Abstract: The present invention relates to an antistress agent comprising as an active ingredient a saccharide containing 3-O-?-D-glucopyranosyl-D-glucose as a structural unit. It is an object of the present invention to provide said antistress agent which is free from side effects as a medicine, and can be taken habitually and also can be ingested simply as a food or a beverage, or the like.

Abstract: Producing an immunostimulating composition containing lactic acid bacteria having IL-12 production-inducing activity, by culturing lactic acid bacteria belonging to the genus Lactobacillus, immediately killing the bacteria at the point of time at which the pH of the culture medium substantially stops decreasing, and then adding the obtained killed cells to a food-or-drink product.

Abstract: The present invention provides a moisturizer comprising heat-killed cells of Lactobacillus plantarum as an active ingredient. The moisturizer of the present invention improves the water retention capacity of the stratum corneum, and is useful for prevention and improvement of rough skin.

Abstract: The present invention provides a moisturizer comprising, as an active ingredient, a saccharide having 3-O-?-D-glucopyranosyl-D-glucose as a structural unit. The moisturizer of the present invention improves the water retention capacity of the stratum corneum, and is useful for prevention and improvement of rough skin.

Abstract: The present invention disclosed a composition for enhancing immune function comprising, as active ingredients, zinc and a saccharide having 3-O-?-D-glucopyranosyl-D-glucose as a structural unit. The composition for enhancing immune function according to the present invention exhibits a remarkably superior immunoenhancing effect to that achieved by the independent use of zinc and a saccharide having 3-O-?-D-glucopyranosyl-D-glucose as a structural unit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an antistress agent comprising as an active ingredient a saccharide containing 3-O-?-D-glucopyranosyl-D-glucose as a structural unit. It is an object of the present invention to provide said antistress agent which is free from side effects as a medicine, and can be taken habitually and also can be ingested simply as a food or a beverage, or the like.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of hyperimmune milk derived from milk producing animals hyperimmunized with bacterial antigens including intestinal bacteria. The present hyperimmune milk effectively prevents the decline of immunological functions observed in aging or immunocompromised animals and prevents the translocation of indigenous enteric bacteria from the GI tract of immunocompromised or aged animals, thereby preventing indigenous infection. More specifically, the present hyperimmune milk is administered to an animal in an amount sufficient to effectively prevent translocation of indigenous enteric bacteria in, delay the onset of, lower the rate of, or restore the declining immune functions of, aging or otherwise immunocompromised animals.