JP2014012717A - Stress relief agents - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide stress relief agents containing β-cryptoxanthin derived from citrus or its processed materials, which are capable of preventing, suppressing, or relieving the harmful effects on a living body caused by a psychological stress load and are especially effective in suppressing hypertrophy of the adrenal glands and atrophy of the thymus and genital organs.SOLUTION: The stress relief agents containing β-cryptoxanthin derived from citrus or its processed materials (preferably the rind or pressing residues of Citrus unshiu) as an active ingredient are incorporated into food and medicine to prepare orally administrable compositions. The β-cryptoxanthin is not limited to the ones derived from citrus or its processed materials but may be obtained by any other methods.

Description

  The present invention relates to a stress relieving agent containing β-cryptoxanthin as an active ingredient. Specifically, the present invention relates to a stress relieving agent that exerts an excellent inhibitory effect on functional deterioration caused by mental stress load, particularly adrenal hypertrophy and genital atrophy.

  Today is an era of stress overload, and more or less living in the present age lives under the influence of stress. In recent years, the influence of such stress on a living body has been investigated in detail, and it is becoming clear that it has an unexpectedly large effect. Therefore, development of means for reducing the influence of such stress on the living body is desired.

  On the other hand, citrus peel such as Satsuma mandarin is called “Chen” in Chinese medicine and has been used for prescriptions for healthy stomach, antitussive, expectorant, cold, etc. Active research has been carried out on the effects.

  Until now, it has been known that Satsuma mandarin is rich in β-cryptoxanthin, which is a kind of carotenoid. β-cryptoxanthin has antioxidant, carcinogenesis-inhibiting, and adipocyte hypertrophy-inhibiting effects, and also prevents metabolic syndrome by suppressing lipid synthesis, reducing fatigue due to exercise, improving osteoporosis, and whitening effect There is a report that it also has.

  However, there has been no known improvement effect on adverse effects of mental stress, such as mucosal function decline, digestive system / respiratory system dysfunction, etc., and research examples from this perspective have been reported. It has not been.

  The present inventor has so far examined the effect of squeezed (juice) squeezed residue of Satsuma mandarin, which contains the same components as Chen, on the stress model. As a result, it was found that the skin function lowering improvement effect is exhibited by using these externally (Patent Document 1), and the IgA production-constant action is exhibited by ingestion (Patent Document 2). Each of them applied for a patent first.

  However, sufficient research has not yet been done on the effects of citrus components on the adverse effects of mental stress, and most of Satsuma mandarin peel and pressed residue are treated as industrial waste. In the present situation, further effective utilization of these is required from the viewpoint of the stress improvement effect.

JP 2001-213775 A JP 2005-255574 A

  This invention makes it a subject to provide the stress reduction agent which can prevent, suppress or improve the bad influence to the living body by mental stress load using (beta) -cryptoxanthin contained in citrus fruits or its processed material.

  In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present inventors have found that β-cryptoxanthin, which is abundant in citrus fruits such as Unshu mandarin oranges or processed products thereof, is excellent for specific physiological phenomena among adverse effects on the living body caused by mental stress. The present invention has been found to have a preventive, suppressive and improving action, and the present invention has been completed.

That is, this invention relates to the stress reducing agent shown in the following (1)-(9), and an oral administration composition using the same.
(1) A stress relieving agent for mental stress caused by overloading, comprising β-cryptoxanthin as an active ingredient.
(2) The stress reducing agent according to (1), wherein the β-cryptoxanthin is extracted and isolated from citrus fruits or processed products thereof.

(3) The stress reducing agent according to (2), wherein the citrus fruit or a processed product thereof is a citrus peel or a pressed residue.
(4) The stress reducing agent according to (2) or (3), wherein the citrus fruit is Satsuma mandarin.

(5) The stress reducing agent according to any one of (1) to (4), which is for pharmaceutical use.
(6) The stress reducing agent according to any one of (1) to (5), which is used as an adrenal hypertrophy inhibitor.
(7) The stress reducing agent according to any one of (1) to (5), which is used as a genital atrophy inhibitor.

(8) An orally administered composition for coping with mental stress due to overload, comprising the stress reducing agent according to any one of (1) to (7).
(9) The composition for oral administration according to (8), which is a pharmaceutical product.

  The stress relieving agent containing β-cryptoxanthin of the present invention as an active ingredient has an action of preventing, suppressing, or improving adverse effects caused by mental stress. This antipsychotic stress action of β-cryptoxanthin is the first finding. In particular, the stress relieving agent of the present invention is excellent in an antipsychotic stress action, particularly an improvement action for adverse effects on the secretory system, specifically an adrenal hypertrophy suppression effect, and a thymus and genital (ovary, uterus) atrophy improvement effect. Show the effect.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.
The stress reducing agent of the present invention contains β-cryptoxanthin as an active ingredient.

(1) β-cryptoxanthin The active ingredient of the stress reducing agent of the present invention is β-cryptoxanthin. β-cryptoxanthin is a carotenoid that is abundant in orange pigments such as citrus fruits and vegetables, and has the following chemical structure. A conventionally known method can be used for extraction and isolation of β-cryptoxanthin.

(2) Citrus or processed product thereof β-cryptoxanthin in the present invention is preferably derived from citrus or processed product thereof. Examples of citrus fruits include Wenzhou mandarin orange, Valencia orange, Navel orange, Kumquat, Ponkan, Summer mandarin, Sweet summer mandarin, Iyokan, Grapefruit, Lemon, Yuzu, Sudachi, Suruga orange, Dekopon, Zaboon, Bunton and the like. Of these, particularly preferred is Satsuma mandarin.

  The structure of citrus fruits is the pericarp on the surface, the white part on the inner wall of the pericarp (medium pericarp), the seeds, the “sano” (fruit pulp) that is normally eaten, and the ginger membrane Wrapping inner bag). Of these citrus components, β-cryptoxanthin is contained in large amounts in the pericarp and cypress, particularly in citrus.

  Citrus fruits or processed products thereof include citrus peel, juice (juice), concentrated solution obtained by concentrating the juice, dried juice or concentrated solution thereof, and powdered as necessary ( Solid), pressing residue (juice compression residue) and the like. In addition, examples include citrus peels as they are or dried (freeze-dried products, ventilation-dried products, sun-dried products, etc.) or pulverized products thereof.

  Citrus pressing residue remains after citrus juice is squeezed, and includes fiber, pectin and the like. As the pressing residue used in the present invention, the residue after squeezing may be used as it is, or a powdered product after drying may be used.

  Since β-cryptoxanthin of the present invention is contained in a large amount in the citrus peel and sardine, the citrus fruit used in the present invention or a processed product thereof may be a citrus peel or a pressed residue (mainly a pressed sage residue). ) Is preferred. Furthermore, since β-cryptoxanthin is contained in a particularly large amount in citrus fruit, a juice containing a large amount of pressed juice residue and sugar which is produced in the process of producing citrus juice is particularly preferable.

  As β-cryptoxanthin constituting the stress relieving agent of the present invention, it is preferable to use a citrus fruit or a processed product thereof, but it is not limited to a citrus fruit or a processed product thereof. It may be obtained in

(3) Adrenal hypertrophy inhibitor The stress reducing agent of the present invention can be used as an adrenal hypertrophy inhibitor. When mental stress is applied, adrenal hypertrophy occurs as a sign of stress in the secretory system. The stress relieving agent of the present invention has a remarkable preventive / suppressing action or improving action on the adrenal hypertrophy among various stress signs.

(4) Reproductive organ atrophy improving agent The stress reducing agent of the present invention has a preventive / inhibitory action or an improving action against atrophy of the thymus and genital organs (ovary, uterus, etc.). When mental stress is applied, thymus atrophy and genital atrophy occur as signs of stress in the secretory system. The stress relieving agent of the present invention has a remarkable preventive / suppressive action or ameliorating action on such thymus or genital atrophy.

(5) Orally administered composition The dosage form of the stress relieving agent of the present invention is not particularly limited, and the administration route and the dosage form are not particularly limited as long as the living body can reach a place affected by stress. An administration composition is preferred. Specifically, examples of the composition for oral administration include oral preparations such as foods and pharmaceuticals, preferably pharmaceuticals.

  Examples of internal preparations such as foods and pharmaceuticals include solid preparations such as tablets, powders and granules, liquid preparations, semi-solid preparations and the like, which can be absorbed into the body by oral administration.

  As an optional ingredient other than β-cryptoxanthin in the composition for oral administration, if the above-mentioned internal preparation is a food, for example, a seasoning such as a sweetening agent, a salting agent, a spice, an acidulant, an umami seasoning, an emulsifying / dispersing agent, Antioxidants, preservatives, thickeners, binders, fragrances and the like can be exemplified. For pharmaceuticals, excipients, binders, disintegrants, coating agents, lubricants, extenders, diluents, pH adjusters, emulsifying / dispersing agents, stabilizers, miso odorants, coloring An agent etc. can be illustrated.

  EXAMPLES Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically described with reference to examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.

[Example 1]
In this experiment, animals that were subjected to mental stress due to overcrowding were used to verify the effects of the stress reducing agent of the present invention on the effects (adrenal hypertrophy, thymus and genital atrophy) caused by mental stress.

I. Experimental method <Animal used>
HOS: Hr-1 hairless mice (female, 7 weeks) were acclimated at a rate of 5 animals per cage, and were bred and used in the following 4 groups.
(1) Normal (normal group): 5 animals per cage, fed with a commercial feed and reared for 12 days (1 group).
(2) Stress (mental stress group): 20 animals per cage, fed with a commercial feed, and raised for 12 days (3 groups).

<Experimental procedure>
Experiments were started on experimental animal groups (4 groups) reared by the above rearing method. That is, a commercially available feed (manufacturer; Oriental Co., Ltd., trade name: ordinary feed “MF”) was fed into the above four groups (Food Intake) and reared for 7 days. However, 1 group out of the above (2) (mental stress load group; 3 groups) was fed a feed containing no specimen (Control). Another group includes the known antipsychotic chlorpromazine hydrochloride (Chlorpromazine).
hydrochloride) (Positive Control). The remaining group received β-cryptoxanthin. The β-cryptoxanthin used here was extracted from the fruits of Unshu mandarin with acetone-methanol (1: 1), and the extract was roughly purified by ODS and silica gel column chromatography. It can be purified. Each dose is shown in Table 1.

II. Experimental Results Seven days after the start of the experiment, organs (ovary; Ovary, thymus; Thymus, and adrenal; Adrenal) were weighed for each group of mice. The results are shown in Table 1.

As can be seen from Table 1, the ovary and thymus atrophy when mental stress is applied (Control), but by giving β-cryptoxanthin, a known antipsychotic (Chlorpromazine)
It can be seen that the effect of suppressing or improving atrophy equal to or higher than that of hydrochloride) is exhibited. Moreover, as can be seen from Table 1, when mental stress is applied, the adrenal glands are enlarged (Control), but by giving β-cryptoxanthin, the effect of suppressing hypertrophy further superior to known antipsychotics is exerted. You can see that

  Thus, according to the results of Example 1, the stress reducing agent of the present invention has an excellent inhibitory / ameliorating action on adrenal hypertrophy due to mental stress and an excellent inhibitory / ameliorating action on thymus / genital atrophy. I understand.

  The stress-reducing agent of the present invention is excellent in suppressing or improving the function of the secretory system of the living body caused by mental stress, particularly adrenal hypertrophy and thymus / genital atrophy.

The stress relieving agent of the present invention can effectively use the peel and pressed residue of Unshu mandarin, which is often treated as industrial waste, and is therefore useful for further effective utilization of Unshu mandarin, which is an excellent agricultural product in Japan. It is expected.

Claims (9)

  A stress reducing agent for mental stress caused by overcrowding, comprising β-cryptoxanthin as an active ingredient.   The stress relieving agent according to claim 1, wherein the β-cryptoxanthin is extracted and isolated from citrus fruits or processed products thereof.   The stress reducing agent according to claim 2, wherein the citrus fruit or a processed product thereof is a citrus peel or a pressed residue.   The stress reducing agent according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the citrus fruit is Satsuma mandarin.   The stress relieving agent according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which is used for medicine.   The stress reducing agent according to any one of claims 1 to 5, which is used as an adrenal hypertrophy inhibitor.   The stress relieving agent according to any one of claims 1 to 5, which is used as a genital atrophy inhibitor.   The composition for oral administration for the mental stress response by the overcrowding load containing the stress reducing agent in any one of Claims 1-7. The composition for oral administration according to claim 8, which is a pharmaceutical product.