WO2010064845A2

WO2010064845A2 - The pharmaceutical composition or the functional foods for the treatment or prevention of obesity comprising the extract from myristica fragrans houttuyn

Info

Publication number: WO2010064845A2
Application number: PCT/KR2009/007158
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jei-Man Ryu; Seung-Ryul Lee; Nam-Hyun Baek; Moon-Jung Leem; Seung-Kyoo Seong; Sang-Ho Lee
Original assignee: Dong Wha Pharm. Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2008-12-02
Filing date: 2009-12-02
Publication date: 2010-06-10
Also published as: WO2010064845A3

Abstract

There is provided a pharmaceutical composition and functional foods for the prevention and treatment of obesity, comprising an extract from Myristica fragrans Houttuyn as an effective component. The Myristica fragrans Houttuyn extract may be used for the pharmaceutical composition for the prevention and treatment of obesity caused by the intake of high-fat diets by suppressing an increase in body weights caused by the intake of high-fat diets, an increase in weights of periovarian fats and an accumulation of abdominal fats caused by the hypertrophy of adipocytes (fat cells). Furthermore, the extract from Myristica fragrans Houttuyn may be effectively used for the functional foods for the amelioration and prevention of obesity in humans including juveniles, adults and the old since it is used to ameliorate and prevent the obesity caused by the intake of high-fat diets.

Description

THE PHARMACEUTICAL COMPOSITION OR THE FUNCTIONAL FOODS FOR THE TREATMENT OR PREVENTION OF OBESITY COMPRISING THE EXTRACT FROM MYRISTICA FRAGRANS HOUTTUYN

The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition and functional foods for the prevention and treatment obesity, comprising an extract from Myristica fragrans Houttuyn as an effective component

Obesity is a medical condition in which excessively ingested high fat and high calorie have accumulated in human bodies and body fats have increased to the abnormal level, leading to increased health problems in the Westerns who mainly eat meat, and also leading to serious health problems in Korea due to the changes in dietary habits into Western ones with high growth of economy for the past 20-30 years (Mitchell M, Armstrong DT, Robker RL, Norman RJ. Adipokines: implications for female fertility and obesity. Reproduction. 2005;130:583-97).

Obesity is commonly caused by overeating, insufficient exercise and reduction in basal metabolism, etc. and when these conditions continue to be extended, the obesity itself has been known to causes diabetes, hyperlipemia, arteriosclerosis (Kunitomi M, Wada J, Takahashi K, Tsuchiyama Y, Mimura Y, Hida K, Miyatake N, Fujii M, Kira S, Shikata K, Maknio H. Relationship between reduced serμm IGF-I levels and accμmulation of visceral fat in Japanese men. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2002;26:361-9), hypertension, cardiovascular disease and osteoarthritis, etc., and also is responsible for various diseases and the health problems such as reduced activities (Hida K, Wada J, Eguchi J, Zhang H, Baba M, Seida A, Hashimoto I, Okada T, Yasuhara A, Nakatsuka A, Shikata K, Hourai S, Futami J, Watanabe E, Matsuki Y, Hiramatsu R, Akagi S, Makino H, Kanwar YS. Visceral adipose tissue-derived serine protease inhibitor: a unique insulin-sensitizing adipocytokine in obesity. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2005;102:10610-5).

In order to prevent these obese conditions and reduce the body weights, it is necessary to reduce calorie intakes and increase calorie consumption through sufficient exercise, thereby preventing the accumulation of subcutaneous fat in human bodies. In this regard, there has been much research on dietary fibers that is low in calories but staves off feelings of hunger. Korean Registered Patent Publication No. 466580 discloses that a dietary fiber is a high-molecular indigestible component which gives impetus to movements of the digestive tract in human bodies and is effective for arteriosclerosis or obesity and the loss in weights.

In addition, according to many records and documents, it has been known that herbal medicines are effective for the prevention and treatment of obesity. For example, Korean Registered Patent Publication No. 842193 discloses a composition for preventing and ameliorating the multiple risk factor syndromes such as visceral fat obesity, diabetes, hyperlipemia and hypertension, selected from the group consisting of a hydrophobic extract from Glycyrrhiza uralensis, an extract from Curcuma longa L., an extract from Syringa velutina var. kamibayashii extract and an extract from Cinnamonum zeylanicum Beryn, and Korean Registered Patent Publication No. 767051 discloses that the components of obovatol and obovatal extracted from Magnolia obovata Thunberg, Magnoliaceae may be effectively used to treat obesity by effectively inhibiting the expression and activation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) that play an important role in the obesity and the growth of adipocytes (fat cells). Also, Korean Registered Patent Publication No. 2002-0057712 discloses that capsaicin widely known as a hot-tasting condiment of Capsicum annuum is known to result in a rapid increase of energy consumption, thereby showing an anti-obesity effect.

Meanwhile, Myristica fragrans Houttuyn is a seed of Myristica fragrans Houttuyn from Myristicaceae, sp. It has been known that Myristica fragrans Houttuyn contains components such as d-camphene, and is effective for the gastric protection. However, there has been no report on the efficacy of Myristica fragrans Houttuyn to prevent and treat the obesity.

Korean Registered Patent Publication No. 858196 discloses that a composition comprising an extract from Myristica fragrans Houttuyn may be used for the prevention and treatment of acnes since it has an excellent antimicrobial effect on Propionibacterium acnes, and also may be widely used to reduce skin troubles of hair treatment products and body-washing products, as well as skin cosmetic compositions, and to improve their skin stabilities. And, Korean Registered Patent Publication No. 832746 discloses a composition for the prevention of plant diseases, comprising an extract from Myristica fragrans Houttuyn, and Korean Registered Patent Publication No. 844376 discloses a composition for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.

The present inventors have found that the extract from Myristica fragrans Houttuyn has a medical use to prevent and treat obesity and thus may be used for functional foods that can ameliorate the obesity, which have not been known in the prior art. Therefore, the present invention was completed on the basis of the above-mentioned facts.

Accordingly, the present invention is designed to solve such drawbacks of the prior art, and therefore an object of the present invention is to provide a pharmaceutical composition and functional foods for the prevention and treatment of obesity caused by the intake of high-fat diets

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pharmaceutical composition for the prevention and treatment of obesity cause by the intake of high-fat diets comprising an extract from Myristica fragrans Houttuyn as an effective component.

The extract from Myristica fragrans Houttuyn may be obtained by drying Myristica fragrans Houttuyn and smashing it to splinters, soaking the smashed Myristica fragrans Houttuyn in about 10 times volume of an extraction solvent for one day to yield a crude extract, and filtrating, concentrating and freeze-drying the crude extract. In this case, the extraction solvent may be selected without any limitation. The extraction solvent includes, but is not limited to, distilled water, lower alcohols such as ethanol, methanol, isopropyl alcohol and n-butanol, polyhydric alcohols such as glycerol, propylene glycol and 1,3-butylene glycol, and hydrocarbons solvents such as ethylacetate, methylacetate, benzene, n-hexane, diethyl ether and dichloromethane, etc., which may be used alone or in combinations thereof to achieve the extraction of Myristica fragrans Houttuyn.

The extract from Myristica fragrans Houttuyn may be obtained by a fluid extracting process, a viscous fluid extracting process, a freeze-drying process and a spray-drying process so that the extract can be formulated into formulations such as solutions, pills, tablets, capsules, suspensions and syrups.

The composition according to the present invention includes an extract from Myristica fragrans Houttuyn extract, and also a herbal extract comprising the extract from Myristica fragrans Houttuyn. For example, Gas Whal Myung Su-Q, commercially available from this applicant, is a composition (hereinafter, referred to as a 'Gas Whal Myung Su-Qcomposition') comprising as an effective component as a mixed herbal extract from Myristica fragrans Houttuyn, Syringa velutina var. kamibayashii, Zingiber officinale Rosco, Cinnamonum zeylanicum Beryn, A. Catechu, dried orange peel, Atractylodes lancea, Magnolia officinalis Rehd et Wils., Corydalis turtschaninovii and Capsicum annuum. Here, the Gas Whal Myung Su-Qcomposition is included in the scope of the Myristica fragrans Houttuyn extract-containing composition since it includes the extract from Myristica fragrans Houttuyn.

As seen from the following Experimental examples, it was confirmed that the changes in body weights and the changes in weights of periovarian fats are measured according to the present invention in order to confirm that the extract from Myristica fragrans Houttuyn and the herbal extract, Gas Whal Myung Su-Q composition, comprising the extract from Myristica fragrans Houttuyn have the ability to facilitate the prevention and treatment of obesity. Also, since an increase in adipose tissues in obese mans and women results mainly from the hypertrophy of adipocytes in a histopathological aspect, the changes in mean diameters of abdominal adipocytes and periovarian adipocytes and thickness of abdominal adipose tissues are measured according to the present invention in order to confirm that the extract from Myristica fragrans Houttuyn and also the Gas Whal Myung Su-Qcomposition have the ability to facilitate the prevention and treatment of obesity.

The composition according to the present invention may be administered in the form of oral and parenteral formulations in the clinical administration of the composition, and the most preferred route of administration is by oral infusion. Also, when the composition is formulated into formulations, the formulations may be prepared with a diluent such as a filler, a promoter, a binder, a wetting agent, a disintegrating agent and a surfactant, or an excipient, which is widely used herein.

Solid formulations for oral administration may include tablets, pills, powders, granules, capsules, etc., and these solid formulations may be prepared in combination with at least one excipient, for example, such as microcrystalline cellulose, low-substituted hydroxypropylcellulose, colloidal anhydrous silica, calcium silicate, starch, calcium carbonate, sucrose or lactose, gelatine and the like. In addition to the general excipients, lubricants such as magnesium sterarate and talc may be also used herein. Also, liquid formulations for oral administration may include suspensions, solutions, emulsions, syrups and the like. In addition to the general diluents (i.e. water) and liquid paraffin which are widely used herein, a variety of excipients, for example a wetting agent, a sweetening agent, an aromatics, a preservatives and the like. Formulation for parenteral administration may include a sterile aqueous solution, a non-aqueous solvent, a suspension, an emulsion, a freeze-dried formulation and a suppository. As the non-aqueous solvent and suspension, vegetable oils such as propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol and olive oil, and injectable esters such as ethyl oleate may be used. As the base agent of the suppository, witepsol, macrogol, Tween 61, cacao butter, sevum laurinum, glycerogelatin and the like may be used.

In addition, a dose of the extract from Myristica fragrans Houttuyn according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention may be varied according to the weight, age, sex and health of patients, the diets, the administration durations, the route of administration, the excretion rate, and the severity of diseases. In this case, the extract is preferably administered to the obese adults in a dose of 1 mg/kg to 1000 mg/kg once or several times a day.

Also, the present invention provides functional foods comprising the extract from Myristica fragrans Houttuyn for the amelioration and prevention of obesity.

According to the present invention, the extract from Myristica fragrans Houttuyn may be added to various solid foods such as a variety of palatable foods (i.e., a chewing gum, noodles such as an instant noodle, candies, confectioneries and snacks, cereals and breads) to prepare functional foods which have the effects to ameliorate and prevent the obesity. Where the extract is prepared into solution formulations, it may be formulated into pouches, beverages or teas, and it may also be added to vitamin cocktails, health care products and the like to prepare functional foods.

According to the present invention, the extract from Myristica fragrans Houttuyn may be effectively used for the pharmaceutical composition for the prevention and treatment, which comprises the extract from Myristica fragrans Houttuyn as an effective component, since it is administered to prevent and treat the obesity.

As a novel component for the functional foods for the amelioration and prevention of the obesity, the extract from Myristica fragrans Houttuyn extract according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention may also be effectively used for the amelioration and prevention of the obesity in humans including juveniles, adults and the old since it is used to ameliorate and prevent the obesity caused by the intake of high-fat diets. In the near future, the extract from Myristica fragrans Houttuyn extract according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention may be useful to develop into functional foods for the prevention and amelioration of adult diseases (i.e., hypertension, hyperlipemia, diabetes, etc.).

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. However, it should be understood that the description proposed herein is just a preferable example for the purpose of illustrations only, not intended to limit the scope of the invention

Example 1 : Preparation of herbal extract according to the present invention (1)

1L of 95% ethanol was added and soaked into 100 g of Myristica fragrans Houttuyn for 1 day. Then, the resulting extract was eluted, and concentrated under a reduced pressure to obtain 200 mg of an extract from Myristica fragrans Houttuyn.

Example 2 : Preparation of herbal extract according to the present invention (2)

3L of 70% alcohol was added to a herbal mixture (Gas Whal Myung Su-Q composition) obtained by mixing 12 g of Syringa velutina var. kamibayashii, 12 g of Zingiber officinale Rosco, 30 g of Cinnamonum zeylanicum Beryn, 6 g of Myristica fragrans Houttuyn, A. 100 g of Catechu, 250 g of dried orange peel, 3 g of Atractylodes lancea, 50 g of Magnolia officinalis Rehd et Wils., 180 g of Corydalis turtschaninovii and 6 g of Capsicum annuum, and the resulting herbal mixture was soaked for 1 day. Then, the resulting extract was eluted, and concentrated under a reduced pressure to obtain 649 mg of a concentrated extract from Myristica fragrans Houttuyn.

Comparative experimental example 1 : Test for conforming the induction of obesity by high-fat diets

1) Changes in weights by high-fat diets

In order to check the changes in body weights caused by the intake of high-fat diets, ICR mice were selected and divided into two groups. One group was fed with high-fat feed (40% beef tallow AIN-76A rodent diet, Dyets Inc., PA, USA) for 84 days (high-fat diet group (1)) and the other group was fed with high-fat feed plus 45% kcal high-fat pellet feed (D12451;Diet research, PA, USA) for 84 days (high-fat diet group (2)), and all the mice were sacrificed and weighed. Then, the results are listed in the following Table 1 and Table 2.

Table 1

Table 2

In general, when excess fats were introduced into mice through the intake of the high-fat diets, the mice were increased in weight. As seen from Table 1 and Table 2, it was revealed that the high-fat diet group (1) and high-fat diet group (2) were significantly increased in weight, compared to the normal group.

2) Changes in weights of periovarian fats by high-fat diets

In order to compare amounts of accumulated adipose tissues by the high-fat diets, the ovaries and periovarian fat pads of the normal group and the high-fat diet group (1) and high-fat diet group (2) obtained from the step (1) were cut off, and the absolute weights of the fat pads were measured after the removal of the ovaries. The results are listed in the following Table 3 and Table 4.

Table 3

Table 4

As seen from Table 3 and Table 4, it was confirmed that the obesity of the mice in the high-fat diet group (1) and high-fat diet group (2) was induced as fats were accumulated in the adipose tissues of the mice by the intake of high-fat diets, and the higher weights of the periovarian fats were measured, compared to those of the normal group.

3) Histopathological changes of periovarian fats and abdominal fats by high-fat diets

In order to determine the histopathological changes of periovarian fats and abdominal fats caused by the intake of high-fat diets, the histopathological changes of the periovarian fats and abdominal fats of the normal group and the high-fat diet group (1) and high-fat diet group (2) were observed, as follows.

The periovarian fats and abdominal fats fixed in 10% neutral formalin were cut into thin pieces, and embedded in paraffin. Then, the embedded fat tissues were sliced into 3-㎛ to 4-㎛ slices using a microtome, and stained with a Hematoxylin & eosin stain to observe the fat tissues under an optical microscope. The mean diameters of the periovarian adipocytes and abdominal adipocytes from the normal group and the high-fat diet group (1) and high-fat diet group (2) were measured by measuring diameters of the 10 adipocytes. The results are listed in the following Table 5 and Table 6. The thickness of abdominal fats was measured using an automated image analysis process.

Table 5

Table 6

As seen from Table 5 and Table 6, it was revealed that significant hypertrophies of the adipocytes in the high-fat diet group (1) and high-fat diet group (2) are detected in the periovarian and abdominal adipose tissues, compared to that of the normal group, and the high-fat diet group (1) and high-fat diet group (2) show the significant increases in the thickness of the abdominal adipose tissues.

Experimental example 1 : Effects of the extract of the present invention on obesity through the suppression of increases in body weight

1) In order to determine the effects of the extract from Myristica fragrans Houttuyn on the obesity after the administration of the extract, the changes in body weights of ICR mice were evaluated using a diet-induced obesity model in the ICR mouse. The experimental procedure was as follows. ICR mice were selected into the experimental group, and the high-fat feed (40% beef tallow AIN-76A rodent diet, Dyets Inc., PA, USA) and the extract obtained in Example 1 of the present invention were orally administered in a volume of 10 ml/kg to the ICR mice once a day for 84 days. In this case, the extract of the present invention was prepared by diluting a crude extract from Myristica fragrans Houttuyn with 5% ethanol (at herbal amount of 20 mg/ml). At the same time, as the control, only the high-fat feed (40% beef tallow AIN-76A rodent diet, Dyets Inc., PA, USA) was supplied to the ICR mice for 84 days.

The ICR mice in the experimental group and the control were sacrificed, and the changes in their body weights were measured and compared to each other. The results are listed in the following Table 7.

Table 7

2) Also, as the other experimental procedure, ICR mice were selected into the experimental group, and the high-fat feed plus 45% kcal high-fat pellet feed (D12451; Diet research, PA, USA) and the extract (Gas Whal Myung Su-Q composition) obtained in Example 2 were orally administered in a volume of 20 ml/kg to the ICR mice once a day for 84 days. In this case, the extract of the present invention was prepared by diluting a crude extract from Myristica fragrans Houttuyn with 5% ethanol (at the total herbal amount of 173.07 mg/20 ml). At the same time, as the control, only the 45% kcal high-fat pellet feed (D12451; Diet research, PA, USA) was supplied to the ICR mice for 84 days.

The changes in body weights of the experimental group and the control were measured and compared to each other. The results are listed in the following Table 8.

Table 8

As seen from Table 7 and Table 8, it was seen that, since the extracts of Examples 1 and 2 according to the present invention suppressed the increases in the body weight of the ICR mice by 30.55% and 60.39%, respectively, they have the excellent effect to suppress the obesity, compared to each of the high-fat diet group (1) and the high-fat diet group (2), even when the high-fat diets were supplied to the ICR mice.

Experimental example 2 : Effects of the extract of the present invention on obesity through the suppression of increases in weights of periovarian fats

1) In order to determine the effects of the extract of the present invention on the diet induced obesity, the extract was administered to laboratory ICR mice in the same manner as described in Step (1) of Experimental example 1, and the ICR mice were sacrificed. Then, the changes in weights of the periovarian fats were measured in the same manner as described in Step (2) of Comparative experimental example 1. The results are listed in the following Table 9.

Table 9

2) Also, as the other experimental procedure, in order to determine the effects of the extract of the present invention on diet induced obesity, the extract was administered to laboratory ICR mice in the same manner as described in Step (2) of Experimental example 1, and the ICR mice were sacrificed. Then, the changes in weights of the periovarian fats by the herbal extract of Example 2 were measured in the same manner as described in Step (2) of Comparative experimental example 1. The results are listed in the following Table 10.

Table 10

As seen from Table 9 and Table 10, it was revealed that, since the extracts from Myristica fragrans Houttuyn of Examples 1 and 2 according to the present invention suppressed the increases in the weights of the periovarian fats by 31.59 and 76.53%, respectively, they have the excellent effect to suppress the obesity, compared to each of the high-fat diet group (1) and the high-fat diet group (2), even when the high-fat diets were supplied to the ICR mice.

Experimental example 3 : Effects of the extract of the present invention on obesity through the histopathological changes of periovarian fats and abdominal fats

1) In order to determine the effects of the extract of the present invention on the diet induced obesity, the extract was administered to laboratory ICR mice in the same manner as described in Step (1) of Experimental example 1, and the ICR mice were sacrificed. Then, the histopathological changes of the periovarian fats and abdominal fats were measured in the same manner as described in Step (3) of Comparative experimental example 1. The results are listed in the following Table 11.

Table 11

As seen from Table 11, it was revealed that, since the extracts from Myristica fragrans Houttuyn of Example 1 according to the present invention suppressed the sizes of the adipocytes of the ovarian adipose tissue and abdominal adipose tissue by 13.96% and 2.86%, respectively, and suppressed the thickness of the abdominal fats by 23.66%, it has the excellent effect to suppress the obesity, compared to the high-fat diet group (1), even when the high-fat diets were supplied to the ICR mice.

2) Also, the extract of the present invention was administered to laboratory ICR mice in the same manner as described in Step (2) of Experimental example 1, and the ICR mice were sacrificed. Then, the histopathological changes of the periovarian fats and abdominal fats were measured in the same manner as described in Step (3) of Comparative experimental example 1. The results are listed in the following Table 12.

Table 12

As seen from Table 12, it was revealed that, since the extracts from Myristica fragrans Houttuyn of Example 2 according to the present invention suppressed the sizes of the adipocytes of the periovarian adipose tissue and abdominal adipose tissue by 55.30% and 48.45%, respectively, and suppressed the thickness of the abdominal fats by 63.81%, it has the excellent effect to suppress the obesity, compared to the high-fat diet group (2), even when the high-fat diets were supplied to the ICR mice.

Also, the herbal extract according to the present invention may be used as the main/accessory component to prepare a variety of formulations and functional foods.

Preparation example 1 : Preparation of Granules

The granules were prepared per one pack with the contents of the following components according to the conventional method.

Dried powder of the extract from Myristica fragrans Houttuyn prepared in Example 1 ...........................................200 mg

Lactose .....................................100 mg

Talc .........................................10 mg

Preparation example 2 : Preparation of tablets

The tablets were prepared per one tablet with the contents of the following components according to the conventional method.

Dried powder of the extract from Myristica fragrans Houttuyn prepared in Example 1.............................................300 mg

Corn starch ...................................100 mg

Lactose .......................................100 mg

Magnesium stearate ..............................2 mg

Preparation example 3 : Preparation of capsules

The capsules were prepared per one capsule with the contents of the following components according to the conventional method.

Concentrated solution of the extract from Myristica fragrans Houttuyn prepared in Example 2.....................................300 mg

Corn starch .....................................100 mg

Lactose .........................................100 mg

Magnesium stearate ................................2 mg

Preparation example 4 : Preparation of solutions

The solutions were prepared per 100 ㎖ of solution with the contents of the following components according to the conventional method.

Concentrated solution of the extract from Myristica fragrans Houttuyn prepared in Example 2 ...................................500 mg

Isomerized sugar ................................10 g

Mannitol .........................................5 g

Distilled water ................................to a proper quantity

Preparation example 5 : Preparation of candies

Candies were prepared according to the conventional method by mixing 45 % by weight of sugar alcohol, 49.8 % by weight of reduced starch syrup and 0.2 % by weight of an aromatic with 5 % by weight of the extract from Myristica fragrans Houttuyn prepared in Example 1.

Preparation example 6 : Preparation of Biscuits

Biscuits were prepared according to the conventional method by mixing 21.59 % by weight of first-grade wheat flour weak, 22.22 % by weight of first-grade wheat flour medium, 4.80 % by weight of refined sugar, 0.73 % by weight of saline water, 0.78 % by weight of glucose, 11.15 % by weight of palm shortening, 1.54 % by weight of ammonium bicarbonate, 0.17 % by weight of sodium bicarbonate, 0.16 % by weight of sodium bisulfite, 1.45 % by weight of rice flour, 0.0001 % by weight of vitamin B1, 0.0001 % by weight of vitamin B2, 0.04 % by weight of milk flavor, 21.3298 % by weight of water, 1.16 % by weight of dehydrated milk, 0.29 % by weight of a milk substitute, 0.03 % by weight of monobasic calcium phosphate, 0.29 % by weight of sprayed salt and 7.27 % by weight of sprayed milk with 5 % by weight of the extract from Myristica fragrans Houttuyn prepared in Example 1.

Claims

A pharmaceutical composition for the prevention and treatment of obesity, comprising an extract from Myristica fragrans Houttuyn as an effective component.
The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1, further comprising as an effective component a mixed herbal extract from Zingiber officinale Rosco, Cinnamonum zeylanicum Beryn, Syringa velutina var. kamibayashii, A. Catechu, dried orange peel, Atractylodes lancea, Magnolia officinalis Rehd et Wils., Corydalis turtschaninovii and Capsicum annuum.
The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the mixed herbal extract is obtained by a fluid extracting process, a viscous fluid extracting process, a freeze-drying process and a spray-drying process so that the extract is formulated into formulations such as solutions, pills, tablets, capsules, suspensions and syrups.
A functional food for the amelioration and prevention of obesity, comprising an extract from Myristica fragrans Houttuyn.
The functional food according to claim 4, further comprising as an effective component a mixed herbal extract from Zingiber officinale Rosco, Cinnamonum zeylanicum Beryn, Syringa velutina var. kamibayashii, A. Catechu, dried orange peel, Atractylodes lancea, Magnolia officinalis Rehd et Wils., Corydalis turtschaninovii and Capsicum annuum.
The functional food according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the functional food is formulated into a formulation selected from the group consisting of a pill formulation, a powder formulation, a granule formulation, a tablet formulation, a capsule formulation, a solution formulation.
The functional food according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the functional food is a beverage or a tea.
The functional food according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the functional food is a palatable food selected from the group consisting of chewing gums, candies, confectioneries and snacks.
The functional food according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the functional food is a solid food selected from the group consisting of noodles, cereals and breads.