# US 9,775,370 B2 · Sprouted cereal, method for manufacturing same, food product containing same, and BDNF production accelerator > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,775,370 B2 - Document ID: US9775370B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/005,390 - Filed: 2012-03-19 - Published: 2014-03-06 - Granted: 2017-10-03 - Earliest claimed: 2011-03-17 - Applicants: Hiroji Yanamoto - Inventors: Hiroji Yanamoto - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9775370B2 ## CPC - A23L 7/101: {Addition of antibiotics, vitamins, amino-acids, or minerals} - A23L 7/152: Cereal germ products - A61K 36/899: Poaceae or Gramineae (Grass family), e.g. bamboo, corn or sugar cane - A61P 3/04: Anorexiants; Antiobesity agents - A61P 3/06: Antihyperlipidemics - A61P 3/10: for hyperglycaemia, e.g. antidiabetics - A61P 15/00: Drugs for genital or sexual disorders (for disorders of sex hormones A61P5/24); Contraceptives - A61P 15/10: for impotence - A61P 17/14: for baldness or alopecia - A61P 17/16: Emollients or protectives, e.g. against radiation - A61P 25/00: Drugs for disorders of the nervous system - A61P 25/04: Centrally acting analgesics, e.g. opioids - A61P 25/22: Anxiolytics - A61P 25/24: Antidepressants - A61P 25/28: for treating neurodegenerative disorders of the central nervous system, e.g. nootropic agents, cognition enhancers, drugs for treating Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia - A61P 37/02: Immunomodulators - A61P 43/00: Drugs for specific purposes, not provided for in groups A61P1/00-A61P41/00 - A23L: FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PREPARATION OR TREATMENT THEREOF (preservation thereof A23B) - A61K: PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES (devices or methods specially adapted for bringing pharmaceutical products into particular physical or administering forms A61J3/00; chemical aspects of, or use of materials for deodorisation of air, for disinfection or sterilisation, or for bandages, dressings, absorbent pads or surgical articles A61L; soap compositions C11D) - A61P: SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS ## Abstract The invention relates to a novel technique for germinating a sproutable food such as rice, other types of cereals, or seeds. Provided is a novel germination technique capable of increasing a content of glutamate, accelerating an enrichment of gamma-aminobutyric acid, and exerting excellent functionality for the body, and a novel functional food material or pharmaceutical agent. A sprouted cereal is produced by soaking the cereal in a soaking solution prepared by addition of at least one carbonate selected from alkali metal carbonate, and alkaline earth metal carbonate to water to make the cereal absorb the soaking solution, followed by allowing the cereal to germinate under predetermined conditions. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sprouted brown rice produced by soaking the cereal in a soaking solution having a hydrogen carbonate ion to make the brown rice absorb the soaking solution, followed by allowing the brown rice to germinate under predetermined conditions. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sprouted brown rice according to claim 1, wherein pH of the soaking solution ranges from 8.0 to 10.0. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The sprouted brown rice according to claim 1, wherein a concentration of the hydrogen carbonate ion in the soaking solution is 0.012 to 0.06 mol/l. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The sprouted brown rice according to claim 3, wherein a gamma-aminobutyric acid content of the sprouted brown rice is 1.3 to 2.1 times greater than a gamma-aminobutyric acid content of a sprouted brown rice germinated under the same conditions except that the latter is germinated without addition of the hydrogen carbonate, when measured by a reference measurement method. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The sprouted brown rice according to claim 1, wherein a gamma-aminobutyric acid content of the sprouted brown rice is 15 to 44 mg/100 g when measured by a reference measurement method. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A food product comprising the sprouted brown rice according to claim 1. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A BDNF production accelerator comprising: as an active ingredient, the sprouted brown rice according to claim 1. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The BDNF production accelerator according to claim 7, comprising: a weight/appetite suppressing agent, a glucose/fat metabolism improving agent, an improving agent for cognitive/memory ability, or an antidepressant/antianxiety agent. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A method for producing the sprouted brown rice of claim 1, the method comprising the steps of: soaking the brown rice in a soaking solution having the hydrogen carbonate ion to make the brown rice absorb the soaking solution; and allowing the brown rice absorbing the soaking solution in the previous step to germinate under predetermined conditions. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method for producing the sprouted brown rice of claim 9, wherein pH of the soaking solution ranges from 8.0 to 10.0. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method for producing the sprouted brown rice of claim 9, wherein a concentration of the hydrogen carbonate ion in the soaking solution is 0.012 to 0.06 mol/l. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method for producing the sprouted brown rice of claim 11, wherein a gamma-aminobutyric acid content of the sprouted brown rice is 1.3 to 2.1 times greater than a gamma-aminobutyric acid content of a sprouted brown rice germinated under the same conditions except that the latter is germinated without addition of the hydrogen carbonate, when measured by a reference measurement method. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method for producing the sprouted brown rice of claim 11, and a gamma-aminobutyric acid content of the sprouted brown rice is 15 to 44 mg/100 g when measured by a reference measurement method. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The sprouted brown rice according to claim 1, wherein more than 80% of the sprouted brown rice have a sprout of a length of 0.5 to 1.0 mm. ### Claim 15 (depends on 7) The BDNF production accelerator according to claim 7, wherein a concentration of the hydrogen carbonate ion in the soaking solution is 0.012 to 0.06 mol/l. ### Claim 16 (depends on 7) The BDNF production accelerator according to claim 7, wherein a concentration of the hydrogen carbonate ion in the soaking solution is 0.018 to 0.03 mol/l.