JP3318412B2 - α wave enhancer - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an .alpha.-wave enhancer and an .alpha.-wave-enhancing food that can enhance the .alpha.-wave of the brain waves of animals including humans, thereby relieving stress and bringing the animal into a relaxed state. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Human brain waves generally depend on their frequency.
Δ wave of 3.5Hz or less, over 3.5Hz and 7.5H
θ wave below z, above 7.5 Hz and below 13.5 Hz
It is classified into α wave and β wave exceeding 13.5 Hz.
Of these brain waves, the alpha wave is used when relaxing (resting / closed).
At the time of eye) and decrease when stress is applied.
[“Zen and the Mind” by Tomio Hirai, J
apan Publication, Inc. p34-35 (1978)]. for that reason,
The appearance of alpha waves is often used as an index of relaxation
In recent stressed societies, α waves have
There are various attempts to make it extremely relaxing and relax
It has been done. According to Brown (1970),
By increasing the α-wave by the Dobak method,
Is reported to be able to obtain a good condition. Ma
Korein and colleagues reported that the low-frequency alpha wave
[Korein et al., “Elect
roencephalography and Clinical Neurophysiology ”Three
6, 222 (1974)], Tamura et al. Reduced the use of low-frequency alpha waves by about 10%.
Increase the degree of change in the subject's reflection
[Tamura et al., “Biofeedback Research” 1988 15
No., pp. 15-21 (1988)].

As a typical example of the prior art for enhancing the α-wave to relax, in addition to the above-mentioned biofeedback method, a method utilizing auditory or visual sense such as α-wave music, α-wave image, optical feedback device, and the like. Is mentioned. When these methods are used, there is a certain effect on the enhancement of the α-wave and a relaxed state is brought about, but a special sound device, a video device, and the like are required for that purpose. Must be used in a predetermined place (environment) suitable for for that reason,
In the case of such a conventional technique using a device for enhancing the α-wave, the enhancement of the α-wave and the relaxation thereof cannot be easily performed, which is greatly restricted in time and place, and is costly. There is a disadvantage that.

It is also said that foods that use sedative effects using herbs such as valerian, chamomile and lavender also have an effect of enhancing α-waves [Shojiro Inoue,
"Fragrance Journal", November 1991, pp. 32-35 (199
1)] These herbs often do not like their unique aroma and taste, and are not widely used. Furthermore, it is known that taking sleeping pills and sedatives stabilizes the psyche and induces alpha waves.However, sleeping pills and sedatives cause side effects such as drowsiness and muscle relaxation, and are addictive. It is necessary to use it while managing it under limited circumstances, and it cannot be used on a daily basis for the purpose of relieving stress.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to eliminate the need for a special device such as an audio device or an image device for enhancing the α-wave, and to have no side effects or habits such as sleeping pills and sedatives. It can be taken as needed on a daily basis,
Moreover, an object of the present invention is to provide an α-wave enhancer and a food for α-wave enhancement that can effectively enhance an α-wave, which has a good taste and aroma and is excellent in palatability, and can bring about a relaxed state.

[0006]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above objects, the present inventors investigated the presence or absence of α-wave enhancing action and the strength of a large number of compounds, animal and plant components, foods and the like.
Repeated research. As a result, the malakja juice obtained from the malakja fruit has an excellent α-wave enhancing effect, and when the malakja juice is ingested, the stress can be eliminated and a relaxed state can be exhibited. Not be sleepy, paralyzed, or relaxed in muscles and able to perform daily activities such as work, study, and play without difficulty. And completed the present invention.

[0007] Accordingly, the present invention is an α-wave enhancer containing malakja juice as an active ingredient. Furthermore, the present invention is an α-wave enhancing food containing malakja juice.

[0008] Malakja is an edible plant belonging to the genus Passiflora, and is cultivated in Venezuela, Hawaii, Australia, South Africa, and the like, and its fruit is eaten as it is or is squeezed and consumed as juice. Among the plants belonging to the genus Passiflora belonging to Marakja, Passiflora alafa, Passiflora incarnata
Extracts of leaves, stems or roots have a sedative and tranquilizing effect, and are used as sedatives and hypnotics as pharmaceuticals and folk medicines. Not rare. In addition, these extracts interfere with normal activities when taken during the day due to their hypnotic and sedative effects, and are not suitable for use during activities.

On the other hand, the juice of Marakja contains harmala alkaloid which is known to have a central nervous system stimulating action (excitation action) when used alone.
s; harmane, harmine, harmaline etc.] have been reported [Lutomski et al., Plant
a Medica, 27 (2), 112-121 (1975)], and it has not been known that the fruit juice of Malakja has a sedative effect as well as an α-wave enhancing effect. Therefore, the discovery of the α-wave enhancing action by the malakja juice by the present inventors can be said to be completely unexpected in view of the central nervous system stimulating action of the haruma alkaloid contained in the malakja juice.

It is said that there are about 60 species of Malakja, but a typical Malakja is a Malakja amarero (Passiflora edulis flavicar) having yellow fruits.
pa), Marakjadosse (Passiflora laurifolia) having orange-colored pear-shaped fruits, and Marakjarocho (Passiflora edulis Sims) having purple fruits. In the α-wave enhancer of the present invention, any of the juices of Malakja amarero (Passiflora edulis flavicarpa) can be used. It is preferable from the point of view.

The method for obtaining juice from the fruit of Malakja is not particularly limited, and a conventionally known method for obtaining juice from fruit can be employed. Although not limited, for example, a method of crushing the whole fruit of Malakja, extracting the pulp and crushing it, crushing the pulp using a mixer or the like, and then squeezing it to collect the juice coming out. And a method in which the pressing of the fruit or the pulp of the malakja and the recovery of the juice are simultaneously performed in one stage.

According to the present invention, the juice obtained from the fruit of Malakja is directly used as it is as the juice of Malakja, but the juice obtained from the fruit of Malakja is subjected to purification treatment such as centrifugation, filtration and decantation. Even if you use a juice that has been applied to remove solids, etc., you can also use a juice that contains other ingredients such as sugar, water, spices, spices, seasonings, herbs, tea, etc. Alternatively, those liquid malakja juices may be dried and powdered. When powdering malakja juice, the juice may be directly powdered or, if necessary, the pH of the liquid may be adjusted to about 3 to 8 using sodium hydroxide or other alkaline substance for food supplementation. Then, if necessary, other ingredients such as sugars, flavors, seasonings, herbs, and tea may be added to powder. The powdering method is not particularly limited, and known methods such as heat drying and freeze drying can be employed.
The method of spraying and freeze-drying is preferable because the active ingredient is not decomposed or deteriorated, and the α-wave enhancing action can be kept good.

The liquid or powdered malakja juice described above has a good taste and aroma and has no habit, and can be used directly as an α-wave enhancer. In addition, it may be used as an α-wave enhancer in the form of a solution, a granule, a tablet or the like by using a known carrier or auxiliary. Further, for example, it may be in the form of food such as beverages, confectionery (tablets, candy, cookies, frozen desserts, etc.), jams and the like, or may be used for cooking and the like. In the case of food, the content of malakja juice in the food is preferably set to 5% by weight or more, and in the case of liquid malakja juice, it is preferably 10 to 50%.
% By weight, more preferably 1% in powdered malakja juice.
It is desirable that the content be 0% by weight to 80% by weight from the viewpoint of α-wave enhancing action, palatability and the like.

[0014]

EXAMPLES The present invention will be specifically described below with reference to examples, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In the following examples, the recording of the electroencephalogram, the flicker test, and the measurement of the stimulus reaction time were performed as follows.

EEG recording : EEG recording was performed with the eyes closed at rest. According to the international 10/20 method, the lead-out site is a lead on the monopolar scalp using the earlobe as the reference electrode.
F ₃ shown in FIG. _{1, F 4, C 3,} C 4, P 3, P 4, O 1, O 2
8 site derivation was adopted. For quantitative analysis, US HZIR®
esearch Center Brain Function Monitoring Sy
Using a stem (BFMS), frequency analysis is performed by the zero-crossing method, and 9 frequency bands (δ wave = 1.5 to 3.5H)
z; θ1 wave = more than 3.5 Hz and 7.5 Hz or less; θ2 wave = more than 5.5 Hz and 7.5 Hz or less; α1 wave = 7.5 H
More than z and 9.5 Hz or less; α2 wave = more than 9.5 Hz and 1
1.5 Hz or less; α3 wave = 13.5 Hz to 13.5
Hz or less; β1 wave = more than 13.5 Hz and 20.0 Hz or less; β2 wave = more than 20.0 Hz and 30.0 Hz or less; β
(3 waves = more than 30.0 Hz and 48.0 Hz or less).

Flicker test : As part of the mental work ability test, a digital flicker (“CE manufactured by OG Giken”
I)) to reduce the blink frequency of the flash stimulus light source by 1.
The repetition was performed at a rate of 5 cps / sec, and when the flicker frequency was reached at which the flicker of the light source could be visually discriminated, the subject was pressed to switch, thereby examining the subject's discrimination ability against the flicker of the light source. Blink frequency decreases (falls)
During this process, the discrimination threshold values that would be possible because discrimination was impossible were measured ten times in succession, and each of the eight data values except for the maximum value and the minimum value was examined. In addition, this flicker test captures a change in ability of simple mental work with few external regulations, and requires continuous attention and concentration. Compared to the stimulus reaction time, it is more sensitive and can detect changes in arousal level that cannot be noticed [Yagyu & Saito, "Aromatopia", 1993 Winter, No.2, VOL.2 separate volume (1993)].

Stimulation reaction time : Similarly, as part of the mental work ability test, a two-tone discrimination task (a task in which a subject is asked to hear two high and low pitches in random order and a button is pressed immediately after hearing the high pitch) is used. Then, the subject was made to press a button for the target sound, and the reaction time to the stimulus (sound) was examined. At that time. The two-sound presentation interval was set to 4 to 6 seconds longer than before and randomly, so that the task was not easily predicted, thereby increasing the tension of the subject. This stimulus response time evaluates the latency of the process in the brain from sound stimulus reception to response behavior and reflects the effect on the response processing process to external sensory stimuli [Yanagi & Saito, “Aromatopia”, 1993 Winte
r, No.2, VOL.2 separate volume (1993)].

<< Example 1 >> (1) The fruit of a Brazilian malakja [Maraxja amarero (Passiflora edulis flavicarpa)] is divided into two, and the contents are squeezed and squeezed onto a filter cloth to produce a malakja juice 1
000 g were obtained. After adding sodium hydroxide for food supplementation to adjust the pH to 3.9, spraying and freeze-drying,
130 g of malakja juice powder was obtained. (2) Wrapping 10 g of Malakja fruit juice powder obtained in (1) above in an oblate, 2 healthy adult males (subjects A and B) and 2 adult females (test C and D) (average age of 4 24.1 years old), each of them was ingested once, and the above-mentioned recording of the electroencephalogram, flicker test and measurement of the stimulus reaction time were performed.

(3) EEG recording results at 60 minutes and 180 minutes after administration of Marakja juice (comparison before and after administration of Malakja juice; average of the results at the above eight derived sites) were as follows for each subject. As shown in Table 1.

[0020]

[Table 1]

From the results shown in Table 1 above, at 180 minutes after the administration of Marakja juice, the θ wave and β wave decreased in all subjects, while the α wave (particularly α1 wave and α2 wave) was enhanced. You can see that there is.

(4) The results of the flicker test for each subject were as shown in Table 2 below.

[0023]

[Table 2]

In general, the smaller the discrimination threshold value indicates that the ability to visually discriminate the flashing of the flash has decreased, and from the results in Table 2 above, it can be seen that each of the subjects has the discrimination threshold value. It can be seen that the ability to discriminate the flickering of the light source decreased after administration of the malakja juice, and that some changes occurred 60 minutes and 180 minutes after the administration of the malakja juice.

(5) The measurement results of the stimulus reaction time for each subject were as shown in Table 3 below.

[0026]

[Table 3]

From the results in Table 3 above, it can be seen that the stimulus reaction time did not change (the stimulus reaction time did not significantly increase at all) by the administration of malakja juice in all four subjects. . (6) Summarizing the above results, the administration of malakja juice enhances α-waves (especially α1 and α2 waves) effective for relieving stress, while the flicker test before and after administration of malakja juice Although there are some changes in the mala japonica juice, there is some central inhibitory action, but it does not affect the stimulus reaction time, the central inhibitory action of the mala japonica juice is not enough to impair workability, It is understood that the administration does not hinder the activity. The enhancement of α-waves by malakja is not inferior to the enhancement of α-waves by the conventional feedback method (Tamura et al., “Biofeedback Research,” 1988, No. 15, p. It leads to the acquisition of a state.

<< Comparative Example 1 >> 1000 g of orange juice (100% tropicana orange juice; pH 3.9)
Was sprayed and freeze-dried in the same manner as in Example 1 to obtain 110 g of orange juice powder. 10 g of this orange juice powder
Was wrapped in an oblate and administered once to the same subjects A, B, C and D as in Example 1, and the recording of the electroencephalogram, the flicker test and the measurement of the stimulus reaction time were performed in the same manner as in Example 1. . As a result, no change occurred in any of the electroencephalogram, the flicker test result and the stimulus reaction time between before and after administration of the orange juice powder in each subject.

Comparative Example 2 Fructose 18% by weight, glucose 20
% Of sugar, 27% by weight of sugar and 37% by weight of agar was prepared, 10 g of this mixture were wrapped in an oblate and administered once to the same subjects A, B, C and D as in Example 1, In the same manner as in Example 1, recording of an electroencephalogram, flicker test, and measurement of stimulus reaction time were performed. As a result, as in Comparative Example 1 in which the orange juice powder was administered, no change occurred in any of the EEG, the flicker test result, and the stimulus reaction time between before and after the administration of the mixture. Was.

Example 2 To 20 g of a frozen product (produced by Sao Paulo) of Maracaja juice obtained by squeezing the pulp of Maracaja marrero, 3 g of fructose, 4 g of β-glucooligosaccharide and 73 g of water were added to produce 100 g of a beverage. . This beverage had good taste and aroma, was excellent in palatability, and was delicious even when cold or hot. Also,
Approximately one hour after ingestion, the stress was reduced and a relaxed mental state was achieved.

Example 3 A frozen product of the same malakja fruit juice used in Example 2 was thawed, centrifuged at 3000 rpm in a centrifuge, and the supernatant was recovered. To 15 g of the supernatant, liquid sugar (“F” manufactured by Towa Kasei Kogyo Co., Ltd.)
-80 ") 9 g, β-glucooligosaccharide 2 g, and herbal tea (rose hips and hibiscus) were added to produce a beverage. This beverage had good taste and aroma, was excellent in palatability, and was delicious even when cold or hot. Approximately 40 minutes after ingestion, the stress was reduced and the patient became in a relaxed mental state.

[0032]

When the α-wave enhancer or α-wave enhancing food of the present invention based on malakja juice is ingested,
The α wave is induced and enhanced, so that stress can be eliminated and a relaxed state can be obtained. The α-wave enhancer of the present invention based on malakja juice is very easy to take because it has good taste and aroma and is excellent in palatability. In addition, they do not become sleepy or hinder daily activities when ingested, and have no side effects and are not addictive when taken repeatedly, so they are not restricted in time and place. It can be taken at any time as needed to relieve stress.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a derived portion when an electroencephalogram is recorded in the present invention.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Toshiyuki Miyazaki 5-3-1 Tsurugaoka, Oi-machi, Iruma-gun, Saitama Japan Food Research Laboratories, Nisshin Flour Milling Co., Ltd. (72) Kanako Kanda 5, Tsurugaoka, Oi-machi, Iruma-gun, Saitama No.3-1, Nisshin Flour Milling Co., Ltd. Food Research Institute (56) References JP-A-4-36243 (JP, A) Phytotherapy Research arch, 1991, Vol. 5, No. 6, pp. 262-266 (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) A61K 35/78 A23L 1/30 A23L 2/02 BIOSIS (DIALOG) CA (STN) MEDLINE (STN)

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. An α-wave enhancer comprising malakja juice as an active ingredient. 2. An α-wave enhancing food containing malakja juice. 3. The α-wave-enhancing food according to claim 2, wherein the content of marakja juice is 5% by weight or more.