Food has three functions namely nutritional function, sensory function, and biological regulation function, foods characterized by biological control function are called functional foods, foods for specified health use and functional display foods are examples. We focus on biological control functions of foods, namely health function, especially on immunity strengthening function, allergic symptom relaxation function, metabolic syndrome improving function, locomotive syndrome improving function. So far, we have clarified functional composition of various foods. For example, we have clarified that jellyfish-derived collagen has a function to promote immunity¹⁾, and based on this result, it has been developed as supplement and functional feed additive for aquaculture fish, and it has been commercialized by a fishery processing company in Ehime Prefecture. Concerning effects on fish particularly, it has been demonstrated that various fish species were protected against infection by pathogenic bacteria and increase resistance to disease.

Citrus, a special product of Ehime prefecture, also contains various health components. It was revealed that β- cryptoxanthin, which is a characteristic component of Unshū orange, has an effect of immunity enhancement ²⁾. In addition, it was proved that Nobiletin contained in peel of Ponkan (Mandarin) and Unshu oranges has an effect to reduce symptoms of Pollinosis. It was clarified that this effect more pronounced by simultaneous ingestion with milk protein β-lactoglobulin ³⁾. Based on this study results, together with a dairy maker in Ehime Prefecture, Ehime Prefecture, and students of the Faculty of Agriculture, we worked on a product development, with a result "N+ (N PLUS) yoghurt drink, blended with citrus peel which has a response against pollinosis, and began selling in October, 2015 (right picture). This industry-collaboration project received an award of "Ehime Agricultural Forestry and Fisheries Award" (Ehime Shimbun/Ehime newspaper) in FY 2016.

We will continue to promote study on the functional evaluation of foods and work on the developing functional foods through cooperation between industry, academia and government.

References

1) Jellyfish collagen stimulates maturation of mouse bone marrow-derived dendritic cells., J. Funct. Foods, 14, 308-317, 2015.

2) Immunostimulatory effect of b-cryptoxanthin in vitro and in vivo., J. Funct. Foods, 4, 618-625, 2012.

3) Effect of concurrent administration of nobiletin and b-lactoglobulin on the symptoms of Japanese cedar pollinosis models in mice., J. Funct. Foods, 22, 389-397, 2016.