To provide new applications of a specific component derived from an extract of Lagerstroemia speciosa, more precisely, to provide new applications based on α-amylase inhibitory activity of the component.
A sugar digestion enzyme inhibitor containing valoneaic acid as an active ingredient is proposed based on such information that the valoneaic acid obtained by subjecting the extract of the Lagerstroemia speciosa to separation through liquid-liquid partition, column chromatography, or the like, has the excellent α-amylase inhibitory activity. Because the α-amylase is such an enzyme as especially effective for breaking α-1,4 bonds of starch and glycogen, the inhibitor prevents digestion and absorption of the starch and the glycogen. Therefore, rapid increase in a blood sugar level after a meal is prevented and secretion of insulin is controlled by the inhibitor, so that the inhibitor is effective for treating and preventing diabetes, and inhibiting obesity.
SAKANE IWAO
HOSOYAMA HIROKAZU
SUGIMOTO AKIO
NAGATA KOZO
TSUNODA TAKAMI
