JP2019218292A - Agents for introducing sleep, promoting sound sleep function, and improving sleep - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide agents for introducing sleep, promoting sleep function, and improving sleep in which peppermint oil is used as a functional fragrance.SOLUTION: Provided is an agent for introducing sleep, promoting a sound sleep function, and improving sleep, which contains peppermint oil as a main ingredient, the peppermint oil, a main ingredient, containing as a main component a distillate modified as a middle distillate part by fractional distillation under reduced pressure, the menthol content of the modified peppermint oil being 35 to 55%, the ratio with the contained limonene ranging the range of 13 to 15, and essential oils, such as cypress oil, lavender oil, or Citrus junos oil, derived from other plants being added optionally.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a sleep-inducing, sleep-enhancing function promoting and improving agent using mint oil as a functional fragrance.

Mentha oil is an essential oil obtained by cooling oil obtained by steam distillation of the above-ground portion of mint and removing solids.
The main component of mint oil is L-menthol, and other components are pinene, limonene, menthone, menthyl acetate, etc. One of the present inventors has been conducting intensive research on the components of mint oil. A number of reports have been made on the research on the mint oil component obtained so far, including, for example, Journal of the Japanese Society of Agricultural Chemistry: 54, 1037 (1980), 56, 787 (1982). I have.
Based on these component studies, identification of useful fragrance components of mint oil, identification of stimulants with a refreshing sensation, unpleasant fragrance components, and the like have been performed.

  By the way, conventionally, for the purpose of promoting the sleep function, sleep pillows and the like using fragrance substances (perfume components) such as mint leaves, hinoki wood, lavender leaves or their respective extracts and essential oils have been proposed. It has been reported that the use of leaves, extracts, and essential oils, which are substances, resulted in a good sleep effect (for example, Patent Documents 1 to 6). However, in these reports, the sleep effect was easily influenced by the shape and form of the pillow and the pillow cover, and the effect was not sufficient. In addition, when sleeping, the same pillow or the like must be used every time, and a sustained effect cannot be expected unless the pillow or the like is replaced.

The present inventors have studied to select a fragrance substance expected to have a good sleep effect and to impregnate it into a pillow or the like in order to solve these problems, but it was not so preferable in terms of a good sleep effect.
On the other hand, it is said that essential oils other than peppermint oil, for example, essential oils such as citron, lavender, and hinoki, also have a sedative and sleeping effect. However, such an essential oil alone cannot be expected to have a sleeping effect.

JP 2013-096049 A JP 2005-322708 A JP 2005-046608 A JP 2002-119402 A JP 2000-005010 A JP-A-10-066669

Based on these points, based on the analysis results of the components of fragrance and cooling sensation stimulation of mint oil, we conducted intensive research on whether or not it could be used to promote sleep and promote and improve the effect of sleep.
In other words, we examined the relationship between the previous research on mint oil components and the effects of sleep and sleep, and as a result, obtained mint oil (including common Japanese Pharmacopoeia products) by fractional distillation under reduced pressure. The present inventors have newly found that components modified by fractional distillation under reduced pressure are specific to the sleep effect, and have completed the present invention.
Furthermore, even when the peppermint oil obtained by cutting the components by fractional distillation under reduced pressure is mixed with vegetable essential oils such as yuzu essential oil, lavender essential oil, and hinoki essential oil to form a mixed peppermint oil, the sleep sleep effect may be effective. After confirmation, the present invention was completed.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a sleep-inducing, sleep-enhancing function promoting and improving agent using mint oil as a functional fragrance.

The present invention for solving such a problem is specifically as follows. That is,
(1) a sleep-inducing, sleep-enhancing function-promoting and improving agent containing mint oil as a main component;
(2) The sleep-inducing, sleep-enhancing function-promoting and improving agent according to (1) above, wherein the mint oil as a main component is modified by fractional distillation under reduced pressure;
(3) The sleep-inducing, sleep-promoting and improving agent according to (1) or (2) above, wherein the mint oil as a main component is mainly composed of a fraction modified as a middle distillate by vacuum fractional distillation. ;
(4) The menthol content in mint oil modified by fractional distillation under reduced pressure is 35 to 55%, and the ratio with the contained limonene is in the range of 13 to 15 as described in (2) or (3) above. Sleep-inducing, sleep-enhancing function-enhancing and improving agents;
(5) The agent for introducing sleep, promoting and improving sleep function according to any one of the above (1) to (4), further comprising 1 to 8% of hinoki oil, lavender oil or citron oil; and
(6) The agent for introducing sleep, promoting and improving sleep function according to any one of the above (1) to (5), which is in the form of being applied around so-called acupoints located behind the ears;
It is.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the sleep induction which is excellent in the sleep effect, the sleep promotion function promotion and the improving agent are provided. The sleep-inducing, sleep-enhancing and improving agent provided by the present invention is obtained by modifying mint oil by fractional distillation under reduced pressure, has high safety, and is directly applied to the acupoints behind the ears (sleep acupoints). By applying it, it promotes and improves sleep induction and sleep function, exerts a sleep effect, and its effect is particularly remarkable in providing one solution for people suffering from insomnia It is.

It is a chart figure of the gas chromatography (GC) of mint oil X-3 of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION As described above, the present invention is a sleep-introducing, sleep-enhancing function promoting and improving agent containing mint oil as a main component, and mint oil as a main component is modified by fractional distillation under reduced pressure. It is a sleep inducer, a sleep promoting and improving agent.
Conventionally, mint oil and plant-derived essential oils have a sleeping effect, and in the method of impregnating these components into sleeping pillows, etc., when stored for a long period of time, the Japanese Pharmacopoeia product has a good aroma, stability, and sustainability. Was found to be inadequate and further investigation was required

That is, with respect to stability and sustainability, a single administration every sleep is an effective means, rather than impregnating in a pillow, etc.Moreover, a method for improving the fragrance of peppermint oil, a method for administering peppermint oil Further study of the administration site was desired.
As a result of the study of the present inventors, the components cut by the fractional distillation under reduced pressure of peppermint oil (including general Japanese Pharmacopoeia) are obtained, and the components modified by the fractionated distillation under reduced pressure are specific to the sleep effect. It was also newly found that, together with this modified peppermint oil, the addition of hinoki oil, lavender oil, or citron oil also had an excellent sleep effect. It is.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail while describing the contents of these studies.

<Examination of flavor modification of mint oil>

The flavor improvement of peppermint oil (common peppermint oil) from the Japanese Pharmacopoeia was examined, and its sleep-sleeping effect was examined.
In considering,
(1) Use common mint oil (mint oil of the Japanese Pharmacopoeia) as it is;
(2) Mild cut reforming of mint oil by steam distillation;
(3) Preparation of mint oil prepared by combining menthol, menthol, menthyl acetate, etc., which are the main components of mint oil;
Was carried out, and each flavor was examined.

As a result, the peppermint oil prepared by the method (3) was not so effective as compared with the peppermint oils (1) and (2) in terms of flavor.
In general, the steam distillation method has a lower component fractionation accuracy than the reduced pressure fractional distillation method, so that natural and gentle components can be easily removed while retaining the original flavor and components of mint oil. Cannot be removed precisely, resulting in inferior flavor.
Therefore,
(4) Minced oil cut-reforming by reduced-pressure fractional distillation, that is, separation of low-boiling, middle-distilled, and high-boiling (rear-distilled) parts by reduced-pressure fractional distillation;
It was found that the components obtained by appropriately combining the retaining portions were excellent in terms of flavor as a sleep-inducing, sleep-promoting function-promoting and improving agent, and also had a good sleep-resting effect.

<Examination of administration method>

Next, the method of inducing sleep, promoting sleep function and administering the improving agent of the present invention was studied as follows.
That is, as described above, the means for impregnating a pillow or the like with respect to the sleep-inducing, sleep-enhancing function-promoting and improving agents of the present invention is not preferable in view of the continuity of the effect. Since it is an effective means, the administration method and administration site of mint oil were examined.
As an administration method (application method), the agent for introducing sleep, promoting sleep function and improving the sleep of the present invention is
(A) a method of applying the liquid state to the mask,
(A) Impregnating and sticking to bandages, etc.
(C) Soak the cotton swab and apply directly
(D) Sponge, roll-on bottle or brush type application method,
(E) a method of preparing and applying as a gel,
And so on, and any of them can be adopted.

  As a result of examination of the effect by the means, in the case of (a), the fragrance does not spread much, and in the case of (a), the fragrance of peppermint oil does not spread, though it is persistent. In the case of (c), a large amount of loss was caused when the cotton swab was impregnated. However, in each case, it was possible to obtain the desired effect of introducing sleep, promoting sleep function, and improving effects. . Among them, application by means of (d) and (e) was preferable.

Next, the application site was examined.
The application site may be applied to the temple, the lower part of the eye, both wrists, the back of the ear, and the so-called “sleeping acupoint” behind the ear, depending on the administration method (usage method) described above. In any of these cases, the desired sleep induction, the promotion of the sleep function, and the effect of improvement can be obtained. In particular, application to the so-called "sleep acupoints" located behind the ears. Was the most effective.

  In the application, there is a problem even if the mint oil having the sleep-inducing, sleep-promoting and improving functions according to the present invention is diluted with alcohol or the like and solubilized or mixed with other fragrances or the like. Without any effect.

Mint oil has conventionally involved sensory stimuli with the TRP channel (Transient Receptor Potential channel: a sensor that senses chemicals and temperature and converts it into an electrical signal), and the sensory stimuli (skin sensation) caused by capsaicin and its derivatives It is said that peppermint oil containing menthol and the like significantly suppresses irritation caused by heat and osmotic pressure).
From this, the TRP channel also acts to relieve the swelling of the lymph glands in the “sleep acupoint” behind the ear, and the action of this TRP channel is involved in the sleep effect of the present invention on the “sleep acupoint”. It is thought that it is doing.

  In view of the above, a most preferred aspect of the present invention is to introduce sleep, which is characterized in that peppermint oil modified by a fractional distillation under reduced pressure is used as an active ingredient and is directly applied to acupoints (sleep acupoints) behind ears. It is a sleep-inducing, sleeping-function-promoting and improving agent that promotes and improves a sleeping function and exerts a sleeping effect.

Hereinafter, a practical example of a method for preparing a peppermint oil modified by a reduced pressure fractional distillation method of the present invention instead of the examples will be described.
In addition, the grounds for adopting the reduced pressure fractional distillation method are, as described above, that the steam distillation method has a lower component separation accuracy than the reduced pressure fractional distillation method, and cannot precisely remove the tail fraction. Thus, there is a slight problem in terms of flavor, and fractional distillation under reduced pressure enables more precise fractionation.

Preparation method 1: peppermint oil X-1 (standard peppermint oil (Japanese Pharmacopoeia standard))
As the mint oil, mint oil produced in India was used.
The mint oil was fractionated into each fraction, that is, a low-boiling fraction, a middle-distilling portion, and a high-boiling-point portion (after-distillation portion) by a fractionated distillation under reduced pressure.
The fraction was separated into each fraction corresponding to 5% of the charged amount of mint oil X-1.

Preparation method 2: peppermint oil X-2 (a peppermint oil containing a low boiling point part and containing a high boiling point part)
The middle distillate was carefully fractionated under reduced pressure while leaving the first distillate of terpene such as α-pinene, β-pinene, L-limonene, etc., which is a low boiling part, to remove 10% of the high boiling part (tail fraction). A modified mint oil was obtained. Next, the obtained mint oil was adjusted with menthol crystals so as to have a menthol concentration of 40% so as to conform to the Japanese Pharmacopoeia, thereby obtaining mint oil X-2.

Preparation method 3: mint oil X-3 (mintha oil containing L-limonene without low boiling point and containing no high boiling point)
After removing 5% of the initial boiling portion of the terpene such as α-pinene and β-pinene which is a low boiling point portion, the middle distillate portion is carefully and carefully distilled under reduced pressure while leaving L-limonene etc. to obtain a 30% fraction. To obtain mint oil from which a high boiling point portion (post-distillation portion) was removed. Next, the obtained mint oil was adjusted with menthol crystals so as to have a menthol concentration of 40% so as to conform to the Japanese Pharmacopoeia, thereby obtaining mint oil X-3.

Preparation method 4: peppermint oil X-4 (a peppermint oil containing a low-boiling portion and not containing a high-boiling portion)
Without removing the initial fraction of terpene such as α-pinene, β-pinene and L-limonene which are low boiling points, the middle distillate was carefully and carefully fractionated under reduced pressure to obtain a 35% fraction, and A mint oil containing no high boiling point part (post-distillation part) was obtained. Next, the obtained mint oil was adjusted with menthol crystals so as to have a menthol concentration of 40% so as to conform to the Japanese Pharmacopoeia, thereby obtaining mint oil X-4.

Preparation method 5: Mentha oil X-5 (mintha oil not containing a low boiling point part and containing a high boiling point part)
A low boiling point portion such as α-pinene, β-pinene, L-limonene or the like is removed from the first fraction 15% of the terpene, and the middle fraction is carefully fractionated under reduced pressure to obtain a fraction of 80%, and A mint oil containing a high-boiling part (tail fraction) was obtained. Next, the obtained mint oil was adjusted with menthol so as to have a menthol concentration of 40% so as to conform to the Japanese Pharmacopoeia, thereby obtaining mint oil X-5.

Next, the analysis results of the prepared mint oil are shown.
The analysis of the components of mint oil was carried out by a capillary gas chromatography method in accordance with the section of the quantitative method described in the official compendium (16th revised Japanese Pharmacopoeia).
As one sample, the results for peppermint oil X-3 are shown.
The gas chromatography (GC) conditions for specifying the mint oil X-3 mainly composed of the middle distillate prepared above are shown below, and the chart is shown in FIG.

<GC conditions>
Column: WCOT Thermon-600T
Column inner diameter: 0.25mm
Column length: 25m
Column temperature: 120 ° C
Column flow rate: 0.75 mL / min Carrier gas: nitrogen gas Internal standard substance: n-ethyl caprylate (retention time: about 4.5 minutes)

  Table 1 shows the fractions (%) and the ratio of L-limonene to menthol in the GC area of the mint oil X-1 to the mint oil X-5 measured under the same conditions.

In the analysis, the fractionated fraction was used as an initial fraction, a middle fraction and a trailing fraction according to the following criteria.
Initial distillation part: a part from α-pinene (retention time about 2.3 minutes) to L-mentone (retention time about 6.0 minutes).
Middle clasp: L-menthol to L-menthol (retention time about 10.5 minutes).
Trailing portion: The portion after Plegon (retention time is about 11.1 minutes).

  As is clear from the results shown in Table 1 above, in the mint oil X-1, the initial fraction was 7.9% compared to the middle fraction, and the residual fraction was 5.1%. Was.

  In the mint oil X-2, the initial fraction was 9.3% as compared with the middle fraction, and the rear fraction was 4.6%.

  In the mint oil X-3, the initial fraction was 9.6% as compared to the middle fraction, and the trailing fraction was about 0%.

  In the peppermint oil X-4, the first fraction was 17.1% compared to the middle fraction, and the trailing fraction was about 0%.

  In the mint oil X-5, the first fraction was 0.1% and the later fraction was 13.9% as compared with the middle fraction.

  As seen from the above results, the mentha oil X-3 has an initial fraction of 9.0 to 11.0% and a trailing fraction of 0 to 3.0% of the middle distillate compared to the middle distillate. Mint oil was found to be desirable. Among them, it was particularly desirable that the median value, that is, the initial fraction was 9.5%, and that of the trailing fraction was 1.5%.

Regarding the mint oil provided by the present invention, a ratio of limonene (retention time: about 3.0 minutes) to menthol can be mentioned as a characteristic specific component.
That is, as compared with the menthol component (retention time is about 10.5 minutes), the content ratio of limonene is 10.0 in mint oil X-1, 11.8 in mint oil X-2, and mint oil X -3, 12.9 for mint oil X-4, and 0.3 for mint oil X-5.

  Accordingly, as the modified mint oil provided by the present invention, mint oil X-3 is most preferable, and the fraction of the middle distillate is 9.6% as compared with the middle distillate by reduced-pressure fractional distillation. It can be said that this is a modified mint oil characterized by the fact that the residual fraction is about 0% and the limonene component is 13.3 compared to the menthol component.

  Based on the results of the GC measured under the above conditions, the modified peppermint oil provided by the present invention has an initial fraction of 9.5 to 10.0 with respect to the middle distillate by reduced pressure fractional distillation. %, And a combination in which the trailing portion is about 0 to 3.0% is particularly preferable. In particular, as a median value, the initial retaining portion is 9.5%, and the trailing portion is 1.0%. A combination of about 5% was preferable.

In the sleep-inducing, sleep-sleep promoting and improving agents provided by the present invention, essential oils derived from other plants can be added and used as long as the sleep-sleep effect is not hindered.
Examples of such plant-derived essential oils include cypress oil, lavender oil, and citron oil.
In these essential oils derived from plants, no sleep effect was observed when using the essential oil alone, but it was found that the sleep effect was improved by mixing with the modified peppermint oil of the present invention. (See the test example described later).
The addition amount can be about 1 to 10% based on the mint oil as long as the effect of the modified mint oil of the present invention is not hindered.

  The test results are shown below for the sleep-inducing effect of the agent of the present invention for inducing sleep, promoting sleep function, and improving the sleep.

Test example: Sleep test using mint oil <Method>
About the test subject, the mint oil X series of the present invention (mint oil X-1 to mint oil X-5) and essential oil derived from a plant are applied to the acupoints (sleeping acupoints) behind the ears before going to bed, and the sleeping effect is evaluated. evaluated.
<Test components>
As modified mint oil, mint oil X-1 to mint oil X-5 prepared as described above, and mint oil ("H" in the table) and lavender oil ("L" in the table) as essential oil components derived from plants. , And citron oil ("Y" in the table).

<Evaluation criteria>
The exhilaration after application was evaluated. As evaluation items, fragrance, residual scent, skin irritation, repeated use, sleep induction, and sleep effect were evaluated for each item in five stages (each point of 5, 4, 3, 2, 1), and the total score was evaluated. Evaluation was performed.
The evaluation criteria were the following five levels.
A Significant effect: 21 points or more B Effective: 20-17 points C Neither: 16-13 points D No significant difference: 12-9 points E Invalid: 8 points or less

<Result>
Tables 2 to 11 below show the results of each subject.

Next, a sleep-introducing, sleep-enhancing function promoting and improving agent was prepared by adding a plant-derived essential oil to the mint oil X-3 of the present invention, which is particularly excellent in effect, and the same test as described above was conducted.
In Test Example 9, citron oil ("Y oil" in the table) was used as a plant-derived essential oil, and the added amount was 1, 3, 5, and 8%.
In Test Example 10, mint oil (“H oil” in the table), lavender oil (“L oil” in the table), and citron oil (“Y oil” in the table) were used as plant-derived essential oils, and their addition was performed. The amount was used as 8%.
The results are shown in Tables 10 and 11 below.

As is clear from the results of the above test examples, it was found that the modified mint oil, which is an agent for promoting sleep, promoting sleep function and improving sleep provided by the present invention, has an excellent sleep action.
In addition, it has been found that although essential oils derived from plants do not have a sleeping effect by themselves, they have a sleeping effect when added to the modified peppermint oil of the present invention.
Next, among the modified mint oils provided by the present invention, mint oil X-3, which was particularly highly evaluated, was examined by a subject in the early stage of dementia in cooperation with a sleep deprivation effect.

Test Example 11:
Subjects (70's, poor sleep, awake in the middle of the night, female with early stage Alzheimer's disease)
Target subjects (70s, men with early-stage Alzheimer's disease)
Target subjects (70s, men with Alzheimer's dementia)
Mint oil X-3 was applied to the above-mentioned test subjects so as to rub them into the acupoints of sleep, and they were observed to fall asleep and sleep.
As a result, in each case, it was apparent that the patient fell asleep better and the blurring symptoms were reduced.
In addition, in the case of the subject, the sleep became particularly good, and the subject himself / her wanted to apply the peppermint oil X-3.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY As described above, the present invention provides an agent for inducing sleep, promoting sleep function, and improving the sleep function, which is excellent in the sleep effect. The sleep-inducing, sleep-enhancing and improving agent provided by the present invention is obtained by modifying mint oil by fractional distillation under reduced pressure, has high safety, promotes excellent sleep induction, and promotes and improves the sleep-enhancing function. It has a good sleep effect, and its industrial utility is enormous in providing one solution for people suffering from insomnia.

Claims (6)

  A sleep-inducing, sleep-enhancing and promoting agent containing mint oil as a main component.   The sleep-introducing, sleeping sleep-promoting and improving agent according to claim 1, wherein the mint oil as a main component is modified by fractional distillation under reduced pressure.   3. The agent according to claim 1, wherein the mint oil as a main component is a fraction modified as a middle distillate by vacuum fractional distillation as a main component.   The menthol content in mint oil modified by fractional distillation under reduced pressure is 35 to 55%, and the ratio of menthol to limonene is in the range of 13 to 15; Accelerator and improver.   5. The agent according to claim 1, further comprising 1 to 8% of cypress oil, lavender oil or citron oil.   The sleep-inducing, sleeping-function promoting and improving agent according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the agent is applied in a so-called form around a sleeping point located behind the ear.

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