JP2022097984A - Mental condition improving agent - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide mental condition improving agents that can improve mental conditions through the improvement of depression, friendship, or compulsion.SOLUTION: According to the present invention, there is provided a mental condition improving agent containing an extract and/or a pulverized product of a plant of the genus Salacia. According to the mental condition improving agent of the present invention, the mental condition can be improved through the improvement of depression, friendship, or compulsion. Furthermore, according to the mental condition improving agent of the present invention, lactic acid, which is an organic acid in the intestine, can be increased.SELECTED DRAWING: None

Description

The present invention relates to a mental state improving agent.

The roots and stems of Salacia plants have been used as natural drugs in traditional medicine Ayurveda in India and Sri Lanka. In Sri Lanka, it has been handed down that the root bark of Salacia reticulata is effective in the treatment of rheumatism, gonorrhea and skin diseases, and that the above root bark is used in the treatment of early-stage diabetes.

It is known to suppress the number of intestinal bacteria for the effect of the extract or crushed Salacia plant on the intestine. For example, Patent Document 1 describes an intestinal bacterium count inhibitor containing an extract and / or a pulverized product of a genus Salasia, wherein the intestinal bacterium is Fusobacterium and Desulfovibrio in the family Fusobacteriumiaceae. Described are gut microbiota count suppressors, which are one or more selected from the genus Desulfovibrio of the family Desulfovibrionaceae.

Japanese Patent No. 6573639

Patent Document 1 describes that ingestion of an extract of a Salacia plant can reduce the number of specific intestinal bacteria, thereby improving body fatigue, depression, abdominal symptoms, and the like. ing. However, it is unclear whether ingestion of Salacia plant extracts improves depression, friendship, or compulsion, and whether improvement in depression, friendship, or compulsion can improve mental status. Was also unknown.

Mental upset is a modern illness that many people have. However, people with mental illness often do not go to the hospital, and leaving the mental illness unattended may worsen depression. There is a demand for a mental state improving agent that can improve a person who is not sick before he / she becomes ill. An object to be solved by the present invention is to provide a mental state improving agent capable of improving a mental state through improvement of depression, friendship, or compulsion.

As a result of diligent studies to solve the above problems, the present inventors have found that ingestion of an extract of a plant belonging to the genus Salacia improves depression, friendship and compulsion. The above findings newly show that the extract of Salacia plants can improve not only depression but also various mental disorders in general, and can stabilize the mental state. The present invention has been completed based on the above findings.
According to the present invention, the following inventions are provided.

<1> A mental state improving agent containing an extract and / or a pulverized product of a plant belonging to the genus Salacia.
<2> The mental state improving agent according to <1>, wherein the Salacia genus plant is at least one selected from Salacia reticulata, Salacia oblonga, Salacia prinoides, and Salacia chinensis.
<3> According to claim 1 or 2, the mental state improving agent has an α-glucosidase inhibitory activity, and the 50% inhibitory concentration of sucrase as an index of the α-glucosidase inhibitory activity is 5 μg / ml or more and 2000 μg / ml or less. The listed mental condition improver.
<4> The mental condition improving agent according to any one of <1> to <3>, wherein the mental condition improving agent is a food or drink or a pharmaceutical product.
<5> The mental state improving agent according to any one of <1> to <4> for improving at least one of depression, friendship, and compulsion.
<6> Improvements in at least one of depression, friendship, and compulsion
Reducing temporary or psychological stress (including alleviating, alleviating, relieving, etc.),
Maintaining vitality (including feelings of energy and vitality), mental health (including feelings of fun and calm),
Relieving anxiety, depression, and psychological stress in daily life,
To reduce the loss of vitality / vitality (active mood, lively mood, motivation, etc.),
To make a temporarily depressed mood positive (make a positive mood, make a lively mood, motivate, etc.),
Feeling positive feelings towards others,
Reducing anxiety / discomfort in interpersonal communication (including mitigation, mitigation, relieving, etc.),
To reduce (including mitigation, mitigation, relieving, etc.) the obsession with an idea, the continuation of an action, or the repetition of an action.
By increasing the amount of lactic acid in the intestine, lactic acid is taken into the body and becomes an energy source to restore energy or improve mood, and at least one selected from these combinations, <1> to < The mental state improving agent according to any one of 5>.

<A> A method for improving a mental state, which comprises administering an extract and / or a pulverized product of a Salacia plant to a subject in need of improving the mental state.
<A1> A method for improving a mental state (excluding a medical method), which comprises administering an extract and / or a pulverized product of a plant of the genus Salacia to a subject in need of improving the mental state.
<B> Extracts and / or granules of Salacia plants for use in treatments that improve mental status.
<B1> Extracts and / or granules of Salacia plants for use in treatments that improve mental status (excluding medical use).
<C> Use of Salacia plant extracts and / or grounds for the production of mental state improving agents.
<C1> Use of Salacia plant extract and / or pulverized product for the production of a mental state improving agent. (However, medical use is excluded).

According to the mental state improving agent of the present invention, the mental state can be improved through the improvement of depression, friendship, or compulsion.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.
The mental state improving agent of the present invention contains an extract and / or a pulverized product of a plant of the genus Salacia.
According to the mental state improving agent of the present invention, a sufficient mental state stabilizing effect can be obtained, and thereby, for example, withdrawal can be prevented and suicide can be prevented. In addition, the mental state improving agent of the present invention can also increase lactic acid, which is an organic acid in the intestine. By increasing the amount of lactic acid in the intestine, lactic acid is taken into the body and becomes an energy source, which can be expected to restore energy or improve mood.

<Extracts and / or crushed products of Salacia plants>
The Salacia genus is a plant of the family Salacia, which grows mainly in Sri Lanka, India and Southeast Asia, and more specifically, Salacia reticulata, Salacia oblonga, and Salacia prinoides. , Salacia chinensis, Salacia latifolia, Salacia burunoniana, Salacia grandiflora, and one or more selected from Salacia macrosperma Plants are mentioned. The Salacia genus plant is preferably at least one plant selected from Salacia reticulata, Salacia oblonga, and Salacia chinensis.

In the present specification, the extract and / or crushed product of a Salacia genus plant is a crushed product and / or an extract of edible parts such as roots, trunks, leaves, flowers and fruits of a Salacia genus plant, and the above-mentioned crushed product and /. Alternatively, it is used to include the dried product of the extract. In the present specification, the dried product may be a dry powder (extract powder). When preparing the above-mentioned extract and / or pulverized product of Salacia genus, one or more parts of Salacia genus plant may be mixed and used. As the extract of Salacia genus, more preferably, an extract powder obtained by drying an extract extracted from a site selected from roots and stems is used.

The dry powder (extract powder) can be preferably obtained by extracting an edible portion of a plant belonging to the genus Salacia with a solvent and drying the extract obtained above.
Examples of the solvent used for extraction include water, alcohol, ketone, and the like, and a mixed solvent in which two or more of these are mixed may be used. Examples of the alcohol include methanol, ethanol and the like, and ethanol is preferable. As the ketone, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, cyclohexane or the like is preferable.

Among the above, water, alcohol, a mixed solvent of water and alcohol, a mixed solvent of water and ketone, etc. are preferable, and water, alcohol, or a mixed solvent of water and alcohol is more preferable, and the temperature is 50 ° C. to 98 ° C. Hot water, ethanol, or a mixed solvent of water and ethanol is more preferred.

The alcohol content in the mixed solvent of water and alcohol is preferably 30% by mass to 90% by mass, more preferably 40% by mass to 70% by mass.

The drying method for drying the extract to obtain a dry powder (extract powder) is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include known drying methods such as spray drying and freeze-drying. In addition, a known excipient, for example, a saccharide such as dextrin can be used to make a dry powder. From the viewpoint of obtaining a more active dry powder, it is preferable to adjust the extract by spray-drying it as it is by spray-drying or the like.

In addition, the extract of the genus Salacia used in the present invention can be preferably produced by the method described in International Publication WO2019 / 065396. That is, the extract of the genus Saracia used in the present invention has an extraction solvent for the genus Saracia plant-containing raw material extract consisting of at least one of the genus Salasia plant, the genus Salasia plant extract, and the pulverized product of the genus Salasia. It may be produced by a method for producing a purified Salasia genus plant extract, which comprises an extraction step of contacting with 0.1 to 20% by mass of activated carbon below.

The type and characteristics of activated carbon can be used without particular limitation. Carbonaceous materials for activated carbon include coconut shells, palm coconuts, fruit seeds, sawdust, eucalyptus, pine and other plant-based materials, coal-based and petroleum-based coke, and pitch charcoal, phenolic resin, and vinyl chloride made from them. Examples thereof include resins and vinylidene chloride resins, but those derived from plant-based materials such as coconut shells, palm coconuts, fruit seeds, sawdust, eucalyptus, and pine are preferable.

Commercially available products can be used as the activated charcoal, for example, Shirasagi (registered trademark) C, Shirasagi WH2c, Shirasagi W2c, Shirasagi WH2x, Shirasagi X7000H, Shirasagi X7100H, Shirasagi LGK-100, Shirasagi WHA, Shirasagi M, Shirasagi A. Shirasagi P, Carbolafine, Strong Shirasagi, Purified Shirasagi, Characteristic Shirasagi, Granular Shirasagi LH2c, Granular Shirasagi KL, Granular Shirasagi MAC-W (above, trade name, manufactured by Osaka Gas Chemical Co., Ltd.), Taiko S type (Taiko S, Taiko DP, Taiko SA1000), Taiko K type (Taiko K, Taiko A, Taiko KA, Taiko M) (above, trade name, manufactured by Futamura Chemical Co., Ltd.) and the like can be mentioned. Further, these activated carbons may be further refined.

The average pore size of the activated carbon is preferably 0.5 to 10 nm, more preferably 1.0 to 10 nm, and 3.0 to 8. 0 nm is even more preferable, and 3.0 to 6.0 nm is even more preferable.

The specific surface area of the activated carbon is preferably 500 to 2500 m ² / g, more preferably 1000 to 2000 m ² / g, and even more preferably 1200 to 1800 m ² / g from the viewpoint of increasing the recovery rate.

Although the detailed mechanism is not clear, it is thought that activated carbon can enhance the activity of compounds that inhibit α-glucosidase activity by selectively removing specific components contained in Salacia plant extracts. Be done.
For the average pore diameter and specific surface area of the activated carbon, when the activated carbon is a commercial product, the values described in the catalog can be adopted. If these values are unknown regardless of the presence or absence of a commercially available product, they can be measured by a specific surface area measuring method by gas adsorption according to JIS Z 8830 (2013) and ISO 9277 (2010).

The amount of activated carbon to be contacted is preferably 0.20% by mass or more, more preferably 1.0% by mass or more, and more preferably 3.0% by mass or more with respect to the Salacia plant-containing raw material extract from the viewpoint of reducing bitterness. More preferred. Further, from the viewpoint of increasing the recovery rate, it is preferably 15.0% by mass or less, more preferably 10.0% by mass or less, based on the Salacia plant-containing raw material extract.

The contact time with the activated carbon is preferably 5 minutes or more, more preferably 30 minutes or more, from the viewpoint of efficiently obtaining the purified Salacia plant extract. Further, from the viewpoint of obtaining a purified Salacia plant extract having further enhanced α-glucosidase activity inhibition, 5 hours or less is preferable, and 3 hours or less is more preferable.

The type and characteristics of the extraction solvent in the extraction step of contacting with activated carbon are not particularly limited, and water and / or an organic solvent can be used, but water is used from the viewpoint of production cost. Is preferable. The type of water is not particularly limited, and tap water, distilled water, ion-exchanged water, natural water and the like can be appropriately selected and used.
When an organic solvent is used, for example, alcohols such as ethanol and methanol, ketones such as acetone, and esters such as ethyl acetate are exemplified. Hydrophilic organic solvents such as alcohols and ketones are preferred, alcohols are more preferred, and ethanol is even more preferred, considering their use in formulations or foods.
The extraction solvent may be the extraction solvent contained in the above-mentioned Salacia-containing raw material. That is, the solvent used for preparing the Salacia plant extract (extract) as a raw material may be used as it is as the extraction solvent.

The temperature at the time of contact with activated carbon is preferably 10 to 100 ° C, more preferably 25 ° C to 80 ° C, and further preferably 25 to 75 ° C from the viewpoint of enhancing the α-glucosidase activity inhibitory ability of the obtained purified Salacia plant genus extract. It is preferable, and even more preferably 30 to 65 ° C.

The means for contacting with activated carbon is not particularly limited, and a known method can be adopted. For example, using a batch method in which an extraction solvent and activated carbon are added to an extract of a Saracia genus plant or a crushed product of a Saracia genus plant, the mixture is stirred and adsorbed, and then the activated carbon is recovered by a filtration operation, or a column filled with activated carbon is used. Examples thereof include a column method of contacting by continuous processing.
The batch method can be preferably used from the viewpoint of productivity because long-term contact can be easily realized.
From the viewpoint of productivity, a method of adding an extraction solvent to the Salacia plant-containing raw material extract, gradually heating the extraction solvent, and then adding activated carbon is preferable.

The extract obtained through the extraction step is solidified by a plant of the genus Saracia by performing one or a combination of two or more of the solid-liquid separation treatments selected from filtration, centrifugation, precipitation treatment, membrane treatment and the like. The minutes and activated carbon can be removed to obtain a purified Salasia plant extract.
The filtration method is not particularly limited, and for example, filter separation using a filter paper, a metal filter, a gas filter, or the like can be adopted. The mesh size of the filter is not particularly limited as long as the solid content and activated carbon of Salacia plants can be reliably removed.

Centrifugation is not particularly limited, and can be performed using a known device such as a separation plate type, a cylindrical type, or a decanter type. The conditions of use (rotation speed and time) for centrifugation are not particularly limited as long as the solid content and activated carbon of Salacia plants can be reliably removed.
The membrane treatment is, for example, a treatment of passing a membrane made of a polymer material having a pore diameter of 10 μm or less, and examples of the membrane morphology include a flat membrane and a hollow fiber membrane.
In the separation step, from the viewpoint of increasing the purification efficiency, a concentration step of increasing the concentration of the extract obtained in the extraction step by concentration or drying may be added, or the concentration step may be used in the middle of the separation step.

<Α-Glucosidase inhibitory activity>
The mental state improving agent of the present invention contains an extract and / or a pulverized product of a plant of the genus Salacia, but may have an α-glucosidase inhibitory activity or does not have an α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. May be good. Preferably, the mental state improving agent of the present invention has an α-glucosidase inhibitory activity.

The sucrase 50% inhibition concentration (IC ₅₀ value) as an index of α-glucosidase inhibitory activity can be measured by the following method.
[Experimental method 1] Measurement of sucrase IC ₅₀ value Preparation of sample solution: Weigh a 2 mg sample into a tube, add 2 mL of water and suspend well to prepare a sample solution with a concentration of 1 mg / mL. This is diluted with water to 0, 50, 100, 250 and 500 μg / mL, respectively.

Preparation of substrate solution: Dissolve sucrose in 0.2 mol / L maleic acid buffer (pH 6.0) so that the sucrose concentration becomes 100 mmol / L, and use this as the substrate solution.
Preparation of crude enzyme solution: 1 g of intestinal acetone powder rat (manufactured by SIGMA) was suspended in 10 mL of physiological saline, and then centrifuged (3,000 rpm, 4 ° C., 5 minutes). The obtained supernatant is separated and used as a crude enzyme solution.

To 500 μL of the sample solution having each of the above concentrations, 400 μL of the substrate solution was added and preheated in a water bath at 37 ° C. for 5 minutes. 100 μL of each crude enzyme solution was added thereto, and the mixture was reacted at 37 ° C. for 60 minutes. After completion of the reaction, the enzyme was inactivated by heating at 95 ° C. for 2 minutes to stop the reaction. The produced glucose concentration is quantified using a commercially available kit, mutarotase, and glucose oxidase method (glucose CII test Wako, Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.).

Preparation of blank: Add 200 μL of substrate solution and 50 μL of crude enzyme solution to 250 μL of sample solution of each concentration above, and immediately heat at 95 ° C. for 2 minutes to heat-inactivate the enzyme and use it as blank data. ..
A calibration curve is prepared from the obtained values, and the concentration (IC ₅₀ value) that inhibits the enzyme activity by 50% is determined.

The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50 value) of scrase is preferably 5 μg / ml or more and 2000 μg / ml or less, more preferably 10 μg / ml or more and 1000 μg / ml or less, and further preferably 10 μg / ml or more and 500 μg / ml or less. It is particularly preferably 20 μg / ml or more and 200 μg / ml or less, and most preferably 30 μg / ml or more and 100 μg / ml or less.

<Other ingredients>
The mental state improving agent of the present invention may contain other components in addition to the extract and / or the pulverized product of the genus Salacia. Examples of other components include, but are not limited to, lactic acid bacteria, mineral yeast, flavonoids, polyphenols, and oral substances having an immunostimulatory action. Specific examples of the above-mentioned other components include the components described in paragraphs 0023 to 0038 of JP-A-2015-127340.

The mental state improving agent of the present invention is further selected from vitamins, vitamin-like substances, proteins, amino acids, fats and oils, organic acids, carbohydrates, plant-derived raw materials, animal-derived raw materials, microorganisms, food additives, and pharmaceutical additives. Ingredients that can be orally ingested, such as one or more of them, can be appropriately contained.

<Formulation>
The mental state improving agent of the present invention includes various pharmaceutically or food hygiene-acceptable carriers such as excipients, lubricants, stabilizers, dispersants, binders, diluents, flavorings, sweeteners and flavors. It can be prepared using one or more additives selected from the agent and the colorant, and can be preferably prepared as an oral administration agent.

The mental state improving agent of the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it exerts the effect of the present invention, and is, for example, a tablet, a pill, a granule, a fine granule, a chewing agent, or a capsule (filled in a hard capsule or a soft capsule). It may be in the form of a liquid agent, a chewable agent, or a food or drink described later.
The above-mentioned dosage forms can be prepared using conventional methods known to those skilled in the art.

In the case of tablets, pills and granules, if necessary, they can be in a dosage form with a conventional skin, such as sugar-coated tablets, gelatin encapsulants, enteric encapsulants, film coating agents, etc. The tablet may be a multi-layer tablet such as a double tablet.

In the present invention, calcium carbonate and / or silicon dioxide (preferably fine silicon dioxide) may be blended as a desiccant in order to improve discoloration of the extract and / or pulverized product of the genus Salacia over time. When the mental condition improving agent of the present invention is a tablet or capsule, the mental condition improving agent of the present invention may contain calcium carbonate and / or silicon dioxide in an amount of 1% or more of the mass of the tablet or capsule. good. Regarding the addition of calcium carbonate or silicon dioxide, 1% by mass or more may be contained alone, or the total of calcium carbonate and silicon dioxide may be contained in an amount of 1% by mass or more. In the case of food use, the upper limit of the amount of calcium carbonate added is 2.5% by mass and the upper limit of the amount of silicon dioxide added is 2.0% by mass according to the Food Sanitation Law. Therefore, the mental state of the present invention. When the improving agent is provided as a food, the amount of calcium carbonate added is preferably 2.5% by mass or less, and the amount of silicon dioxide added is preferably 2.0% by mass or less.

The mental state improving agent of the present invention can contain a low hygroscopic raw material, a hygroscopic agent, an antioxidant and the like that can be used as foods or food additives. Preferably, cellulose, crystalline cellulose, powdered cellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, lactose, oligosaccharide, sugar alcohol, trehalose, magnesium stearate, calcium stearate, sucrose fatty acid ester and the like are used as the raw material having low moisture absorption. As the hygroscopic agent, silicates, magnesium carbonate, ferrocyanide, polysaccharides and the like are used. More preferably, crystalline cellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, lactose, and sucrose fatty acid ester are used as the raw material having low hygroscopicity. As the antioxidant, ascorbic acid, sodium ascorbic acid, or the like is used.

The mental state improving agent of the present invention may further contain a compound necessary for molding into a powder, a solid agent or a liquid agent as appropriate. Examples of the above compounds include erythritol, maltitol, hydroxypropyl cellulose, kaolin, talc and the like.

<How to use>
The mental state improving agent of the present invention is intended for administration to animals including humans, and can be orally ingested by animals. Animals include, but are not limited to, mammals such as humans, cows, pigs, dogs, cats, sheep, goats, horses, and primates. Animals are preferably humans.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for improving a mental state, which comprises administering an extract and / or a pulverized product of a plant of the genus Salacia to a subject in need of improving the mental state.

When the mental state improving agent of the present invention is administered to humans, for example, the dose of the extract and / or pulverized product of a Salacia plant is preferably 0.1 mg / kg / day or more, and 0.5 mg / kg / day. More than a day, more preferably 1.0 mg / kg / day or more, even more preferably 2.0 mg / kg / day or more, still more preferably 4.0 mg / kg / day or more. The upper limit of the dose of the extract and / or the pulverized product of the genus Salacia is not particularly limited, but is generally 100 mg / kg / day or less, preferably 50 mg / kg / day or less.

When the mental state improving agent of the present invention is administered to humans, for example, the daily intake of extracts and / or pulverized products of Salacia plants is 1 mg or more and 10000 mg or less (preferably 5 mg or more and 5000 mg or less). , More preferably 10 mg or more and 3000 mg or less, still more preferably 20 mg or more and 500 mg or less).

The amount of the extract and / or the pulverized product of the Salacia genus plant contained in the mental state improving agent of the present invention can be appropriately set. For example, when preparing a tablet having a daily intake of 3 tablets, it is preferable that each tablet contains 1/3 of the daily intake.

The mental state improving agent of the present invention can be used for preventing or treating a mental state or a disease. Treatment means administration to a subject for the purpose of attenuating, reducing, or ameliorating at least one condition or symptom associated with a neurological condition. Prevention means administration to a subject who does not exhibit a condition or symptom in order to reduce or ameliorate the onset or onset of at least one condition or symptom associated with a neurological condition.

Ingestion of the mental state improving agent of the present invention can preferably improve at least one of depression, friendship, and compulsion, and more preferably of depression, friendship, and compulsion. At least two or more can be improved, and particularly preferably all of depression, friendship, and compulsion can be improved. Examples of mental illness include, but are not limited to, mood disorders (depression, bipolar disorder, etc.).
The mental state improving agent of the present invention is safe even when taken for a long period of time and has few side effects.

Depression (state) means a state or symptom such as annoyance, lack of appetite, feeling unwell, unable to concentrate, depressed, uncomfortable, troublesome, or depressed. Although the term depression (or depression) is used in daily life, depression in the present invention includes depression (or depression).

Friendship means feeling positive feelings towards others or caring for others. Friendship can be said to be cooperative. Friendly tendencies include being unselfish, receptive and friendly to others, harmonizing and cooperating with others rather than competing with others, or with yourself. For example, aiming for a better solution for both parties.

Compulsion means anxiety disorder, and examples thereof include Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Obsessive-compulsive behavior is characterized by obsession and compulsion. Obsessions include thoughts, urges, or images that are determined to be meaningless, inappropriate, or intrusive, and that are not distracting when ignored or suppressed. Compulsive behavior is an act to alleviate and counteract the anxiety that accompanies obsession. Compulsive behavior includes continuing or repeating certain behaviors caused by anxiety.

The assessment of mental status can be assessed by asking or interviewing questions or interviews regarding the state of mind or feeling. In evaluating the improvement of the mental state, the evaluation method is not particularly limited, but in the present invention, the evaluation shown below can be used.
For example, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) is an example of a depression evaluation scale that is used worldwide as an evaluation of depression. CES-D can evaluate depressive emotions, stress states, etc. by answering (self-evaluating) questions about physical symptoms, depressive emotions, interpersonal relationships, and positive emotions. Also, as an evaluation of friendship, the emotion (mood) profile test Profile of Mood States 2 It can be evaluated using nd Edition (POMS2). This is a questionnaire method that covers and evaluates mood conditions, and consists of 65 question items that express mood, and is a test that answers in five stages. Further, as an evaluation of obsessive-compulsive disorder, the Hopkins syndrome checklist can be used for evaluation. This is a questionnaire that consists of 54 items and is evaluated on a 4-point scale.

In the present invention, as an improvement in at least one of depression, friendship, and compulsion.
Reducing temporary or psychological stress (including alleviating, alleviating, relieving, etc.)
Maintaining vitality (including feelings of energy and vitality), mental health (including feelings of fun and calm),
Relieving anxiety, depression, and psychological stress in daily life,
To reduce the loss of vitality / vitality (active mood, lively mood, motivation, etc.),
To make a temporarily depressed mood positive (make a positive mood, make a lively mood, motivate, etc.),
Feeling positive feelings towards others,
Reducing anxiety / discomfort in interpersonal communication (including mitigation, mitigation, relieving, etc.),
To reduce (including mitigation, mitigation, relieving, etc.) the obsession with an idea, the continuation of an action, or the repetition of an action.
It is preferable that lactic acid is taken into the body by increasing the amount of lactic acid in the intestine and becomes an energy source to restore energy or improve mood, and at least one selected from a combination thereof. However, it is not limited to these.
In the present invention, it is preferable to exclude the improvement of physical fatigue, mood depression, abdominal symptoms and the like as the mental state.

<Food and drinks and medicines>
The form of the mental state improving agent of the present invention is not particularly limited, and for example, any of food and drink (including beverages and supplements), food materials, quasi-drugs, pharmaceuticals, pharmaceutical materials, and quasi-drug materials. But it may be.

According to the present invention, foods and drinks and pharmaceutical products for improving the mental state, which contain the mental state improving agent of the present invention, are provided.

As the pharmaceutical product of the present invention, the above-mentioned various forms of the mental state improving agent of the present invention may be provided as pharmaceutical products.

Examples of foods and drinks of the present invention include health foods (tablets, granules, capsules, powders, etc.), energy drinks, beverages and the like.

The form of the food or drink of the present invention is not particularly limited, and can be various forms that can be supplied into the body mainly by an oral route. The food or drink of the present invention may be provided in the form of, for example, powdered food, granular food, sheet food, bottled food, canned food, retort food, capsule food, tablet food, liquid food, drink or the like. can. The food and drink of the present invention can be used as food and drink such as health foods, functional foods, dietary supplements, and foods for specified health use.
When the food or drink of the present invention is in the form of a functional food, not only general foods such as energy drinks, nourishing tonics, palatable beverages, and cold confectionery, but also tablet-shaped, granule-shaped, and capsule-shaped dietary supplements. It is also preferable to provide as.

In the food or drink or pharmaceutical product containing the mental state improving agent of the present invention, when displaying the name of the functionally involved ingredient, the ingredient having a health function, the involved ingredient, or the active ingredient name, it may be labeled as salacinol or salacinol derived from Salacia. preferable.

In the food and drink containing the mental state improving agent of the present invention, when displaying the name of the raw material containing the functionally involved component, Salacia extract, Salacia extract, Salacia extract powder, Salacia genus plant extract, Salacia genus plant extract powder, Salacia It is preferably selected from at least one of concentrated extract, Salacia extract granules, Salacia reticulata extract, and Kotarahimbutu (Salacia reticulata) extract powder.

The food or drink of the present invention may contain, if desired, a component generally used for food and drink, in addition to the mental state improving agent of the present invention.
Ingredients that can be used in the food and drink of the present invention include, for example, colorants, preservatives, thickening stabilizers, antioxidants, color formers, bleaching agents, antifungal agents, gum bases, bitterness agents, enzymes, brighteners, and the like. Examples thereof include acidulants, seasonings, emulsifiers, fortifiers, manufacturing agents (excipients), fragrances, spice extracts, pH adjusters and the like.

2. The pH of the food or drink of the present invention is preferably 8.0 or less, more preferably 7.0 or less, from the viewpoint of improving the stability of salacinol, as in the above-mentioned composition. It is more preferably 0 to 6.0.
As the pH adjuster that can be used for adjusting the pH in foods and drinks, any pH adjuster that is usually used in the food field can be used.

Examples of the pH adjuster that can be used in foods and drinks include gluconic acid, L-tartrate acid, malic acid, lactic acid, adipic acid, succinic acid, acetic acid, fumaric acid, phytic acid and organic acids selected from derivatives thereof, sodium bicarbonate. (Sodium hydrogen carbonate), sodium carbonate, sodium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, disodium hydrogen phosphate, sodium dihydrogen phosphate, dipotassium hydrogen phosphate, potassium dihydrogen phosphate, potassium carbonate and other inorganic acids. Can be done.
The organic acid may be in the form of a salt such as a sodium salt, a potassium salt or a magnesium salt.
The pH adjuster can be used alone or in combination of two or more.

Examples of other components that can be used in food and drink applications include milk protein, soybean protein, egg albumin protein, etc., or a mixture of egg white oligopeptides, soybean hydrolysates, amino acids alone, which are decomposition products thereof, and the like.

Foods and drinks are in the form of processed products such as naturally liquid foods containing sugars, fats, trace elements, vitamins, emulsifiers, and flavors, semi-digestible nutritional foods and nutritional foods, drinks, capsules, and enteral nutritional supplements. Can be taken.

When food and drink are in the form of drinks, nutritional additives such as amino acids, vitamins and minerals, sweeteners, spices, flavors and pigments are added to improve the nutritional balance and flavor at the time of ingestion. May be.

When the mental state improving agent of the present invention is used as a food or drink, its content can be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose. From the viewpoint of fully expressing the effectiveness of the extract and / or the crushed product of the genus Salacia, the content of the extract and / or the crushed product of the genus Salacia in the food and drink is relative to the total amount of the food and drink. It is preferably in the range of 1% by mass to 60% by mass, and more preferably in the range of 1% by mass to 40% by mass.

<Use of Salacia plant extract and / or crushed product>
According to another aspect of the invention, extracts and / or grounds of Salacia plants are provided for use in treatments for improving mental status.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided the use of extracts and / or grounds of Salacia plants for the production of mental state improving agents.
The preferred embodiment of the above invention is as described above in the present specification.

The present invention will be further described with reference to the following examples, but the present invention is not limited to the following examples.

<Manufacturing of tablets>
The Salacia plant extract powder was produced in the same manner as in Example 6 of International Publication WO2019 / 065396. Specifically, it is as follows. After crushing the root portion of Salacia reticulata, the solution obtained by extracting with hot water at 70 ° C. is concentrated to concentrate the Salacia plant-containing raw material extract (solid content concentration 10 to 15% by mass). Got Activated carbon (average pore diameter 4.5 nm, specific surface area 1700 m ² / g) 7.00% by mass is added to the Salacia plant-containing raw material extract prepared by the above procedure with stirring to add a mixed solution. Obtained. The obtained mixed solution was heated to 50 ° C. with stirring and reacted with activated carbon while stirring for 60 minutes to perform an extraction step. After the reaction, filtration and centrifugation (rotation speed: 1050 rpm, time: 10 minutes) were performed, and the supernatant of the mixed solution was recovered. Subsequently, the supernatant was concentrated and spray-dried to obtain Salacia plant extract powder.

Using the obtained extract powder, tablets (150 mg / tablet) were produced according to the formulations shown in the table below.

<Measurement of 50% inhibition concentration (IC50 value) of sucrase>
Preparation of sample solution:
Weigh a 2 mg sample into a tube, add 2 mL of water and suspend well to make a sample solution with a concentration of 1 mg / mL. This is diluted with water to 0, 50, 100, 250 and 500 μg / mL, respectively.

Substrate preparation:
Dissolve sucrose in 0.2 mol / L maleic acid buffer (pH 6.0) so that the sucrose concentration is 100 mmol / L, and use this as the substrate solution.

Preparation of crude enzyme solution:
After suspending 1 g of intestinal acetone powder rat (manufactured by SIGMA) in 10 mL of physiological saline, the mixture was centrifuged (3,000 rpm, 4 ° C., 5 min). The obtained supernatant is separated and used as a crude enzyme solution.
To 500 μL of the sample solution having each concentration described above, 400 μL of the substrate solution was added and preheated in a water bath at 37 ° C. for 5 minutes. 100 μL of each crude enzyme solution was added thereto, and the mixture was reacted at 37 ° C. for 60 minutes. After completion of the reaction, the enzyme was inactivated by heating at 95 ° C. for 2 minutes to stop the reaction. The produced glucose concentration is quantified using a commercially available kit, mutarotase, and glucose oxidase method (glucose CII test Wako, Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.).

Blank preparation:
To 250 μL of the sample solution of each concentration described above, 200 μL of the substrate solution and 50 μL of the crude enzyme solution are added, and the enzyme is immediately heated at 95 ° C. for 2 minutes to heat-inactivate the enzyme and use it as blank data.

As a result of the above measurement, the IC50 of the Salacia plant extract powder was 60.6 μg / ml.

<Test for improvement of mental condition>
Thirty adult men and women were randomly divided into two groups.
The first group was given tablets containing Salacia plant extract as a test meal (daily intake: 600 mg of tablets, 240 mg of Salacia plant extract), and the second group was given placebo tablets. They were ingested for 4 weeks each, and the difference in mental state before and after ingestion and between the groups was examined.

The evaluation of mental state is The Center for Epidemic Studies Studies (CES-D) (depression self-evaluation scale), Japanese version of Profile of Mod States 2nd Edition (POMS) to evaluate mood state. Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HSCL) was performed as described on the form before and at the end of the test.

For CES-D, the following items (http://blog.livedoor.jp/sakikairiku/archives/51247388.html) were evaluated. In the table below, each symptom is evaluated by how many days have been seen in the last week. One item has a maximum of 3 points, and a total of 0 to 60 points is given. If the total score is 16 points or more, depression or depression is suspected.

POMS: Profile of Mod States2
Profile of mood status 2 (all item version) is one of the questionnaire methods that covers and evaluates a wide range of mood states, which is useful for understanding the emotional function of adults. It consists of 65 questions that express your mood, and for the past week, "0: Nothing at all", "1: There was a little", "2: There was a lot", "3: There was a lot" , "4: There were so many", this is a test that asks you to answer in 5 stages. [[Angry-Hostility (AH)] [Confusion-Embarrassment (CB)] [Depression-Depression (DD)] [Fatigue-Lethargy (FI)] [Tension-Anxiety (TA)] [Vitality-Vitality (VA)] The mood state is evaluated from the 7 scales of [Friendship (F)] and [Comprehensive mood state (TMD)], which comprehensively represents the negative mood state. Those with high scores in [Friendship (F)] feel positive emotions toward others and are said to have a strong relationship with [Vitality-Vitality (VA)].

HSCL: Hopkins Symptom Checklist
The Japanese version of Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HSCL) was used to measure the psychological stress response due to stress. HSCL is considered to be the most valid and frequently used scale for comprehensively measuring stress response in the field of psychiatry and neurology. It is a self-reported symptom questionnaire consisting of 54 items with 5 sub-symptoms of "mental and physical symptoms", "compulsive symptoms", "interpersonal hypersensitivity symptoms", "anxiety symptoms", and "depressive symptoms". The 54 questions are based on the symptoms that are common to outpatients, with 4 "common", 3 "occasional", 2 "occasional", and "not at all" as to how much they are suffering from the symptoms. Is answered by 1 in 4 cases. The subordinate symptom "mental and physical symptoms (9 items)" refers to the pain caused by the feeling that the physical function is impaired, and includes complaints about the physical function related to the autonomic nervous system and anxiety about the body. "Obsessive-compulsive symptoms (9 items)" is to get caught up in a certain idea or repeat an action regardless of one's will. "Interpersonal hypersensitivity symptoms (10 items)" may cause you to be unable to take appropriate actions in interpersonal relationships, feel inferior to others, look down on yourself in interpersonal communication, or feel cramped. If you feel uncomfortable, you will become over-conscious in interpersonal relationships and predict bad things. "Anxiety symptoms (8 items)" are characterized by restlessness, nervousness, tension, and anxiety, and include uncertain anxiety, or a state in which anxiety and tension become extremely high and self-control is not possible. "Depressive symptoms (13 items)" are moods or emotions that are signs of withdrawal, diminished interest, decreased motivation, or decreased energy, specifically, hopelessness, emptiness, disappointment, discouragement, Sadness, anxiety, anxiety, decreased self-esteem, or sleep disorders are seen.

In addition, about 5 g of the subject's feces was collected in a dedicated container containing no preservative solution immediately after collection or within a maximum of 6 hours (in this case, cooled with an ice pack), and immediately stored in a freezer at -80 ° C. After storage in, lactic acid was analyzed by liquid chromatography (LC) (pH-buffered post-column electrical conductivity detection method).

The results of the above analysis are shown in the table below. Table 4 shows the average score of 15 people in each group.

As shown in the table above, ingestion of Salacia plant extracts was found to improve multiple indicators of mental status. It was also found that the intake of Salacia plant extract increases lactic acid, which is an organic acid in the intestine.

Claims (6)

A mental state improving agent containing an extract and / or a pulverized product of a plant of the genus Salacia. The mental state improving agent according to claim 1, wherein the Salacia genus plant is at least one selected from Salacia reticulata, Salacia oblonga, Salacia prinoides, and Salacia kinensis. The mental state according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the mental state improving agent has an α-glucosidase inhibitory activity, and the 50% inhibitory concentration of sucrase as an index of the α-glucosidase inhibitory activity is 5 μg / ml or more and 2000 μg / ml or less. Condition improver. The mental condition improving agent according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the mental condition improving agent is a food or drink or a pharmaceutical product. The mental state improving agent according to any one of claims 1 to 4, for improving at least one of depression, friendship, and compulsion. Improvements in at least one of depression, friendship, and compulsion,
Reducing, relieving, reducing, or relieving temporary or psychological stress Maintaining vitality, vitality, a vibrant mood, mental health, or a pleasant and calm mood,
Relieving anxiety, depression, or psychological stress in daily life,
A function to reduce vitality / vitality, positive mood, lively mood, or loss of motivation,
To make a temporarily depressed mood positive, positive, lively, or motivated,
Feeling positive feelings towards others,
Reducing, alleviating, reducing, or alleviating anxiety / discomfort in interpersonal communication,
Reducing, mitigating, mitigating, or relieving one's thoughts, continuing actions, or repeating actions,
Claims 1 to 5 are at least one selected from the combination of lactic acid taken into the body by increasing the amount of lactic acid in the intestine and becoming an energy source to restore energy or improve mood. The mental state improving agent according to any one of the above.