Confirmed research results suggesting that a water extract of the microalgae Euglena

Euglena Co., Ltd.

　Euglena Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo, President: Mitsuru Izumo) has collaborated with Professor Masaaki Tamura of Kansas State University in the United States to extract water from the Euglena (Japanese name: Euglena We confirmed the research results suggesting that the substance * 1 suppresses the growth of lung cancer through immunity.
The results of this research were published in the online version of "Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy" on April 28, 2020. (Https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0753332220303589)
　※ 1 Euglena from the powder in the extracted material with water, Euglena contains water-soluble components of the powder

■ Background and purpose of research
　Lung cancer has a high morbidity and mortality rate in developed countries including Japan, and it is diagnosed that about 125,000 people are affected every year in Japan. It has been reported that the prevalence of lung cancer is highly related to smoking habits, but it is said that exposure to harmful chemical substances such as asbestos and air pollution are also causes other than smoking. In addition, lung cancer is prone to metastasis to other organs, and lung cancer often develops due to metastasis of other organ cancers, so preventive and therapeutic measures are required.
　It is said that immune activity is involved in the suppression of cancer, but at our company, Euglena, may maintain the immune balance and prevent the onset of the disease * 2. I am reporting. In the study in this study, we focused on the water-soluble component of Euglena Euglena powder to examine its effect on lung cancer.
　* 2 Released on April 17, 2014 https://www.euglena.jp/news/n20140417/

■ Research content and results
　Euglena powder was mixed with drinking water and ingested from 3 weeks before the onset of lung cancer in mice, it was found that the growth of lung cancer in mice 2 weeks after the onset of lung cancer was suppressed (Fig.). 1). In addition, when the white blood cell count in the peripheral blood of mice fed with the water extract of Euglena powder was measured, it was found that the number of granulocytes * 3, which are thought to be involved in promoting tumor growth, was significantly reduced. (Fig. 2).
　From the above, it was suggested that ingestion of water extract of Euglena powder increased anti-tumor immunity by reducing the cell population derived from myeloid * 4 such as granulocytes, and suppressed the growth of lung cancer.​
　Furthermore, using bone marrow * 5 collected from mice Euglena powder on various immune cells contained in the bone marrow was confirmed. When culturing cells derived from bone marrow Euglena powder significantly reduces granulocytes 48 hours after the addition, and among them, granulocyte MDSC, which is known to suppress immunity. It was suggested that * 6 decreased significantly (Fig. 3).
This result is consistent with the results obtained by measuring the white blood cell count in the peripheral blood of mice described above, and Euglena powder suppresses the growth of lung cancer via the antitumor immune system. It was suggested.
　* 3 A type of white blood cell.
　* 4 Immune cells that differentiate in the bone marrow, such as neutrophils (a type of granulocyte), dendritic cells, and macrophages.
　* 5 A tissue containing hematopoietic stem cells that can differentiate into white blood cells and red blood cells.
　* 6 Abbreviation for myeloid-derived suppressor cells, which are progenitor cells such as neutrophils, dendritic cells, and macrophages, and are known as cells that induce immune tolerance.

Fig. 1 Weight of mouse lung cancer (* p <0.05 vs PBS) Fig. 2 Number of granulocytes in peripheral blood of mouse (* p <0.05 vs PBS)

Fig. 3 Number of granulocytes in mouse-derived bone marrow and granulocytic MDSC * a-c, significant difference between different letters, p <0.05

　* 7 PBS stands for Phosphate-buffered saline. Used as a control in this experiment.
　* 8 EWE stands for Euglena water extract, which stands for Euglena powdered water extract.
　* 9 LPS stands for lipopolysaccharide, which is an abbreviation for Lipopolysaccharide. Used as a positive control in this experiment.

　In the future, we will further elucidate the mechanism by which anti-tumor immunity is enhanced by ingestion of water extract of Euglena powder and its physiological significance.
　In addition, we will carry out research and development with the aim of utilizing the microalgae Euglena and its ingredients in health foods, medical fields, etc. and increasing the added value as foodstuffs.

<About microalgae Euglena (Japanese name: Euglena)>
　Euglena is a kind of algae like wakame seaweed, kelp, and chlorella. It has the characteristics of both animals and plants, and contains 59 kinds of nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and unsaturated fatty acids in a well-balanced manner. is. Paramylon, which is a component unique to Euglena and is a type of β-glucan, has been studied for its functionality in recent years and is expected to be used in the healthcare field such as foods and cosmetics. The "Euglena for the body" series, which includes Euglena, captures the facts of the interrelationships of "malnutrition," "mental and physical fatigue," and "immunity weakness," and focuses on complex factors that hinder the foundation of health. doing. It is important to achieve sustainable health, not temporary, by maintaining the body's original cycle of "creating, working, and protecting" and improving it to a better state, regardless of factors that hinder the foundation of health. I think.

<About Euglena Co., Ltd.>
　Euglena 's edible outdoor mass culture technology on Ishigaki Island for the first time in the world. In addition to developing and selling functional foods and cosmetics that utilize Euglena and chlorella produced on Ishigaki Island, we are also conducting research toward the production of biofuels. Listed on TSE Mothers in December 2012. The market was changed to the first section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange in December 2014. The management philosophy is "to make people and the earth healthy". https://euglena.jp

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