JP6767188B2 - Food composition for improving hair and scalp condition - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a food composition for improving the condition of the hair and scalp, which improves the condition of the scalp and exhibits an excellent hair growth effect and an effect of suppressing hair loss.

The problems of thinning hair such as hair loss and thinning hair are spreading not only to middle-aged men but also to young men and women. In addition to aging and hormonal balance, stress and irregular lifestyle may be the causes of thinning hair. It is thought that stress and irregular lifestyles lead to an increase in the amount of sebum on the scalp, and worsen the condition of the scalp such as an increase in pores, etc., thereby promoting thinning of hair.
Therefore, a hair restorer that can improve the scalp condition and has an excellent hair growth effect and a hair loss suppressing effect is desired. In addition, male thinning hair is caused by androgenetic alopecia (AGA) and can be treated by medication, but side effects may be strong, so ingestion of food and drink can safely and easily suppress hair growth and hair loss. The demand for effects is also increasing.

So far, the search and study of ingredients having a hair growth effect and a hair loss suppressing effect have been actively conducted. For example, it has been found that mugwort extract and N-acetylglucosamine have a hair-growth effect (Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2).

In addition, for example, millet extract has been ingested for a long time as a hair restorer to be drunk in Europe, and millet extract is rich in proteins and lipids and has a function of activating hair (Non-Patent Document 1). Furthermore, it is known that the keratin protein, which is a fibrous protein, is involved in the formation of hair because it is a constituent of hair (Non-Patent Document 2).
However, foods and drinks having a sufficient scalp condition improving effect, hair growth effect, and hair loss suppressing effect have not yet been obtained.

JP-A-11-243912 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-081778

SOFW J, 131 (4), 67-76 (2005) The Scientific World Journal 2014, Artist ID 641723, 6pages

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a food composition for improving the condition of the hair and scalp, which can improve the condition of the scalp and has an excellent hair growth effect and an effect of suppressing hair loss. ..

As a result of intensive research to solve the above problems, the present inventor can improve the scalp condition by using the millet extract in combination with the fibrous protein and / or its decomposition product, which is extremely excellent. We have found that a hair growth effect and a hair loss suppression effect can be obtained, and have completed the present invention.
That is, the present invention provides a food composition for improving the condition of hair and scalp, which contains a millet extract and a fibrous protein and / or a decomposition product thereof. In addition, the food composition of the present invention preferably further contains a saw palmetto extract.

The food composition for improving the condition of the hair and scalp of the present invention can improve the condition of the scalp, and can exhibit an excellent hair growth effect and a hair loss suppressing effect.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail.
The food composition for improving the condition of hair and scalp of the present invention contains a millet extract and a fibrous protein and / or a decomposition product thereof.

(1) Millet extract The millet extract in the present invention includes, for example, an extract obtained from the seeds of millet (Panicum milletum), which is a kind of plant of the genus Panicgrass of the family Gramineae, and also includes an extract obtained from a plant of the same genus. Is done.
Examples of plants of the same genus include Panicum bisuleatum, Panicum repens, Panicum dichotomiform, Panicum capillare, Panicum bisulea, and the like.
Examples of the method for obtaining the millet extract include a method of immersing various parts of a plant or its crushed material in an extraction solvent for extraction (solvent extraction method) and a method of extracting under a supercritical state (supercritical extraction method). Examples thereof include a method of squeezing to obtain a squeezed liquid. Moreover, a commercially available product can also be used.

Examples of the extraction solvent in the solvent extraction method include water, lower monohydric alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, propanol and butanol, polyhydric alcohols such as propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, butylene glycol and glycerin, and esters such as methyl acetate and ethyl acetate. Examples include ketones such as acetone and methyl ethyl ketone, ethers such as diethyl ether and tetrahydrofuran, halogenated hydrocarbons such as chloroform and carbon tetrachloride, and hydrocarbons such as hexane, heptane and cyclohexane. One of these extraction solvents may be used alone, or two or more kinds of mixed solvents may be used.

In particular, water, lower monohydric alcohols, polyhydric alcohols, esters, ketones and ethers are preferably used.
Further, as the condition for immersing in the extraction solvent, for example, the condition that the plant to be extracted is immersed in the extraction solvent at 20 to 40 ° C. for 1 hour to 7 days can be mentioned.
When extracting by the supercritical extraction method, the supercritical fluid used at that time is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include water and carbon dioxide.
Further, the obtained extract or pressed liquid may be subjected to a drying treatment such as hot air drying, vacuum drying, spray drying or freeze drying to obtain a dried product.

(2) Fibrous protein Examples of the fibrous protein in the present invention include keratin protein, collagen protein, elastin protein, silk protein, pearl protein, soybean protein, wheat germ protein, milk protein and the like. Among them, keratin protein, collagen protein, elastin protein, and silk protein are preferable, and keratin protein is more preferable, as the fibrous protein from the viewpoint of more excellent effect of improving scalp condition, hair growth effect, and hair loss suppressing effect.
Moreover, the decomposition product of the fibrous protein of the present invention may also contain salts thereof.
Examples of the method for obtaining the keratin protein or its decomposition product include a method of extracting from a keratin protein-containing raw material such as wool, feathers (for example, white leghorn feathers), hair, horns, nails, and hoofs, and a method of decomposing the obtained extract. The method is mentioned, and may be purified after extraction or decomposition.

After that, a drying treatment such as hot air drying, vacuum drying, spray drying or freeze drying may be further performed to obtain a keratin protein or a decomposition product thereof as a dried product.
Examples of the decomposition method include alkali hydrolysis, acid hydrolysis, reduction decomposition with a reducing agent, direct or bioreactor method with an enzyme, and decomposition by pressurized hydrolysis, which are necessary after alkali hydrolysis or acid hydrolysis. May be neutralized accordingly.
Examples of the purification method include a gel filtration method and an ion exchange method depending on the intended use.

Among the keratin protein and its decomposition products, the keratin protein decomposition product is preferable, and the keratin protein hydrolyzate obtained by hydrolysis is more preferable, from the viewpoint of more excellent effect of improving scalp condition, hair growth effect and hair loss suppressing effect.
Collagen protein is a protein that constitutes the extracellular matrix of the dermis part of the skin and plays a role in maintaining the shape of the tissue. Examples of the method for obtaining the collagen protein or its decomposition product include a method of extracting from a collagen protein-containing raw material such as the dermis of an animal such as a pig, a cow, and a chicken, and a method of decomposing the obtained extract.
It may be purified after extraction or decomposition, and then subjected to treatments such as hot air drying, vacuum drying, spray drying or freeze drying to obtain collagen protein or its decomposition products as a dried product.

Examples of the decomposition method and the purification method include the methods described above. Moreover, you may use a derivative such as acylated collagen as a collagen protein.
Examples of the method for obtaining the elastin protein or its decomposition product include a method of extracting from an elastin protein-containing raw material such as animal (for example, pig, cow, chicken, etc.) and fish skin and connective tissue, and a method of decomposing the obtained extract. .. It may be purified after extraction or decomposition, and then subjected to treatments such as hot air drying, vacuum drying, spray drying or freeze drying to obtain elastin protein or a decomposition product thereof as a dried product. Examples of the decomposition method and the purification method include the methods described above.
Examples of the silk protein or its decomposition products include fibroin, sericin and their decomposition products. As a production method, for example, it can be obtained by decomposing a silk protein-containing raw material such as silkworm cocoon or silk by the above-mentioned decomposition method and then purifying by the above-mentioned purification method.

After that, the silk protein or its decomposition product may be obtained as a dried product by further performing treatments such as hot air drying, vacuum drying, spray drying or freeze drying.
The number average molecular weight of the decomposition product of the fibrous protein used in the present invention is preferably 200 to 20000.
The fibrous protein hydrolyzate can be obtained by contacting a protein-containing raw material such as a keratin protein-containing raw material or a collagen protein-containing raw material with an alkaline solvent or an acid solvent at 10 to 120 ° C. for 2 to 72 hours. Examples thereof include those obtained by enzymatically decomposing a solution containing a fibrous protein such as keratin protein and collagen protein, and those obtained by desalting the same.

Examples of the alkaline solvent include alkali (for example, hydroxide of alkali metal element such as sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide, carbonate of alkali metal element such as sodium carbonate), water, the lower monovalent alcohol and the poly. Examples thereof include a mixture with one solvent selected from the group consisting of caustic alcohol, and for example, one having a specified concentration of 0.1 to 10 mol / l can be used.
Examples of the acid solvent include a mixture of an acid such as an inorganic acid (for example, hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, acetic acid) and / or an organic acid and the solvent, and for example, one having a concentration of 0.1 to 10 mol / l. Can be used.

Examples of the desalination method include methods such as dialysis, ultrafiltration, gel filtration chromatography, desalination column, and precipitation / resuspension.
Examples of the solvent of the solution containing the fibrous protein to be enzymatically decomposed include water, the lower monohydric alcohol, the polyhydric alcohol and the like, and the fibrous protein concentration is, for example, 0.1 to 35% by mass. , Preferably 1 to 15% by mass.
The enzyme used for enzymatic degradation may be any enzyme capable of degrading the target fibrous protein, and may be an exoprotease or an endoprotease, or may be of animal origin, plant origin or microbial origin.

Specific examples thereof include serine proteases such as trypsin, chymotrypsin and carboxypeptidase, thiol proteases such as papain, ficin and bromelain, and carboxyproteases such as pepsin.
Enzymatic degradation is carried out by allowing the enzyme to act in the working pH range and working temperature range of the enzyme to be used, and the decomposition time depends on the activity and amount of the enzyme, for example, 5 minutes to 72 hours, preferably 30 minutes to 24 hours. Can be mentioned.

The ratio of the millet extract to the fibrous protein and / or its decomposition product in the food composition for improving the condition of the hair and scalp of the present invention is such that the effect of improving the condition of the scalp, the effect of hair growth and the effect of suppressing hair loss are more excellent. The mass ratio of the dried product is preferably 90: 10 to 5:95, more preferably 60:40 to 10:90, and particularly preferably 50:50 to 20:80.
As the food composition for improving the condition of hair and scalp of the present invention, a mixture of the millet extract obtained as described above and the fibrous protein and / or its decomposition product may be used as it is as the food composition, or the millet extract. And / or a decomposition product thereof may be blended with additives such as excipients, bulking agents, sweeteners, flavors, and colorants commonly used in the food field, and formulated to prepare a food composition.
The dosage form of the food composition for improving the condition of the hair and scalp of the present invention is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include tablets, powders, granules, capsules, drinks, and jellies, and tablets are suitable in the present invention. ..
Further, the millet extract and the fibrous protein and / or its decomposition product may be blended with ordinary foods and drinks, for example, confectionery such as cookies, soups, and various foods and drinks such as beverages.

The content of the millet extract and the fibrous protein and / or its decomposition product in the food composition for improving the condition of the hair and scalp of the present invention is not particularly limited, but when formulated, the dosage form, the number of times of ingestion, and the excipient to be blended are not particularly limited. It can be appropriately selected depending on the type of agent and additive. For example, in the case of tablets, the total content of the millet extract and the fibrous protein and / or its decomposition product is preferably 0.1 to 50% by mass in the dried product, and more preferably 1 to 20% by mass. Is.
The total amount of millet extract and fibrous protein and / or its degradation products effective for obtaining the effects of the present invention is, for example, 0.01 to 50 g, preferably 0.1 to 5 g per day for adults as a dried product. ..
It is preferable to take the amount in this range several times a day, for example, divided into two or three times, and in the case of formulation, the intake form may be adjusted according to the intake amount, the number of intakes, and the dosage form.

(3) Other Ingredients Other ingredients may be further added to the food composition for improving the condition of the hair and scalp of the present invention.
It is preferable to contain saw palmetto extract from the viewpoint of improving the scalp condition, hair growth effect and hair loss suppressing effect.
Examples of the saw palmetto extract include an extract obtained from the seeds of saw palmetto (Serenoa repens), which is a plant belonging to the genus Saw Palmetto in the family Saw Palmetto.
As the extraction method and the drying treatment method, for example, the above-mentioned method can be adopted.
As for the amount of saw palmetto extract used, the total amount of millet extract, fibrous protein and / or its decomposition products is calculated by the mass of the dried product from the viewpoint of improving the scalp condition, hair growth effect and hair loss suppressing effect. When it is 1, 0.1 to 5 is preferable, and 0.3 to 2 is more preferable.

Further, for example, ingredients for the purpose of nutritional supplementation, recovery from fatigue, cell activation and the like, as well as cosmetic effects, stabilization, antiseptic and the like may be blended.
Examples of such components include plant- or animal-derived components, and specific examples of the plant used as a raw material include artichoke, almond, aloe vera, ginger, rice, fennel, turmeric, seaweed, satsuma mandarin, auren, otogirisou, oregano. , Kaki, Kagosou, Capillary wormwood, Kanzo, Clara, Keihi, Brown sugar, Coleus forskoli, Pomegranate, Shakuyaku, Ginger, Senkyu, Soybean, Daidai, Chouji, Touki, Hibiscus, Prune, Buttonpi, Hop, Melissa, Eucalyptus, Rosemary, etc. Can be mentioned.
Examples of animal-derived components include collagen, placenta (placenta extract), proteoglycan (sugar protein) or its decomposition products, hemoglobin decomposition products (heme iron, etc.), nucleic acid-related substances (deoxyribonucleic acid, etc.).

[I] Production of food composition I-i. Production of Raw Material (Production Example 1) Millet Extract 50 g of seeds of Panicum millet was collected and immersed in 375 ml of a 50 mass% ethanol aqueous solution at 60 ° C. for 24 hours. This was filtered, and water and ethanol were distilled off under reduced pressure from the obtained extract and then spray-dried to obtain 3.7 g of a dry powdery millet extract.

(Production Example 2) Keratin Hydrolyzate 0.5 L of 0.1 mol / l hydrochloric acid was added to 50 g of feathers, treated at 100 ° C. for 18 hours, and then neutralized with an aqueous sodium hydroxide solution on a desiccant column. It was desalted and spray-dried to obtain 34 g of keratin hydrolyzate in the form of a dry powder.

(Production Example 3) Saw Palmetto Extract 50 g of saw palmetto seeds were collected and supercritically extracted at 350 atm for 2 hours using carbon dioxide as a supercritical fluid. This was filtered to obtain an extract. The obtained extract was dried to obtain 29 g of a dried saw palmetto extract.

(Comparative Production Example 1) Mugwort Extract 50 g of mugwort leaves were collected and immersed in 375 ml of a 50 mass% ethanol aqueous solution at 60 ° C. for 24 hours. This was filtered, and water and ethanol were distilled off under reduced pressure from the obtained extract, and then freeze-dried to obtain 2.3 g of a dry powdery mugwort extract.

(Comparative Production Example 2) 150 ml of water was added to 10 g of N-acetylglucosamine chitin, and after stirring, the pH was adjusted to 2 with an aqueous hydrochloric acid solution, heated to 80 ° C., and reacted for 3 hours. Then, it was neutralized with an aqueous sodium hydroxide solution, decomposed with a chitin-degrading enzyme, desalted and purified, and then spray-dried to obtain 7.5 g of a dried product of N-acetylglucosamine.

I-i. Production of food composition (tablet) (Example 1)
5 g of the millet extract obtained in Production Example 1, 40 g of the keratin hydrolyzate obtained in Production Example 2, 30 g of the sawtooth coconut extract obtained in Production Example 3, 120 g of maltitol and 105 g of cellulose as excipients. Was mixed. This was tableted with a tableting machine to obtain 0.3 g of tablets per tablet.

(Examples 2 and 3, Comparative Examples 1 to 4)
Tablets were obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the compositions were changed to those shown in Table 1.

[II] Evaluation The food compositions of Examples and Comparative Examples were tested for improving scalp condition, hair growth effect, and hair loss suppressing effect by the following methods of use.
The test subjects ingested 1.8 g (6 tablets) of tablets daily for 3 months. The number of test subjects was 3 males and 3 females in their 30s to 50s (7 groups, 42 in total) for each of the food compositions of Examples and Comparative Examples. No one complained of abnormal physical condition during the test period.

II-i. Scalp condition improvement effect test
<1> Observation of scalp pore condition The condition of the scalp pores (clogging of sebum, etc.) of the test subject was observed with a microscope before the start of the test and after the end of the test. The state of pores after the end of the test was compared with that before the start of the test and evaluated according to the following criteria. Table 1 shows the total scores of the test subjects in each example and comparative example.
5: Pore clogging is considerably improved 4: Pore clogging is slightly improved 3: No change 2: Pore clogging is slightly worse 1: Pore clogging is considerably worse

<2> Observation of the amount of scalp sebum The amount of scalp sebum of the test subjects was observed with a microscope before the start of the test and after the end of the test. The state of sebum amount after the end of the test was compared with that before the start of the test and evaluated according to the following criteria. Table 1 shows the total scores of the test subjects in each example and comparative example.
5: The amount of sebum decreased considerably 4: The amount of sebum decreased slightly 3: No change 2: The amount of sebum increased slightly 1: The amount of sebum increased considerably

II-ii. Hair growth effect test Before the start of the test and after the end of the test, 50 hairs were collected from the temporal region of the test subject, and the hair diameter was measured. The hair diameter was measured at a portion 1 cm from the root with a thickness gauge 7301 (manufactured by Mitutoyo Co., Ltd.), and the average of 50 hairs was calculated. The hair diameter after the end of the test was evaluated according to the following criteria in comparison with that before the start of the test. Table 1 shows the total scores of the test subjects in each example and comparative example.
5: Hair diameter is 10% or more and large 4: Hair diameter is 1% or more and less than 10%, large 3: No difference 2: Hair diameter is 1% or more and less than 10%, small 1: Hair diameter is 10% or more, small

II-iii. Hair loss suppression effect test After the test, the test subjects were asked about the increase or decrease in hair loss, and the increase or decrease in hair loss was evaluated according to the following criteria compared to before the start of the test. Table 1 shows the total scores of the test subjects in each example and comparative example.
5: Reduced hair loss 4: Slightly reduced hair loss 3: No change 2: Slightly reduced hair loss 1: Increased hair loss

As is clear from Table 1, the food composition for improving the hair and scalp condition of the present invention can achieve an excellent effect of improving the scalp condition, a hair growth effect and an effect of suppressing hair loss.

The food composition for improving the condition of the hair and scalp of the present invention exerts an excellent effect of improving the condition of the scalp, an effect of growing hair and an effect of suppressing hair loss, and can be safely and easily ingested. It can provide an effective solution to your worries.

Claims (2)

A food composition for improving the condition of hair and scalp, which comprises a millet extract and a keratin protein and / or a decomposition product thereof. The food composition for improving the condition of hair and scalp according to claim 1, further containing a saw palmetto extract.