Sense-improving agent

Abstract

A purpose of the present invention is to provide a sense-improving agent which is safe and, when routinely taken or applied to the skin, exerts an effect of improving deterioration in peripheral sensation. Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a food, a drink, a feed or a cosmetic for improving sensation which exerts an effect of improving deterioration in peripheral sensation when orally taken or applied to the skin. The sense-improving agent comprises, as the active ingredient, a basic protein fraction derived from milk or a degraded basic protein fraction derived from milk. By orally taking the basic protein fraction derived from milk or the degraded basic protein fraction derived from milk or applying the same directly to the skin, deterioration in sensation, in particular, peripheral sensation can be improved. Thus, a food, a drink, a feed or a cosmetic for improving sensation can be obtained.

1 . A skin sensitivity improving agent comprising a milk-derived basic protein fraction as an active ingredient. 
     
     
         2 . The skin sensitivity improving agent according to  claim 1 , wherein the milk-derived basic protein fraction has basic amino acids in an amount of 15 wt % or more based on total amino acids. 
     
     
         3 . The skin sensitivity improving agent according to  claim 1 , wherein the milk-derived basic protein fraction is obtained by bringing milk or a milk-derived raw material into contact with a cation-exchange resin to allow basic proteins to be adhered on the cation-exchange resin, and eluting a fraction adhered on the cation-exchange resin using an eluant having a sodium chloride concentration of 0.1 to 1.0 M. 
     
     
         4 . A skin sensitivity improving agent comprising a degraded milk-derived basic protein fraction as an active ingredient, the degraded milk-derived basic protein fraction being obtained by treating the milk-derived basic protein fraction according to  claim 1  with a protease. 
     
     
         5 . The skin sensitivity improving agent according to  claim 4 , wherein the protease is at least one protease selected from a group consisting of pepsin, trypsin, chymotrypsin, and pancreatin. 
     
     
         6 . A skin sensitivity improving food, drink, feed, or cosmetic comprising the milk-derived basic protein fraction or the degraded milk-derived basic protein fraction according to  claim 1 .