Scavenger of in vivo harmful reactive oxygen species and/or free radicals

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide a scavenger of in vivo harmful reactive oxygen species and/or free radicals, which is capable of effectively reducing the concentrations of in vivo reactive oxygen species and/or free radicals and exhibiting given effects such as the suppression of aging process, the prevention of geriatric or lifestyle-related disease, health promotion, and the inhibition of oxidative stress by virtue of this reduction in the concentrations of reactive oxygen species and/or free radicals. The scavenger of in vivo harmful reactive oxygen species and/or free radicals of the present invention comprises a liquid or gas comprising at least a hydrogen molecule. This medium may further comprise an oxygen molecule. Furthermore, this medium may comprise water or an aqueous solution or may be a gas. The scavenger of reactive oxygen species and/or free radicals can be used in the treatment or prevention of a disorder attributed to reactive oxygen species and/or free radicals.

1 - 33 . (canceled) 
   
   
       34 . A scavenger of reactive oxygen species and/or free radicals comprising a liquid comprising at least a hydrogen molecule, the scavenger removing a hydroxyl radical, which is in vivo harmful reactive oxygen species and is a free radical. 
   
   
       35 . A scavenger of reactive oxygen species and/or free radicals comprising a liquid comprising at least a hydrogen molecule, the scavenger removing peroxynitrite, which is in vivo harmful reactive oxygen species. 
   
   
       36 . The scavenger of in vivo harmful reactive oxygen species and/or free radicals according to  claim 34  or  35 , wherein the liquid comprising at least a hydrogen molecule comprises an aqueous solution. 
   
   
       37 . The scavenger of in vivo harmful reactive oxygen species and/or free radicals according to  claim 36 , wherein the hydrogen molecule comprised therein is supersaturated. 
   
   
       38 . The scavenger of in vivo harmful reactive oxygen species and/or free radicals according to  claim 36 , further comprising an oxygen molecule. 
   
   
       39 . A scavenger of in vivo reactive oxygen species and/or free radicals comprising a gas comprising at least a hydrogen molecule, the scavenger removing a hydroxyl radical, which is in vivo harmful reactive oxygen species and is a free radical. 
   
   
       40 . A scavenger of in vivo reactive oxygen species and/or free radicals comprising a gas comprising at least a hydrogen molecule, the scavenger removing peroxynitrite, which is in vivo harmful reactive oxygen species. 
   
   
       41 . The scavenger of in vivo harmful reactive oxygen species and/or free radicals according to  claim 39  or  40 , wherein the gas comprising at least a hydrogen molecule comprises a mixed gas of hydrogen and oxygen gases. 
   
   
       42 . The scavenger of in vivo harmful reactive oxygen species and/or free radicals according to  claim 39  or  40 , wherein the gas comprising at least a hydrogen molecule comprises a mixed gas of hydrogen, oxygen, and inreactive gases. 
   
   
       43 . The scavenger of in vivo harmful reactive oxygen species and/or free radicals according to  claim 39  or  40 , wherein the gas comprising at least a hydrogen molecule comprises a mixed gas of a hydrogen gas and air. 
   
   
       44 . The scavenger of in vivo harmful reactive oxygen species and/or free radicals according to  claim 39  or  40 , wherein the gas comprising at least a hydrogen molecule comprises a mixed gas of hydrogen and anesthetic gases. 
   
   
       45 . The scavenger of in vivo harmful reactive oxygen species and/or free radicals according to  claim 39  or  40 , wherein the scavenger comprises the hydrogen gas at a concentration of 1 to 4% (v/v). 
   
   
       46 . The scavenger of in vivo harmful reactive oxygen species and/or free radicals according to  claim 39  or  40 , wherein the scavenger comprises the hydrogen gas at a concentration of 1.0 to 4.5% (v/v). 
   
   
       47 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising a scavenger of in vivo harmful reactive oxygen species and/or free radicals according to  claim 34  or  35 . 
   
   
       48 . A therapeutic or preventive agent for a disorder attributed to reactive oxygen species and/or free radicals, the therapeutic or preventive agent comprising a scavenger of in vivo harmful reactive oxygen and/or free radicals according to  claim 34  or  35 . 
   
   
       49 . The therapeutic or preventive agent according to  claim 48 , wherein the disorder attributed to reactive oxygen species and/or free radicals is selected from the group consisting of oxidative stress, oxidative stress-induced cell death, and oxidative stress-induced mitochondrial dysfunction. 
   
   
       50 . The therapeutic or preventive agent according to  claim 48 , wherein the disorder attributed to reactive oxygen species and/or free radicals is selected from the group consisting of cerebral infarction, myocardial infarction, arteriosclerosis, ischemia-reperfusion injury, disorders caused by artificial dialysis, disorders caused by organ transplantation, retinal degeneration in premature babies, acute pneumonopathy, inflammation, and disturbance of lipid metabolism. 
   
   
       51 . The therapeutic or preventive agent according to  claim 48 , wherein the disorder attributed to reactive oxygen species and/or free radicals is myopathy after strenuous exercise or oxygen injury caused by oxygen gas inhalation at a high concentration after exercise. 
   
   
       52 . The therapeutic or preventive agent according to  claim 48 , wherein the disorder attributed to reactive oxygen species and/or free radicals is selected from the group consisting of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and ALS. 
   
   
       53 . The therapeutic or preventive agent according to  claim 48 , wherein the disorder attributed to reactive oxygen species and/or free radicals is cancer. 
   
   
       54 . A drink suitable for the alleviation or prevention of a disorder attributed to reactive oxygen species and/or free radicals, the drink comprising a scavenger of reactive oxygen and/or free radicals comprising a liquid comprising at least a hydrogen molecule according to  claim 34  or  35 . 
   
   
       55 . A drink with a label stating that the drink is used for the removal or reduction of in vivo reactive oxygen species and/or free radicals, the drink comprising a scavenger of reactive oxygen species and/or free radicals comprising a liquid comprising at least a hydrogen molecule according to  claim 34  or  35 . 
   
   
       56 . A drink with a label stating that the drink is used for the alleviation or prevention of a disorder attributed to reactive oxygen species and/or free radicals, the drink comprising a scavenger of reactive oxygen species and/or free radicals comprising a liquid comprising at least a hydrogen molecule according to  claim 34  or  35 . 
   
   
       57 . The drink according to any one of  claims 54  to  56 , wherein the drink is a health food, functional food, nutritional supplementary food, supplement, or food for specified health use. 
   
   
       58 . A container comprising a scavenger of in vivo harmful reactive oxygen species and/or free radicals according to  claim 39  or  40 . 
   
   
       59 . The container according to  claim 58 , wherein the container is a hydrogen gas cylinder. 
   
   
       60 . An apparatus for supplying a scavenger of reactive oxygen species and/or free radicals to a subject in need of the treatment or prevention of a disorder attributed to reactive oxygen species and/or free radicals, the apparatus comprising: a container comprising a scavenger of in vivo harmful reactive oxygen species and/or free radicals comprising a gas comprising at least a hydrogen molecule according to  claim 39  or  40 ; gas inhalation means; and a supply duct for supplying a gas in the container to the inhalation means. 
   
   
       61 . The apparatus for supplying a scavenger of reactive oxygen species and/or free radicals to a subject in need of the treatment or prevention of a disorder attributed to reactive oxygen species and/or free radicals according to  claim 60 , the apparatus further comprising a container comprising at least one gas selected from the group consisting of oxygen gas, inactive gases, and air, wherein the scavenger of in vivo harmful reactive oxygen species and/or free radicals comprising a gas comprising at least a hydrogen molecule, and the at least one gas selected from the group consisting of oxygen gases, inactive gases, and air are supplied separately or as a mixture to the gas inhalation means. 
   
   
       62 . The apparatus for supplying a scavenger of reactive oxygen species and/or free radicals to a subject in need of the treatment or prevention of a disorder attributed to reactive oxygen species and/or free radicals according to  claim 60 , the apparatus further comprising a container comprising an anesthetic gas, wherein the scavenger of in vivo harmful reactive oxygen species and/or free radicals comprising a gas comprising at least a hydrogen molecule, and the anesthetic gas are supplied separately or as a mixture to the gas inhalation means. 
   
   
       63 . The apparatus for supplying a scavenger of reactive oxygen species and/or free radicals to a subject in need of the treatment or prevention of a disorder attributed to reactive oxygen species and/or free radicals according to  claim 60 , wherein the container comprising a scavenger of in vivo harmful reactive oxygen species and/or free radicals comprising a gas comprising at least a hydrogen molecule comprises 1 to 4% hydrogen gas. 
   
   
       64 . The apparatus for supplying a scavenger of reactive oxygen species and/or free radicals to a subject in need of the treatment or prevention of a disorder attributed to reactive oxygen species and/or free radicals according to  claim 60 , wherein the container comprising a scavenger of in vivo harmful reactive oxygen species and/or free radicals comprising a gas comprising at least a hydrogen molecule is a gas cylinder. 
   
   
       65 . The apparatus for supplying a scavenger of reactive oxygen species and/or free radicals to a subject in need of the treatment or prevention of a disorder attributed to reactive oxygen species and/or free radicals according to  claim 60 , wherein the gas inhalation means is a gas inhalation mask. 
   
   
       66 . The apparatus for supplying a scavenger of reactive oxygen species and/or free radicals to a subject in need of the treatment or prevention of a disorder attributed to reactive oxygen species and/or free radicals according to  claim 60 , wherein the gas inhalation means is a sealed chamber, and the scavenger of in vivo harmful reactive oxygen species and/or free radicals comprising a gas comprising at least a hydrogen molecule is supplied into the sealed chamber to thereby supply the scavenger of reactive oxygen species and/or free radicals to the subject in the sealed chamber.