Composition for preventing or treating irritable bowel syndrome containing Humulus japonicus extract as an active ingredient

Material for improving diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome by alleviating colonic hypercontraction and water permeability using Humulus japonicus extract

This technology utilizes Humulus japonicus extract as an active ingredient in pharmaceutical and health functional food compositions for preventing and treating diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) characterized by excessive bowel movement, gastric emptying, colonic water permeability, and colonic smooth muscle contraction. The extract restores hypersensitive intestinal motility and water transport to normal levels.

IBS is common, affecting 28% of patients with digestive symptoms, yet it lacks a clear cause, making it difficult to diagnose with a single test and leaving no effective standalone treatment. Management has relied on symptom-specific drugs, such as synthetic opioids to slow transit or antispasmodics for pain, while serotonin agonists are limited by complications. There is a critical need for safe, low-side-effect treatments.

This technology, obtained by extracting Humulus japonicus with water, C1-C4 alcohols, or their mixtures, inhibits colonic smooth muscle hypercontraction induced by neurotransmitters like acetylcholine and serotonin or electrical stimulation. It has been shown to improve symptoms in stress-induced IBS models. Applicable to stress-relief supplements, gut health drinks, and natural anti-diarrheal aids, this common vine extract reduces reliance on synthetic drugs by simultaneously calming intestinal hypercontraction and water leakage.

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Key Features:

• Pharmaceutical composition for treating diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome with increased bowel movement, gastric emptying, colonic water permeability, or colonic smooth muscle contraction, containing Humulus japonicus extract as an active ingredient
• Humulus japonicus extract obtained by extraction with water, C1-C4 alcohol, or a mixed solvent thereof
• Active ingredient that inhibits colonic smooth muscle contraction induced by electrical stimulation or neurotransmitters selected from acetylcholine or serotonin
• Health functional food composition for preventing or improving water avoidance stress-induced diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome, containing Humulus japonicus extract as an active ingredient

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This invention was developed with support from the Ministry of Science and ICT for research on peristaltic changes and molecular protective mechanisms in intestinal obstruction and irritable bowel syndrome.

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