JP2012206943A - Sleep-improving agent - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sleep-improving agent which can be routinely conventionally ingested and can effectively improve the quality of sleep by a person having complaints regarding sleep, e.g., that sleep is poor, awaking is not satisfactory and falling asleep is difficult, but not to the degree requiring a sleeping pill or a sleep inducer.SOLUTION: It has been found that the water of the seed of Cucurbita or the extract with an ethanole solution of ≤30 (v/v)% has a remkable sleep-improving action. Further, as a result of the form easily ingesting the extract, the form of a tea bag stuffed with the seed powder of Cucurbita is most suitable.

Description

  The present invention relates to a novel sleep-improving agent, and more specifically to a novel sleep-improving agent containing a pumpkin (Cucurbita) seed extract as an active ingredient.

  About one third of life is occupied by "sleeping", and sleep is an important act for humans. However, recently, an increasing number of people complain of symptoms such as lack of sleep and insomnia due to disturbance of life rhythm, stress, lack of exercise and the like. Such a decrease in sleep quality causes a decrease in daytime concentration and a decrease in quality of life (QOL) such as autonomic insufficiency, and improving sleep quality is an important issue. Yes.

  Deterioration of sleep quality is generally categorized into sleep disturbances that cause poor sleep, deep sleep disorders that wake up many times in the night, early awakening that wakes up early in the morning, and insomnia that does not feel well asleep. . Benzodiazepine sleeping pills and antihistamine sleeping aids are used as drug treatments, but these drugs have side effects such as psychiatric symptoms and muscle relaxation, and anxiety about taking them. There are also issues such as. Moreover, since it is a pharmaceutical, it cannot be obtained easily and is not necessarily a sufficient solution for the deterioration of sleep quality.

  Therefore, a sleep improving agent containing a functional ingredient derived from food as an active ingredient is desired. So far, a composition for promoting sleep containing theanine (Patent Document 1), a deep sleep disorder improving agent containing glycine (Patent Document 2), an oral preparation for improving sleep or wakefulness containing ornithine (Patent Document 3), Sleep quality improving composition containing γ-aminobutyric acid as an active ingredient (Patent Document 4), sleep inducing agent containing arginine or stress insomnia improving agent (Patent Document 5), sleep inducing agent containing glutathione (Patent Document 6), a sleep improvement composition (Patent Document 7) containing a microbial cell disruption product of microorganisms belonging to Bacillus subtilis, such as natto, as an active ingredient, a casein hydrolyzate, and a mineral The composition for sleep improvement (Patent Document 8), the sleep disorder improving agent (Patent Document 9) containing sesamin as an active ingredient Have been reported.

  The pumpkin (nanban) is native to the American continent, and is classified into the cucurbitaceae family, the genus Cucurbita, Cucurbita maxima (Western pumpkin species), Cucurbita moscha (Oriental species of pumpkins), Cucurbita pepo (pumpkins) Pepo species, Pepo Pumpkin) are known.

  Pepo pumpkins are cultivated in Austria, Hungary, etc., mainly collecting seeds for oil production. Seed oil has a high unsaturated fatty acid content and has high nutritional value as an edible oil. The fraction after the oil is collected is added as a highly safe food to snacks, cereals, breads, sausages, etc., and also used as feed additives and pharmaceutical raw materials.

  The biochemical and pharmacological effects of peppo pumpkin seeds are known to include prostate hypertrophy suppression, diuretic action, anthelmintic action, action on protein biosynthesis, action on blood coagulation / fibrinolytic system, action on bladder function, etc. (Non-Patent Document 1), the sleep improving action has not been clarified.

International Publication No. 01/074352 JP 2006-333872 A JP 2006-342148 A JP 2007-063236 A JP 2007-230954 A JP 2008-056628 A JP 2008-137941 A JP 2009-013143 A JP 2010-285427 A

New Food Industry, Vol. 52, No. 10, 2010, p. 1-10

  Although it is not enough to take sleeping pills or sleep-inducing drugs, people who have sleep dissatisfaction, such as light sleep, lack of awakening, and poor sleep, are reluctant to take sleeping pills and sleep-inducing drugs . In addition, there are many anxieties about side effects such as psychiatric symptoms and muscle relaxant action of these drugs. Therefore, there is a potential demand for people who have dissatisfaction with sleep to increase their sleep satisfaction.

  Although the present invention is not so much as to take sleeping pills or sleep-inducing drugs, it can be easily taken on a daily basis for people who have sleep dissatisfaction, such as light sleep, poor awakening, and poor sleep. An object of the present invention is to provide a sleep-improving agent capable of effectively improving sleep quality.

  As a result of diligent search to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present inventors have obtained water or 30 (v / v)% or less ethanol of a pumpkin (Cucurbita) seed that can be easily obtained and can be safely taken for a long time. As a result of finding out that the extract of the solution has a remarkable sleep-improving effect, and further examining the form in which the Cucurbita seed extract can be ingested easily, the knowledge that the form of the tea bag is most suitable was also obtained. The present invention has been completed.

  That is, this invention provides the sleep improving agent characterized by containing the water of a pumpkin (Cucurbita) seed | species, or the ethanol solution extract of 30 (v / v)% or less.

  In addition, the present invention is a tea bag in which pumpkin seeds are stored in a bag and the active ingredient is eluted from the contents by immersing in water or an ethanol solution of 30 (v / v) or less. A form of sleep improving agent is provided.

  The sleep-improving agent of the present invention contains water of pumpkin seeds or an ethanol solution extract of 30 (v / v)% or less as an active ingredient, so that sleep is shallow, sleep is not refreshed, and sleep is not good. It can eliminate sleep dissatisfaction and improve sleep quality.

  Moreover, the sleep improvement agent of this invention can obtain a pumpkin seed extract easily by enclosing a pumpkin seed powder in a tea bag.

  Furthermore, since pumpkin seeds have been ingested as food for a long time and are excellent in safety, the sleep-improving agent of the present invention can be ingested for a long time regardless of its form.

  The sleep-improving agent of the present invention contains water of a pumpkin (Cucurbita) seed or an ethanol solution extract of 30 (v / v) or less.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, “sleep improvement” refers to improvement of the quality of sleep in general, such as promotion of natural sleep induction (promoting sleep), improvement of a feeling of deep sleep, etc. However, it means increasing the level of sleep satisfaction for those who have sleep dissatisfaction, such as light sleep, poor awakening, and poor sleep.

  As the seed of the genus Cucurbita, a seed in the fruit of a plant classified as Cucurbitaceae or genus Pumpkin is used. The seed of the genus Cucurbita (Cucurbita) is not limited to its variety, but in view of the effect as a sleep improving agent, it is preferably a seed of pepo pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) or western pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima). .

  The Cucurbita seed may be used as it is. However, in consideration of the storage stability against the oxidation of the Cucurbita seed and the ease of extraction, after the oil is collected from the Cucurbita seed. It is preferred to use defatted pumpkin seeds with a low fat content. Specifically, it is preferable that the fat content after removing the oil is about 10% by weight or less of the seed weight, and more preferable is a Cucurbita seed from which the fat content is removed to about 1% by weight or less. .

  Moreover, in order to obtain the extract of a pumpkin (Cucurbita) seed, it is not limited to the shape of a seed. For example, pumpkin seeds with a thin outer skin may be subjected to extraction as they are, and those with a thick outer skin can be used by dividing into 20% or more. Moreover, the squeezed rice cake which remained after the oil extraction of the pumpkin (Cucurbita) seed | species can also be used, and also the pumpkin seed | species (Cucurbita) seed powder which grind | pulverized it can also be used.

  The particles should be as coarse as possible considering the oxidative stability of the fats and oils contained in the seeds of the genus Cucurbita, but it is desirable that the particles be fine to some extent when considering the extraction efficiency of the active ingredient. Specifically, the proportion of particles of 500 μm or less in the pulverized particle size is preferably 50% by weight or more.

  The pumpkin (Cucurbita) seeds used in this example are preferably those that have been sterilized. The sterilization treatment can substantially sterilize Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria (eg, Salmonella), so that safety as a sleep improving agent can be enhanced.

  Specifically, for example, a sterilization treatment can be performed by passing a pumpkin seed, a defatted pumpkin seed or a pumpkin seed powder through superheated steam at 110 ° C. for several seconds with a superheated steam sterilizer. Moreover, it can also sterilize using a microwave sterilizer.

  Since the sleep-improving agent of the present invention is obtained by extraction with water or alcohol, it can be used as it is, but if it is dried and made into a dry powder, it has good storage stability and can be easily added to processed foods. Although there is no restriction | limiting in the method of drying, For example, a spray-drying method, drum drying, a freeze-drying method etc. can be mentioned. Moreover, before drying, the process generally performed by manufacture of what is called an extract powder, such as concentration, filtration, and addition of a powdered base material, can also be added before drying as needed.

  The daily dose for adults of the sleep improving agent of this embodiment is desirably 50 mg to 1000 mg, more preferably 100 mg to 500 mg, in terms of solid content. Although there is no problem when taking it, it is recommended to take it after dinner until just before going to bed.

  The sleep-improving agent of the present embodiment can be formulated using a known formulation method, particularly a formulation technique suitable for oral intake. Examples of the preparation include tablet-coated tablets, capsules, granules, fine granules, powders, emulsions, syrups and the like.

  For example, when the oral dosage form is tablets, granules, powders, etc., excipients such as sugars, starches, proteins, plant powders; crystalline cellulose, carmellose sodium, carmellose calcium, calcium carbonate, carbonic acid Disintegrants such as sodium hydrogen and sodium alginate; lubricants such as magnesium stearate, talc, hydrogenated vegetable oil, macrogol, silicone oil; polyvinyl alcohol, hydroxypropylcellulose, methylcellulose, ethylcellulose, carmellose, gelatin, starch paste It can be formulated by adding a binder such as a fatty acid ester, a plasticizer such as glycerin, and the like.

  When the oral dosage form is a liquid preparation such as a syrup, it can be formulated by adding water; sugars such as sucrose, sorbitol and fructose; flavors and the like.

  Pumpkin seed extract can be added to various processed foods and consumed. There is no restriction | limiting in the processed food to add, Any may be sufficient as the origin and form of a raw material. For example, confectionery such as cookies, rice crackers, tablet confectionery, jelly, gummi, gum, chocolate, cereal, etc .; desserts such as ice cream, pudding, jelly, bavaroa; beverages such as sports drinks, energy drinks, vegetables and fruit juice drinks Liquid foods such as soup; powdered foods such as cocoa, matcha powder, and sprinkles; and fat-containing foods such as dressing and mayonnaise.

  Moreover, as long as it does not reduce the effect of the sleep improving agent of the present embodiment, that is, an undesirable interaction is not caused by blending with the sleep improving agent of the present embodiment, vitamin A, carotenes, vitamin B may be used as necessary. Group, vitamin C, vitamin D group, vitamin E, vitamin K group, vitamin P, niacin, nicotinic acid, pantothenic acid, biotin, inositol, choline, folic acid and other vitamins; calcium, potassium, magnesium, sodium, copper, iron , Manganese, zinc, selenium and other minerals; carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, dietary fiber and other nutritional ingredients; flavors; pigments and the like. Any of those commonly used for food and drink can be used.

  Furthermore, the sleep-improving agent of the present embodiment is one kind selected from the group consisting of leaves, stems, roots, flowers, fruits, and seeds of plants other than pumpkin (Cucurbita) seeds for the purpose of enhancing palatability and functionality. Or 2 or more types of raw materials can be contained.

  Specifically, for example, pigeons, oolong tea, hub tea, hawthorn, malt, strawberry tea, amadokoroko, gymnema sylvestre, safflower, daidai, green tea, brown rice, oolong tea, kelp, wormwood, ganoderma, wolfberry, bear cocoon, bamboo leaf , Shiitake mushroom peel, citrus peel (Ebisu grass seeds), beach tea, morohaya, chunakaba, licorice, loquat leaf, banca, ginseng, rooibos, messy, too much, hojicha, puer tea, gold flower tea, green tea Extract, beakless fruit, ginger, jujube, light load, evening primrose, guava leaf, banaba leaf, arabesque, shrimp, moroheiya, plantain, mugwort, wolfberry leaf, mulberry leaf, ginkgo, honeysuckle, oyster, mate leaf, vulgaris, perilla, Sesame, artichoke, echinacea, elderflower, oregano, orange peel, orange blossom, chamomile Lemon, Cardamom, Cloves, Gwansow, Gen's pepper, Comfrey, Saflower, Summer savory, Sisium, Cinnamon, Jasmine, Juniper berry, Stevia, Sage, Serpyrum, St. John's, Turmeric, Thyme, Dandelion, Nettle, Hibiscus, Basil, Passion Flower, Vanilla Beans, Valerian, Hyssop, Fever Fue, Fennel, Hop, Marjoram, Marigold, Mallow, Peppermint, Meadow Sweet, Yarrow, Eucalyptus, Ruffa, Lavender, Licorice, Linden, Lemongrass, Lemon Verbena, Lemon Balm, Lemon Peel , Rose, Rosehip, Rosemary, Wild Strawberry etc. can be combined.

  The present invention also relates to a tea bag in which pumpkin seeds are contained in a bag and the active ingredient is eluted from the contents by immersing in water or an ethanol solution of 30 (v / v)% or less. A form of sleep improving agent is provided.

  That is, pumpkin seeds are stored in a bag such as a non-woven bag or a mesh bag, and immersed in water or an ethanol solution of 30 (v / v)% or less to elute ingredients effective for improving sleep out of the bag. Is. If it is the form of a tea bag, the pumpkin genus extract which has a sleep improvement effect can be obtained easily, and can be taken as it is as a drink like tea and alcoholic beverages.

  The sleep improving agent in the form of a tea bag in the present embodiment is not limited to the form of a tea bag, and the items described above regarding the sleeping improving agent can be appropriately applied as necessary.

  Moreover, as long as it does not reduce the effect of the sleep improving agent in the form of the tea bag of the present embodiment, that is, as long as an undesirable interaction is not caused by the combination with the sleep improving agent in the form of the tea bag of the present embodiment, as necessary. In addition, nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and sugars, fragrances, and pigments described above can be mixed.

  Furthermore, the sleep improving agent in the form of the tea bag of the present embodiment is from the leaves, stems, roots, flowers, fruits and seeds of plants other than the above-mentioned Cucurbita seeds for the purpose of enhancing palatability and functionality. One or two or more materials selected from the group can be contained.

  EXAMPLES The present invention will be described more specifically with reference to examples below, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

1. Preparation of sleep improving agent (1) Pepo pumpkin seeds 1 kg of deionized water was added to 100 g of defatted powder of peppo pumpkin seeds and stirred for 3 hours. Thereafter, the insoluble matter was removed by filtration, and the filtrate was concentrated until the total amount reached 400 g. Subsequently, the concentrate was freeze-dried to obtain 11.8 g of a sleep improving agent derived from peppo pumpkin seeds.

(2) Western pumpkin seeds 1 kg of 30 (v / v)% ethanol solution was added to 100 g of defatted powder of western pumpkin seeds and stirred overnight. Thereafter, filtration was performed to remove insoluble matters, and the mixture was concentrated until the total amount became 400 g. Subsequently, the concentrate was spray-dried to obtain 7.4 g of a sleep improving agent derived from western pumpkin seeds.

(3) Pepo Pumpkin Seed Tea Bag 1
5 g of pepo pumpkin seed defatted powder was filled into a pyramid-type non-woven tea bag. The standard drinking method was to put this tea bag in a cup, pour 180 ml of hot water and extract it for about 5 minutes before drinking.

(4) Pepo Pumpkin Seed Tea Bag 2
4 g of pepo pumpkin seed defatted powder and 1 g of dried Kwanso leaves were filled into a pyramid-type non-woven tea bag. The standard drinking method was to put this tea bag in a cup, pour 180 ml of hot water and extract it for about 5 minutes before drinking.

(5) Pepo Pumpkin Seed Tea Bag 3
Pyramid-type non-woven tea bags were filled with 3 g of pepo pumpkin seed defatted powder and 2 g of dried luffa leaves. The standard drinking method was to put this tea bag in a cup, pour 180 ml of hot water and extract it for about 5 minutes before drinking.

2. Sleep improvement confirmation test 1
(1) Test method 25 subjects who were not enough to take sleeping pills or sleep-inducing drugs, but were unhappy with sleep, and conducted a sleep improvement confirmation test in the following manner. That is, during the first week (pre-test period), 180 ml of white hot water was drunk from 1 hour before bedtime to bedtime as a control period. Thereafter, over a period of 3 weeks (test period), the sleep improving agent in the form of a tea bag prepared in the above 1 (3) was taken. The taking method was that the tea bag-type sleep-improving agent prepared in 1 (3) above was put in a cup, 180 ml of hot water was poured and extracted for about 5 minutes, and was drunk from 1 hour before bedtime to bedtime.

(2) Evaluation on sleep improvement Over 4 weeks from the start of the test to the end of the test, the subjects were asked to write a diary. The diary included the time of drinking white hot water or sleep-improving agent, bedtime / wake-up time, points different from normal life (about exercise amount and drinking), and supplementary notes (about physical condition and side effects). The evaluation regarding sleep improvement is the degree of improvement in sleep during the test period when compared with before the test period: “2”: marked improvement, “1”: slight improvement, “0”: unchanged, “−1”: We had you evaluate in four stages of deterioration.

(3) Data aggregation and statistical analysis For the three weeks of the intake period, the average value of the four evaluation values was calculated for each week and scored. The score before the test period was set to 0, and statistical analysis with each was performed.

  As for the score, Kruskal Wallis H-test was performed. When a significant difference was observed, a post-hoc test (multiple comparison test) was performed at Dunnett's test.

  Table 1 shows the average value of sleep satisfaction scores during the test period with respect to changes in sleep satisfaction. The degree of sleep satisfaction improved significantly from the first week of taking the sleep improving agent (P <0.01), and the degree of improvement increased as the test progressed to the second half. As a result, it was confirmed that the Pepo Pumpkin Seed Tea Bag has a sleep improvement effect with a significant difference.

3. Sleep improvement confirmation test 2
In the same manner as sleep improvement confirmation test 1, the sleep improvement effect of the peppo pumpkin seed extract was confirmed. The subject manufactured a tablet containing 0.5 g of the sleep improving agent derived from the peppo pumpkin seed prepared in 1 (1) instead of the peppo pumpkin seed tea bag, and was taken from 1 hour before bedtime to bedtime. . Drinking white water before the test period was not performed. Other than that was carried out in exactly the same way as sleep improvement confirmation test 1.

  Table 2 shows the average value of sleep satisfaction scores during the test period of 25 subjects with respect to changes in sleep satisfaction. Similar to Sleep Improvement Confirmation Test 1, sleep satisfaction improved significantly from the first week of the intake period (P <0.01), and the degree of improvement increased as the test progressed to the second half. Thereby, it was confirmed that the sleep improvement agent derived from a peppo pumpkin seed also has a sleep improvement effect.

4). Sleep improvement confirmation test 3
The sleep improvement effect of the western pumpkin seed extract was confirmed in the same manner as sleep improvement confirmation test 1. In place of the Pepo Pumpkin Seed Tea Bag, the subject manufactured a tablet containing 0.1 g of the sleep improving agent derived from Western Pumpkin Seed prepared in 1 (2) above and was taken from 1 hour before bedtime to bedtime. It was. Drinking white water before the test period was not performed. Other than that was carried out in exactly the same way as sleep improvement confirmation test 1.

  Table 3 shows the average value of sleep satisfaction scores during the test period of 25 subjects with respect to changes in sleep satisfaction. Similar to Sleep Improvement Confirmation Test 1, sleep satisfaction improved significantly from the 2nd week of the intake period (P <0.01), and the degree of improvement increased as the test progressed to the second half. Thereby, it was confirmed that the sleep improvement agent derived from a western pumpkin seed also has a sleep improvement effect.

5). Sleep improvement confirmation test 4
In the same manner as sleep improvement confirmation test 1, the tea bag form sleep improving agent prepared in 1 (4) above was taken. The dosing method, the evaluation method, and the statistical analysis were performed in exactly the same manner as the sleep improvement confirmation test 1.

  Table 4 shows the average value of sleep satisfaction scores during the test period of 25 subjects with respect to changes in sleep satisfaction. Similar to Sleep Improvement Confirmation Test 1, sleep satisfaction improved significantly from the 2nd week of the intake period (P <0.01), and the degree of improvement increased as the test progressed to the second half. Thereby, it was confirmed that the sleep improvement effect is further improved by further adding kuwanso to the peppo pumpkin seeds.

6). Sleep improvement confirmation test 5
In the same manner as sleep improvement confirmation test 1, the sleep improving agent in the form of a tea bag prepared in 1 (5) above was taken. The dosing method, the evaluation method, and the statistical analysis were performed in exactly the same manner as the sleep improvement confirmation test 1.

  Table 5 shows the average value of sleep satisfaction scores during the test period of 25 subjects with respect to changes in sleep satisfaction. Similar to Sleep Improvement Confirmation Test 1, sleep satisfaction improved significantly from the 2nd week of the intake period (P <0.01), and the degree of improvement increased as the test progressed to the second half. Thereby, it was confirmed that the sleep improvement effect is further improved by further adding rafuma to the peppo pumpkin seeds.

  From the results of sleep improvement confirmation tests 4 and 5, one or more materials selected from the group consisting of leaves, stems, roots, flowers, fruits, and seeds other than pumpkin seeds are added to the peppo pumpkin seeds. Furthermore, it was proved that the sleep improvement effect was further improved by the inclusion.

Claims (8)

  A sleep-improving agent comprising water of a pumpkin (Cucurbita) seed or an ethanol solution extract of 30 (v / v)% or less.   Sleep improving agent in the form of a tea bag in which pumpkin seeds are stored in a bag and the active ingredient is eluted from the contents by immersing it in water or an ethanol solution of 30 (v / v)% or less. .   The sleep improving agent according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cucurbita seed is a cucurbita pepo seed or a cucurbita maxima seed.   The sleep improvement agent of any one of Claims 1-3 which is a seed after the said pumpkin genus (Cucurbita) seed is degreased.   The sleep improving agent according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the cucurbita seed is a powder in which a proportion of particles of 500 µm or less in a pulverized particle size is 50% by weight or more.   6. One or more materials selected from the group consisting of leaves, stems, roots, flowers, fruits, and seeds of plants other than the pumpkin seeds (Cucurbita) seeds are further included. The sleep improving agent according to 1.   A beverage or food containing the sleep improving agent according to claim 1.   A pharmaceutical comprising the sleep improving agent according to claim 1.