Ltd.) are uniformly mixed. Thus, a mixed powder was obtained.
This mixed powder is continuously compressed using a tableting machine (manufactured by Hata Steel Co., Ltd.) at a tableting speed of 1.5 g / tablet, 12 tablets / minute, and a troche having a hardness of 7.3 kg. 900 tablets (about 1350 g) were produced. The content of lactoferrin in one tablet of the obtained troche is about 0.3 g.

[Production Example 2]
Lactoferrin (manufactured by Morinaga Milk Industry Co., Ltd., iron saturation 20%) 250 g, malt dextrin (manufactured by Matsutani Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.) 635 g, skim milk powder (manufactured by Morinaga Milk Industry Co., Ltd.) 85 g, stevia sweetener (manufactured by Saneigen FFI Co., Ltd.) 1 g, 5 g of yogurt flavor (manufactured by San-Ei Gen FFI Co., Ltd.) and 24 g of glycerin fatty acid ester (manufactured by Riken Vitamin Co., Ltd.) were uniformly mixed to obtain a mixed powder.
Using the tableting machine (manufactured by Hata Steel Co., Ltd.), this mixed powder was tableted continuously at a tableting speed of 1.5 g per tablet, 12 tablets / minute, and a lozenge with a hardness of 8.5 kg. 600 tablets (about 900 g) were produced. The content of lactoferrin in one tablet of the obtained troche is about 0.3 g.

[Comparative Production Example 1]
Dextrin (manufactured by Matsutani Chemical Co., Ltd.) 300.75 g, reduced maltose starch syrup (manufactured by Towa Kasei Co., Ltd.) 450 g, powdered candy (manufactured by Showa Sangyo Co., Ltd.) 450 g, corn starch (manufactured by San-Ei Gen FFI Co., Ltd.) 225 g, yogurt flavor ( 6 g of Hasegawa Fragrance Co., Ltd., 30 g of glycerin fatty acid ester (manufactured by Saneigen FFI Co., Ltd.), 30 g of sucrose fatty acid ester (manufactured by Saneigen FFI Co., Ltd.), and coloring agent (Saneigen F.F. A mixed powder was obtained by uniformly mixing 8.25 g (manufactured by Eye).
Using the tableting machine (manufactured by Hata Steel Co., Ltd.), this mixed powder was tableted continuously at a tableting speed of 1.5 g / tablet, 12 tablets / min, and lactoferrin having a hardness of 7.3 kg. 1000 troche preparations (about 1500 g) containing no sucrose were produced.

[Test Example 1]
This test was conducted to examine the inhibitory effect of Prevotella intermedia present in the oral periodontal pocket by the inhibitor of the present invention.
(1) Preparation of sample The lozenge produced in Production Example 1 was used as a test sample (lactoferrin group), and the lozenge produced in Comparative Production Example 1 was used as a control sample (placebo group).
(2) Test method "a. Sample administration"
Six patients with mild chronic periodontitis infected with Prevotella intermedia having a periodontal pocket of 4 to 5 mm in depth (subjects A to F) were tested by the double blind method. Specifically, the test sample (lactoferrin group) was orally administered to 3 persons, and the remaining 3 persons were orally administered with a control sample (placebo group) 3 times a day. At this time, each lozenge was ingested so as to dissolve in the oral cavity without biting. Administration of lozenges continued for 3 months.
“B. Collection of measurement sample”
Before administration of the test sample or control sample, 1 month and 3 months after the start of administration, plaque is removed, and then 2 test teeth (anterior teeth and premolars) of each subject are placed in the deepest part of the periodontal pocket. Two sterilized paper points were inserted, the exudate was collected, placed in a sterilized vial, and stored refrigerated.
“C. Measurement of Prevotella intermedia bacteria”
As described above, the number of bacteria of Prevotella intermedia contained in the exudate collected from each group and a total of 6 test teeth was measured by a real-time PCR method.

In the real-time PCR method, DNA is extracted from bacterial cells adhering to a sterilized paper point, and a specific primer pair ((stock) designed to sandwich a specific region of Prevotella intermedia DNA using the DNA as a template. ) And a TaqMan (registered trademark: Applied Biosystems) probe (use a probe that can bind to a specific region of Prevotella intermedia DNA). A PCR reaction was performed using
The PCR reaction was performed using PRISM7700SDS (Applied Biosystems), and the fluorescence intensity increased with the PCR cycle was measured in real time, and the PCR reached a certain fluorescence intensity determined to be a logarithmic amplification period by the apparatus. The number of cycles was determined.
Separately from this, real-time PCR was performed in the same manner as described above using a serially diluted plasmid inserted with the Prevotella intermedia DNA as a template and the DNA fragment amplified with the specific primer. A calibration curve was created, and the number of prevoterra intermedia DNA copies (bacteria count) was calculated by converting the number of PCR cycles previously determined.

(3) Test results Table 1 shows the measurement results of the number of Prevotella intermedia bacteria.
Comparing the number of Prevotella intermedia bacteria before the start of sample administration and after 3 months, the placebo group increased in 5 test teeth. In contrast, in the lactoferrin group, there was a decrease in 3 test teeth, and the remaining 3 test teeth remained 0 both before and after administration, and it was found that there were no test teeth with an increased number of Prevotella intermedia bacteria did.
In addition, even after one month from the start of sample administration, the number of bacteria increased in the placebo group and the number of bacteria decreased in the lactoferrin group, as described above.
Therefore, it was revealed that the inhibitory effect of Prevotella intermedia in the oral periodontal pocket can be obtained by oral administration of the inhibitor of the present invention.

  In Table 1, the weight of subject A was 50 kg, and the daily dose of lactoferrin was 36 mg / kg body weight. The weight of Subject B was 40 kg, and the daily dose of lactoferrin was 45 mg / kg body weight. The weight of subject C was 75 kg, and the daily dose of lactoferrin was 24 mg / kg body weight.

[Reference test]
This test was conducted to examine the residual effect of bovine lactoferrin in the oral cavity when the inhibitor of the present invention was orally administered.
(1) Preparation of sample The lozenge produced in Example 1 was used as a test sample.
(2) Test method "a. Sample administration"
Three subjects (subjects G to I) licked the test sample without biting, and dissolved it in the oral cavity over about 5 minutes.
“B. Collection of measurement sample and measurement of lactoferrin concentration”
Before ingesting the test sample, 5 minutes, 30 minutes, and 60 minutes after ingestion (from the time when the lozenge was placed in the oral cavity), the saliva of the subject was collected as a measurement sample. Bovine lactoferrin concentration was measured by latex agglutination.
For the latex latex agglutination method, specifically, saliva was centrifuged at 3,000 rpm for 3 minutes, the supernatant was collected, diluted 10-fold with Tris-HCl buffer (pH 7.5), and the test sample and did. Next, polystyrene latex beads bound with anti-bovine lactoferrin / rabbit IgG are mixed with the test sample, and generated according to the amount of bovine lactoferrin using a multipurpose analyzer TMS-1024 (manufactured by Tokyo Trading Medical System Co., Ltd.). Turbidity (OD: 800 nm) was monitored for 2 minutes, and the amount of increase in turbidity per minute was measured. This value was plotted against a calibration curve created using a known amount of bovine lactoferrin standard sample, and the amount of bovine lactoferrin in saliva was calculated.

(3) Test results Table 2 shows the results of this test. As a result, the bovine lactoferrin concentration in the saliva of three subjects increased rapidly from the start of ingestion of the test sample to 5 minutes after ingestion, and then gradually decreased. This decrease in bovine lactoferrin concentration was moderate after 30 minutes of ingestion, and after 60 minutes of ingestion, a concentration of about 30 to 60% of the concentration after 30 minutes of ingestion was maintained. Further, the concentration was 40 μg / ml or more, which was very high compared to the concentration of lactoferrin in general human saliva (about 5 μg / ml).

From the above results, it was confirmed that lactoferrin remained above a certain concentration over a long period of time by orally administering the inhibitor of the present invention, particularly in the form of a troche.
Thus, since lactoferrin, which is an active ingredient for inhibiting the growth of Prevotella intermedia, remains at a certain concentration or more over a long period of time, the inhibitor of the present invention effectively inhibits the growth of Prevotella intermedia. Is suggested.

According to the inhibitor of the present invention, the inhibitory effect of Prevotella intermedia known as one of periodontopathic bacteria can be obtained. Therefore, the inhibitor of the present invention is useful for the prevention or treatment of periodontal disease.
The inhibitor of the present invention contains lactoferrin, which is one of food components, as an active ingredient, and can avoid problems such as side effects, resistant bacteria, and killing of microorganisms beneficial to the host. Moreover, since lactoferrin can be ingested as a part of food, it is not limited to the inhibitor of the present invention, and can be applied as health food such as food for specified health use.

Claims (3)

  A prevotella intermedia inhibitor comprising bovine-derived lactoferrin as an active ingredient, and orally administered three times daily in an amount of 10-50 mg / kg body weight per day as the amount of lactoferrin.   The Prevotella intermedia inhibitor according to claim 1, wherein the lactoferrin is lactoferrin having an iron saturation of 10 to 30%.   The Prevotella intermedia inhibitor according to claim 1 or 2, which is in the form of a troche.