PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a functional food for antiobesity or a pharmaceutical composition for treating or preventing obesity, containing free- or ester-form capsanthins or extract of naturally occurring matter containing the same.SOLUTION: A new application relating to the adipocyte formation-inhibitory activity of free- and ester-form capsanthin is provided. It has been confirmed that: capsanthins in naturally occurring matter including Guinea pepper, paprika and pimiento can inhibit the differentiation of precursor adipocyte into the corresponding adipocyte and the fat accumulation in the thus differentiated adipocyte. Based on the fact, a method for using such properties of capsanthins that: free- and ester-form capsanthins or extract of naturally occurring matter containing the same is reacted with adipocyte precursor and adipocyte to inhibit the differentiation of the precursor adipocyte into the corresponding adipocyte and the fat accumulation in the thus differentiated adipocyte, and a functional food and a pharmaceutical composition each effective for preventing or treating obesity owing to including such free- and ester-form capsanthins or extract of naturally occurring matter containing the same, are provided.COPYRIGHT: (C)2013,JPO&INPIT【課題】遊離型及びエステル型カプサンチン、またはこれらを含む天然物の抽出物を含む、肥満抑制用の機能性食品または肥満の治療若しくは予防するための医薬組成物を提供する。【解決手段】遊離型及びエステル型カプサンチンの脂肪細胞形成抑制活性に係る新規用途に関する。唐辛子、パプリカ及びピーマンなどの天然物に含まれるカプサンチンが前駆脂肪細胞の脂肪細胞への分化及び分化された脂肪細胞の脂肪蓄積をそれぞれ抑制することができるということを確認し、これに基づき、遊離型及びエステル型カプサンチン、またはこれらを含む天然物の抽出物を脂肪細胞前駆体及び脂肪細胞と反応させて前駆脂肪細胞の脂肪細胞への分化及び脂肪細胞内の脂肪蓄積が抑制される性質を利用する方法、並びに遊離型及びエステル型カプサンチン、またはこれらを含む天然物の抽出物を含むことにより、肥満の予防または治療に効果がある機能性食品及び医薬組成物を提供する。【選択図】図1
