Composition for promoting absorption of phytochemicals

#The present invention relates to a composition for promoting absorption of a phytochemical, having an action of promoting absorption of a poorly water-soluble phytochemical into a body.

#Phytochemicals generally mean compounds that are originated from a plant and not essential to keep a usual body function but have a favorable effect on a health condition. For example, isoflavone, which is a polyphenol, is much included in soybeans and has functions of healing a menopause disorder and preventing an osteoporosis; quercetin is much included in an onion and has functions of improving a blood flow and reducing a body fat; β-carotene, which is a terpenoid, is much included in a carrot and a pumpkin, and has functions of maintaining a visual function, an internal mucosa membrane and a skin, and an immune function; and lycopene is much included in a tomato and has functions of decreasing a blood cholesterol and a blood pressure.

#It is known in the art that many phytochemicals are decomposed by being processed and cooked, and eventually disappears, and also known that their migration into a body is sluggish due to many poorly water-soluble components contained therein, illustrative examples of the popular method for promoting absorption of the poorly water-soluble phytochemical include a method of improving solubility and dispersibility of the phytochemical by its emulsification and formulation, a method of making a particle diameter of the phytochemical smaller, and a method of amorphizing the phytochemical.

#FIG. 1 A graph illustrating a change of a β-cryptoxanthin concentration in a serum when β-cryptoxanthin alone is administered, or β-cryptoxanthin and a yogurt are administered simultaneously, to a rat.

#FIG. 2 A graph illustrating a change of a capsanthin concentration in a serum when capsanthin alone is administered, or capsanthin and a yogurt are administered simultaneously, to a rat.

#FIG. 3 A graph illustrating a change of a hesperetin conjugate concentration in a serum when hesperidin alone is administered, or hesperidin and a yogurt are administered simultaneously, to a rat.

#Phytochemicals

#In the present invention, a “phytochemical” means a natural chemical compound present in a plant, a modified body thereof, and a composition containing the compound or the body, wherein the compound, the body, or the composition is administered or is going to be administered as a substance which has a favorable effect on the maintenance or improvement of a health condition but which is not essential to maintain a usual body function. Accordingly, in the present invention, the phytochemical means not only a pure or a somewhat pure compound that is originated from a plant but also a plant-originated composition containing the compound as a main component, or the like, e.g., a fraction of the composition.

#According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the phytochemical means, for example, a polyphenol, an organic sulfur compound, and a terpenoid.