Abstract: Provided is method of maintaining or improving a skin barrier function in a subject comprising orally administering to the subject a composition comprising an oil-soluble extract from red paprika, wherein the oil-soluble extract contains a hexane-soluble component.

Abstract: One purpose of the present invention is to provide a high molecular weight glucan having both properties low digestion rate and high digestibility. A high molecular weight glucan that has property digested slowly and contains almost no indigestible ingredients is produced by enzymatic reactions of (1) a specific concentration of branching enzyme and (2) 4-?-glucanotransferase and/or an exo-type amylase to a branched glucan used as a substrate.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide an oral composition that possesses an excellent teeth remineralization promoting effect and that is capable of effectively promoting teeth remineralization even when retained in the oral cavity for a short period of time. An oral composition in which (A) a calcium salt of organic acid, (B) a fluoride, and (C) a basic peptide and/or a basic protein in which 60% or more of the constituent amino acid residues are basic amino acid residues are added in combination is capable of dramatically promoting teeth remineralization as a result of a synergetic effect of these components and is capable of effectively promoting teeth remineralization even when retained in the oral cavity for a short period of time.

Abstract: The present invention provides an agent for activating proliferation of follicle dermal papilla cells comprising an acidic saccharide alkaline earth metal salt, wherein the acidic saccharide is selected from the group consisting of a phosphorylated saccharide and lactobionic acid. The acidic saccharide is preferably a phosphorylated saccharide. The alkaline earth metal salt is preferably a calcium salt or a magnesium salt. In accordance with the present invention, the proliferation of follicle dermal papilla cells is promoted. Thus, the agent for activating proliferation of follicle dermal papilla cells is expected to produce hair-restoration and hair-growth effects such as treatment of hair thinning, prevention of hair loss, promotion of hair restoration, and promotion of hair growth.

Abstract: The present invention provides an antioxidant, an ROS inhibitor, an antioxidant enzyme production promoter, an antioxidant cosmetic, a UV care cosmetic, a prophylactic or therapeutic agent for gastrointestinal tract inflammation, and an antioxidant food or beverage, each containing an enzymatically synthesized glycogen (ESG) or an ?-amylase digest (RG) thereof, as well as use for enhancing an antioxidative effect in vivo.

Abstract: Provided is a preparation method for phycocyanin, including: adding chitosan to a suspension of cyanobacteria containing phycocyanin; and filtering the suspension.

Abstract: The present invention provides a stick-shaped baked confectionery resulting from molding of a dough containing 15 to 80 parts by mass of a taste material, 5 to 45 parts by mass of vital gluten, and 0.15 to 1.7 parts by mass of an emulsifier, per 100 parts by mass of at least one member selected from the group consisting of starch and wheat flour into sticks, and baking the dough, wherein the taste material is at least one member selected from the group consisting of cocoa powder, potato granules, nut powder, wheat bran, coffee, powdered green tea, black tea, rice flour, corn powder, whole wheat flour, foxtail millet, barnyard millet, Panicum miliaceum, amaranth and fruit materials, and the emulsifier comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of sucrose fatty acid esters having an HLB of 11 to 20 and polyglyceryl fatty acid esters having an HLB of 11 to 20.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an anti-skin aging agent that can prevent skin aging such as spots, dullness, wrinkles, sags, and skin roughness. It has been found that resveratrol 3-O-?-glucoside has remarkable anti-skin aging effects such as melanogenesis suppression, hyaluronidase inhibition, anti-oxidization, cell activation, sirtuin gene activation, matrix metalloproteinase suppression, and anti-inflammation, and thus, can be used as an anti-skin aging agent.

Abstract: The present invention provides an antioxidant, an ROS inhibitor, an antioxidant enzyme production promoter, an antioxidant cosmetic, a UV care cosmetic, a prophylactic or therapeutic agent for gastrointestinal tract inflammation, and an antioxidant food or beverage, each containing an enzymatically synthesized glycogen (ESG) or an ?-amylase digest (RG) thereof, as well as use for enhancing an antioxidative effect in vivo.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for industrially producing a branched glucan having a cyclic structure. The method for producing a branched glucan having a cyclic structure comprises the steps of: (1) preparing a mixed liquid which contains a branching enzyme in which starch granules are suspended at a concentration of 5% by weight or more and 50% by weight or less, and allowing the branching enzyme to act on starch in the starch granules, wherein a temperature of the mixed liquid at the time of preparation is 0° C. or higher and not higher than the gelatinization starting temperature of the starch granule; and (2) elevating the temperature of the mixed liquid to 85° C. or higher and 129° C. or lower, wherein in the method, none of ?-amylase, ?-amylase, amyloglucosidase and ?transglucosidase is added to the mixed liquid.

Abstract: One object of the present invention is to provide a method of improving the affinity of a solvent for the surface of a hardly soluble or insoluble substances. Further object of the invention is providing a molded article comprising a hardly soluble or insoluble substances using the solution of a hardly soluble or insoluble substances. A method for improving affinity of a substance surface for a solvent, comprising: bringing the substance surface into contact with water-soluble xylan and the solvent, wherein the substance is hardly soluble or insoluble in the solvent in the absence of the water-soluble xylan. A solution comprising an added water-soluble xylan, a substance, and a solvent, wherein the substance is hardly soluble or insoluble in the solvent in the absence of the water-soluble xylan. A molded article comprising the added water-soluble xylan and the hardly soluble substance.

Abstract: A method for producing an amylose-containing rayon fiber, comprising the steps of: mixing an aqueous alkaline solution of amylose with viscose to obtain a mixed liquid, spinning the mixed liquid to obtain an amylose-containing rayon fiber, and bringing the amylose-containing rayon fiber into contact with iodine or polyiodide ions, thereby allowing an amylose in the amylose-containing rayon fiber to make a clathrate including the iodine or polyiodide ions, wherein the amylose is an enzymatically synthesized amylose having a weight average molecular weight of 3×104 or more and 2×105 or less. A method for collecting iodine from brackish water with high efficiency utilizing the amylase-containing rayon fibers.

Abstract: Objective is to provide an aqueous composition for conductive coating which enables to form a conductive coating. In more specific embodiment, an object of the present invention is to provide an aqueous composition for conductive coating which enables to form a conductive and transparent coating, while being excellent in environmental safety and dispersion stability. An aqueous composition for conductive coating, comprising a water-soluble xylan, a resin and a carbon nanotube in an aqueous medium. The carbon nanotube may be a multilayer carbon nanotube or a single-layer carbon nanotube.

Abstract: Provision of a stable ?-lipoic acid. A method for producing ?-lipoic acid nanoparticles, the method comprising the steps of: preparing an aqueous dispersion liquid containing ?-lipoic acid and a nonionic surfactant; adding a divalent metal salt into the aqueous dispersion liquid, wherein the divalent metal salt is a divalent metal halide, a divalent metal acetate or a divalent metal gluconate; and adding an alkali metal carbonate or an alkali metal phosphate into the aqueous dispersion liquid which has been added with the divalent metal salt, thereby forming ?-lipoic acid nanoparticles.

Abstract: Provided is a preparation method for phycocyanin, including: adding chitosan to a suspension of cyanobacteria containing phycocyanin; and filtering the suspension.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a straight stick-shaped snacks and a method for producing the same. The present invention provides a method for producing a stick-shaped snack from a string-like dough 10 containing a cereal flour as a principal component, the method including: a baking step S6 of baking the string-like dough 10 provided with a plurality of non-through cuts 15 formed therein across the longitudinal direction and impregnated with lye, the string-like dough 10 being mounted on a heating surface; and a cutting step S7 of cutting the baked string-like dough 40 at the cuts 15 to thereby form stick-shaped pastries 40.

Abstract: Provided is an external preparation for skin, comprising a phosphorylated saccharide. The phosphorylated saccharide may be an inorganic salt of a phosphorylated saccharide. The phosphorylated saccharide may be a calcium, magnesium, potassium, zinc, iron or sodium salt. Also provided is an external preparation for skin, comprising a phosphorylated saccharide and a second component, wherein the second component is selected from the group consisting of moisturizing agents, whitening components, ultraviolet absorbents, anti-inflammatory agents, cell-activating agents and antioxidants. The moisturizing agent may be ascorbic acid or an ascorbic acid derivative.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for industrially producing a branched glucan having a cyclic structure. The method for producing a branched glucan having a cyclic structure comprises the steps of: (1) preparing a mixed liquid which contains a branching enzyme in which starch granules are suspended at a concentration of 5% by weight or more and 50% by weight or less, and allowing the branching enzyme to act on starch in the starch granules, wherein a temperature of the mixed liquid at the time of preparation is 0° C. or higher and not higher than the gelatinization starting temperature of the starch granule; and (2) elevating the temperature of the mixed liquid to 85° C. or higher and 129° C. or lower, wherein in the method, none of ?-amylase, ?-amylase, amyloglucosidase and a transglucosidase is added to the mixed liquid.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a glucosamine-containing glucan, a modified product and a conjugate thereof. The glucosamine-containing glucan of the present invention is a glucosamine-containing glucan wherein the glucan has a plurality of non-reducing ends and at least one glucosamine residue is bound via an ?-1,4-bond to each of two or more non-reducing ends of the branched ?-1,4-glucan, but no glucosamine residue is present at a position other than the non-reducing ends of the branched ?-1,4-glucan, wherein the degree of polymerization of the glucan is 15 or more and 4×105 or less. The glucosamine-containing glucan of the present invention can be provided by allowing an ?-glucan phosphorylase to act on an aqueous solution comprising a branched ?-1,4-glucan and glucosamine-1-phosphate.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a glucan containing at least one residue selected from an N-acetylglucosamine residue and a galactose residue, and a modified product. The branched glucan of the present invention is a branched glucan wherein the branched glucan has a plurality of non-reducing ends and at least one residue selected from an N-acetylglucosamine residue and a galactose residue is bound via an ?-1,4-bond to each of two or more non-reducing ends of the branched ?-1,4-glucan, but neither an N-acetylglucosamine residue nor a galactose residue is present at the position other than the non-reducing ends of the branched ?-1,4-glucan.