Chemical elucidation of efficacy and safety of health functional food

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K15486
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 38050:Food sciences-related
• Research Institution: Showa University
• Principal Investigator: Mizuno Mirei 昭和大学, 薬学部, 講師 (60766195)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 機能性食品 / 活性酸素 / 抗酸化作用 / プロオキシダント効果 / 銅イオン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Thymoquinone (TQ) is reduced to thymohydroquinone (THQ) through a reduction in the body. We predicted that THQ is the active form in the body. First, the antioxidant activity of TQ and THQ was evaluated, THQ was found to have stronger antioxidant activity than TQ. On the other hand, it was found that THQ generated copper-bound reactive oxygen species in the presence of Cu2+ to induce pro-oxidant effect. Next, the interaction between the compounds and copper was measured using an ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer. The interaction between Cu2+ and THQ was confirmed. Furthermore,　the tyrosinase inhibitory activity of the compounds was measured, THQ exhibited inhibitory effect. It could be demonstrated that THQ is the main form of each activity and has both toxicity and beneficial effects in the body.

Free Research Field

食品科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

パラキノン骨格を有するビタミンKやコエンザイムQ10(CoQ10)は、サプリメントとして広く流通している。ブラッククミンシード含有成分であるチモキノンもパラキノン骨格を有し、抗酸化活性や抗がん作用など多様な生理活性が報告されている。その一方でキノン系化合物が生体内で毒性を示す報告があり、これらは生体へ「薬」および「毒」の2つの作用を持つことが懸念される。サプリメントやスーパーフードは法律の規制が厳しくないため、消費者の判断で自由に服用が可能となり、条件次第では毒性を示す可能性がある。そのため、本研究で得られた知見を元に、正しい情報を消費者に発信することで健康被害を防ぐことが可能となる。