The presenting taste improvement medicine of this invention, the 7 hydroxy 3,3, 4 , features that 5,6 penta- methoxy flavone is contained as a active ingredient. As for the particular 7 hydroxy flavone derivative, passing the below-mentioned process, it is possible to manufacture: 1) the rind of the oranges or the oil refining which then is obtained, after extracting making use of the hydrophilic organic solvent, it concentrates, 2) in the concentrate which is obtained it extracts with the alkaline aqueous solution including the hydrophobic organic solvent, 3) after adjusting pH of alkaline extract acidity, taking doing precipitation crystal, you obtain crystal roughly, 4) recrystallizing crystal roughly with the organic solvent according to need, you obtain the above-mentioned 7 hydroxy flavone derivative. The presenting taste improvement medicine of this invention, is superior in the effect such as improvement of sweet taste quality of especially high degree of sweet taste sweetener, control of the rear pulling of sweet taste and control of careless taste.本発明の呈味改善剤は、有効成分として、7-ヒドロキシ-3,3’,4’,5,6-ペンタメトキシフラボンを含有することを特徴とする。当該7-ヒドロキシフラボン誘導体は、下記の工程を経て調製することができる:1)柑橘類の果皮またはそれから得られる精油を、親水性有機溶媒を用いて抽出した後、濃縮する、2)得られた濃縮物に疎水性有機溶媒を加え、アルカリ水溶液で抽出する、3)アルカリ抽出液のpHを酸性に調整した後、析出結晶を濾取して粗結晶を得る、必要に応じて4)粗結晶を有機溶媒で再結晶して、上記7-ヒドロキシフラボン誘導体を得る。本発明の呈味改善剤は、特に高甘味度甘味料の甘味質の向上、甘味の後引きの抑制、雑味の抑制等の効果に優れている。
