HK1099885B - Natural tea having effects of hangover relief and liver function recovery and method for preparing the same - Google Patents

Description

Natural tea with effects of relieving hangover and restoring liver function, and its preparation method

Technical Field

The invention relates to a natural tea with effects of relieving hangover and restoring liver function and a preparation method thereof. More particularly, the present invention relates to a natural tea having effects of alleviating hangover and restoring liver function, which contains an extract of robinia pseudoacacia (robinipseudo-acacia) as a main active ingredient extracted under optimal extraction conditions, and a method for preparing the same.

Background

In general, alcoholic beverages have been developed since the beginning of human history, and have been favored so far. However, such alcoholic beverages can cause a variety of problems, among which the most concern is the health problems caused by drinking. That is, drinking alcohol causes diseases such as liver disease and a decline in the functions of the stomach, colon and brain, and such alcohol-induced damage has remained until now. Therefore, research for protecting the liver from alcohol and alleviating hangover due to drinking is continuously conducted.

As used herein, the term "hangover" (hangover) refers to a variety of symptoms such as unpleasantness, headache, and diminished mental and physical work capacity that appear upon sobering and may persist until the second or even third day after alcohol consumption. Such hangover appears to be caused by accumulation of ethanol or acetaldehyde in the human body due to the absence of alcohol dehydrogenase or acetaldehyde dehydrogenase. In other words, when ethanol is absorbed into the body by drinking, it is degraded by alcohol dehydrogenase, first converting to acetaldehyde, and then to acetic acid, a metabolite of ethanol. If the metabolic mechanism is not smoothly carried out, the accumulated ethanol or acetaldehyde generated by conversion in the ethanol degradation process can cause the toxin processing process to cause damage to liver and brain cells, so that metabolic disorder can occur in vivo, and the body is caused to have weakness, abdominal distension, vomiting, headache, even shiver and abdominal pain, thereby causing hangover.

Such hangover may make daily life abnormal and cause lack of energy, which may seriously affect not only the hangover person himself but also others. Therefore, such hangover can have serious negative consequences in daily life.

Since ancient times, various foods have been used in folk remedies for alleviating such hangover. That is, foods such as bovine blood soup, bean sprout soup, dried pollack soup, shellfish soup, oyster, or juices such as chervil (aegpodium podagraria l), radish, cucumber, leek, spinach, lotus root, arrowroot, pine needle juice, ginseng juice, and green tea leaf juice are considered to be effective for alleviating hangover. In particular, green tea leaves are considered to be very effective in alleviating hangover because green tea leaves contain polyphenols and thus can easily decompose acetaldehyde.

In addition, drinkable beverages for alleviating hangover have been developed and sold. For example, korean patent No.0181168 discloses a natural tea for alleviating hangover and a method for preparing the same. The natural tea prepared according to this korean patent contains, as active ingredients, extracts or powders from leaves, stems or roots of Alnus japonica (Alnus japonica) and Sorbus comatus (Sorbus commixa), and certain amounts of extracts of ligustrum japonicum (ligrum Thunberg) fruit and Pueraria lobata (Pueraria) root. Also, korean patent application laid-open No.2001-019767 discloses a natural tea for alleviating hangover and a method for preparing the same. The natural tea prepared according to this korean patent publication contains Chinese medicinal materials including pueraria flower, pueraria root, Liguordice root, atractylodis macrocephala (Atractylodes Rhizome White), dried orange peel, alisma orientale, lycium barbarum and ginger.

According to such various methods, various hangover alleviating beverages have been developed, each having unique characteristics.

However, although there have been various efforts to alleviate hangover, there is still a need to develop a beverage or food effective in alleviating hangover.

Disclosure of Invention

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide natural plants having excellent effects of alleviating hangover and restoring liver function and to provide a natural tea having excellent effects of alleviating hangover and restoring liver function, which rapidly lowers the alcohol concentration in blood by being taken before or after drinking alcohol, the natural tea containing extracts of these natural plants as main active ingredients.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a natural tea which has effects of alleviating hangover and restoring liver function, and can maintain a normal state of a human body before or after the hangover occurs, thus being beneficial to health.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a method for preparing natural tea according to the above objects.

In order to achieve the above objects, the present invention provides a natural tea having effects of alleviating hangover and restoring liver function, which contains an extract of acacia as a main active ingredient and conventional additives.

It is to be understood that the robinia pseudoacacia extract used in the present invention is all parts of robinia pseudoacacia, including leaves, stems, flowers, roots and fruits of robinia pseudoacacia.

In the natural tea according to another embodiment of the present invention, the extract of the leaves, stems, flowers and roots of acacia is contained as a main active ingredient, and at least one of the extracts of oldenlandia diffusa (Hedyotis diffusa), amomum villosum (amosomen), Glycyrrhiza uralensis (Glycyrrhiza) and pueraria lobata (Pueraiae flors) may be added as a minor active ingredient. However, the invention is achieved by the primary active ingredient, and these secondary active ingredients are optional and not critical to the invention.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a natural tea having effects of relieving hangovers and restoring liver functions, which contains a mixture of 10-80% by weight of an extract of acacia and 20-90% by weight of oldenlandia diffusa.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a natural tea having effects of relieving hangover and restoring liver function, which contains a mixture of 10-65 wt% of an extract of acacia, 20-80 wt% of oldenlandia diffusa, 10-60 wt% of amomum villosum and 10-50 wt% of licorice.

Meanwhile, the present invention also provides a method for preparing natural tea having effects of alleviating hangover and restoring liver function, the method comprising the steps of: washing leaves, stems, flowers and roots of the robinia pseudoacacia with water; extracting the water-washed material with alcohol as an extraction solvent at 50-150 deg.C for 1-10 hr to prepare an extract of Robinia pseudoacacia as a main active ingredient; conventional additives are then added to the extract.

In the process of the present invention, the extraction step is preferably carried out at 50 to 150 ℃. If the extraction temperature is lower than 50 deg.C, the active ingredients of Robinia pseudoacacia can not be easily extracted. If the extraction temperature is higher than 150 ℃, the extraction effect is not increased and the active ingredient may be modified. The extraction step is most preferably carried out at 50-90 ℃.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the extract is centrifuged at 2,500-7,500rpm to isolate robinin (robinine).

In another embodiment of the present invention, each ingredient is dried in the shade and pulverized into a size of 50-100 mesh, thereby providing powdered tea.

Acacia farnesiana (Acacia) used as a main component in the present invention is a dicotyledonous evergreen plant belonging to Rosales, Leguminosae. About 500 species of acacia are found in tropical and temperate regions of the world, especially in australia. Its leaves are heavy even feathered, compound leaves, each having a very small leaflet and a flat or petiole (petiole) similar to a leaf. In addition, its flowers are yellow or white, and acacia, often referred to as acacia, also grows in north america.

Oldenlandia diffusa (Hedyotis diffusa) used in the present invention is an annual herbaceous plant of Rubiaceae family, growing to a height of about 30 cm. It originally grew in china, but it was also found on hala mountain in jozhou island of korea and on marshland land of Baekun mountain in south-ro. It can be considered as a recently discovered herb which is not recorded in ancient Chinese medicine books such as Ben Cao gang mu. Beginning 40 years ago, oldenlandia diffusa has been used for research and experimentation in china, and it was described for the first time in the guangxi journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Medicine) in guangxi only after 1945. The Oldenlandia diffusa has been widely recognized worldwide since the detailed description of the efficacy and action of Oldenlandia diffusa in the book of "Traditional Chinese Medicine Research" published by the Taiwan Center for Chinese Medicine (the book of "Traditional Chinese Medicine Research" published by the Taiwan Center for Chinese Medicine).

Licorice (Glycyrrhiza) used in the present invention is a perennial dicotyledonous plant belonging to the order Rosales, family Leguminosae. Its root is reddish brown and deeply pricked into soil. Its stem is angular, growing straight up to about 1 m. White fuzz is closely distributed on the stem and appears light gray. Transparent spots are also scattered on the stems. Its leaves are alternate odd-feathered compound leaves with 1-17 leaflets, which are egg-shaped and sharp at the ends. Each small leaf is 2-5cm long and 1-3cm wide, and has white fluff and transparent dots on both sides and no sawtooth structure. Examples of licorice include Glycyrrhiza glabra with the small glandular variety (G. glabra var. glandufera) grown in Siberian and Glycyrrhiza glabra (G.g/abra) grown in Spain. A similar species includes glycyrrhiza spinosa (g.

The pueraria flower (Pueraiae Flos) used in the invention refers to the flower of the traditional Chinese medicine pueraria (Pueraiae), which is a medicine mainly used for relieving alcoholism and stopping bleeding.

The natural tea of the present invention prepared as described above has the effects of alleviating hangover and restoring liver function. The natural tea contains an extract or powder distributed in the leaves, stems, flowers and roots of oriental locust as a main active ingredient, to which at least one selected from the group consisting of oldenlandia diffusa, amomum villosum, glycyrrhiza uralensis and pueraria lobata extracts is added in an amount to neutralize toxic effects. The natural tea of the present invention shows excellent effects of alleviating hangover and restoring liver function when taken before or after drinking.

Drawings

FIG. 1 shows a graph of the weight change of the test object used during the test;

FIG. 2 is a graph showing the effect of chronic alcohol administration on hematocrit;

FIG. 3 is a graph showing the effect of chronic alcohol administration on hemoglobin content.

Detailed Description

The present invention is described in further detail below by way of examples or test examples. However, there should be such a concept, and the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

Example 1: preparation of Acacia extract

Leaves, stems, flowers and roots of robinia pseudoacacia were selected and washed with water. The material was washed with an amount of water and alcohol at about 70 c for 5 hours to provide an extract of acacia.

Example 2

The acacia extract prepared according to example 1 was used as a main active ingredient, and then conventional additives such as sweeteners, flavors and colorants were added, thereby preparing natural tea having effects of relieving hangover and restoring liver function.

Example 3

A natural tea having effects of relieving hangover and restoring liver function was prepared in the same manner as in example 2, except that a mixture of 80 wt% of acacia extract and 20 wt% of oldenlandia diffusa extract was used.

Example 4

A natural tea having effects of relieving hangover and restoring liver function was prepared in the same manner as in example 2, except that a mixture of 70 wt% of acacia extract and 30 wt% of oldenlandia diffusa extract was used.

Example 5

A natural tea having effects of relieving hangover and restoring liver function was prepared in the same manner as in example 2, except that a mixture of 60 wt% of acacia extract and 40 wt% of oldenlandia diffusa extract was used.

Example 6

A natural tea having effects of relieving hangover and restoring liver function was prepared in the same manner as in example 2, except that a mixture of 50 wt% of acacia extract and 50 wt% of oldenlandia diffusa extract was used.

Example 7

A natural tea having effects of relieving hangover and restoring liver function was prepared in the same manner as in example 2, except that a mixture of 40 wt% of acacia extract and 60 wt% of oldenlandia diffusa extract was used.

Example 8

A natural tea having effects of relieving hangover and restoring liver function was prepared in the same manner as in example 2, except that a mixture of 30 wt% of acacia extract and 70 wt% of oldenlandia diffusa extract was used.

Example 9

A natural tea having effects of relieving hangover and restoring liver function was prepared in the same manner as in example 2, except that a mixture of 20 wt% of acacia extract and 80 wt% of oldenlandia diffusa extract was used.

Example 10

A natural tea having effects of relieving hangover and restoring liver function was prepared in the same manner as in example 2, except that a mixture of 10 wt% of acacia extract and 90 wt% of oldenlandia diffusa extract was used.

Examples 11 to 36

A natural tea having effects of alleviating hangover and restoring liver function was prepared in the same manner as in example 2, except that extracts of acacia, oldenlandia diffusa, amomum villosum, glycyrrhiza and/or pueraria lobata were mixed with each other at the mixing ratio as given in the following table 1.

TABLE 1 (unit: wt%)

	Robinia pseudoacacia extract	Oldenlandia diffusa extract	Fructus Amomi extract	Glycyrrhiza extract	Flos Puerariae Lobatae extract
						Example 11	60	20	10	10	0
Example 12	50	30	10	10	0
						Example 13	50	20	20	10	0
Example 14	40	40	10	10	0
						Example 15	40	30	20	10	0
Example 16	30	50	10	10	0
						Example 17	30	40	20	10	0
Example 18	30	40	10	20	0
						Example 19	30	30	20	10	10
Example 20	20	40	10	20	10
						Example 21	20	40	10	10	20
Example 22	20	50	10	10	10
						Example 23	20	40	20	10	10
Example 24	20	30	10	20	20
						Example 25	20	20	10	20	30
Example 26	10	80	10	0	0
						Example 27	10	70	10	10	0

Example 28	10	60	10	10	10
						Example 29	10	50	20	10	10
Example 30	10	40	20	20	10
						Example 31	10	30	30	20	10
Example 32	10	20	40	20	10
						Example 33	10	20	50	20	10
Example 34	10	20	60	0	10
						Example 35	10	20	0	50	20
Example 36	10	20	0	20	50

Test example 1: weight change

Figure 1 shows the body weight change during the test. Up to seven weeks after the start of the experiment, only the other three test groups except control group B were administered with alcohol to cause liver damage.

At the beginning of the test, the body weights of A, B, C, D group were 278.9. + -. 13.7g, 261.6. + -. 22.0g, 260.6. + -. 23.6g, 263.7. + -. 13.1g, respectively. The body weight of the group to which alcohol was administered was about 17g higher than that of the control group.

Control group B, which was not administered alcohol and beverage, showed the highest weight gain.

Despite the long-term administration of alcohol, group a administered with alcohol alone showed a sustained increase in body weight during the test period, compared to the other two groups C and D administered with a hangover-alleviating beverage. This is presumably because at the start of the test, group a had a higher body weight than the other two groups C and D. Until three weeks after the start of the experiment, the group administered the hangover-alleviating beverage showed an increase in body weight, which did not differ significantly between the two groups. However, three weeks later, the body weight of group D administered with the natural tea of the present invention was significantly increased compared to that of group C administered with the hangover alleviating beverage commonly found in the market.

Test example 2: hematocrit and hemoglobin content

Figures 2 and 3 show the hematocrit (Ht) and hemoglobin (Hb) contents measured at the end of the experiment, respectively. There was no significant difference in Ht content between the treatment groups. However, group D administered with the natural tea of the present invention showed the highest Ht content of 39.8%. Control group B and group C administered a common hangover relief beverage on the market showed a Ht content of 38.0%, and group a administered alcohol alone showed a slightly lower Ht content of 37.5%.

The Hb content between the treated groups was statistically significantly different (p < 0.05). The control group showed the highest Hb content of 17.38g/dl, the group C to which the commercial hangover alleviating beverage was applied had a Hb content of 16.41g/dl, the group D to which the natural tea of the present invention was applied had a Hb content of 15.77g/dl, and the group A to which only alcohol was applied had a Hb content of 14.83 g/dl.

Test example 3: serum lipid content

Table 2 below shows the serum lipid content measured at the end of the experiment. Control B showed a maximum Triglyceride (TG) content of 76.0 mg/dl. The group C administered with the commercial hangover alleviating beverage and the group D administered with the natural tea of the present invention showed substantially similar TG contents of 53.6mg/dl and 49.0mg/dl, respectively.

Total Cholesterol (TC) content ranged from 121.2-127.6mg/dl, with no difference between treatment groups. As for the content of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), the highest value was shown in group D to which the natural tea of the present invention was administered, which was 39.6 mg/dl; the lowest value, 31.3mg/dl (p < 0.05), was shown in group C, which was administered a commercial hangover relief beverage.

The content of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) was not different between the treatment groups, but the value was slightly higher in the group to which the commercial hangover-alleviating beverage was administered, at 80.2 mg/dl. The arteriosclerosis index (Al), which is a risk factor for adult diseases, was 2.14 in the group D administered with the natural tea of the present invention, and was statistically significantly lower than that in the other treatment groups (p < 0.05).

Table 2: effect of Long-term alcohol administration on serum lipid concentration (mean. + -. SD)

^＊TG: triglycerides

TC: total Cholesterol

HDL: high density lipoprotein cholesterol

LDL: low density lipoprotein cholesterol

Arteriosclerosis Index (AI) ═ TC-HDL/HDL

Superscripts shown in different letters indicate significant differences between the mean values (p < 0.05).

Test example 4: liver function testing

Table 3 below shows the effect of long-term alcohol administration on liver function. Bilirubin, ALP, GOT and gamma-GTP contents were statistically different between treatment groups (p < 0.05). The highest value of bilirubin content in control group B was 3.54 mg/dl; the value in group D to which the natural tea of the present invention was administered was the lowest, 1.21 mg/dl. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was highest in group A administered alcohol alone, 17.7K-A units; the value in the group D to which the natural tea of the present invention was applied was the lowest and 11.9K-A units. Glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) activity was highest in group a administered alcohol alone, 77.4 IU/L; the value in group D to which the natural tea of the present invention was administered was the lowest, 60.7 IU/L. GPT activity did not differ significantly between treatment groups, but the values were slightly lower in group D administered with the natural tea of the present invention. Used to evaluate the gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (gamma-GTP) content of alcoholic fatty liver, which was highest in the treatment group C administered the commercial hangover alleviating beverage, and was 127.6 mU/ml; the value in group A, where only alcohol was administered, was the lowest, 122.6mU/ml, which was statistically lower than the value in group C, where commercial products were administered (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) activity was not significantly different between treatment groups. The LDH activity in the control group B was highest and was 398.0. mu.l/L; LDH activity was the lowest among group D administered with the natural tea of the present invention, 339.7. mu.l.

Table 3: effect of Long-term alcohol administration on liver function

ALP: alkaline phosphatase (^＊K-A unit: King-Armstrong Unit)

GOT: glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase

GPT: glutamic-pyruvic transaminase

gamma-GTP: gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase

LDH: lactate dehydrogenase

Superscripts shown in different letters indicate significant differences between the mean values (p < 0.05).

Test example 5: blood alcohol and acetaldehyde concentrations, and alcohol dehydrogenationEnzyme (ADH) Activity

As shown in table 4 below, the alcohol intake of the control group B, which was not administered alcohol and relieved the hangover beverage, was zero. The total alcohol intake of group a administered with alcohol alone was 28.4g, the total alcohol intake of group C administered with a commercial hangover alleviating beverage was 26.4g, and the total alcohol intake of group D administered with the natural tea of the present invention was 27.1 g. Therefore, there was a statistical difference in total alcohol intake (p < 0.05) between the groups administered with alcohol.

After long-term alcohol administration, the blood alcohol concentration was measured, and the values in group C administered with a commercial hangover-alleviating beverage, group a administered with alcohol alone, control group B, and group D administered with the natural tea of the present invention averaged 0.015%, 0.010%, 0.004%, 0.003% (p < 0.05), respectively. Meanwhile, the values of the blood acetaldehyde concentration in the group to which the commercial hangover alleviating beverage was administered, the group to which the natural tea of the present invention was administered, and the control group were 82.6. + -. 36.2. mu.g/dl, 39.8. + -. 44.0. mu.g/dl, and 32.2. + -. 35.6. mu.g/dl, respectively. Therefore, the blood acetaldehyde concentration in the group administered with the natural tea of the present invention was lower than that in the group administered with the commercial hangover alleviating beverage, and was similar to that in the control group. In addition, the blood acetaldehyde concentration in group A administered alcohol alone was 222.3. + -. 85.8. mu.g/dl, which is significantly higher than that in the other three groups.

The Alcohol Dehydrogenase (ADH) activity was the highest in the group D to which the natural tea of the present invention was administered, and was 17.98nmol NADH/min/mg protein; the value in group C, which was administered a commercial hangover relief beverage, was 16.8nmol NADH/min/mg protein, the value in control group B was 15.55nmol NADH/min/mg protein, and the value in group A, which was administered alcohol alone, was 15.00nmol NADH/min/mg protein. Thus, the ADH activity was slightly higher in group D administered with the natural tea of the present invention than in the other three groups.

Table 4: alcohol intake, blood alcohol and acetaldehyde concentrations, and ADH Activity (mean. + -. standard deviation) during the test period

Test set (n is 9)	Amount of ethanol taken (g)	Ethanol concentration (%)	Acetaldehyde (μ g/dl)	ADH
					A	28.1±1.21	0.010±0.010	222.3±85.8	15.00±3.93
B	0	0.004±0.003	32.2±35.6	15.55±3.41
					C	26.4±1.56	0.015±0.007	82.6±36.2	16.80±2.40
D	27.1±117	0.003±0.003	39.8±44	17.98±2.97

(n is 9, mean. + -. SD)

^＊ADH: alcohol dehydrogenase (nmol NADH/min/mg protein)

Superscripts shown in different letters indicate significant differences between the mean values (p < 0.05).

In test examples 1 to 5, white rats were administered ethanol for a long time (10 weeks), and then commercial products such as hangover alleviating beverages and natural teas of the present invention were examined for their ethanol degradation efficacy. From the results reported above, the following conclusions can be drawn:

1) the growth rate of the control group was slightly higher, but there was no statistical difference between the treatment groups. The hematocrit (Ht) value was higher in the group to which the natural tea of the present invention was administered than in the other groups, but there was no statistical difference between the treatment groups. There were statistical differences in hemoglobin content between treatment groups (p < 0.05).

2) Triglyceride (TG) and HDL-cholesterol levels and the arteriosclerosis index were significantly different between treatment groups (p < 0.05).

In the group to which the natural tea was administered, TG content was the lowest and HDL-cholesterol content was the highest.

3) There were significant differences in liver function factors (bilirubin, ALP, GOT and γ -GTP) between the treatment groups.

The highest value of bilirubin content in the control group was 3.54 mg/dl; the value in the group to which the natural tea of the present invention was administered was the lowest, 1.21 mg/dl. ALP activity was highest in the group administered alcohol only, and was 17.7K-A units; the value in the group to which the natural tea of the present invention was applied was the lowest, 11.9K-A units. GOT content was highest in the group administered alcohol only, 77.4 IU/L; the value in the group to which the natural tea of the present invention was administered was the lowest, 60.7 IU/L. Is used to evaluate the gamma-GTP content of alcoholic fatty liver, which is gradually increased in the order of the group administered with the commercial hangover alleviating beverage, the group administered with alcohol alone, the group administered with the natural tea of the present invention, and the control group.

4) The blood ethanol concentration value of the group to which the natural tea was administered was the lowest, 0.003% (p < 0.05); the blood acetaldehyde concentrations of the group administered with the commercial hangover alleviating beverage and the group administered with natural tea were 82.6 ± 36.2 μ g/dl and 39.8 ± 44.0 μ g/dl, respectively. Therefore, the blood acetaldehyde concentration of the group administered with the natural tea was lower than that of the group administered with the commercial hangover alleviating beverage. Meanwhile, the alcohol dehydrogenase activity did not significantly differ between the treatment groups, but the activity was higher in the group to which the natural tea was administered than in the other groups.

In conclusion, after the white rats were orally administered alcohol in an amount sufficient to cause alcoholic liver injury for a long time (10 weeks), the natural tea of the present invention (Dawn-808) was administered to the white rats as a hangover alleviating beverage starting three weeks before the end of the experiment. In this case, the white rat group administered with the natural tea of the present invention showed excellent serum lipid concentration and liver function results compared to other groups. Moreover, the ADH activity in liver tissue was slightly higher in the group to which the natural tea was administered than in the other groups, and the blood alcohol concentration was significantly lower than in the other groups. This indicates that the natural tea of the present invention has an effect of promoting alcohol metabolism.

Test example 6: changes in blood alcohol and acetaldehyde concentrations

Tables 5 and 6 below show the blood ethanol concentrations measured in the first and second clinical trials, respectively.

In the first clinical trial, volunteers engaged in the same profession took at least one bottle of shochu (Soju) (distilled spirit). Table 5 shows the blood alcohol concentration and the blood acetaldehyde concentration at 12 hours after drinking (the next day, 9:00 am). The blood alcohol concentration measured with an alcohol meter was not statistically different between the test group and the control group, but the blood alcohol concentration was lower in the test group drinking the natural tea of the present invention than in the other groups with the lapse of time. The blood alcohol concentrations measured 12 hours after drinking were 0.006% and 0.030% in the test group and the control group, respectively. At the same time, the blood acetaldehyde concentration of the test group measured simultaneously with the blood alcohol concentration was reduced to a level 1/2 lower than the blood acetaldehyde concentration of the control group. Such results are generally consistent with the test group volunteers' responses that responded to the natural tea of the present invention to help alleviate hangover the next day after drinking.

Table 5: effect of Natural tea on blood alcohol and acetaldehyde concentration

(first clinical test) (mean. + -. SD)

Table 6 shows the results of the second clinical trial. In the second clinical trial, college student volunteers had drunk a bottleA korean whisky brand and prohibits drinking other alcoholic beverages. The concentration of ethanol in blood was lower than that of the blood of the test volunteers who drunk at least one bottle of shochu (a korean wine drink) in the first clinical trial. This was likely the result of the second clinical trial because of less alcohol consumption and the lower age of the test volunteers than the volunteers of the first clinical trial.

As in the first clinical trial, the test group administered with natural tea showed lower blood alcohol concentration than the control group except for the results measured after drinking for 30 minutes. The blood ethanol concentration at 360 minutes after drinking was 0.016% in the test group and 0.033% in the control group, showing a great difference in blood ethanol concentration between the two groups.

Meanwhile, the results of the blood acetaldehyde concentrations measured at 60 minutes, 150 minutes and 240 minutes after drinking are shown in Table 7 below. The results of blood acetaldehyde concentrations in the two groups did not differ significantly at 60 minutes after drinking, but the results in the test group were much lower than those in the control group. This difference in blood acetaldehyde concentration was reduced after 150 and 240 minutes of drinking. Blood acetaldehyde concentration has a correlation with blood ethanol concentration.

Table 6: effect of Natural tea on blood alcohol concentration

(second clinical test) (mean. + -. SD)

Table 7: effect of Natural tea on blood acetaldehyde concentration

(second clinical test) (mean. + -. SD)

Test example 7: changes in liver function Activity

Table 8 shows the change in liver function activity of blood collected in the second clinical trial. GOT and GPT are the number of enzymes that are transferred from hepatocytes into the blood when hepatocytes are destroyed due to inflammation of the liver. The GOT indicating the degree of damage of the liver cells in the test group was lower than that of the control group with the lapse of time. Especially at 150 minutes after drinking, the GOT in the test group was statistically significantly lower than the GOT in the control group (p < 0.05).

Gamma-GTP is used for evaluating fatty liver and alcoholic liver diseases, and the gamma-GTP value in the test group is higher than that in the control group at 0 minute after drinking. However, the γ -GTP in the test group subsequently decreased and at 240 minutes after drinking decreased to a value similar to that in the control group.

Table 8: the influence of natural tea on liver function

(average. + -. SD)

^＊＊(p＜0.05)

GOT and GPT (Kamen unit)

γ-GTP(mU/ml)

Test example 8: changes in serum lipids

The contents of Triglyceride (TG) and Total Cholesterol (TC) in serum are shown in table 9 below.

The TG content in the test group blood was lower than in the control group at all time points measured. This seems to be attributable to the difference in TG content between the two groups at the start of the measurement. However, the serum TG level in the control group reached a maximum of 354.3mg/dl at 150 minutes after drinking and then dropped by about 100mg/dl at 240 minutes after drinking. In both groups, the TG content at 240 minutes was higher than that at 0 minutes. The TG content in blood of both groups gradually decreased with time after drinking.

Table 9: effect of Natural tea on serum lipid ratio (mean. + -. SD)

TG: triglycerides

TC: total Cholesterol

Test example 9: changes in serum ADH Activity

The alcohol dehydrogenase activity, which has a decisive influence on the degradation of alcohol, follows a zero-order reaction in which, irrespective of the alcohol concentration in the cells, the alcohol is metabolized only in constant amounts per unit time. Thus, the activity of this enzyme is unchanged regardless of the degree of alcohol consumption (Takagi et al, 1985; and Oshii et al, 1973).

The change in ADH activity with time is shown in Table 10 below.

The ADH activity in the test group and the control group measured 0 min after drinking was 2.63U/L and 3.53U/L, respectively, showing that the ADH activity in the control group was higher than that in the test group, but was not statistically significantly different from that in the test group. However, with respect to the change of ADH activity with time, the ADH activity of the test group at 60 minutes after drinking was 4.12U/L, which revealed an increase of more than 50% in ADH activity as compared with 2.63U/L measured at 0 minutes. Similarly, the ADH activity in the test group at 150 minutes after drinking was 3.76U/L and at 240 minutes was 3.09U/L, which was about 17% higher than the ADH activity at 0 minutes after drinking. On the other hand, the ADH activity values measured at 150 and 240 minutes in the control group were somewhat variable, but the ADH activity at 0 minute after drinking was gradually decreased with time, and was decreased by more than 20% at 240 minutes after drinking.

Table 10: effect of Natural tea on ADH Activity

(average. + -. SD)

As can be seen from Table 10, although there was no statistical difference in ADH activity in the two groups, the test group taking the natural tea of the present invention showed slightly higher ADH activity than the control group. This suggests that the natural tea of the present invention promotes alcohol metabolism in blood.

In the above test examples 6-9, volunteers were tested to administer the natural tea of the present invention before or after drinking, and their ethanol-degrading ability was measured in a cross-over experimental design. The test results provide the following possible conclusions:

1) in the test group to which the natural tea of the present invention was applied, the blood ethanol concentration measured at all the measurement time points was lower than that of the control group, but there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups. In addition, the blood acetaldehyde concentration in the test group was also lower than that in the control group.

2) With respect to liver function activity, the GOT concentration of the test group became lower than that of the control group with the lapse of time. Especially at 150 minutes post-alcohol consumption, statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) were achieved in the concentrations of GOT in both groups.

After 60 minutes of drinking, the GPT and gamma-GTP concentrations reached the highest values and then decreased. The test group to which the natural tea of the present invention was applied had slightly lower concentrations of GPT and gamma-GTP than those of the control group.

3) With respect to the serum lipid content, the Triglyceride (TG) content of the control group was higher than that of the test group. Particularly in the control group, TG content reached the highest value at 150 minutes after drinking and then decreased by about 100mg/dl at 240 minutes after drinking. The TG content in both groups was higher than 0 min at 240 min after drinking.

After drinking, the Total Cholesterol (TC) content of both groups gradually decreased over time.

4) Meanwhile, in the question survey of volunteers who participated in clinical trials, responders answered that hangover syndromes such as headache, heartburn and weakness, which are often experienced the next day after drinking the natural tea of the present invention, were relieved.

As described above, the present invention provides a natural powdered or liquid tea and a method for preparing the same, the tea comprising an extract of acacia and optionally an amount of an extract of oldenlandia diffusa, amomum villosum, glycyrrhiza uralensis and/or pueraria lobata. The natural tea prepared according to the present invention shows effects of alleviating hangover and protecting liver when taken before or after drinking. In particular, according to the present invention, robinin extracted from robinia pseudoacacia can be used as a single active ingredient in an anti-hangover beverage.

Claims (8)

1. A natural tea having effects of relieving hangover and restoring liver function, which contains an extract of Robinia pseudoacacia as a main active ingredient and conventional additives, and which contains a mixture of 10-65 wt% of the extract of Robinia pseudoacacia, 20-80 wt% of the extract of Hedyotis diffusa, 10-60 wt% of the extract of Amomum villosum and 10-50 wt% of the extract of Glycyrrhiza glabra, wherein the extract of Robinia pseudoacacia is prepared by extracting leaves, stems, flowers and roots of Robinia pseudoacacia with an alcohol solvent at 50-150 ℃ for 1-10 hours, and the total amount of all the components in the natural tea is 100 wt%.

2. The natural tea according to claim 1, further comprising a pueraria flower extract as a minor active ingredient, wherein the total amount of all ingredients in the natural tea is 100% by weight.

3. A natural powdered tea having effects of alleviating hangover and restoring liver function, which is prepared by the steps of: washing leaves, stems, flowers and roots of Robinia pseudoacacia with water, and drying the washed matter in the shade, wherein the natural powdered tea is prepared by pulverizing 10-65 wt% of Robinia pseudoacacia, 20-80 wt% of Oldenlandia diffusa, 10-60 wt% of Amomum villosum and 10-50 wt% of Glycyrrhiza uralensis into 50-100 mesh uniform size, and the total amount of all components in the natural tea is 100 wt%.

4. The natural powdered tea according to claim 3, further comprising 50-100 mesh size powder of pueraria flower, wherein the total amount of all ingredients in the natural tea is 100% by weight.

5. The natural powdered tea according to claim 4, which is prepared by pulverizing 10-65 wt% of acacia, 20-80 wt% of oldenlandia diffusa, 10-60 wt% of amomum villosum, 10-20 wt% of glycyrrhiza and 10-80 wt% of pueraria lobata into 50-100 mesh uniform size, the total amount of all components in the natural tea being 100 wt%.

6. A method for preparing natural tea having effects of relieving hangover and restoring liver function, comprising the steps of:

washing leaves, stems, flowers and roots of the robinia pseudoacacia with water;

extracting the water-washed material with an alcohol extraction solvent at 50-150 deg.C for 1-10 hr to obtain an extract as an active ingredient; and

adding conventional additives into the extract;

wherein the natural tea comprises 10-65 wt% of robinia pseudoacacia extract, 20-80 wt% of oldenlandia diffusa extract, 10-60 wt% of fructus amomi extract, 10-20 wt% of liquorice extract and 10-80 wt% of pueraria lobata extract, and the total amount of all the components in the natural tea is 100 wt%.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising centrifuging the Robinia pseudoacacia extract at 2,500-7,500rpm to isolate the robinin for use.

8. The method according to claim 6, further comprising centrifuging the extract at 5,000 and 7,500rpm to separate the active ingredient for use.