JP2020114820A - Estrogen-like agent - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a new agent that exhibits estrogen-like action.SOLUTION: An estrogen-like agent contains licorice extract, Astragali radix extract and/or rhubarb extract and Scutellaria root extract and exhibits excellent estrogen-like action.SELECTED DRAWING: None

Description

The present invention relates to agents that exert a female hormone-like action.

Estrogen is a kind of steroid hormone synthesized from cholesterol and is also called estrogen or female hormone. The estrogen receptor is one of the classical ligand-activated transcription factors, and female hormones exert physiological actions on various functions such as reproduction and bone physiology through this receptor.

When a female hormone is deficient, its effects cause symptoms such as menopause and osteoporosis. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is actively used as a treatment for alleviating these symptoms. However, since HRT is a therapeutic method for artificially replenishing a large amount of female hormones, it is highly effective, but also has a large load on the body, and its administration is extremely difficult to adjust.

Therefore, in recent years, plant-derived isoflavones have attracted attention as a component that exerts a female hormone-like action. It is believed that such a female hormone-like action is due to the chemical structure of isoflavones being similar to that of estrogen. Among them, equol derived from isoflavone contained in soybean is known to have high estrogen activity (Non-Patent Documents 1 and 2) and is in the spotlight. It is known that licorice, a herbal medicine, contains isoflavones such as liquiritin, and Ougi, a herbal medicine, contains isoflavones such as formononetin and ononine.

Sathyamoorthy, N. and Wang, T. T. , Eur. J. Cancer, 33, 2384-2389 (1997). Schmitt, E. et al. , Toxicol. In Vitro, 15, 433-439 (2001).

Soy-derived equol is expected to be effective against symptoms caused by decreased female hormones, but it cannot be applied to people with soy allergies. Therefore, further options are desired for plant-derived components that are expected to have female hormone-like actions. Although some crude drugs such as licorice contain isoflavones, their female hormone-like action is not sufficient.

Then, an object of the present invention is to provide a new agent exhibiting a female hormone-like action.

As a result of diligent studies, the present inventor has found that the combination of the licorice extract with the Ougi extract and/or the rhubarb extract and the Scutellariae extract produces an unexpected and remarkable female hormone-like action. The present invention has been completed by further studies based on such findings.

That is, the present invention provides the inventions of the following modes.
Item 1. A female hormone-like agent, comprising a licorice extract, and an orchid extract and/or a rhubarb extract and an oriental extract.
Item 2. Item 2. The female hormone-like agent according to Item 1, which contains a licorice extract and an Ougi extract.
Item 3. Item 3. The female hormone-like agent according to Item 1 or 2, which contains an extract of Boi-Ogi-to and/or an extract of Toki-inko.
Item 4. Item 2. The female hormone-like agent according to Item 1, which contains a licorice extract and a rhubarb extract and a sardine extract.
Item 5. Item 5. The female hormone-like agent according to Item 1 or 4, which contains an extract of Bofutsushosan.

According to the present invention, since a new agent that exerts a female hormone-like action is provided, improvement of various symptoms due to a decrease in female hormone can be expected.

The female hormone-like agent according to the present invention is characterized by containing a licorice extract, an Astragalus membranaceus extract and/or a rhubarb extract and an Astragalus membranaceus extract.

Licorice extract by itself exhibits only weak female hormone-like effects. In addition, Ougi extract alone exhibits only a weak female hormone-like action. The rhubarb extract and sardine extract are not known to contain isoflavones and have a female hormone-like action, but in the tests carried out by the present invention, both have a weak female hormone-like action. It was found to show. Among these herbal extracts, the combination of licorice extract and sugi extract synergistically enhances female hormone-like action. On the other hand, due to the newly discovered female hormone-like action of rhubarb extract and sardine extract, by combining these crude drug extracts with licorice extract, an enhanced female hormone-like action is exhibited as compared with licorice extract alone.

The licorice extract, sugi extract, rhubarb extract and sorghum extract contained in the female hormone-like agent of the present invention are, respectively, simple extracts (liquorice simple extract, sorghum simple extract, rhubarb simple extract, sorghum simple extract). May be present, or herbal extract (extract of mixed crude drug containing two or more kinds selected from the group consisting of liquorice, sugi, rhubarb, and swordfish), or selected from the group consisting of licorice, sugi, rhubarb, and swordfish 1 Extract of a mixed herb of at least one species and at least one species selected from herbs other than licorice, sugi, rhubarb, and sardine).

Specific embodiments of the licorice extract and the rye extract and/or the rhubarb extract and the sorghum extract contained in the female hormone-like agent of the present invention include a mixture of plain extracts of crude drug, Chinese herbal extract, one Chinese herbal extract and other Chinese herbs. Examples thereof include a mixture with an extract and a mixture of a plain extract and a Chinese herb extract. An example of a mixture of crude extract of crude drug is a mixture of a simple extract of licorice and a simple extract of sugi and/or a simple extract of rhubarb and a simple extract of sorghum. Examples of the herbal extracts include extracts of mixed crude drugs containing licorice and sugi and/or rhubarb and sardine. As a mixture of one Chinese herbal extract and another Chinese herbal extract, a mixed herbal extract containing at least one selected from the group consisting of liquorice, rye, rhubarb, and sorghum, and liquorice, astragalus, rhubarb, and And a mixture containing an extract of another mixed herbal medicine containing at least one other selected from the group consisting of Auregon. The mixture of the plain extract and the extract of the herbal medicine includes at least one plain extract selected from the group consisting of liquorice, sugi, rhubarb, and swordfish, and the group consisting of liquorice, sugi, rhubarb, and sardine. Examples thereof include a mixture containing an extract of a mixed crude drug containing at least one other selected drug.

The crude drug extract used in the present invention may be in the form of a liquid extract such as a soft extract or a solid dry extract powder.

Licorice (licorice) is the root and stront of Glycyrrrhiza uralensis Fischer or Glycyrrrhiza glabra Linne of the leguminous family (Leguminosae), and sometimes it is a herb medicine that has been removed from the pericarp (the licorice herb), which is a local herb medicine and is a crude drug. Used for medicine, gastric ulcer drug, etc. Commercially available licorice is commercially available from Nippon Powder Chemicals Co., Ltd., Takasago Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Tochimoto Tenkaido Co., Ltd., etc. A simple extract of licorice is known as a licorice extract, which is described in the standard for quasi drug raw materials. Commercially available licorice extract is commercially available from Maruzen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Nippon Powder Chemical Co., Ltd., Alps Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., etc.

Ougi is a root of Astragalus membranaceus Bunge or Astragalus mongolicus Bunge of the leguminous family (Leguminosae), and is used as a crude drug (Japanese Pharmacopoeia) for use in blood pressure reduction, diuresis and the like. Commercial products of Ougi are commercially available from Takasago Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Tochimoto Tenkaido Co., Ltd., etc. Commercially available plain extract of Astragalus membranaceus is commercially available from, for example, Nippon Powder Chemical Co., Ltd., Alps Chemical Co., Ltd., and the like.

Rheum palmatum L. of the Polygonaceae family is used as a rhubarb. , Rheum tanguticum Maximowicz, Rheum officinale Bailron, Rheum coreanum Nakai or their interspecific hybrids, which are rhizomes, and are mainly used as gastric medicines and laxatives as a crude drug (Japanese Pharmacopoeia). Commercial products of rhubarb are commercially available from Sanwa Seiyaku Co., Ltd., Tochimoto Tenkaido Co., Ltd., etc. Commercial products of the simple extract of Rhubarb communis are commercially available from, for example, Alps Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

Ougon is a root excluding the pericardium of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi of the Labiatae family, Scutellaria baicalensis. Used for. A commercial product of Ougon is commercially available from Takasago Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Tochimoto Tenkaido Co., Ltd., etc. The plain extract of Scutellaria baicalensis is described in the standard for quasi-drug raw materials as Scutellaria extract and is well known. A commercial product of Scutellaria baicalensis extract is commercially available from, for example, Ichimaru Falcos Co., Ltd.

Further, for the plain extract of the above crude drug, in addition to using a commercially available product, the plant part is subjected to an extraction treatment with water or hydrous ethanol, preferably water as an extraction solvent, and the obtained extract is used as necessary. May be concentrated to obtain an extract, or may be dried to obtain an extract powder. Also, the drying treatment of the crude extract of crude drug is not particularly limited, and a known method, for example, a spray drying method, or an adsorbent suitable for a soft extract having an increased concentration of the extract solution (for example, silicic acid anhydride) is used. , Starch, etc.) to obtain an adsorption powder.

Specific examples of the female hormone-like agent of the present invention include licorice extract and sugi extract. Further, licorice extract and sugi extract are preferably the extracts that constitute Kampo extract, from the viewpoint of obtaining a more excellent female hormone-like action. Such herbal extracts preferably include mixed crude drug extracts containing licorice and rye. Such Kampo extract is not particularly limited and includes, for example, Hoi-Oki-to extract, Toki-inko extract, Kami-Ki-to extract, Khi-to extract, O-Kikenchu-to extract, Kiki-Kenchu-to extract, Keishikagekiyuto extract, Juzentaihoto extract, Seisekikikito extract, Seishinrenkoin extract, Tokiyuto extract, Ninjinyoeito extract, Hochuekkito extract, Reisawatsutoyu extract, Reisawa Kentou hot spring extract, Daihofu hot water extract and the like can be mentioned. These Kampo extracts may be used alone or in combination of two or more. Among these Kampo extracts, from the viewpoint of obtaining a more excellent female hormone-like action, preferred are Hoi-Ogi-to extract and Toki-inko extract.

Other specific examples of the female hormone-like agent of the present invention include licorice extract, rhubarb extract and sardine extract. Furthermore, the licorice extract, rhubarb extract and sardine extract are preferably the extracts constituting the Chinese herb extract from the viewpoint of obtaining a more excellent female hormone-like action. Examples of such Kampo extract include Bofutsushosan extract, Otsuji-to extract, Saiko-karyukotsu-boi-to extract, Jun-en-to extract, Megami-san extract, Kami-doku-to extract and the like. These Kampo extracts may be used alone or in combination of two or more. Among these Kampo extracts, from the viewpoint of obtaining a more excellent female hormone-like action, more preferably, Bofutsushosansan extract.

The herbal medicines that compose Hoi-Ogi-to are "General Chinese Medicine Prescription Guide" (supervised by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, edited by the Japan Pharmacopoeia Special Committee, published by The Pharmaceutical Industry Bulletin), "The 17th Amended Japanese Pharmacopoeia" According to the “Standards for the manufacture and sale of Kampo formulations for general use” (Enforced by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare's Pharmaceutical and Living Health Bureau), they are Bowie, Ougi, Sandalwood (also available), Ginseng, Thalis and licorice. In addition, as for the Bosai-Ogi-to, it is mixed in the currently used traditional Chinese medicine-related letters, as specified in the "Basic policy for the treatment of traditional Chinese medicines" established by the Study Committee for Traditional Chinese Medicine. Herbal medicines (Chinese herbal prescription) are included.

Commercially available products of Hoi-Oki-to extract are Ho-i-Oki-to dried extract A and O-O-Goi-to dried extract AZ (both manufactured by Nippon Powder Co., Ltd.), and O-Iki-to extract powder and I-Oh. Soybean paste dried extract-F (all manufactured by Alps Chemical Co., Ltd.) and the like are commercially available.

The composition of herbal medicines of Toki-inko is "Handbook of Kampo prescription for over-the-counter" (supervised by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, edited by the Japan Pharmacopoeia Special Committee, published by Yakuhin Jikkan Co., Ltd.), "Criteria for manufacturing and marketing over-the-counter Kampo formulations" According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare's Pharmaceutical and Life Sanitation Bureau enforcement, they are Japanese persimmon, peony, senkyu, shirushi, bow hu, dio, kayigai, sugi, kashu, and kanzo.

As a commercial product of Toki-inko extract, Toki-inko extract fine granules (Matsuura Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.) and the like are commercially available.

The constituent crude drugs of Bofutsushosan are "Handbook of Kampo prescription for general use" (supervised by the Ministry of Health and Welfare of the Pharmaceutical Affairs Bureau, edited by the Special Committee for Kampo Medicines of the Nichiyakuren, published by Pharmaceutical Industry Bulletin), "The 17th Amended Japanese Pharmacopoeia", According to the “Standards for Manufacturing and Marketing Approval of General Chinese Medicines” (Enforced by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, Pharmaceutical and Life Sanitation Bureau), Japanese persimmon, peony, senkyu, sanshishi, forsythia, peppermint, ginger, ginger, pearl oyster, mahou, rhubarb, pearl oyster, pearl oyster, pearl syrup , Kyokyo, swordfish, licorice, gypsum, and kaseki. In addition, the constituent crude drugs of Bofutsushosan include the ones that do not contain juniper soybeans among the above-mentioned crude drugs (for example, "Experience Kampo prescription volume collection", Otsuka Keisetsu/Yazawa Michiaki Supervisor, Ido Japanese Company), and Ougon. It may be one that does not exist (for example, "Sequential Chinese medicine about this" edited by Osaka Yomiuri Shimbun, published by Naniwasha), one that includes Hamabofu instead of Bowfu, and one that includes Sojutsu instead of jerk.

Commercially available products of Koufutsushosan dry extract are "Koutsushosan dried extract A, Koutsushosan dried extract AM, Koutsushosan dried extract E, and Koutsushosan dried extract EM (all of which are Nippon Powder Co., Ltd. Commercially available), and the wind-proof Tsusho powder dry extract-C, the wind-proof Tsusho powder dry extract-F (all are Alps Yakuhin Kogyo Co., Ltd.), etc. are commercially available.

In addition, as the above-mentioned Kampo extract, in addition to using a commercially available product, a mixture of the above-mentioned Kampo herbal constituents is subjected to an extraction treatment with water or hydrous ethanol, preferably water as an extraction solvent, and the obtained extract is used as necessary. It may be obtained as an extract solution by concentrating the extract solution, or may be obtained as an extract powder by subjecting the extract solution to a drying treatment. Also, the drying treatment of the Chinese herb extract is not particularly limited, and a known method, for example, a spray drying method, or an adsorbent suitable for a soft extract having an increased concentration of the extract solution (eg, silicic acid anhydride, starch, etc.) ) Is added to obtain an adsorption powder.

In the female hormone-like acting agent of the present invention, the content of licorice extract and Ougi extract and/or rhubarb extract and Scutellaria extract are not particularly limited as long as the effects of the present invention are exhibited, but the female hormone-like agent 100 parts by weight The amount of licorice extract is 0.1 to 10000 parts by weight, preferably 1 to 1000 parts by weight; Parts by weight; content of rhubarb extract is 0.1 to 10000 parts by weight, preferably 1 to 1000 parts by weight; content of rhubarb extract is 0.1 to 10000 parts by weight, preferably 1 to 1000 parts by weight. To be

Further, in the female hormone-like agent of the present invention, the ratio of licorice extract and sugi extract and/or rhubarb extract and sardine extract are not particularly limited as long as the effects of the present invention are exhibited, and, for example, a crude drug of licorice extract As a crude drug equivalent to a converted amount of 1 part by weight, 0.1 to 100 parts by weight of cypress extract, preferably 0.5 to 10 parts by weight, more preferably 0.7 to 8 parts by weight; 100 parts by weight, preferably 0.09 to 10 parts by weight, more preferably 0.09 to 1 parts by weight; 0.1 to 100 parts by weight of sardine extract, preferably 0.3 to 10 and more preferably 0.5. Up to 2 parts by weight.

Included in the female hormone-like agent of the present invention, licorice extract, and the total amount of sugi extract and/or rhubarb extract and sardine extract are not particularly limited as long as the effects of the present invention are exhibited, but in terms of dry extract powder amount, The amount is usually 1 to 100% by weight, preferably 5 to 90% by weight, more preferably 10 to 80% by weight, and further preferably 20 to 60% by weight. Incidentally, in the present invention, the dry extract powder amount conversion is the amount of the dry extract powder itself when used, when the liquid extract is used, the amount converted to the residual amount after removing the solvent Is. When the dry extract powder contains an additive such as an adsorbent added at the time of production, the amount is the amount excluding the additive.

[Other ingredients]
The female hormone-like agent of the present invention may contain other pharmacological components, if necessary, in addition to the above-mentioned crude drug extract. The type of such a pharmacological component is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include antacids, stomachic agents, digestive agents, intestinal agents, antispasmodics, mucosal repair agents, anti-inflammatory agents, astringents, antiemetics, antitussives, expectorants, and antiphlogistics. Enzymes, sedative hypnotics, antihistamines, caffeines, cardiotonic diuretics, antibacterial agents, vasoconstrictors, vasodilators, local anesthetics, powdered crude drugs, crude drug extracts, vitamins, menthols and the like. These pharmacological components may be used alone or in combination of two or more. The contents of these pharmacological components may be appropriately set from known ones according to the kind of the pharmacological components used and the like.

The female hormone-like agent of the present invention may optionally contain a pharmaceutically acceptable base or additive in order to prepare a desired dosage form. Examples of such bases and additives include excipients, binders, disintegrants, lubricants, tonicity agents, plasticizers, dispersants, emulsifiers, solubilizers, wetting agents, stabilizers. Agents, suspending agents, adhesives, coating agents, brighteners, water, oils, waxes, hydrocarbons, fatty acids, higher alcohols, esters, water-soluble polymers, surfactants, metal soaps , Lower alcohols, polyhydric alcohols, pH adjusters, buffers, antioxidants, UV inhibitors, preservatives, flavoring agents, perfumes, powders, thickeners, dyes, chelating agents and the like. These bases and additives may be used alone or in combination of two or more. Further, the contents of these bases and additives may be appropriately set from known ones according to the type and dosage form of the additive components used.

[Formulation]
The dosage form of the female hormone-like agent of the present invention is not particularly limited and may be any of tablets, granules, powders, pills, capsules, films, liquids (drinks) and the like. Among these dosage forms, tablets, granules and films are preferable from the viewpoint of ease of administration and the like. These dosage forms can be prepared using pharmaceutically acceptable base materials and additives, and the types and blending amounts of the base materials and additives are also known in the field of pharmaceutical technology.

When the female hormone-like agent of the present invention is provided as a tablet, the tablet may be either a gastric-soluble tablet (normal tablet) or an enteric-coated tablet, and if necessary, a sugar-coated base, a water-soluble tablet. It may be coated with a film-forming film base.

[Use]
Since the female hormone-like agent of the present invention has a binding activity to the estrogen receptor, it is applied to applications where physiological and pathophysiological actions expressed by the binding of the female hormone and the estrogen receptor are expected. Specifically, the female hormone-like agent of the present invention is used for the prevention or amelioration of symptoms caused by a decrease in female hormone, and such symptoms include menopausal symptoms, menopausal disorders, osteoporosis, physical condition fluctuation, and menstruation. Examples include pain, deterioration of skin quality or hair quality (ability to retain collagen and/or elastin). Therefore, the female hormone-increasing agent of the present invention is applied to a woman having a decreased female hormone, particularly to a woman who is aware of the symptoms caused by the decreased female hormone. Specific applications include women over 40 years old, menopausal women, women with early ovarian insufficiency after ovariectomy surgery or chemotherapy, women after hysterectomy surgery, old age women and the like.

[Dose/Usage]
The female hormone-like agent of the present invention is administered by oral administration. The dose of the female hormone-like agent according to the present invention is appropriately set according to the degree of reduction of female hormone, age, etc., but for example, the daily intake is 0 in terms of the amount of licorice extract as a crude drug. 0.01 to 50 g, preferably 0.1 to 10 g, and 0.01 to 50 g, preferably 0.1 to 10 g, as a crude drug equivalent of Astragalus membranaceus extract, and 0.1 to 10 g as a crude drug equivalent of rhubarb extract. 01 to 50 g, preferably 0.1 to 10 g, and 0.01 to 50 g, preferably 0.1 to 10 g, in terms of the amount of the crude drug extracted from the drug substance is used.

The dose of the female hormone-like agent of the present invention is 400 to 10000 mg, preferably 1300 to 7000 mg, in terms of dry extract powder based on the total amount of herbal medicine extract, and 1300 to 1000 for Hoi-igi-to extract. 4,800 mg, 1300-5000 mg for Toki-inko extract, and 1600-6000 mg for Bofutsushosan extract. The timing of administration is not particularly limited and may be before meal, after meal, or between meals, but preferably before meal or between meals.

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

1. Preparation of extract powder (1) Crude drug plain extract As raw material crude drug, prepare 100 g of licorice, ougi, rhubarb, sorghum, bowie, sandalwood, ginger, turmeric, and add 15 times amount of water after chopping them. Extract at 100°C for 1 hour, centrifuge to obtain an extract, concentrate under reduced pressure, and lyophilize. Taste extract powder 16.3 g, Scutellariae neat extract powder 29.8 g, Bowie extract single powder powder 3.4 g, White pearl syrup simple powder powder extract 8.6 g, Ginger sardine ground powder powder end product 4 g, Taiso sweet ground powder powder end product 38.3 g Got

(2) Bosai-Ogito extract As raw material herb medicine, Ginger 1 (parts by weight, the same applies below), Tassius 3, Bowie 5, Sandalwood 3, Ougi 5, Licorice 1.5 are used in a ratio of The total amount of 100 g was extracted with 15 times the weight of water at about 100° C. for 1 hour, centrifuged to obtain an extract solution, concentrated under reduced pressure and freeze-dried to obtain 20% of the powder of the anti-Kiyakuto extract. 3 g was obtained.

(3) Toki-inko extract As a raw material for herbal medicine, Touki 2.5 (part by weight, the same applies below), Peony 1.5, Senkyu 1.5, Shiritsushi 1.5, Bowfu 1.5, Dioe 2.0, Kaigai 0.75, Astragalus 0.75, Kash 1.0, and Licorice 0.5, and after chopping them, a total amount of 100 g was extracted with 15 times weight of water at about 100° C. for 1 hour and centrifuged. The extract was separated to obtain an extract, which was concentrated under reduced pressure and freeze-dried to obtain 18.3 g of Toki-inshi extract powder.

(4) Bofutsushosansan extract As raw material crude drug, kyoto 1.67 (part by weight, the same applies below), juniper gland 1.67, licorice 1.67, sardine 1.67, gypsum 1.67, rhubarb 1.25, touki. 1.0, Peonies 1.0, Senkyu 1.0, Sanshishi 1.0, Forsythia 1.0, Mint 1.0, Kaigai 1.0, Bowfu 1.0, Maou 1.0, Ginger 0.33, Use Kaseki 2.5 and Bowsho 1.25 in proportions, and after chopping them, 100 g of total amount is extracted with 15 times weight of water at about 100° C. for 1 hour and centrifuged to obtain an extract, which is depressurized. The extract was concentrated under the following conditions and freeze-dried to obtain 24.1 g of the wind-proof Tsusho-san extract.

2. Test method A phenol red-free DMEM medium containing 50 U/ml penicillin, 50 mg/ml streptomycin, 3% fetal bovine serum (FBS), and 0.5 mM L-glutamine was prepared. Human breast cancer-derived MCF7 cells (KAC Co., Ltd.) were prepared. MCF7 cells are cancer cells whose proliferative ability is improved in an estrogen-dependent manner, and the proliferative ability of MCF7 cells is used as a detection system for estrogen-like actions.

An MCF7 cell suspension adjusted to 4×10 ⁴ cells/ml with an experimental medium was seeded in a well of a 96-well plate at 50 μl/well. Then, 0.2% by volume of the above crude herbal extract powder or Chinese herb extract powder was added so that the final concentration of each extract powder per well would be the amount shown in Table 1 (unit: μg/mL). 50 μl of medium containing DMSO was added to each well. Further, a well in which 50 μl of the MCF7 cell suspension was seeded was added with 50 μl of a medium containing 0.2% by volume DMSO without the extract powder as a control. The well plate was subjected to 37° C. in the presence of CO ₂ and cultured for 48 hours.

After culturing, the absorbance at 450 nm (corresponding to the number of cells) was measured using a cell proliferation/cytotoxicity assay kit (trade name "Cell Counting kit-8", Dojindo Laboratories Inc.). Using the measured absorbance value at 450 nm, the cell growth promoting rate was calculated according to the following calculation formula. This test was performed with n=6, and the average value of the obtained cell growth promoting rates was obtained as the evaluation value of the female hormone-like action. The results are shown in Table 1.

3. Results As shown in Comparative Examples 1 to 3, a simple extract of licorice and sugi which is known to contain isoflavone was confirmed to have a female hormone-like action, but its degree was weak. In addition, among the plain extracts of bowie, sandalwood, ginger, ginseng, pearl millet, rhubarb, and sardine, which are not known about the content of isoflavones, as shown in Comparative Examples 3 to 7, bowie, sandalnut, ginger, pearl millet. No hormonal effect was observed in the plain extract of No. 2, but as shown in Reference Examples 1 and 2, a weak female hormonal effect was suggested in the plain extract of Rheum palmatum and Rhubarb. Then, as shown in Example 5, by combining the simple extract of licorice with the simple extract of rhubarb, which has not been known to have a female-hormone-like action, an unexpected remarkable female-hormone-like action was obtained. Admitted. As shown in Example 5, a significant female hormone-like effect was observed in the combination of the extracts which had a female hormone-like effect alone, but the extent of the increase was as follows: licorice, rhubarb, augon (comparative example). 1 and Reference Example 1 and Reference Example 2) were less than the additive effect, but as shown in Examples 1 and 2, the combination of the licorice simple extract and the simple sugi extract showed no female hormone-like action. It was a particularly remarkable synergistically enhanced one. Furthermore, as shown in Examples 3, 4, and 6, Kampo extract containing a combination of extracts which were observed to have female hormone-like actions alone (the Hoi-Ogito extract of Example 3 and the apocalypse of Example 4). The ginkgo syrup extract is an extract of a mixed crude drug containing licorice and sugi, and the Bofutsushosan extract of Example 6 is an extract of a mixed crude drug containing licorice, rhubarb and sardine.) A similar effect was observed.

Claims (5)

A female hormone-like agent, comprising a licorice extract, and an orchid extract and/or a rhubarb extract and an orgonum extract. The female hormone-like agent according to claim 1, comprising a licorice extract and an ouugi extract. The female hormone-like agent according to claim 1 or 2, which contains an extract of Hoi-Ogi-to and/or an extract of Toki-inko. The female hormone-like agent according to claim 1, comprising a licorice extract and a rhubarb extract and a sardine extract. The female hormone-like agent according to claim 1 or 4, which contains a bofutsushosan extract.