Abstract: An anti-AIDS viral agent and anticancer agent comprising as an effective ingredient in the extract containing polysaccharides from nutshells of nuts belonging to the genus Juglans or the genus Carya of angiosperm Juglandaceae with an alkali aqueous solution is disclosed. The extract has anti-HIV effect at the concentration ranging from 64 to 512 .mu.g/ml and exhibits an increased life span in animal.

Abstract: The method of extracting a physiological active substance in which a granular acid polysaccharide is a principal component is disclosed. The husks of the pine nuts are immersed in an alkali solution to proceed an extraction treatment. The obtained extract is filtered and insoluble substances are separated and then remained solution is concentrated and arranged its degree of pH. Thus physiological active substance in which a granular acid polysaccharide is a principal component is extracted through lyophilization treatment. The anti-contagion medicine in which an acid polysaccharide obtained by the extraction method is a principal component provides with an activation function which by far surpasses an activation function of the polymorphonuclear leukocyte of conventional anti-tumor polysaccharides.

Abstract: Disclosed is a shell-cracking apparatus for hard-shell coated seeds including a hopper in which the seeds of pine nuts are put. When a seed-receiving plate is vibrated by driving a motor in this state, the seeds enter the grooves of that plate. Thereafter, the seeds are guided downwards into an outer cylindrical member via a cylindrical seed-discharging member into which they have dropped from said plate. At, or at around, this time, a cock of an air injection pipe is opened. A compressed air is injected from a small air injection bore of an air injection pipe supporting plug member into the outer cylindrical member. The seeds are thereby quickly forced into a funnel portion of a seed ejection pipe supporting plug member.