Europisches Patentamt

(19)

European Patent Ofce

*EP001013261A1*

Ofce europen des brevets

(11)

EP 1 013 261 A1

EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(12)
(43) Date of publication:

(51) Int Cl.7:

28.06.2000 Bulletin 2000/26

A61K 7/26, A61K 7/16

(21) Application number: 99310238.3

(22) Date of ling: 16.12.1999
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU
MC NL PT SE
Designated Extension States:
AL LT LV MK RO SI

Mori, Masao, Mitsui Norin Co. Ltd.

Fijieda-shi, Shizuoka 426-0133 (JP)
Fukai, Katsuhiko, Mitsui Norin Co. Ltd.
Fijieda-shi, Shizuoka 426-0133 (JP)
Hara, Yukihiko, Mitsui Norin Co. Ltd.
Fijieda-shi, Shizuoka 426-0133 (JP)

(30) Priority: 18.12.1998 JP 36083398

(74) Representative: Samuels, Lucy Alice
(71) Applicant: MITSUI & CO., LTD.

Gill Jennings & Every

Broadgate House
7 Eldon Street
London EC2M 7LH (GB)

Chiyoda-ku Tokyo-to 100-0004 (JP)

(72) Inventors:
Maki, Hisako, Mitsui & Co. Ltd.
Tokyo 100-0004 (JP)

(54)

Composition of mouth spray

-epigallocatechin gallate, (-)-gallocatechin gallate, theaavin monogallate A, theaavin monogallate B, theaavin digallate, and free theaavin. Thus, the composition
of mouth spray according to the present invention keeps
a long duration of masking bad breath and of refreshing
effect signicantly. Moreover, the composition of mouth
spray produces effects such as improvement in a refreshing feeling and pleasant aftertaste, cancellation of
throat unpleasantness, and other useful effects that the
tea-polyphenol has in nature.

EP 1 013 261 A1

(57)
A composition of mouth spray is provided,
which comprises tea-polyphenol, 1-menthol and/or
1-carvone. A concentration of the tea-polyphenol in the
composition of mouth spray is preferably from 10 to
20000 ppm. The tea-polyphenol is preferably at least
one member selected from the group containing (+) -catechin, (-) -catechin, (+) -gallocatechin, (+) -epigallocatechin, (+) -gallocatechin gallate, (+) -epigallocatechin
gallate, (-) -epicatechin, (-)-epicatechin gallate, (-) -catechin gallate, (-) -epigallocatechin, (-) -gallocatechin, (-)

Printed by Jouve, 75001 PARIS (FR)

EP 1 013 261 A1
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
5

(1) Field of the Invention

[0001] This invention relates to a composition of mouth spray, more specically to a composition of mouth spray that
has good durability with respect to a masking of bad breath and a refreshing effect and also has a pleasant aftertaste.

10

15

20

25

(2) Description of the Related Art

[0002] A mouth sprayer is a small pump-type or squeeze-type container having a spray nozzle and contains a liquid
(mouth spray) to be sprayed into the mouth. Since the mouth sprayer is convenient to carry, it has been used for various
applications for food, non-pharmaceutical and pharmaceutical industries and the like.
[0003] In a eld of foods or non-pharmaceuticals, refreshing spice such as 1-menthol, mint and peppermint oils
containing 1-menthol as a main constituent, 1-carvone, and spearmint oil containing 1-carvone as a main constituent
has often been used as an effective ingredient to prepare a composition of mouth spray, which is used to prevent such
as bad breath and discomfort. However, these effective ingredients have a disadvantage of poor durability with respect
to the masking of bad breath or the refreshing effect.
[0004] A tea-polyphenol has been known to have various effects such as odor-eating, antibacterial, anti-inuenza
and anticarious effect so that the application to pharmaceuticals for mouth such as toothpaste, collutory and mouthwash
has hitherto been tried. However, the tea-polyphenol is an essence of sour of tea, giving a strong sour and bitterness
when kept solely in the mouth. Consequently, a taste of the tea-polyphenol is not popular and unsuited for a composition
of the above pharmaceuticals for mouth.
[0005] In addition, being different from toothpaste, collutory and mouthwash, the mouth spray is of an internal use
by being sprayed into the mouth so that the suitability to taste is an important factor besides an effect, resulting in that
the application of the tea-polyphenol to the composition of pharmaceuticals for mouth has particularly been difcult.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

30

35

40

45

[0006] It is therefore an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problem and to provide a
composition of mouth spray that has good durability with respect to the masking of bad breath and the refreshing effect
and also has the pleasant aftertaste.
[0007] In order to accomplish the above object, a rst aspect of the present invention is to provide a composition of
mouth spray comprising tea-polyphenol, 1-menthol and/or 1-carvone.
[0008] A second aspect of the present invention is to provide the composition of mouth spray, wherein a concentration
of the tea-polyphenol is from 10 to 20000 ppm.
[0009] A third aspect of the present invention is to provide the composition of mouth spray, wherein the tea-polyphenol
is at least one member selected from the group containing (+) - catechin, (-) - catechin, (+) - gallocatechin, (+) - epigallocatechin, (+) - gallocatechin gallate, (+) - epigallocatechin gallate, (-) - epicatechin, (-) - epicatechin gallate, (-) - catechin
gallate, (-) - epigallocatechin, (-) - gallocatechin, (-) - epigallocatechin gallate, (-) - gallocatechin gallate, theaavin monogallate A, theaavin monogallate B, theaavin digallate, and free theaavin.
[0010] The composition of mouth spray according to the present invention keeps a long duration of masking bad
breath and of refreshing effect signicantly. Moreover, the composition of mouth spray produces effects such as improvement in a refreshing feeling and pleasant aftertaste, cancellation of throat unpleasantness, and other useful effects
that the tea-polyphenol has in nature.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

50

55

[0011] The composition of mouth spray according to the present invention is not only used to prevent such as bad
breath or discomfort from causing, but also applied to a variety of purposes in the eld of food, non-pharmaceutical
and pharmaceutical industries and the like. An amount of one spraying is normally 10 to 500 microliters.
[0012] The 1-menthol used in the present invention may be a synthetic or natural product and may include an isomer
thereof. 1-menthol is a main constituent of mint and peppermint oils that may be used as they are in the present
invention. The 1-carvone used in the present invention may also be a synthetic or natural product and may include an
isomer thereof. A spearmint oil having 1-carvone as a main constituent thereof may also be used.
[0013] A concentration of 1-menthol or 1-carvone in the composition of mouth spray according to the present invention is not particularly limited as long as the masking of bad breath and refreshing effect can be obtained, but the

EP 1 013 261 A1

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

55

concentration of either the single component or the mixture thereof is preferably from 100 to 10000 ppm. When the
concentration is lower than 100 ppm, a refreshment due to 1-menthol or 1-carvone is hard to obtain. On the other hand,
when the concentration is higher than 10000 ppm, the suitability to taste is inferior caused by too much stimulation
and bitterness.
[0014] The ingredient of a tea used in the present invention is such as leaf, stem, xylem, root and nut obtained from
a camellia sinensis or a mixture thereof, but is usually a tea leaf for drinking. The tea leaf for drinking includes a
fermented tea such as black tea and puahru tea, half-fermented tea such as oolong tea and paochoncha, non-fermented
tea such as green tea, kamairi (infused in a pot) green tea and houjicha, and a mixture thereof.
[0015] The tea-polyphenol used in the present invention may be a tea itself contained tea-polyphenol, an extract
obtained by extraction from tea using such as water, hot water, organic solvent and water-containing organic solvent,
or a mixture thereof. Such an extract may further be rened to a desirable extent by means of an organic solvent
fractionation method or by using an adsorptive resin. These methods have been described in Japanese Patent Publications No. H1-44234, H2-12474 and H2-22755, and in Japanese Patent Applications Laid-Open No. H4-20589,
H5-260907 and H8-109178.
[0016] The tea-polyphenol used in the present invention may be such as (+) - catechin, (-) - catechin, (+) - gallocatechin, (+) - epigallocatechin, (+) - gallocatechin gallate, (+) - epigallocatechin gallate, (-) - epicatechin, (-) - epicatechin
gallate, (-) - catechin gallate, (-) - epigallocatechin, (-) - gallocatechin, (-) - epigallocatechin gallate, (-) - gallocatechin
gallate, theaavin monogallate A, theaavin monogallate B, theaavin digallate, and free theaavin. Selecting from the
above group, either the single tea-polyphenol or a mixture of a plurality of the tea-polyphenol may be used. A main
constituent of a tea-polyphenol originally from the green tea is (-) - epigallocatechin gallate.
[0017] In the present invention, an amount of the tea-polyphenol is dened as an amount of tannin determined by
an ofcial method of tannin analysis using iron tartrate.
[0018] A concentration of the tea-polyphenol used in the present invention is preferably from 10 to 20000 ppm as
the sole tea-polyphenol or the mixture thereof, and more preferably from 50 to 10000 ppm. The desired effect cannot
be obtained when the concentration of the tea-polyphenol is lower than 10 ppm, while the suitability to taste becomes
inferior caused by giving sour and bitterness when the concentration is higher than 20000ppm.
[0019] The composition of mouth spray according to the present invention keeps a long duration of masking bad
breath and of refreshing effect signicantly. Furthermore, the composition of mouth spray according to the present
invention has newly-found effects such as cancellation of throat unpleasantness and pleasant aftertaste, and also has
a variety of useful effects that the tea-polyphenol has in nature.
[0020] Corresponding to a purpose of use, the composition of mouth spray according to the present invention may
contain various additives such as efcacious ingredient, sweetening, solvent, humectant, solubilizer, surface active
agent, emulsier, antioxidant, pH modier, spice, coloring agent, preservative, buffer, and stabilizer.
[0021] For example, the efcacious ingredient may be such as sodium uoride, sodium monouorophosphate, tin
uoride, cetylpyridinium chloride, chlorhexyzine gluconate, isopropylmethylphenol, iodine, potassium iodide, povidoneiodine, hinokitiol, tranexamic acid, sodium azulene sulfonate, cuppor chlorophyllin sodium, and vitamin E. The sweetening may be monosaccharide or diasaccharide such as cane sugar, grape sugar, fruit sugar and isomerized sugar,
sugar alcohol such as xylitol, erythritol, sorbitol and mannitol, aspartame, stevioside, and saccharin sodium. The humectant may be polyhydric alcohol such as glycerin, polyethylene glycol, and propylene glycol. The solvent may be
such as ethanol. The solubilizer may be non-ionic surface-active agent such as polyoxyethylene stiffened castor oil
and polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene glycol. The preservative may be such as benzoic acid, sodium benzoate,
paraoxybenzoate ester group, sorbic acid, potassium sorbate, and decomposed pectin. The antioxidant may be such
as ascorbic acid, and erysorbic acid. The pH modier may be such as citric acid, phosphate, malic acid, and sodium
hydrogencarbonate. The emulsier may be such as glycerin fatty acid ester, cane sugar fatty acid ester, sorbitan fatty
acid ester, and soybean saponin.
[0022] Prescription examples from 1 to 4 of the composition of mouth spray according to the present invention are
shown in the following Tables from 1 to 4, respectively. In the tables, polyphenon 60 and polyphenon RB are brand
name of products manufactured by Mistui Norin Co., Ltd.
Table 1
polyphenon 60 (contained 60 wt% or more of green tea-polyphenol, manufactured by Mistui Norin
Co., Ltd.)

0.8 wt%

1-menthol

0.5 wt%

ethanol

30 wt%

polyoxyethylene stiffened castor oil

2.0 wt%

EP 1 013 261 A1
Table 1 (continued)
saccharin sodium

0.1 wt%

rened water

remainder

Table 2

10

polyphenon RB (contained 25 wt% or more of black tea-polyphenol, manufactured by Mistui Norin

Co., Ltd.)

0.5 wt%

mint oil (contained 35 wt% of 1-menthol)

0.2 wt%

propylene glycol

20 wt%

glycerin

25 wt%

polyoxyethylene stiffened castor oil

2.0 wt%

spice

1.5 wt%

rened water

remainder

15

20

Table 3
polyphenon 60 (contained 60 wt% or more of green tea-polyphenol, manufactured by Mistui Norin
Co., Ltd.)

0.05 wt%

spearmint oil (contained 20 wt% of 1-carvone)

0.1 wt%

xylitol

20 wt%

cane sugar fatty acid ester

1.5 wt%

rened water

remainder

25

30

Table 4
35

polyphenon 60 (contained 60 wt% or more of green tea-polyphenol, manufactured by Mistui Norin

Co., Ltd.)

0.01 wt%

1-menthol

0.3 wt%

peppermint oil (contained 30 wt% of 1-menthol)

0.01 wt%

ethanol

20 wt%

sorbitol

30 wt%

polyoxyethylene stiffened castor oil

2.0 wt%

rened water

remainder

40

45

EXAMPLES
[0023] The composition of mouth spray according to the present invention will now be described by the following
examples that by no means limit the scope of the invention.

50

55

Comparative Example No. 1

[0024] As shown in Table 5, solutions containing 1-menthol of nine kinds of concentrations were prepared and introduced into each mouth spray container having a spray nozzle, amount of one spray of which is 50 liters. Then, a
sensuous test (A-type) by 10 panelists was conducted. The test (A-type) was performed to evaluate the masking of
bad breath and the refreshing effect of the sample solutions by marking scores out of 10 for each panelist, and then
scores answered by the 10 panelists were summed up (full marks 100).
[0025] The result is shown in Table 6 indicating that the summed score was high when the concentration of 1-menthol

EP 1 013 261 A1
was from 100 to 10000 ppm.
Table 5
1-menthol

from 0 to 20000 ppm

ethanol

35 wt%

polyoxyethylene stiffened castor oil

3 wt%

rened water

remainder

10

Table 6
concentration of 1 - menthol (ppm)
15

20

25

30

35

masking of bad breath

refreshing effect

50

11

100

43

61

500

66

73

1000

80

91

2000

87

96

5000

90

84

10000

89

42

20000

25

[0026] Polyphenon 100 (brand name of a product manufactured by Mistui Norin Co., Ltd.), active ingredients of which
are shown in Table 7, was used as a source of green tea-polyphenol. Mouth spray solutions containing green teapolyphenol of seven kinds of concentrations were prepared according to a prescription described in Table 8, then a
sensuous test (B-type) by 10 panelists was conducted. The test (B-type) was performed to evaluate degrees of sour
and bitterness of the sample solutions by marking scores out of 3 for each panelist, and then scores answered by the
10 panelists were summed up (full marks 30). The each score out of 3 corresponds as follows: not felt sour and bitterness 3, felt to some extent 2, felt considerably 1, felt very strongly 0.
[0027] Then, a sensuous test (A-type) by 10 panelists was conducted in a similar way as described above.
[0028] These results are shown together in Table 9.
Table 7

40

active ingredient (tea-catechin group)

(+) - gallocatechin

1.4

(-) - epigallocatechin

17.6

(-) - epicatechin
45

ratio of components (wt%)

5.8

(-) - epigallocatechin gallate

53.9

(-) - epicatechin gallate

12.5

total

91.2

50

Table 8

55

green tea-polyphenol

from 0 to 20000 ppm

ethanol

35 wt%

polyoxyethylene stiffened castor oil

3 wt%

rened water

remainder

EP 1 013 261 A1
Table 9

10

15

20

25

concentration of green teapolyphenol (ppm)

degree of sore and bitterness

masking of bad breath

refreshing effect

30

10

29

50

25

13

100

20

20

1000

37

10000

22

20000

[0029] Polyphenon TF (brand name of a product manufactured by Mistui Norin Co., Ltd.), active ingredients of which
are shown in Table 10, was used as a source of black tea-polyphenol. Mouth spray solutions containing black teapolyphenol of seven kinds of concentrations were prepared according to the same prescription described in Table 8
except that green tea-polyphenol is replaced by black tea-polyphenol, and sensuous tests (A-type and B-type) by 10
panelists were conducted. Both the preparation and the tests were carried out in a similar way to the green tea-polyphenol case as described above. The results are shown in Table 11.
[0030] The results shown in tables 9 and 11 reveal as follows: (1) the masking of bad breath that seems to be due
to the green or black tea-polyphenol was positively observed, however, (2) the degree of sore and bitterness was
signicant when the tea-polyphenol concentration was 1000 ppm or higher, and (3) the refreshing effect was hardly
observed.
Table 10
active ingredient

ratio of components (wt%)

free theaavin

6.0

theaavin monogallate A

13.4

theaavin monogallate B

11.7

theaavin digallate

19.5

(+) -catechin

0.2

(-) - epicatechin

1.1

(-) - epigallocatechin gallate

2.8

(-) - epigallocatechin gallate isomer

0.6

(-) - epicatechin gallate

2.3

theaavin isomer

2.4

total

60

30

35

40

45

Table 11
50

55

concentration of black teapolyphenol (ppm)

degree of sore and bitterness

masking of bad breath

refreshing effect

30

10

30

50

27

11

100

24

19

1000

11

34

EP 1 013 261 A1
Table 11 (continued)
concentration of black teapolyphenol (ppm)
5

degree of sore and bitterness

masking of bad breath

refreshing effect

10000

21

20000

Example No. 1
10

15

20

[0031] Mouth spray solutions containing 1-menthol of three kinds of concentrations and green tea-polyphenol
(polyphenon 100, containing active ingredients shown in Table 7) of six kinds of concentrations were prepared according
to a prescription described in Table 12 and a sensuous test (C-type) by 15 panelists was conducted. The test (C-type)
includes (1) duration of masking of bad breath and refreshing effect and (2) improvement effect on aftertaste due to
refreshed and clean feelings. In the test (1), placebos that include no green tea-polyphenol were prepared besides the
sample solutions and a number of panelists who answered that the sample was better than the corresponding placebo
with respect to the duration of masking of bad breath and refreshing effect was counted (full marks 15). In the test (2),
a number of panelists who answered that the sample had the improvement effect on aftertaste was counted (full marks
15). As for the improvement effect on aftertaste, the sample solution was evaluated to have no such an improvement
effect if each panelist felt unpleasant sore or bitterness.
[0032] The result is shown in Tables 13 to 15.
Table 12

25

1- menthol

from 500 to 5000 ppm

green tea-polyphenol

from 10 to 20000 ppm

ethanol

35 wt%

polyoxyethylene stiffened castor oil

3 wt%

rened water

remainder

30

Table 13
35

40

45

concentration of
1-menthol (ppm)

concentration of
green teapolyphenol (ppm)

duration of masking
of bad breath

duration of
refreshing effect

improvement effect
on aftertaste

500

10

12

500

50

11

14

500

100

13

12

14

500

1000

14

15

13

500

10000

14

13

11

500

20000

12

Table 14
50

55

concentration of
1-menthol (ppm)

concentration of
green teapolyphenol (ppm)

duration of masking
of bad breath

duration of
refreshing effect

improvement effect
on aftertaste

2000

10

12

2000

50

11

14

2000

100

12

11

14

2000

1000

14

14

15

EP 1 013 261 A1
Table 14 (continued)
concentration of
1-menthol (ppm)
5

concentration of
green teapolyphenol (ppm)

duration of masking
of bad breath

10000

15

14

11

2000

20000

11

Table 15
concentration of
1-menthol (ppm)

20

25

improvement effect
on aftertaste

2000

10

15

duration of
refreshing effect

concentration of
green teapolyphenol (ppm)

duration of masking
of bad breath

duration of
refreshing effect

improvement effect
on aftertaste

5000

10

11

5000

50

10

13

5000

100

12

13

14

5000

1000

14

15

15

5000

10000

15

14

12

5000

20000

13

[0033] The result shown in tables 13 to 15 reveals as follows: (1) by using 1-menthol together with green tea-polyphenol that gives poor masking of bad breath and refreshing effect when used solely, obtained were a signicantly long
duration of masking of bad breath and refreshing effect as well as a signicant improvement effect on aftertaste compared to single usage of 1-menthol, and (2) sour and bitterness due to the green tea-polyphenol were masked by using
1-menthol together with the green tea-polyphenol.

30

Example No. 2

35

40

[0034] Mouth spray solutions containing 1 - menthol (concentration of 2000 ppm) and black tea-polyphenol (polyphenon TF, active ingredients shown in Table 10) of six kinds of concentrations were prepared according to a prescription
described in Table 16 and a sensuous test (C-type) by 15 panelists was conducted. The test was carried out in a similar
way to the green tea-polyphenol case in Example No. 1 as described above.
[0035] The result is shown in Table 17, revealing as follows: (1) by using 1 - menthol together with the black teapolyphenol, obtained were a signicantly long duration of masking of bad breath and refreshing effect as well as a
signicant improvement effect on aftertaste compared to sole usage of 1-menthol, and (2) sour and bitterness due to
the black tea-polyphenol were masked by using 1-menthol together with the black tea-polyphenol.
Table 16

45

1-menthol

2000 ppm

black tea-polyphenol

from 10 to 20000 ppm

ethanol

35 wt%

polyoxyethylene stiffened castor oil

3 wt%

rened water

remainder

50

Table 17

55

concentration of
1-menthol (ppm)
2000

concentration of
black teapolyphenol (ppm)
10

duration of masking
of bad breath
8

duration of
refreshing effect
5

improvement effect
on aftertaste
11

EP 1 013 261 A1
Table 17 (continued)
concentration of
1-menthol (ppm)

concentration of
black teapolyphenol (ppm)

10

duration of masking
of bad breath

duration of
refreshing effect

improvement effect
on aftertaste

2000

50

10

13

2000

100

12

11

13

2000

1000

13

13

14

2000

10000

14

11

10

2000

20000

11

Comparative Example No. 2

15

20

[0036] Mouth spray solutions containinging (-) - epigallocatechin gallate (purity 98 wt% or higher, manufactured by
Mistui Norin Co., Ltd.) of seven kinds of concentrations were prepared according to a prescription described in Table
18 and sensuous tests (A-type and B-type) by 10 panelists were conducted in a similar way as comparative example
No. 1.
[0037] The results are shown together in Table 19.
Table 18
(-) - epigallocatechin gallate

from 10 to 20000 ppm

ethanol

35 wt%

polyoxyethylene stiffened castor oil

3 wt%

rened water

remainder

25

30

Table 19
concentration of ( - )
-epigallocatechin gallate (ppm)

35

40

45

50

55

degree of sore and bitterness

masking of bad breath

refreshing effect

30

10

28

50

23

16

100

17

23

1000

40

10000

24

20000

[0038] The results shown in table 19 reveal as follows: (1) the masking of bad breath that seems to be due to (-) epigallocatechin gallate was positively observed, however, (2) the degree of sore and bitterness was signicant when
(-) -epigallocatechin gallate concentration was 1000 ppm or higher, and (3) the refreshing effect was hardly observed.
Example No. 3
[0039] Mouth spray solutions containing 1-menthol (concentration 2000 ppm) and ( - ) - epigallocatechin gallate (the
same as used in comparative example No. 2) of six kinds of concentrations were prepared according to a prescription
described in Table 20 and a sensuous test (C-type) by 15 panelists was conducted. The test was carried out in a similar
way to the black tea-polyphenol case in Example No. 2 as described above.
[0040] The result is shown in Table 21, revealing as follows: (1) by using 1 - menthol together with (-) -epigallocatechin
gallate, obtained are a signicantly long duration of masking of bad breath and refreshing effect as well as a signicant
improvement effect on aftertaste compared to sole usage of 1 - menthol, and (2) sour and bitterness due to (-) - epi-

EP 1 013 261 A1
gallocatechin gallate were masked by using 1-menthol together with (-) - epigallocatechin gallate.
Table 20
5

1-menthol

2000 ppm

(-) - epigallocatechin gallate

from 10 to 20000 ppm

ethanol

35 wt%

polyoxyethylene stiffened castor oil

3 wt%

rened water

remainder

10

Table 21
15

concentration of
1-menthol (ppm)

20

25

concentration of (-)
-epigallo-catechin
gallate (ppm)

duration of masking
of bad breath

duration of
refreshing effect

improvement effect
on aftertaste

2000

10

13

2000

50

12

10

14

2000

100

13

12

15

2000

1000

15

15

13

2000

10000

14

14

2000

20000

10

Claims
30

35

1.

A composition of mouth spray comprising tea-polyphenol, 1-menthol and/or 1-carvone

2.

The composition of mouth spray according to claim 1, comprising (a) tea-polyphenol and (b) 1-menthol or 1-carvone.

3.

The composition of mouth spray according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the concentration of the tea-polyphenol
is from 10 to 20000 ppm.

4.

The composition of mouth spray according to claim 3, wherein the concentration of the tea-polyphenol is from 50
to 10000 ppm.

5.

The composition of mouth spray according to any preceding claim, wherein the total concentration of 1-menthol
and/or 1-carvone is from 100 to 10000 ppm.

6.

The composition of mouth spray according to any preceding claim, wherein the tea-polyphenol is at least one
member selected from the group containing (+)-catechin, (-)-catechin, (+) -gallocatechin, (+) - epigallocatechin,
(+)-gallocatechin gallate, (+) - epigallocatechin gallate, (-)-epicatechin, (-)- epicatehin gallate, (-)-catechin gallate,
(-) -epigallocatechin, (-)-gallocatechin, (-)-epigallocatechin gallate, (-)-gallocatechin gallate, theaavin monogallate
A, theaavin monogallate B, theaavin digallate, and free theaavin.

40

45

50

55

10

EP 1 013 261 A1

11

EP 1 013 261 A1

12