Abstract: A novel hair-setting composition having sufficient hair-setting ability, and a means to obtain such a hair-setting composition. An agent is provided for enhancing a hair-setting ability comprising an isomaltooligosaccharide as an active ingredient, and a hair-setting composition comprising the agent.

Abstract: The present invention has objects to provide an agent for enhancing the effect of skin-whitening ingredients which enhances the skin-whitening action of skin-whitening ingredients and has an improved safeness, and to provide a skin-whitening agent, which contains the above agent and a skin-whitening ingredient(s) and has an improved and enhanced skin-whitening action. The present invention solves the above objects by providing an agent for enhancing the effect of skin-whitening ingredients, which contains one or more members selected from the group consisting of guanine and derivatives thereof as an effective ingredient(s); and a skin-whitening agent which contains the above agent along with a skin-whitening ingredient(s), particularly, one or more members selected from the group consisting of adenine including derivatives thereof and/or equol including derivatives thereof.

Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide an agent for strengthening calcium-containing tissues, which can be safely applied; and its use: The present invention solves the object by providing an agent for strengthening calcium-containing tissues, which comprises one or more flavones, flavonols, flavanones, flavanonols, anthocyanidins, flavanols, chalcones, and aurones.

Abstract: The present invention has objects to provide an agent for enhancing the effect of skin-whitening ingredients which enhances the skin-whitening action of skin-whitening ingredients and has an improved safeness, and to provide a skin-whitening agent, which contains the above agent and a skin-whitening ingredient(s) and has an improved and enhanced skin-whitening action. The present invention solves the above objects by providing an agent for enhancing the effect of skin-whitening ingredients, which contains one or more members selected from the group consisting of guanine and derivatives thereof as an effective ingredient(s); and a skin-whitening agent which contains the above agent along with a skin-whitening ingredient(s) particularly, members derivatives thereof and/or equol including derivatives thereof.

Abstract: The present invention has objects to provide an extract powder of indigo plant, which has a relatively low hygroscopicity, satisfactory fluidability, and improved storage stability; a process thereof; and a composition incorporated with the extract powder. The objects are solved by a process for producing an extract powder of indigo plant, which comprises incorporating a partial starch hydrolyzate with a dextrose equivalent of 10.2 or lower into one part by weight, on a dry solid basis, of an indigo plant extract contained in a liquid extract of indigo plant in an amount of not lower than 0.25 part by weight but not higher than 5 parts by weight, on a dry solid basis, and drying the resulting mixture; an extract powder of indigo plant prepared thereby; and a composition incorporated with the extract powder.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an immunoregulatory agent, which can be continuously ingested on daily diet and has no fear of causing side effects, and a method for regulating immunity. The present invention solves the above object by providing an immunoregulatory agent comprising lactosucrose as an effective ingredient and a method for regulating immunity using lactosucrose.

Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide a means for durably exerting an action of enhancing collagen-production, and the object is attained by providing a collagen-production enhancer which contains, as an effective ingredient, ?,?-trehalose and/or a saccharide derivative thereof, and by a composition incorporated with the collagen-production enhancer to be used for such purpose.

Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide an agent for strengthening calcium-containing tissues, which can be safely applied; and its use: The present invention solves the object by providing an agent for strengthening calcium-containing tissues, which comprises one or more flavones, flavonols, flavanones, flavanonols, anthocyanidins, flavanols, chalcones, and aurones.

Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide an agent for strengthening calcium-containing tissues, which can be safely applied; and its use: The present invention solves the object by providing an agent for strengthening calcium-containing tissues, which comprises one or more flavones, flavonols, flavanones, flavanonols, anthocyanidins, flavanols, chalcones, and aurones.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel protein which has a molecular weight of 45,000.+-.5,000 and pI 5.7.+-.0.5 and exhibits cancer metastasis-inhibitory activity. The protein can be prepared by culturing human cells, animal cells and microorganisms capable of producing the protein in a nutrient culture medium while stimulating them with an inducer such as Bacille Calmette-Guerin and lipopolysaccharide.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel protein which has a molecular weight of 45,000.+-.5,000 and pI 5.7.+-.0.5 and exhibits cancer metastasis-inhibitory activity. The protein can be prepared by culturing human cells, animal cells and microorganisms capable of producing the protein in a nutrient culture medium while stimulating them with an inducer such as Bacille Calmette-Gu erin and lipopolysaccharide.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel protein which has a molecular weight of 45,000.+-.5,000 and pI 5.7.+-.0.5 and exhibits cancer metastasis-inhibitory activity. The protein can be prepared by culturing human cells, animal cells and microorganisms capable of producing the protein in a nutrient culture medium while stimulating them with an inducer such as Bacille Calmette-Guerin and lipopolysaccharide.

Abstract: Human hematopoietic cells produce metastasis-inhibitory factor (MIF). MIF exhibits a remarkable metastasis-inhibitory activity on viral diseases and immunopathies, as well as on malignant tumors. The MIF-producing human hematopoietic cells are easily proliferative by in vitro tissue culture and in vivo proliferation using a non-human warm-blooded animal. T cells exhibit a high MIF producibility. Mitogens augment the production of MIF when used as an MIF inducer.