By Euglena powder or paramylon powder
Suggests suppression of fibrosis in the liver of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)
Confirmed new research results

Euglena Co., Ltd.

　Euglena Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo, President: Mitsuru Izumo) is a microalcoholic Euglena (Japanese name: Euglena, hereinafter Euglena) powder and Euglena peculiar By continuously ingesting ^{Paramilon * 1} powder, which is a functional component of Wovn^{, activation of hepatic stellate cells * 2} is suppressed, and liver fibrosis ^{* 4 of} nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) ^{* 3} is suppressed. We are pleased to inform you that we have newly confirmed the research results that suggest that.
* 1 A polysaccharide peculiar to microalgae Euglena, in which glucose molecules are linearly polymerized by β-1,3-bonds.
* 2 Cells that become hard by producing collagen fibers and are one of the causes of liver fibrosis.
* 3 Fatty liver disease with no clear history of drinking is called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and among the NAFLDs, those that may progress to liver cirrhosis and liver cancer.
* 4 A phenomenon in which the connective tissue that makes up the internal organs grows abnormally. In the liver, cirrhosis occurs as fibrosis progresses.

■ Background and purpose
　Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, which is called metabolic syndrome of the liver, is an inflammatory disease caused by fatty liver. As the symptoms progress, the liver becomes fibrotic and may lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer.
　We have previously reported that hepatic fibrosis is significantly suppressed by ingesting food containing Euglena powder or paramylon powder in mice that have developed non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Masu ^{* 5}. This time, for the purpose of elucidating the mechanism of suppression of liver fibrosis by continuous ingestion of Euglena powder or paramylon powder, we confirmed the positive area ratio by immunostaining ^{* 7}​ ​^{of α-SMA * 6 involved in the activation of hepatic stellate cells.} I did.
* 5 Our release dated November 24, 2016.
* 6 Abbreviation for "alpha-smooth muscle actin", a protein used as a marker for fibrosis.
* 7 One of the methods for detecting a specific substance.

■ Research content
　Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis mice that develop, ① normal feed only control group was ingested, ② Euglena was ingested food plus powder Euglena group, were fed a diet plus ③ paramylon powder After being divided into paramylon groups and ingested orally for 7 days each, the positive area rate of immunostaining of α-SMA in the liver was compared.

■ Results
　As a result of the above test, the positive area rate of α-SMA immunostaining was reduced by about 40% in Euglena That is, Euglena powder or paramylon powder suppresses the activation of hepatic stellate cells, suggesting the suppression of liver fibrosis.

Fig. Α-SMA positive area ratio of liver

　The above research results were published in the US academic journal "Food Science & Nutrition Online Edition" on November 8, 2018.
　Going forward, we will continue to engage in research and development with the aim of utilizing the Euglena

<About microalgae Euglena >
　Microalgae Euglena (Japanese name: Euglena) is a type of alga that has the characteristics of both plants and animals and contains abundant types of nutrients such as vitamins and minerals in a well-balanced manner. In 2005, Euglena Co., Ltd. succeeded in mass edible outdoor culture for the first time in the world.

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Euglena Co., Ltd. Corporate Communication Division