US 20140050805A1 (19) United States (12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2014/0050805 A1 Kambayashi et al. (43) Pub. Date: Feb. 20, 2014 (54) COMPOSITION, GLUCOSE (30) Foreign Application Priority Data METABOLISM-IMPROVINGAGENT, AND METHOD FOR IMPROVING GLUCOSE Apr. 15, 2011 (JP) ................................. 2011-091461 METABOLISM Publication Classification (75) Inventors: HiroakiO O Kambayashi, Tokyo (JP); (51) A61E36/67Int. Cl. (2006.01) Murakoshi, Tokyo (JP) A613 L/58 (2006.01) A61E36/258 (2006.01) (73) Assignee:-- - - - - Lion Corporation, Tokyo (JP) (52) CPCU.S. Cl................ A61K 36/67 (2013.01); A61K 36/258 (21) Appl. No.: 14/111,576 (2013.01); A61 K3I/51 (2013.01); A61 K3I/58 (2013.01) (22) PCT Filed: Apr. 2, 2012 USPC ........................................... 424/728; 424/734 (57) ABSTRACT (86). PCT No.: PCT/UP2012/058819 A composition, including: (A) Panax notoginseng, and at S371 (c)(1), least one of (B) a Piper longum extract and (C) vitamin B1, a (2), (4) Date: Oct. 14, 2013 salt thereof or a derivative thereof. US 2014/0050805 A1 Feb. 20, 2014 COMPOSITION, GLUCOSE SUMMARY OF INVENTION METABOLISM-IMPROVINGAGENT, AND METHOD FOR IMPROVING GLUCOSE Technical Problem METABOLISM 0010. The present invention aims to solve the above exist ing problems and achieve the following objects. Specifically, TECHNICAL FIELD an object of the present invention is to provide: a composition having excellent glucose metabolism-improving effects, hav 0001. The present invention relates to: a composition suit ing high safety, and capable of being conveniently used, a ably used for improving glucose metabolism; a food, a bev erage, a pharmaceutical drug, a glucose metabolism-improv food, a beverage, a pharmaceutical drug, a glucose metabo ing composition and a glucose metabolism-improving agent, lism-improving composition and a glucose metabolism-im each of which contains the composition; and a method for proving agent, each of which contains this composition; and improving glucose metabolism. a method for improving glucose metabolism. Solution to Problem BACKGROUND ART 0011. The present inventors conducted extensive studies 0002. In recent years, Japanese have gradually been obese to solve the above problems and have obtained the following because their dietary habits have been high-fat and high findings. Specifically, they have found that a composition caloric, for example. It has been Suggested that impaired containing: (A) Panax notoginseng and at least one of (B) a glucose tolerance, high blood pressure, and so on are greatly Piper longum extract and (C) vitamin B1, a salt thereof or a related to not only genetic factors but also environmental derivative thereof, has excellent glucose metabolism-improv factors such as obesity. When the metabolic pathway of glu ing effects, has high safety, and is capable of being conve cose in the process using glucose as energy does not work niently used. The present invention has been accomplished on normally due to, for example, obesity and as a result failures the basis of this finding. to metabolize glucose occur Such as inhibition of use of 0012. The present invention is based on the above finding glucose, chronic hyperglycemic condition is caused. Such obtained by the present inventors, and a means for Solving the chronic hyperglycemic condition causes systemic vascular above problems is a composition containing: (A) Panax noto disorders and may further cause complicating diseases Such ginseng, and at least one of (B) a Piper longum extract and (C) as nerve disorders and retinopathy, which is problematic. vitamin B1, a salt thereof or a derivative thereof. 0003. One possible measure to prevent or improve obesity is improving daily habits. However, improving daily habits Advantageous Effects of Invention by themselves are often difficult to continue. Therefore, 0013 The present invention can provide: a composition demand has arisen for simple and effective prevention or having excellent glucose metabolism-improving effects, hav improvement of glucose metabolism. ing high safety, and capable of being conveniently used, a 0004 Proposed means of improving glucose metabolism food, a beverage, a pharmaceutical drug, a glucose metabo include: compositions containing panaxadiol (PD) and/or lism-improving composition and a glucose metabolism-im panaxatriol (PT) contained in Panax notoginseng (see PTLs 1 proving agent, each of which contains this composition; and and 2); a composition containing Panax notoginseng or an a method for improving glucose metabolism. These can solve extract thereof irradiated with microwaves (see PTL 3); and the above existing problems and achieve the above objects. granulated products formed by granulating dry powder of Panax notoginseng, dry powder of lingzhi mushroom, and DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS dry powder of agaricus mushroom (see PTL 4). Composition 0005. However, even use of these proposed compositions does not exhibit sufficient glucose metabolism-improving 0014. A composition of the present invention contains at effects. Hence, at present, there is a need to provide: a com least: (A) Panax notoginseng, and at least one of (B) a Piper position having more excellent glucose metabolism-improv longum extract and (C) vitamin B1, a salt thereof or a deriva ing effects, having high safety, and capable of being conve tive thereof, and, if necessary, further contains other ingredi niently used, a food, a beverage, a pharmaceutical drug, a entS. glucose metabolism-improving composition and a glucose 0015 The state of the above composition is not particu metabolism-improving agent, each of which contains this larly limited and may be appropriately selected depending on composition; and a method for improving glucose metabo the intended purpose. Examples thereof include a liquid state, lism. a solid state and a semi-solid state. <(A) Panax notoginseng> CITATION LIST 0016. The Panax notoginseng (denshichi ninjin, also called sanshichi ninjin) (hereinafter may be referred to as Patent Literature “ingredient (A)) is a plant belonging to the genus Panax of the family Amliaceae. 0006 PTL 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP 0017. The Panax notoginseng may be used as is after it has A) No. 2011-026314 been harvested from the natural world. Alternatively, the 0007 PTL 2: JP-A No. 2011-0263.13 Panax notoginseng may be one obtained after its natural product has been Subjected to treatments such as washing, 0008 PTL3: JP-A No. 2002-114696 drying, cutting, Smashing and milling, which are appropri 0009 PTL 4: JP-A No. 2000-143526 ately combined together, and the thus-treated product has US 2014/0050805 A1 Feb. 20, 2014 been extracted, purified and/or fermented. A commercially selected depending on the intended purpose, but is preferably available product may be used as the Panax notoginseng. 0.04% by mass to 16% by mass, more preferably 2% by mass 00.18 Examples of the commercially available product to 12% by mass. When the concentration of the acid in the include Panax notoginseng powder and Panax notoginseng aqueous acid solution is less than 0.04% by mass, the aqueous extract powder (these products are of MATSUURA hydrolysis is not sufficiently performed and as a result at least YAKUGYO CO.,LTD.). one of panaxadiol and panaxatriol may not be formed. 0019. In particular, from the viewpoint of obtaining the Whereas when it is more than 1.6% by mass, the hydrolysis glucose metabolism-improving effects, the Panax notogin may excessively proceed and there may be a disadvantage in seng is preferably an extract obtained by extracting its powder terms of cost. with a solvent, more preferably an acid-treated product 0028. The amount of the aqueous acid solution used is not thereof, particularly preferably an acid-treated product con particularly limited and may be appropriately selected taining at least one of panaxadiol (PD) and panaxatriol (PT) at depending on the intended purpose. It is preferably 2 times by a high concentration. volume to 20 times by volume relative to the Panax notogin 0020. The panaxadiolor panaxatriol is an aglycon formed Seng. When the amount of the aqueous acid solution used is after the Sugar moiety has been removed from Saponin (gly less than 2 times by Volume relative to the Panax notoginseng, coside) of the Panax notoginseng and then the side chain has the Panax notoginseng is not sufficiently immersed in the been ring-closed. It is formed by Subjecting the Panax noto aqueous acid solution and as a result the hydrolysis cannot ginseng to acid treatment. sufficiently be conducted. Whereas when it is more than 20 0021. The acid-treated product containing at least one of times by Volume, there may be a disadvantage in terms of the panaxadiol and the panaxatriolata high concentration can COSt. exhibit excellent metabolism-improving effects. The acid 0029. The lower alcohol is not particularly limited and treated product containing a mixture of the panaxadiol and may be appropriately selected depending on the intended the panaxatriol at a high concentration can exhibit more purpose. Examples thereof include methanol, ethanol and excellent glucose metabolism-improving effects, which is propanol. These may be used alone or in combination of two advantageous. or more thereof. Among them, ethanol is preferred interms of 0022. The total amount of the panaxadiol and the panaxa safety. triol in the ingredient (A) is not particularly limited and may 0030. When the lower alcohol is used as an aqueous solu be appropriately selected depending on the intended purpose, tion containing the lower alcohol, the mixing ratio between but is preferably 0.1% by mass or more, more preferably 0.1% water and the lower alcohol is not particularly limited and by mass to 50% by mass, still more preferably 1% by mass to may be appropriately selected depending on the intended 50% by mass, particularly preferably 10% by mass to 30% by purpose. The mixing ratio by volume of water the lower a SS. alcohol is preferably 9:1 to 2:1, more preferably 3:1.