Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology – Micro-organism – per se ; compositions thereof; proces of... – Bacteria or actinomycetales; media therefor
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-03
2001-12-25
Tate, Christopher R. (Department: 1651)
Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology
Micro-organism, per se ; compositions thereof; proces of...
Bacteria or actinomycetales; media therefor
C435S252900, C435S253400, C435S853000, C424S093100, C424S093430, C424S093450
Reexamination Certificate
active
06333188
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lactic acid bacteria preparation that is extremely significant for the health of humans and animals, wherein the concurrent use of
Lactobacillus clearans
, which was first isolated by the inventors and belongs to the Lactobacillus genus yet has specific characteristics not found in conventionally known bacteria, and either or both of viable or killed cells of
Enterococcus faecalis
(Enterococcus), which are profoundly involved in lipid metabolism, allows the advantages of each to be more clearly and effectively brought out.
2. Description of the Related Art
There are reportedly 300 species and 100 trillion individual bacteria in the intestines, weighing a total of 1 kg and far outnumbering the total of 60 trillion human cells. Years of immunological study and research have gradually elucidated their significant involvement in the health and various diseases of humans and animals, and experts now regard intestinal flora as a vital organ function. Beneficial bacteria belonging to the group of lactic acid bacteria, such as the Bifidobacterium genus and the Lactobacillus genus, co-exist in a balanced manner when predominant. This balance can be broken down by a variety of factors, such as changes in the amount and quality of daily diet, overexertion, sleeplessness, and mental stress, resulting in the proliferation of harmful bacteria such as Welch bacillus and Veillonella. The expulsion of beneficial bacteria results in greater production of harmful substances, which can lead to a variety of illnesses and accelerated aging overall, from feces disorders such as diarrhea and constipation, to those resulting from poisoned blood, such as chronic fatigue, chapped skin, hepatic dysfunction, hypertension and arteriosclerosis.
The Russian Metchnikoff (1845 to 1916) theorized that the primary cause of aging was poisoning from toxins formed by intestinal putrefying fermentation, and advocated as a remedy the habit of drinking lactic acid bacteria beverages such as yogurt to help prevent aging. Throughout the vagaries of the history of lactic acid bacteria since then, it has not been possible to grasp the true practical utility of such bacteria. That is because matters now revealed by immunological studies and elucidated by experiments could not be unraveled.
Metchnikoff's hypothesis has been borne out and is now common knowledge in the health sciences, as recent progress in microbiology has elucidated a variety of important functions by beneficial intestinal bacteria, such as the reduction in intestinal acidity and the promotion of intestinal motility to help in the digestion of foods and the absorption of nutrients, the simultaneous suppression and degradation of harmful substances, the synthesis of vitamins and amino acids, protection against intestinal infections by pathogens, and enhanced immunological power.
In addition, along with recent health trends, lactic acid bacteria have established a firm footing as beverages and antiflatulents for many people. It cannot be denied, however, that such products do not appeal to people who are looking for positive results, having failed to realize better health and improved symptoms through daily ingestion or use of lactic acid bacteria. Unfortunately, lactic acid bacteria products are still consumed merely as refreshment, or still tend to be regarded as a preference similar to coffee.
In view of the foregoing, there has been a need for a product which could be rapidly administered to bring out better effects unavailable in conventional lactic acid bacterial beverages or preparations. Although the inventors previously found that the novel species designated
Lactobacillus clearans
was highly effective for health purposes, they noted in particular that this species lacked sufficient intestinal purification action. Efforts to produce a strain of higher potency and the like to remedy this drawback led to the unavoidable conclusion that the use of the bacterium by itself produced limited results. The concurrent use of another active substance was thus considered in seeking a lactic acid bacteria preparation capable of invigorating healthy individuals, and of renewing a sense of well being and restored health in semi-sick individuals or semi-healthy individuals.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
As a result of extensive research to find a compatible biological or non-biological partner to remedy the aforementioned drawbacks, the inventors perfected the present invention upon finding, among
Enterococcus faecalis
belonging to the same group of lactobacilli as
Lactobacillus clearans
, a species capable of reducing at least one among triglycerides and cholesterol. That is, the present invention is a lactic acid bacteria preparation, comprising viable cells of
Lactobacillus clearans
, and viable cells of
Enterococcus faecalis
capable of reducing one or more of at least triglycerides and cholesterol.
The second of the inventions is a lactic acid bacteria preparation, comprising viable cells of
Lactobacillus clearans
, and killed cells of
Enterococcus faecalis
capable of reducing one or more of at least triglycerides and cholesterol.
The third of the inventions is a lactic acid bacteria preparation, comprising viable cells of
Lactobacillus clearans
, and viable and killed cells of
Enterococcus faecalis
capable of reducing one or more of at least triglycerides and cholesterol.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The
Lactobacillus clearans
referred to in the present invention is a novel strain belonging to the Lactobacillus genus, and has the following biochemical characteristics 1, 2, 3, and 4. Specifically, it comprises strains of the Lactobacillus genus that 1) are capable of reducing both Na
2
S.9H
2
O and NH
4
OH when 0.5 g Na
2
S.9H
2
O and/or 0.5 mL NH
4
OH is or are added to 5 g meat extract, 5 g peptone, 1 g glucose, 1 g CaCO
3
, and 1 L water (neutral pH); 2) show no growth-promoting action despite the addition of 0.5 g Na
2
S.9H
2
O and/or 0.5 mL NH
4
OH during the logarithmic growth phase of bacterial culture in medium comprising 1 g casamino acid and vitamins (A: 900 IU; B
1
: 1 mg; B
2
: 1 mg; B
6
: 1 mg; B
12
: 5 &ggr;; nicotinamide: 16 mg; calcium pantothenate: 8 mg; C: 64 mg; and D
2
: 120 IU) in Stephenson-Wetham medium ((abbreviated as S-W) 1 g KH
2
PO
4
, 0.7 g MgSO
4
.7H
2
O, 1 g NaCl, 4 g (NH
4
)
2
HPO
4
, 0.03 FeSO
4
.7H
2
O, and 5 g glucose); 3) have resistance, in the form of naturally isolated strains, to Na
2
S.9H
2
O greater than that of conventionally known lactic acid bacteria but weaker than that of
Lactobacillus deodorans
; and 4) are gram positive, rod-shaped, non-motile, and catalase negative, are not nitrate-reducing and not gelatin-degrading, do not produce indole or hydrogen sulfide, have a high capacity for forming lactic acid from glucose and lactose, and have growth promoted by the addition of acetic acid (see Japanese Patent Publication(Kokoku) H4-632.
Advantages of
Lactobacillus clearans
, in addition to the action of common Lactobacillus, include potent intestinal purification action absent in conventional Lactobacillus as described in Japanese Patent 1714413 and Japanese Patent Application 11-15177, such as: 1) decomposition of intestinal putrefying malodorous substances; 2) increases in beneficial bacteria such as Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus among the intestinal flora, with dramatic reductions in harmful bacteria such as Welch bacillus and Veillonella, thereby providing a better balance in the intestinal flora to improve the intestinal environment; and 3) suppression of the growth primarily of etiologic agents causing intestinal infections, and diminished toxicity.
This action will be described below through tests. In vitro tests were conducted first. 15 mL of a 10-fold dilution of feces was introduced into test tubes (18×180 mm). The test tubes were then inoculated with sample bacteria 1) that had been sterilized at high pressure for 15 minutes at 120° C. and 2) that had not been sterilized. The
Hata Tadayo
Maruoka Toshiyuki
Armstrong Westerman Hattori McLeland & Naughton LLP
BHPH Company Limited
Flood Michele C.
Tate Christopher R.
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