TW202342007A - Oral composition and soft capsule agent - Google Patents

Abstract

A purpose of the present invention is to provide an oral composition comprising ergothioneine or a salt thereof and an oil and fat, the composition exhibiting separation resistance and being uniform. The present invention is an oral composition comprising ergothioneine or a salt thereof, an oil and fat, and an emulsifier having an HLB of 10 or less, wherein the emulsifier includes, in the constituent fatty acid, a polyhydric alcohol fatty acid ester containing a saturated fatty acid having 12 to 22 carbon atoms, and the amount of the oil and fat is 10% by weight or more.

Description

Oral compositions and soft capsules

The present invention relates to an oral composition containing ergothioneine or its salt, oil and fat, and an emulsifier. In addition, the present invention also relates to a soft capsule containing the above-mentioned oral composition.

Soft capsules containing oil-insoluble active ingredients are generally produced by dispersing the active ingredients in edible fats and oils, and filling gelatin-coated capsules with the prepared dispersion. In order to disperse the active ingredients evenly in edible fats and oils, for example, some literature proposes a liquid composition for filling soft capsules, which uses a combination of various emulsifiers such as reacted monoglycerides or distilled monoglycerides to make the oil insoluble. The ingredients are dispersed in edible fats and oils (see Patent Document 1). [Prior technical literature] [Patent Document]

[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent No. 5405242

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

Ergothioneine is an oil-insoluble sulfur-containing amino acid and has various physiological activities including antioxidant effects. Therefore, foods such as supplements containing ergothioneine or its salts are useful for maintaining or improving health. However, since ergothioneine is poorly soluble in oil, compositions containing grease and ergothioneine may easily separate, and there is still room for improvement. If the composition in which the active ingredient is blended separates, the appearance of the product will be poor and it will be difficult to accurately blend the desired amount of the active ingredient into the product.

The object of the present invention is to provide an oral composition, which contains ergothioneine or its salt and oil and fat, is difficult to separate and is uniform. [Means used to solve problems]

The present invention includes the following oral compositions and the like. [1] An oral composition containing ergothioneine or a salt thereof, fats and oils, and an emulsifier with an HLB of 10 or less, the emulsifier being a polyhydric alcohol fatty acid ester containing a saturated fatty acid with 12 to 22 carbon atoms in the constituent fatty acids. , the content of the above-mentioned grease is more than 10% by weight. [2] The oral composition of [1] above, wherein the polyol fatty acid ester is selected from the group consisting of fatty acid glyceride, polyglycerol fatty acid ester, sorbitan fatty acid ester, propylene glycol fatty acid ester and sucrose fatty acid ester. at least one of the groups formed. [3] The oral composition according to the above-mentioned [1] or [2], wherein the carbon number of the above-mentioned saturated fatty acid is 12 to 18. [4] The oral composition according to any one of the above [1] to [3], wherein the content of the emulsifier is 1 to 30% by weight. [5] The oral composition according to any one of the above [1] to [4], which is used for filling soft capsules. [6] A soft capsule having a content including the oral composition according to any one of the above [1] to [5], and a capsule film. [Effects of the invention]

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an oral composition that contains ergothioneine or its salt and oil and fat, and is difficult to separate and is uniform.

The oral composition of the present invention contains ergothioneine or its salt, oil and fat, and an emulsifier with an HLB of 10 or less.

Ergothioneine is a sulfur-containing amino acid. In the present invention, ergothioneine is preferably L-ergothioneine. The salt of ergothioneine is not particularly limited as long as it is a pharmacologically acceptable salt or a salt acceptable in food and beverages, and may be either an acidic salt or an alkaline salt. Examples of acidic salts include inorganic acid salts such as hydrochloride, sulfate, nitrate, and phosphate; acetate, citrate, maleate, malate, oxalate, lactate, and succinate. , fumarate, propionate and other organic acid salts. Examples of the alkaline salt include alkali metal salts such as sodium salt and potassium salt; alkaline earth metal salts such as calcium salt and magnesium salt.

Ergothioneine or its salts are not limited at all by their form or production method. Ergothioneine or its salt may be chemically synthesized, or may be extracted and purified from natural products. L-ergothioneine is rich in the Golden/Yellow Oyster Mushroom (scientific name: Pleurotus cornucopiae var. citrinopileatus) of the genus Pleurotus genus. L-ergothioneine is also contained in white mushrooms, brown mushrooms, Portabella and other white mushrooms (scientific name: Agaricus bisporus), Gray Oyster Mushroom ) (scientific name: Pleurotus ostreatus), shiitake mushroom (scientific name: Lentinula edodes), maitake mushroom (scientific name: Grifola frondosa), Ganoderma lucidum (scientific name: Ganoderma lucidum), Hericium erinaceus (scientific name: Hericium erinaceus) , Agrocybe aegerita (scientific name: Agrocybe aegerita), Chanterelle mushroom (scientific name: Agrocybe aegerita) Cantharellus cibarius), boletus (scientific name: Boletus edulis), morels (scientific name: Morchella esculenta) and other mushrooms. When L-ergothioneine is obtained from a natural product, extraction from Pleurotus leucophylla or the like is preferred. Ergothioneine or its salts can also be produced by microbial fermentation. Ergothioneine or its salt may be a purified and separated product.

The content of ergothioneine or its salt contained in the oral composition of the present invention is not particularly limited and can be set according to its form and the like. The content of ergothioneine or its salt in the oral composition of the present invention is, in terms of ergothioneine conversion, preferably 0.01% by weight or more, more preferably 0.1% by weight or more, and 10% by weight. The content is preferably less than 5% by weight, and more preferably less than 5% by weight. In one aspect, the content of ergothioneine or its salt is preferably 0.01 to 10% by weight in terms of ergothioneine conversion, preferably 0.1 to 10% by weight, and more preferably 0.1 to 5% by weight. good. If the content of ergothioneine or its salt is within the above range, separation of the oral composition of the present invention will be inhibited. In addition, the oral composition of the present invention can effectively exert the physiological functions of ergothioneine or its salt. In this specification, the amount of ergothioneine converted or similar expressions mean the amount in the case of ergothioneine, and the molar number multiplied by the salt of ergothioneine in the case of ergothioneine. Value obtained as the molecular weight of ergothioneine. The content of ergothioneine can be determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

The fats and oils contained in the oral composition of the present invention are not particularly limited as long as they are orally ingestible by humans, and examples thereof include edible oils and fats that are liquid at normal temperature (25° C.). Examples of such edible fats and oils include olive oil, sesame oil, rice germ oil, safflower oil, soybean oil, corn oil, rapeseed oil, palm oil, soft palm oil, palm kernel oil, sunflower oil, grapeseed oil, and cottonseed oil. , coconut oil, peanut oil and other vegetable oils; medium chain fatty acid triglycerides, squalene, fish oil, etc. Fish oil is rich in compounds that constitute fatty acids such as triglycerides (fats and oils), including Omega3 fatty acids such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). For example, fish oil may be a DHA-containing oil and fat that contains DHA as a compound constituting a fatty acid and is concentrated to 40% by weight or more or 50% by weight or more in terms of DHA. The amount converted to docosahexaenoic acid or a similar expression means the amount converted to free DHA after DHA has been liberated from a compound containing DHA as a constituent fatty acid by saponification treatment or enzyme treatment. In the oral composition of the present invention, one type of these fats and oils may be used, or two or more types may be used in any combination.

The content of the above-mentioned fats and oils in the oral composition of the present invention is 10% by weight or more relative to the total amount of the composition. If the fat and oil content is within the above range, the oral composition of the present invention will not be easily separated and the composition will become uniform. The oil and fat content in the oral composition can be appropriately set according to the use and form, and can be, for example, 30% by weight or more or 50% by weight or more. In addition, for example, it may be 99% by weight or less, 98% by weight or less, or 90% by weight or less. In one aspect, the content of oil and fat in the oral composition of the present invention may be 10 to 99% by weight, 30 to 98% by weight, or 50 to 90% by weight. When the oral composition of the present invention is in a liquid form, the content of fat and oil may be, for example, 40% by weight or more or 50% by weight or more. In addition, for example, it may be 99% by weight or less, 98% by weight or less, or 90% by weight or less. When the oral composition of the present invention is in liquid form, in one aspect, the content of oil and fat in the oral composition of the present invention may be 40 to 99% by weight or 50 to 98% by weight. The composition and content of oil and fat can be determined by gas chromatography (GC).

The HLB of the emulsifier contained in the oral composition of the present invention is 10 or less. If the HLB of the emulsifier is 10 or less, the oral composition of the present invention is less likely to separate and becomes uniform. Here, HLB is an index indicating the degree of hydrophilicity and lipophilicity of the emulsifier calculated by Griffin's method. The smaller the HLB, the higher the lipophilicity, and the larger the HLB, the higher the hydrophilicity. The HLB of the above-mentioned emulsifier is preferably 3 or more and 10 or less.

The emulsifier includes a polyhydric alcohol fatty acid ester containing a saturated fatty acid having 12 to 22 carbon atoms as a constituent fatty acid. If the emulsifier contains a polyhydric alcohol fatty acid ester containing a saturated fatty acid with 12 to 22 carbon atoms in the constituting fatty acid, the oral composition will be difficult to separate and will become uniform, and the ergothioneine contained in the oral composition or The solubility of its salt in water becomes high. If the water solubility of ergothioneine or its salt contained in the oral composition becomes high, it is considered that the solubility of ergothioneine or its salt in the body is good when the oral composition is ingested. The emulsifier used in the oral composition of the present invention is preferably a polyol fatty acid ester whose main component is not a polyol fatty acid ester containing unsaturated fatty acids among the constituent fatty acids.

The polyhydric alcohol fatty acid ester is preferably at least one selected from the group consisting of fatty acid glyceride, polyglycerol fatty acid ester, sorbitan fatty acid ester, propylene glycol fatty acid ester and sucrose fatty acid ester. The polyhydric alcohol fatty acid ester may be any of a monoester, a diester, or a compound having more ester bonds.

Fatty acid glycerides include monofatty acid glycerides in which one fatty acid is bonded to glycerol, difatty acid glycerides in which two fatty acids are bonded to glycerin, and organic acid monoglycerides in which an organic acid is further bonded to the hydroxyl group of the monofatty acid glyceride. Glycerides. Examples of organic acids include acetic acid, lactic acid, citric acid, succinic acid, diethyl tartaric acid, and the like. Fatty acid glycerides may contain slight amounts of trifatty acid glycerides in which three fatty acids are bonded to glycerin. In this specification, trifatty acid glycerides in which three fatty acids are bonded to glycerol are regarded as fats and oils when calculating the content. .

The average degree of polymerization of glycerol constituting the polyglycerol fatty acid ester is not particularly limited, but is usually 2 or more and 10 or less. The oral composition of the present invention is not easy to separate, so the emulsifiers mentioned above are preferably fatty acid glycerides and polyglycerol fatty acid esters.

Examples of saturated fatty acids with 12 to 22 carbon atoms include lauric acid, myristic acid, pentadecanoic acid, palmitic acid, pearlescent acid, stearic acid, arachidic acid, and behenic acid. The emulsifier is preferably a polyhydric alcohol fatty acid ester containing a saturated fatty acid containing 12 to 18 carbon atoms as a constituent fatty acid. Saturated fatty acids with 12 to 22 carbon atoms are preferably lauric acid and stearic acid.

Specific examples of polyhydric alcohol fatty acid esters containing a saturated fatty acid with 12 to 22 carbon atoms in the constituent fatty acids include, for example, lauric acid monoglyceride, palmitic acid monoglyceride, stearic acid monoglyceride, and behenic acid monoglyceride. Ester, fatty acid glyceryl esters such as diglyceryl monostearate, diglyceryl behenate, glyceryl lactate monostearate, glyceryl monostearate succinate, etc.; pentaglyceryl hexastearate, decastearyl Polyglyceryl fatty acid esters such as decaglyceryl pentastearate and decaglyceryl pentastearate; propylene glycol fatty acids such as propylene glycol monolaurate, propylene glycol monopalmitate, propylene glycol monostearate, and propylene glycol monobehenate. Esters; sorbitan fatty acid esters such as sorbitan monostearate; sucrose fatty acid esters such as sucrose stearate, etc. In particular, since the oral composition of the present invention is difficult to separate and becomes uniform, the polyol fatty acid ester is composed of stearic acid monoglyceride, behenic acid monoglyceride, monostearic acid diglyceride, behenic acid monoglyceride, Diglyceryl acetate, glyceryl lactate monostearate, glyceryl monostearate succinate, decaglyceryl decastearate, decaglyceryl pentastearate, and sorbitan monostearate are preferred.

The above-mentioned emulsifier may contain one kind or two or more kinds of the above-mentioned polyhydric alcohol fatty acid esters. When the emulsifier contains two or more polyol fatty acid esters, the combination is not particularly limited. For example, if it contains two or more polyol fatty acid esters with different carbon numbers constituting fatty acids, the present invention The oral composition is less likely to separate and becomes uniform.

The emulsifier is a polyol fatty acid ester containing a saturated fatty acid with 12 to 22 carbon atoms as the main component, and the emulsifier preferably contains at least 60% by weight of the polyol fatty acid ester. The content of the polyol fatty acid ester in the emulsifier is preferably 80% by weight or more, more preferably 90% by weight or more. The above-mentioned emulsifier may also contain other components within a range that does not impair the effects of the present invention. Examples of other components include polyhydric alcohol fatty acid esters containing saturated fatty acids with 11 or less carbon atoms in the structural fatty acids, polyhydric alcohol fatty acid esters containing unsaturated fatty acids with 12 to 22 carbon atoms in the structural fatty acids, and the like. In one aspect, the emulsifier preferably does not contain polyhydric alcohol fatty acid esters containing unsaturated fatty acids among the constituent fatty acids. The above-mentioned emulsifier may be a commercial product or a synthetic product. The synthesis of a polyhydric alcohol fatty acid ester containing a saturated fatty acid having 12 to 22 carbon atoms as a constituent fatty acid can be carried out according to a known method.

The content of the emulsifier with HLB 10 or less in the oral composition of the present invention is preferably 1% by weight or more, more preferably 3% by weight or more, and more preferably 5% by weight or more relative to the total amount of the composition. In addition, the content is preferably 30% by weight or less, and more preferably 25% by weight or less. In one aspect, the content of the emulsifier in the oral composition of the present invention is preferably 1 to 30% by weight, more preferably 3 to 25% by weight, and more preferably 5 to 25% by weight. The content of emulsifier can be measured by GC method and HPLC method.

The form of the oral composition of the present invention is not particularly limited and may be solid (powder, granular, tablet, etc.), liquid, paste, etc. The oral composition of the present invention is ideally liquid at 25°C. The oral composition of the present invention is preferably a composition in which ergothioneine or its salt is uniformly dispersed in the above-mentioned oil and fat.

Ergothioneine or its salts are compounds that are contained in natural products or food and beverages and have a history of consumption. Therefore, from the viewpoint of safety, daily intake of ergothioneine or its salt is considered to have few problems. According to the present invention, an oral composition that is highly safe and easy to ingest can be provided.

Ergothioneine or its salts are known to exert various physiological activities or health functions as mentioned above, such as antioxidant effects, brain function improvement effects, anti-aging effects, eye disease improvement effects, whitening effects, ultraviolet absorption effects, melanin Produce inhibitory effects, elimination of reactive oxygen species, elastase activity inhibitory effect, wrinkle formation inhibitory effect, skin sagging inhibitory effect, autophagy promotion effect, etc. Therefore, the oral composition of the present invention is suitable for use as an antioxidant, for improving brain function, for anti-aging, for eye diseases, for whitening, for absorbing ultraviolet rays, for inhibiting melanin production, for eliminating reactive oxygen species, and for elastase. Used for inhibiting activity, inhibiting wrinkle formation, inhibiting skin sagging, promoting autophagy, etc.

The oral composition of the present invention can be applied to either therapeutic use (medical use) or non-therapeutic use (non-medical use). Non-treatment is a concept that does not include medical behavior, that is, human surgery, treatment or diagnosis. The oral composition of the present invention can be made into the form of food, drink, medicine, quasi-drug, feed, etc. The oral composition of the present invention may be a material or preparation that is blended into foods, drinks, drugs, quasi-drugs, feeds, etc.

Specific examples of the oral composition of the present invention include food and beverages, oral drugs, quasi-drugs, feeds, etc., and are preferably food and beverages or oral drugs, and more preferably food and drink.

The oral composition of the present invention may contain optional additives and optional ingredients in addition to ergothioneine or its salt, the above-mentioned fats and oils, and emulsifiers, as long as the effects of the present invention are not impaired. These additives and ingredients can be selected according to the form of the oral composition, etc. Generally speaking, substances that can be used in oral compositions such as food and drink, drugs, quasi-drugs, feeds, etc. can be used. When the oral composition of the present invention is made into food, drink, medicine, quasi-drug, feed, etc., the production method is not particularly limited and can be produced by a general method.

For example, when the oral composition of the present invention is made into a food or drink, ergothioneine or its salt, the above-mentioned fats and oils, and an emulsifier are mixed with ingredients that can be used in the food or drink (for example, food materials, ingredients used as necessary). Food additives, etc.), can be made into various food and beverage products. Food and beverages are not particularly limited, and examples thereof include general food and beverages, health foods, health supplements, health drinks, foods with functional labels, foods for specific health uses, and foods and beverages for patients. The above-mentioned health food, health supplement food, food with functional labeling, food for specific health use, etc., can be in the form of, for example, fine granules, tablets, granules, powder, capsules, soft capsules, chewables, dry syrups, syrups, etc. It can be used in various preparation forms such as preparations, liquids, beverages, liquid foods, etc.

When the oral composition of the present invention is made into a drug or quasi-drug, for example, ergothioneine or its salt, the above-mentioned fats and oils, and an emulsifier are mixed with a pharmacologically acceptable carrier, additives added as necessary, etc. Can be made into drugs or quasi-drugs in various dosage forms. Such supports, additives, etc. may be used as long as they are pharmacologically acceptable substances that can be used in drugs or quasi-drugs. Examples include excipients, binding agents, disintegrating agents, lubricants, antioxidants, colorants, etc. One or more than two types. Dosage forms for oral administration of drugs or quasi-drugs include liquids, tablets, powders, granules, granules, sugar-coated tablets, capsules, soft capsules, suspensions, emulsions, chewables, and the like.

When the oral composition of the present invention is used as a feed, a mixture of ergothioneine or its salt, the above fats and oils, and an emulsifier may be blended into the feed. Feed also includes feed additives. Examples of the feed include feeds for livestock such as cattle, pigs, chickens, sheep, horses, etc.; feeds for small animals such as rabbits, rats, mice, etc.; and pet foods used for dogs, cats, birds, etc.

The subjects who ingest or administer the oral composition of the present invention (which may also be referred to as administration subjects) are not particularly limited. Preferably it is a human or non-human mammal, preferably a human.

In the oral composition of the present invention, the content of ergothioneine or its salt is calculated based on the daily intake of an adult and calculated in terms of ergothioneine conversion, preferably 1 to 100 mg, and more preferably 2 to 50 mg. Best, 5 to 25 mg is better, 5 to 20 mg is particularly good. The oral composition of the present invention is not easily separated and is uniform, so the appearance of the product is good, and it is easy to accurately blend the desired amount of ergothioneine or its salt into the product.

＜Preparation method of oral composition＞ The oral composition of the present invention can be produced by mixing and stirring ergothioneine or its salt, the above-mentioned fats and oils, and an emulsifier. Ideally, for example, the above oils and fats and emulsifiers can be heated to about 60 to 80° C., mixed and stirred, and then ergothioneine or a salt thereof can be further added, followed by mixing and stirring. In addition, the emulsifier may be preheated or melted. The device used for mixing and stirring is not particularly limited. For example, high-speed mixers or high-speed pulverizers such as BioMixer mixers, homogenizers, and colloid grinders can be used.

The oral composition of the present invention is suitable for use as the contents of soft capsules. The oral composition of the present invention is suitable as a composition for filling soft capsules, for example.

＜Soft capsule＞ The present invention also provides a soft capsule, which has a content including the above-mentioned oral composition, and a capsule film. The soft capsule of the present invention is a soft capsule formed by a capsule film, filled with the content including the above-mentioned oral composition. The content may be an object formed from the above-mentioned oral composition. The base material that forms the capsule coating (hereinafter also referred to as the coating) may be a base material generally used for capsule coatings.

＜Soft capsule manufacturing method＞ The prepared oral composition can be formed into soft capsules using a well-known soft capsule molding machine in a heated state, for example. When manufacturing soft capsules, there are no particular restrictions, and they can be manufactured according to the manufacturing conditions of the soft capsule sealing device.

In this specification, the numerical range represented by the lower limit value and the upper limit value, that is, the "lower limit value to the upper limit value" includes these lower limit values and upper limit values. For example, the range represented by "1 to 2" means more than 1 and less than 2, including 1 and 2. In this specification, a range formed by any combination of the upper limit and the lower limit can be used. [Example]

The present invention will be described in more detail below based on examples. In addition, the present invention is not limited to these Examples.

Examples 1 to 10, Comparative Examples 1 to 10 ＜Preparation and separability of composition＞ A mixture of the emulsifier shown in Table 1 and the following fats and oils was put into a transparent polypropylene centrifuge tube, heated to 70°C to dissolve the emulsifier, and then 125 mg of L-ergothioneine (ergothioneine) was added and mixed. Let the whole thing become uniform and let it cool at the same time to obtain the composition. As the oil, any one of safflower oil, DHA-containing oil and rice germ oil was used. That is, in Example 1, composition 1-1 containing ergothioneine, safflower oil, and emulsifier 1, and composition 1-2 containing ergothioneine, DHA-containing oil and fat, and emulsifier 1 were prepared. , compositions 1-3 containing ergothioneine, rice germ oil and emulsifier 1. In Examples 2 to 10 and Comparative Examples 1 to 10, similarly to Example 1, three compositions having different types of fats and oils were prepared in each example. The blending ratio of the emulsifier and the oil and fat is, when the oil and fat is safflower oil, set to 1050 mg of the emulsifier and 9325 mg of the oil and fat (the total of ergothioneine, emulsifier and oil and fat is 10500 mg). When the fat and oil are DHA-containing fat and rice germ oil, the amount is 1575 mg of emulsifier and 8800 mg of fat and oil (the total of ergothioneine, emulsifier and fat and oil is 10500 mg).

Ergothioneine: L-ergothioneine (synthetic) DHA-containing fats and oils: Fats and oils containing at least 40% by weight in terms of docosahexaenoic acid as a compound containing docosahexaenoic acid as a constituent fatty acid

After cooling, visually observe each component in a polypropylene centrifuge tube to confirm whether each component is separated. A composition in which separation was not observed was designated as "○", a composition in which separation was slightly observed was designated as "△", and a composition in which separation was completely observed was designated as "×". The results are shown in Table 1.

The "number of unsaturated bonds" in Table 1 represents the number of double bonds in the main constituent fatty acid of the polyhydric alcohol fatty acid ester contained in the emulsifier. In addition, "the number of carbon atoms and the content of the main constituent fatty acids" means the number of carbon atoms and the content ratio of the fatty acid that contains the largest number of fatty acids among the constituent fatty acids of the polyhydric alcohol fatty acid ester contained in the emulsifier.

In the compositions of Examples 1 to 10, when any one of safflower oil, DHA-containing oil and fat, and rice germ oil is used, separation of the composition is suppressed or substantially suppressed. Comparative Examples 1 and 5 are emulsifiers 11 and 15 whose constituent fatty acids have less than 12 carbon atoms. Comparative Examples 2 to 4, 6, and 10 are emulsifiers 12 to 14, 16, and 20 that contain unsaturated fatty acids in their constituent fatty acids. Comparative Examples Examples 7 to 10 used emulsifiers 17 to 20 with HLB values exceeding 10. In Comparative Examples 1 to 10, when any one of safflower oil, DHA-containing oil and rice germ oil was used, or when any one of the oils and fats was used, the compositions were completely separated.

＜Solubility of the composition in water＞ Next, among the compositions of Examples 1 to 10 and the compositions of Comparative Examples 7 and 8, those whose separability was evaluated as "○" or "△" were dispersed in pure water, and the following procedures were followed to confirm that wheat Solubility of thioneine in water. If the solubility in water is good, it is considered that the solubility of ergothioneine in the body is good when the oral composition is ingested. Measure 168 mg of each component into a 50 mL centrifuge tube, and add 40 mL of pure water. Ultrasonic treatment was performed in a water bath at 30 to 40° C. for 60 minutes to disperse the composition in pure water. Sixty minutes after starting the ultrasonic treatment, 1 mL of the supernatant of the dispersion was measured and centrifuged at 15,000 rpm for 3 minutes. The supernatant after centrifugation was filtered with a 0.45 μm filter, and the filtrate was used as a measurement sample. HPLC analysis was performed using the measurement sample according to the following conditions. From the concentration of ergothioneine measured by HPLC, the dissolution rate of ergothioneine contained in the composition to water was calculated using the following formula. The results are shown in Table 2. When the dissolution rate is 60% or more 60 minutes after the ultrasonic treatment is started, the composition is considered to have excellent water dissolution properties.

[HPLC analysis conditions] HPLC apparatus: LC-20AD (trade name), manufactured by Shimadzu Corporation Analytical column: CAPCELL PAK C18 TYPE AQ (trade name), 4.6mmI.D.×150mm, made by Osaka SODA Mobile phase: 0.1% acetic acid aqueous solution Analysis time: 10min Initial pressure: 5.8MPa Column temperature: 30℃ Flow rate: 1.0mL/min Injection volume: 10μL Detection: 254nm

The compositions of Examples 1 to 10 have excellent ergothioneine solubility in water. Especially in Examples 6 and 7 in which the emulsifier is lauric acid monoglyceride, the solubility of ergothioneine is very excellent even in any of safflower oil, DHA-containing oil and rice germ oil. In addition, in the case where the oil and fat is safflower oil, the compositions of Examples 1 and 8 using emulsifiers containing two polyol fatty acid esters with different numbers of carbon atoms in the fatty acids, the solubility of ergothioneine in water is very excellent. . In addition, when the oil and fat is a DHA-containing oil or rice germ oil, the compositions of Examples 6, 7, 9 and 10 are used in which the polyol fatty acid ester is an emulsifier such as lauric acid monoglyceride or organic acid monoglyceride. substance, ergothioneine has excellent solubility in water. In Comparative Examples 7 and 8, compared with the compositions of Examples, the solubility of ergothioneine in water is lower.

Claims (6)

An oral composition containing ergothioneine or its salt, oil and fat, and an emulsifier with HLB 10 or less, The emulsifier includes a polyhydric alcohol fatty acid ester containing a saturated fatty acid with 12 to 22 carbon atoms in the constituent fatty acids, The content of the aforementioned oil and fat is 10% by weight or more. The oral composition of claim 1, wherein the polyol fatty acid ester is selected from the group consisting of fatty acid glyceride, polyglycerol fatty acid ester, sorbitan fatty acid ester, propylene glycol fatty acid ester and sucrose fatty acid ester. At least one of the groups. The oral composition of claim 1, wherein the carbon number of the saturated fatty acid is 12 to 18. The oral composition of claim 1, wherein the content of the aforementioned emulsifier is 1 to 30% by weight. For example, the oral composition of claim 1 is for filling soft capsules. A soft capsule having: a content including the oral composition according to any one of claims 1 to 5, and a capsule film.