Bioactive agents, compositions and materials comprising said bioactive agents

Abstract: Bioactive agents, having growth-promoting activity upon Bifidobacteria, consisting of one or more lactoferrin-compounds selected from the group consisting of bovine lactoferrin, bovine apolactoferrin and bovine Fe-lactoferrin, which can be used as it is as agents to promote proliferation of Bifidobacteria both in vivo and in vitro, and as additives to prepare compositions, materials and products to afford growth-­ promoting activity thereto, and to improve survivability of Bifidobacteria, if contained therein.

Description: The present invention relates to bioactive agents having growth-promoting activity to Bifidobacteria and utilization thereof. More particularly, the present invention relates to bioactive agents having growth-promoting activity to Bifidobacteria consisting of one or more lactoferrin-compounds selected from the group consisting of bovine lactoferrin, bovine apolactoferrin and bovine Fe-lactoferrin, as well as compositions and materials comprising said bioactive agents as an effective component. Bifidobacteria are known as useful microorganisms in the intestine of animals inclusive of human beings, and their usefulness has been clinically proved, for example, for therapy or prevention of various symptoms or diseases such as diarrhea, constipation and infectious diseases, and for growth-inhibition against harmful intestinal microorganisms. Various substances having growth-promoting activity to Bifidobacteria have been reported, for example, N-acetylglucosamine, pantethinic substances, various peptides and nucleic-acid-related substances as well as various saccharides (such as lactulose) which are not digested by gastric acid and which are utilized by Bifidobacteria. The present invention provides new bioactive agents having growth-promoting activity to Bifidobacteria, which are completely different from those substances which had been known to have growth-promoting activity, and which consist of one or more lactoferrin-compounds selected from the group consisting of bovine lactoferrin, bovine apolactoferrin and bovine Fe-lactoferrin. Meanwile, lactoferrin is known as an iron-binding protein occurring, in vivo, in lacrima, saliva, peripheral blood and milk. Lactoferrin content in cow's milk is 1/10 of that in human milk, and it has been known that bovine lactoferrin has antibacterial activity to harmful microorganisms belonging to the genuses of Escherichia, Candida and Clostridium and the like [cf: Welsh, J.K. and J.T. May; Journal of Pediatrics; Vol. 94, Page 1; 1979]. GB-A-2 168 982 discloses a method of bovine lactoferrin isolation from cow's milk and emphasizes its importance in the nutrition of infants and its bacteriostatic action on pathogenic bacteria. FR-A-2 613 725 describes a method for isolating lactoferrin from lactoserum. It has been reported that bovine apolactoferrin, which is obtainable by unbinding iron from lactoferrin originating from cow's milk, may inhibit proliferation of harmful microorganisms belonging to the genuses of Escherichia, Staphylococcus and Enterococcus and the like in synthetic medium with a concentration of 0.5 - 30 mg of the apolactoferrin per mℓ medium [Nonnecke, B.J. and K.L. Smith; Journal of Dairy Science; Vol. 67; Page 606; 1984]. It has been considered in general that apolactoferrin may act to inhibit proliferation of microorganisms, which require iron strongly, due to chelation of iron with apolactoferrin. On the other hand, it has been known that human Fe-lactoferrin, which is obtainable by saturating human lactoferrin with Fe, may enhanse or promote proliferation of Bifidobacteria which are typical and useful microorganisms found in the human intestine [Kodama; Nihon Shohnika Gakukaizasshi (The Journal of Japanese Pediatrics Society); Vol. 87; Page 1000; 1983]. In the belief of the inventors of the present application, there has been no report referring to growth-promoting activity of bovine lactoferrin to Bifidobacteria. As will be readily understood, it has been difficult to supply large quantity of human Fe-lactoferrin. The inventors of the present application have thoroughly studied on lactoferrin, and found that growth-promoting activity of bovine lactoferrin, bovine apolactoferrin and bovine Fe-lactoferrin is stronger than that of human Fe-lactoferrin. The present invention is based on this discovery. In accordance with the present invention there is provided the use of a lactoferrin-compound in a method for the preparation of a bioactive agent to promote either of in vivo-growth and in vitro-growth of Bifidobacteria characterised in that the lactoferrin-compound is selected from the group consisting of bovine lactoferrin, bovine apolactoferrin and bovine Fe-lactoferrin. The bioactive agent can be prepared in the form of liquid and solid. Thus the bioactive agents can be used as drugs to be orally dosed to animals inclusive of humanbeings for prevention and/or therapy against certain infectious diseases, as it is or in the form of preparations by adding carriers, vehicles or excipients thereto. The bioactive agents can be also used as additives to compositions and materials to afford growth-promoting activity thereto. The compositions and materials to which the bioactive agents are added can be certainly used not only as drugs, healthy foods, functional foods, healthy feeds to improve their intestinal conditions, but also as those materials in which Bifidobacteria are to be proliferated, for example, culture media for massproduction of viable Bifidobacteria, culture media for determination of viable count of Bifidobacteria, and materials for preparing yogurt or pickles and the like. The bioactive agents can be added to those material in which viable Bifidobacteria are included, for example, yogurt or feeds containing Bifidobacteria. In such cases. the bioactive agents included in the material are effective not only to promote proliferation of Bifidobacteria therein, but also to improve survivability of Bifidobacteria included therein. In other words, coexistence of the bioactive agents and viable Bifidobacteria in the materials may prolong their preservabilityes. Bovine apolactoferrin can be prepared from bovine lactoferrin by removing Fe therefrom. Bovine Fe-lactoferrin can be prepared from saturation of bovine apolactoferrin with iron. Any materials which include bovine lactoferrin can be used as the source of bovine lactoferrin, for example, cow's milk such as colostrum, transitional milk, matured milk and milk in later lactation, as well as processed products thereof (such as skim milk), or byproducts obtainable by processing the materials (such as cheese whey) and the like. Bovine lactoferrin can be isolated and purified from these materials, for example, by ion-exchange chromatography. The resultant bovine lactoferrin can be dissolved into citric acid solution to remove iron thereby iron-free lactoferrin (apolactoferrin) can be prepared. The resultant apolactoferrin is dissolved into and reacted with aqueous solution of iron sulfate, then resultant reaction mixture is subjected to ultrafiltration thereby Fe-lactoferrin can be obtained. The resultant Fe-lactoferrin in liquid or solid form can be used as it is as growth-promoting agents for Bifidobacteria. Alternatively, the resultant Fe-lactoferrin can be mixed with inert carriers or fillers in the form of liquid, powder or solid as well as other drugs, foods and feeds or materials therefor and the like to prepare compositions having growth-promoting activity. Now some exemplifying tests will be described hereunder for better understanding of the present invention. Test 1 Growth-promoting activity of bovine lactoferrin, bovine apolactoferrin and bovine Fe-lactoferrin to Bifidobacteria was evaluated. Preparation of Bovine Lactoferrin Bovine lactoferrin was prepared in accordance with the conventional method described in Example 2 in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Gazette No. 63(1988)-152400, which is hereby incorporated into the description of the present invention. Preparation of Apolactoferrin Into 2100 mℓ of purified water, 90 g of bovine lactoferrin obtained in the previous step was dissolved, and 10 % aqueous solution of citric acid was further added thereto to adjust its pH to 2.5, then the resultant liquid was kept for 1 hour at room temperature to remove or unbind iron from lactoferrin. The resultant liquid was subjected to ultrafiltration and the retentate was freezedried whereby 87 g of apolactoferrin where obtained. Preparation of Bovine Fe-lactoferrin Into 700 mℓ of purified water, 30 g of the bovine lactoferrin obtained in the previous step was dissolved, and the resultant solution was reacted with aqueous solution of 2.6 mM iron sulfate for 24 hours at room temperature. The resultant reaction mixture was subjected to ultrafiltration and the obtained retentate was freezedried, whereby 26 g of Fe-lactoferrin was harvested. Preparation of Human Fe-lactoferrin Human Fe-lactoferrin was prepared in accordance with the conventional method by Kodama (of: The Journal of Japanese Pediatrics Association; Vol. 87; page 1000; 1983) Following strains were used for tests. 1 ○ Bifidobacterium bifidum: ATCC 15696 2 ○ Bifidobacterium infantis: ATCC 15697 3 ○ Bifidobacterium breve: ATCC 15700 4 ○ Bifidobacterium longum: ATCC 15707 5 ○ Bifidobacterium pseudolongum: ATCC 25526 6 ○ Bifidobacterium animalis: ATCC 25527 It should be noted that specific microbial strains deposited to the competent depository were used in the test for eliminating troublesome jobs, for example collection of microorganisms from a suitable source, isolation and identification of the microorganisms and cultivation of the identified bacteria and so on. Preparation of Preincubated Cultures From each of the preservation slants of the concerned microorganisms, a loop of the respective strain was taken out and spreaded onto GAM agar culture medium (by Nissui Seiyaku), and unaerobically cultivated for 16 hours at 35 °C. Colonies grown on each GAM agar medium were scraped by a platinum loop and suspended into physiological saline solution so as to provide a predetermined turbidity of 2.0 (wavelength: 660 nm) thereby preincubated cultures for respective strains were prepared. Tests for Growth-promoting Effects Into purified water, GAM bouillon culture medium (by Nissui Seiyaku) was dissolved in the indicated concentration, and the resultant solution was sterilized at 115 °C for 15 minutes thereby basic culture medium was prepared. A plurality of test culture medium for each of lactoferrin-compounds prepared were prepared by adding each of the lactoferrin-compounds so as to make 0.05 % concentration of respective lactoferrin-compounds in the resultant culture medium. To test culture medium, each of preincubated cultures prepared in step was inoculated by 1 %, whereby test bacterial cultures were prepared. After measuring turbidities of the resultant test bacterial cultures, they were unaerobically incubated for 16 hours at 35 °C, then the turbidities after incubation were measured again. A plurality of control bacterial cultures were preparared in the same manner as the test bacterial cultures, except that purified water was added instead of lactoferrin-compounds solution, and turbidities thereof were measured in the same manner as in test bacterial cultures. Growth-promoting rate (hereinafter abbreviated as G-P rate) was calculated by following formula: G-P rate (%) = (T16 - T0)/(C16 - C0) × 100 -100 wherein T16 means turbidity after 16 hours incubation of test bacterial culture, T0 means turbidity before incubation of test bacterial culture, C16 means turbidity after 16 hours incubation of control bacterial culture and C0 means turbidity before incubation of control bacterial culture. The results are shown in Table 1. GROWTH-PROMOTING EFFECT OF HUMAN Fe-LACTOFERRIN, BOVINE LACTOFERRIN, BOVINE APOLACTOFERRIN AND BOVINE Fe-LACTOFERRIN FOR BIFIDOBACTERIA strains G-P rate (%) hFe-lf bovine lf bovine apo-lf bovine Fe-lf B. bifidum 15 53 62 48 B. infantis 14 54 63 49 B. breve 18 55 63 48 B. longum 17 56 60 48 B. pseudolongum 1 55 58 47 B. animalis 2 52 59 47 It will be understood from Table 1 that all of bovine lactoferrin (bovine lf in abbreviation), bovine apolactoferrin (bovine apo-lf in abbreviation) and bovine Fe-lactoferrin (bovine Fe-lf in abbreviation) have remarkably stronger growth-promotive activities to all of 6 strains of Bifidobacteria than human Fe-lactoferrin (hFe-lf in abbreviation). It will be also understood that human Fe-lactoferrin did not show growth-promoting activity upon Bifidobacteria derived from animals such as B. pseudolongum and B. animalis. Test 2 This test was conducted to determine effective concentration of bovine lactoferrin, bovine apolactoferrin and bovine Fe-lactoferrin for growth-promoting activity. Preparation of Bovine Lactoferrin In the same manner as in Test 1, bovine lactoferrin was prepared. Preparation of bovine apolactoferrin In the same manner as in Test 1, bovine apolactoferrin was prepared. Preparation of bovine Fe-lactoferrin In the same manner as in Test 1, bovine Fe-lactoferrin was prepared. The same strains in Test 1 were used. The method was the same as in Test 1, except that bovine lactoferrin, bovine apolactoferrin and bovine Fe-lactoferrin were respectively used in various concentrations as shown in Table 2. The G-P rates were calculated in the same manner as in Test 1. The results are shown in Table 2. From Table 2, it will be understood that all of bovine lactoferrin, bovine apolactoferrin and bovine Fe-lactoferrin have growth-promoting activities upon all of 6 strains of Bifidobacteria in a concentration more than 30 ppm inclusive, that the activities are proportional to the concentration, and that the maximum G-P rates were shown in the concentration over 250 - 500 ppm both inclusive. It has been found that bovine apolactoferrin showed the highest activity, bovine lactoferrin next and then bovine Fe-lactoferrin. Now some examples will be described hereunder for better understanding of the present application. Example 1 Prepared was 2ℓ of culture medium for mass production of Bifidobacteria containing 1.0 % of yeast extract, 1.5 % of meat extract, 1.0 % of casitone, 0.1 % of potassium dihydrogen phosphate, 0.1 % of dipotassium hydrogen phosphate, 0.7 % of sodium acetate, and 3 % of lactose, and 0.04 % of cystine (respectively in weights). The resultant culture medium was sterilized at 115°C for 15 minutes. To 100 mℓ of purified water, 1 g of previously prepared bovine lactoferrin was dissolved and removed microorganisms which maight be contaminated in the resulted lactoferrin solution by the sterile membrane filter. To the previously prepared culture medium, 40 mℓ of the resultant lactoferrin solution was added (bovine lactoferrin concentration in the medium was 196 ppm), then 1 % of the preincubated culture of B. longum prepared in the same manner as in test 1 was innoculated to obtain a test sample which was unaerobically incubated at 37 °C for 16 hours. Viable cell counts in the test medium were measured after incubation. A control sample was prepared in the same manner as in the test sample, except that purified water was added therein instead of bovine lactoferrin solution. The viable count after incubation was measured in the same manner as in the test sample. The results are shown in Table 3. As will be seen from Table 3, the viable cell count was increased by 50 % in the test sample in which bovine lactoferrin was added. EFFECT OF BOVINE LACTOFERRIN UPON GROWTH OF B. longum sample viable count (/mℓ) control 30 × 10⁸ test (added bovine lactoferrin) 45 × 10⁸ Example 2 In the same manner as in Example 1, viable cell counts were measured for test and control samples, except that the former included bovine apolactoferrin (the concentration of bovine apolactoferrin was 196 ppm) and the latter included purified water instead thereof. The results are shown in Table 4. As will be seen from Table 4, the viable count was increased by 66 % in the test sample. EFFECT OF BOVINE APOLACTOFERRIN UPON GROWTH OF B. longum sample viable count (/mℓ) control 30 × 10⁸ test (added bovine apolactoferrin) 50 × 10⁸ Example 3 In the same manner as in Example 2, viable cell counts were measured for test and control samples, except that preincubated culture of B. pseudolongum prepared in the same manner as Test 1 instead of B. longum (the concentration of bovine apolactoferrin was 196 ppm). The results are sown in Table 5. As will be seen from Table 5, the viable count was increased by 62 % in the test sample. EFFECT OF BOVINE APOLACTOFERRIN UPON GROWTH OF B. pseudolongum sample viable count (/mℓ) control 42 × 10⁸ test (added bovine apolactoferrin) 68 × 10⁸ Example 4 A mixture of bovine lactoferrin and bovine apolactoferrin was prepared using those prepared in Test 1. The growth-promoting effect of the mixture was measured in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the mixture was used instead of bovine lactoferrin alone (concentration of bovine lactoferrin was 98 ppm and that of bovine apolactoferrin was 98 ppm in the medium). The results are shown in Table 6. As will be seen from Table 6, it will be understood that the viable count was increased by 63 % in the test sample. EFFECT OF A MIXTURE OF BOVINE LACTOFERRIN AND BOVINE APOLACTOFERRIN UPON GROWTH OF B. longum sample viable count (/mℓ) control 42 × 10⁸ test (added the mixture of bovine lf and bovine apo-lf) 68 × 10⁸ Example 5 To 1 kg of aqueous solution of skim milk pasteurized at 80 °C for 10 minutes (solid content of skim milk in the resultant solution was 8.2 %) 2 % of commercially available yogurt starter (YB - 15, by CHR.HANSEN'S LABORATORIUM) prepared in accordance with the instruction attached, 0.2 g of bovine lactoferrin prepared in Test 1, 1 % of preincubated culture of B. longum obtained in Example 1 were added and aseptically dispensed by 100 mℓ into yogurt cups, then they were fermented at 40 °C for 5 hours, whereby test samples of yogurt were prepared (concentration of bovine lactoferrin was 200 ppm). Control samples were also prepared in the same manner as in test samples, except that bovine lactoferrin was not added. The viable cell counts of Bifidobacterium and lactic acid bacteria under preservation at 5 °C were measured immediately after preparation of yogurt and at 7th, 10th and 14th days thereafter. The results are shown in Table 7. The viable counts of Bifidobacterium after preparation (0 day) were higher in the yogurt included bovine lactoferrin and its survivability under preservation was also better therein. VIABLE CELL COUNTS OF BIFIDOBACTERIUM IN YOGURT AND SURVIVABILITY THEREOF UNDER PRESERVATION (BOVINE LACTOFERRIN ADDED) sample count of Bifidobacterium (/g) count of lactic acid bacteria (/g) 0 day 7th 10th 14th 0 day 7th 10th 14th control 30×10⁶ 55×10⁵ 20×10³ ≦10² 20×10⁷ 17×10⁷ 13×10⁷ 12×10⁷ test (added b. lf) 10×10⁷ 60×10⁶ 73×10⁵ 13×10⁵ 19×10⁷ 17×10⁷ 14×10⁷ 12×10⁷ Example 6 Yogurt samples for control and test were prepared in the same manner as in Example 5, except that 0.3 g of bovine apolactoferrin prepared in Test 1 was used instead of bovine lactoferrin (the concentration of bovine apolactoferrin in the yogurt was 300 ppm). The viable cell counts of Bifidobacteria and lactic acid bacteria were measured immediately after preparation of yogurt and at 7th, 10th and 14th days thereafter under preservation at 5 °C. The results are shown in Table 8. The viable counts of Bifidobacterium after preparation (0 day) were higher in the yogurt included bovine apolactoferrin and its survivability under preservation was also better therein. VIABLE CELL COUNTS OF BIFIDOBACTERIUM IN YOGURT AND SURVIVABILITY THEREOF UNDER PRESERVATION (BOVINE APOLACTOFERRIN ADDED) sample count of Bifidobacterium (/g) count of lactic acid bacteria (/g) 0 day 7th 10th 14th 0 day 7th 10th 14th control 31×10⁶ 50×10⁵ 25×10³ ≦10² 21×10⁷ 18×10⁷ 14×10⁷ 13×10⁷ test 12×10⁷ 99×10⁶ 65×10⁶ 11×10⁶ 20×10⁷ 18×10⁷ 15×10⁷ 13×10⁷ Example 7 Yogurt samples for control and test were prepared in the same manner as in Example 6, except that preincubated culture of B. pseudolongum used in Example 3 was used instead of B. longum (the concentration of bovine apolactoferrin in yogurt was 300 ppm). The viable cell counts of Bifidobacterium and lactic acid bacteria were measured immediately after preparation of yogurt and at 7th, 10th and 14th days thereafter under preservation at 5 °C. The results are shown in Table 9. The viable counts of Bifidobacterium after preparation (0 day) were higher in the yogurt included bovine apolactoferrin and its survivability under preservation was also better therein. VIABLE CELL COUNTS OF BIFIDOBACTERIUM IN YOGURT AND SURVIVABILITY THEREOF UNDER PRESERVATION (BOVINE APOLACTOFERRIN ADDED) sample count of Bifidobacterium (/g) count of lactic acid bacteria (/g) 0 day 7th 10th 14th 0 day 7th 10th 14th control 40×10⁶ 30×10⁶ 25×10⁶ 21×10⁶ 19×10⁷ 18×10⁷ 16×10⁷ 15×10⁷ test 11×10⁷ 11×10⁷ 10×10⁷ 9×10⁷ 20×10⁷ 20×10⁷ 17×10⁷ 15×10⁷ Example 8 Yogurt samples for control and test were prepared in the same manner as in Example 5, except that a mixture of 0.1 g of bovine lactoferrin and 0.1 g of bovine apolactoferrin prepared in Test 1 was added instead of bovine lactoferrin in Example 5 (the concentration of bovine lactoferrin was 100 ppm and that of bovine apolactoferrin was 100 ppm). The viable cell counts of Bifidobacterium and lactic acid bacteria under preservation at 5 °C were measured immediately after preparation of yogurt and at 7th, 10th and 14th days thereafter. The results are shown in Table 10. The viable counts of Bifidobacterium after preparation (0 day) were higher in the yogurt including the mixture of bovine lactoferrin and bovine apolactoferrin and its survivability under preservation was also better therein. VIABLE CELL COUNTS OF BIFIDOBACTERIUM IN YOGURT AND SURVIVABILITY THEREOF UNDER PRESERVATION (A MIXTURE OF B. LACTOFERRIN AND B. APOLACTOFERRIN) sample count of Bifidobacterium (/g) count of lactic acid bacteria (/g) 0 day 7th 10th 14th 0 day 7th 10th 14th control 30×10⁶ 52×10⁵ 23×10³ ≦10² 20×10⁷ 20×10⁷ 16×10⁷ 15×10⁷ test 13×10⁷ 80×10⁶ 86×10⁵ 42×10⁵ 20×10⁷ 19×10⁷ 17×10⁷ 15×10⁷ Example 9 To 800 g of skim milk powder, 200 g of powdery bovine lactoferrin prepared in the same manner as in Test 1 were added to thereby obtain 1000 g of an easily fluidal powdery composition of the present invention. The resultant composition was fed to 5 healthy Holstein cows of 1 - 2 years ages, twice a day for 2 days together with ordinary feed in the morning and in the afternoon by 30 g at a time. Viable bacterial counts per g of the feces before and after ingestion of bovine lactoferrin were compared. The results are shown in Table 11. From Table 11, it will be understood that viable bacterial counts of harmful intestinal bacteria were reduced, and that those of useful Bifidobacteria were increased by the dosage of bovine lactoferrin. VIABLE BACTERIAL COUNTS PER g OF FECES (BOVINE LACTOFERRIN) cow No. E. coli C. perfringens Bifidobacterium before after before after before after 1 73 × 10⁶ 10 × 10⁶ 41 × 10⁶ 20 × 10⁵ 61 × 10⁶ 48 × 10⁷ 2 61 × 10⁷ 22 × 10⁶ 56 × 10⁶ 11 × 10⁶ 22 × 10⁶ 11 × 10⁷ 3 25 × 10⁷ 71 × 10⁶ 31 × 10⁶ 82 × 10⁵ 43 × 10⁶ 39 × 10⁷ 4 81 × 10⁶ 44 × 10⁶ 75 × 10⁵ 19 × 10⁵ 12 × 10⁷ 66 × 10⁷ 5 73 × 10⁷ 36 × 10⁷ 82 × 10⁵ 21 × 10⁵ 39 × 10⁶ 22 × 10⁷ Example 10 150 g of powdery bovine apolactoferrin, prepared in the same manner as in Test 1, were added to 850 g of skim milk powder to obtain 1000 g of an easily fluidal composition of the present invention. To 5 healthy Holstein cows of 1 - 2 years ages, the resultant composition was fed twice a day for 2 days together with ordinary feed in the morning and in the afternoon by 30 g at a time. Viable bacterial counts per g of the feces before and after ingestion of bovine apolactoferrin were compared. The results are shown in Table 12. From Table 12, it will be understood that viable counts of harmful intestinal bacteria were reduced, and that those of useful Bifidobacteria were remarkably increased by the dosage of bovine apolactoferrin. VIABLE BACTERIAL COUNTS PER g OF FECES (BOVINE APOLACTOFERRIN) cow No. E. coli C. perfringens Bifidobacterium before after before after before after 1 43 × 10⁶ 49 × 10⁵ 33 × 10⁶ 20 × 10⁵ 52 × 10⁶ 82 × 10⁷ 2 56 × 10⁷ 11 × 10⁵ 26 × 10⁶ 55 × 10⁵ 37 × 10⁶ 61 × 10⁷ 3 29 × 10⁷ 33 × 10⁶ 52 × 10⁶ 81 × 10⁵ 16 × 10⁶ 75 × 10⁷ 4 81 × 10⁶ 96 × 10⁵ 46 × 10⁵ 12 × 10⁵ 56 × 10⁵ 39 × 10⁷ 5 76 × 10⁷ 15 × 10⁶ 90 × 10⁵ 15 × 10⁵ 13 × 10⁷ 21 × 10⁸ Example 11 300 g of powdery bovine Fe-lactoferrin prepared in the same manner as in Test 1 were added to 700 g of skim milk powder to thereby obtain 1000 g of an easily fluidal composition of the present invention. To 5 healthy Holstein cows of 1 - 2 years ages, the resultant composition was fed twice a day for 2 days together with ordinary feed in the morning and in the afternoon by 30 g at a time. Viable bacterial counts per g of the feces before and after ingestion of bovine Fe-lactoferrin were compared. The results are shown in Table 13. From Table 13, it will be understood that viable bacterial counts of harmful intestinal bacteria were reduced, and that those of useful Bifidobacteria were remarkably increased by the dosage of bovine Fe-lactoferrin. VIABLE BACTERIAL COUNTS PER g OF FECES (BOVINE Fe-LACTOFERRIN) cow No. E. coli C. perfringens Bifidobacterium before after before after before after 1 72 × 10⁶ 41 × 10⁶ 43 × 10⁶ 24 × 10⁶ 32 × 10⁶ 2 × 10⁷ 2 61 × 10⁷ 39 × 10⁷ 21 × 10⁶ 10 × 10⁶ 88 × 10⁵ 56 × 10⁶ 3 27 × 10⁷ 11 × 10⁷ 35 × 10⁶ 26 × 10⁶ 46 × 10⁶ 17 × 10⁷ 4 54 × 10⁶ 34 × 10⁶ 77 × 10⁵ 19 × 10⁵ 67 × 10⁵ 35 × 10⁶ 5 63 × 10⁷ 37 × 10⁷ 81 × 10⁵ 33 × 10⁵ 79 × 10⁶ 43 × 10⁷ Example 12 100 g of powdery bovine lactoferrin and 100 g of bovine apolactoferrin prepared in the same manner as in Test 1 were added to 800 g of skim milk powder to thereby obtain 1000 g of easily fluidal composition of the present invention. To 5 healthy Holstein cows of 1 - 2 years ages, the resultant composition was fed twice a day for 2 days together with ordinary feed in the morning and in the afternoon by 30 g at a time. Viable bacterial counts per g of the feces before and after ingestion of the mixture of bovine lactoferrin and bovine apolactoferrin were compared. The results are shown in Table 14. From Table 14, it will be understood that viable counts of harmful intestinal bacteria were reduced, and that those of useful Bifidobacteria were remarkably increased by the dosage of the mixture of bovine lactoferrin and bovine apolactoferrin. VIABLE BACTERIAL COUNTS PER g OF FECES (MIXTURE OF BOVINE LACTOFERRIN AND BOVINE APOLACTOFERRIN) cow No. E. coli C. perfringens Bifidobacterium before after before after before after 1 93 × 10⁶ 56 × 10⁵ 43 × 10⁶ 16 × 10⁵ 39 × 10⁶ 59 × 10⁷ 2 71 × 10⁷ 22 × 10⁶ 64 × 10⁶ 27 × 10⁵ 91 × 10⁵ 29 × 10⁷ 3 57 × 10⁷ 19 × 10⁶ 35 × 10⁶ 13 × 10⁵ 43 × 10⁶ 78 × 10⁷ 4 30 × 10⁶ 63 × 10⁵ 76 × 10⁵ 10 × 10⁵ 66 × 10⁵ 42 × 10⁷ 5 67 × 10⁷ 48 × 10⁶ 70 × 10⁵ 11 × 10⁵ 81 × 10⁶ 16 × 10⁸ From the foregoing tests and examples, it will be understood that the bioactive agents consisting of one or more bovine lactoferrin-compounds selected from the group consisting of bovine lactoferrin, bovine apolactoferrin and bovine Fe-lactoferrin and the compositions comprising the agents as the effective component can be used in various purposes in various aspects. Although only a limited number of tests and examples have been described herein, it should be noted that the present invention should not be limited thereto, but various modifications and alterations can be made without departing from the concepts of the present invention. In summary, it can be concluded that: (1) The bioactive agents may promote proliferation of Bifidobacteria. (2) The bioactive agents can be added to materials in which Bifidobacteria are to be inoculated or included, for example, culture medium for Bifidobacteria, foods or feeds to promote proliferation and/or to improve survivability thereof. (3) The agents can be given to humanbeings and other animals as it is or in combination with vehicles or carriers for preparation, foods and feeds to increase Bifidobacteria in the intestine.

Claims: Use of a lactoferrin-compound selected from bovine lactoferrin, bovine apo-lactoferrin, and bovine Fe-lactoferrin in a method for the preparation of a bioactive agent to promote either of in-vivo growth and in-vitro growth of Bifidobacteria. The use according to Claim 1 wherein said bioactive agent is a medicine to promote growth of Bifidobacteria in the intestines of humans and other animals. The use according to Claim 1 wherein said bioactive agent is an additive for either of foods, feeds and culture media to promote growth of Bifidobacteria therein.

Inventors: FUKUWATARI YASUO, MIYAKAWA HIROSHI, SAITOH HITOSHI, SHIMAMURA SEIICHI, TOMITA MAMORU, FUKUWATARI, YASUO, MIYAKAWA, HIROSHI, SAITOH, HITOSHI, SHIMAMURA, SEIICHI, TOMITA, MAMORU
Applicants: MORINAGA MILK INDUSTRY CO LTD, MORINAGA MILK INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
Application year: 1990
Main classification: A61K35
IPC codes: A61K38, C12N1, A61P1, A23C9, A23L1, C07K14, A23K1, C12R1