Abstract: The present invention relates to a therapeutic agent or prophylactic agent for a disease accompanying an abnormality in an amount of insulin or insulin response, an insulin-mimetic action agent, a food, beverage, or feed, an agent for enhancement of glucose uptake into a cell, and an agent for inducing differentiation into an adipocyte, each comprising as an effective ingredient at least one compound selected from the group consisting of specified compounds having an insulin-mimetic action, derivatives thereof, and pharmacologically acceptable salts thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel chalcone compound, its derivative or a salt thereof, each having a suppressive action of NO production or an inhibitory action of aldose reductase. In addition, the present invention provides a medicament, a food, a beverage or a feed having a therapeutic or prophylactic effect for a disease showing sensitivity to the compound, by utilizing the physiological actions of the compound.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a chalcone compound represented by the following general formula: wherein R1 and R2 are taken together with the carbon atom to which they are bound, respectively, to form a hydroxydimethyl hexane ring, or where R1 is a hydroxyl group, R2 is an isohexenyl group, a derivative thereof, or a salt thereof. Also, the present invention relates to a therapeutic agent or prophylactic agent for a disease requiring neuronal protection, suppression for nitrogen monoxide (NO) production, inhibition for aldose reductase or suppression for interleukin production, and a food, beverage or feed for treatment or prevention of the above-mentioned disease, characterized in that each comprises the above-mentioned compound as an effective ingredient.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a therapeutic agent or prophylactic agent for a disease accompanying an abnormality in an amount of insulin or insulin response, an insulin-mimetic action agent, a food, beverage, or feed for treating or preventing a disease accompanying an abnormality in an amount of insulin or insulin response, an agent for enhancement of glucose uptake into a cell, and an agent for induction of an adipocyte differentiation, each comprising as an effective ingredient a processed product derived from a plant belonging to Umbelliferae.

Abstract: According to the present invention, an antitumor agent, an apoptosis-inducing agent or an angiogenesis-suppressing agent having the effect even via an oral route, containing a compound contained in an inexpensive edible basidiomycete or a composition derived from an edible basidiomycete, and a food having the antitumor activity, the apoptosis-inducing activity or the angiogenesis-suppressing activity containing the compound or the composition can be obtained. Therefore, the present invention is particularly useful, especially in the field of a medicine and a health food.

Abstract: A material containing agarobiose; a method for preparing the material; and a food, a drink or a seasoning using the material, which is tasty and has the effect of alleviating a stimulant taste and of enhancing the depth of sweetness.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel chalcone compound, its derivative or a salt thereof, each having a suppressive action of NO production or an inhibitory action of aldose reductase. In addition, the present invention provides a medicament, a food, a beverage or a feed having a therapeutic or prophylactic effect for a disease showing sensitivity to the compound, by utilizing the physiological actions of the compound.

Abstract: A material containing agarobiose; a method for preparing the material; and a food, a drink or a seasoning using the material, which is tasty and has the effect of alleviating a stimulant taste and of enhancing the depth of sweetness.

Abstract: A therapeutic agent and prophylactic agent for a disease accompanying an abnormality in an amount of insulin or insulin response, an agent for an insulin-mimetic action, a food, beverage and feed, an agent for enhancing glucose uptake into a cell, and an agent for inducing differentiation into an adipocyte, characterized in that each comprises as an effective ingredient at least one compound selected from the group consisting of a chalcone compound, an acetophenone compound, a coumarin compound, a phthalide compound, derivatives thereof, and pharmacologically acceptable salts thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides an extract obtainable by extracting a plant belonging to Umbelliferae, or a processed product thereof, with a water-containing alcohol; a process for preparing the extract; a therapeutic agent or prophylactic agent for a disease accompanying an abnormality in an amount of insulin or insulin response and/or diabetic complications, characterized in that the therapeutic agent or prophylactic agent comprises as an effective ingredient the extract as defined above; an agent for an insulin-mimetic action, characterized in that the agent comprises as an effective ingredient the extract as defined above; a food, beverage or feed, comprising the extract as defined above; an agent for enhancing glucose uptake into a cell, characterized in that the agent comprises as an effective ingredient the extract as defined above; to an agent for inducing differentiation into an adipocyte, characterized in that the agent comprises as an effective ingredient the extract as defined above; and an inhibi

Abstract: The present invention relates to a therapeutic agent or prophylactic agent for a disease accompanying an abnormality in an amount of insulin or insulin response, an insulin-mimetic action agent, a food, beverage, or feed, an agent for enhancement of glucose uptake into a cell, and an agent for inducing differentiation into an adipocyte, each comprising as an effective ingredient at least one compound selected from the group consisting of specified compounds having an insulin-mimetic action, derivatives thereof, and pharmacologically acceptable salts thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a therapeutic agent and prophylactic agent for a disease accompanying an abnormality in an amount of insulin or insulin response, an agent for an insulin-mimetic action, a food, beverage and feed for treating a preventing a disease accompanying an abnormality in an amount of insulin or insulin response, an agent for enhancing glucose uptake into a cell, and an agent for inducing differentiation into an adipocyte, characterized in that each comprises as an effective ingredient a processed product derived from at least one plant selected from the group consisting of (a) a plant belonging to Tiliaceae, (b) a plant belonging to Zingiberaceae, (c) a plant belonging to Compositae, (d) a plant belonging to Liliaceae, and (e) a plant belonging to Polygonaceae.

Abstract: Accurate and highly reproducible means of detecting a base substitution mutation (for example, SNP), an insertion mutation or a deletion mutation with the use of a nucleic acid sample in a trace amount and a method of typing gene polymorphisms using the means.

Abstract: Methods of amplifying a target nucleic acid whereby the target nucleic acid is amplified in the presence of a deoxyribonucleotide triphosphate, a DNA polymerase having strand displacement activity, at least one chimeric oligonucleotide primer, at least one upstream block oligonucleotide and a RNase H; wherein the chimeric oligonucleotide primer contains a ribonucleotide positioned at the 3?-terminus; wherein the upstream block oligonucleotide is capable of annealing to a region 3? to a portion in the nucleic acid as the template to which the chimeric oligonucleotide primer anneals; and compositions and kits thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a therapeutic agent or prophylactic agent for a disease accompanying an abnormality in an amount of insulin or insulin response, an insulin-mimetic action agent, a food, beverage, or feed for treating or preventing a disease accompanying an abnormality in an amount of insulin or insulin response, an agent for enhancement of glucose uptake into a cell, and an agent for induction of an adipocyte differentiation, each comprising as an effective ingredient a processed product derived from a plant belonging to Umbelliferae.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel chalcone compound represented by the following general formula: wherein R1 and R2 are taken together with the carbon atom to which they are bound, respectively, to form a hydroxydimethyl hexane ring, or where R1 is a hydroxyl group, R2 is an isohexenyl group, a derivative thereof, or a salt thereof. Also, the present invention relates to a therapeutic agent or prophylactic agent for a disease requiring neuronal protection, suppression for nitrogen monoxide (NO) production, inhibition for aldose reductase or suppression for interleukin production, and a food, beverage or feed for treatment or prevention of the above-mentioned disease, characterized in that each comprises the above-mentioned compound as an effective ingredient.

Abstract: A convenient and effective method for amplifying a nucleic acid sequence characterized by effecting a DNA synthesis reaction in the presence of chimeric oligonucleotide primers; a method for supplying a large amount of DNA amplification fragments; an effective method for amplifying a nucleic acid sequence by combining the above method with another nucleic acid sequence amplification method; a method for detecting a nucleic acid sequence for detecting or quantitating a microorganism such as a virus, a bacterium, a fungus or a yeast; and a method for detecting a DNA amplification fragment obtained by the above method in situ.

Abstract: A convenient and effective method for amplifying a nucleic acid sequence characterized by effecting a DNA synthesis reaction in the presence of chimeric oligonucleotide primers; a method for supplying a large amount of DNA amplification fragments; an effective method for amplifying a nucleic acid sequence by combining the above method with another nucleic acid sequence amplification method; a method for detecting a nucleic acid sequence for detecting or quantitating a microorganism such as a virus, a bacterium, a fungus or a yeast; and a method for detecting a DNA amplification fragment obtained by the above method in situ.

Abstract: A product obtained by heating at least one substance selected from the following (a), (b) and (c). (a) uronic acid or uronic acid derivative; (b) a saccharide compound containing uronic acid or a saccharide compound containing uronic acid derivative; and (c) a substance containing a saccharide compound containing uronic acid or a substance containing a saccharide compound containing uronic acid derivative; and food, beverage or a pharmaceutical agent which is characterized in containing the above-mentioned heat-treated product.

Abstract: Medicinal compositions for treating, ameliorating or preventing diseases with sensitivity to 3,6-anhydrogalactopyranose are represented by formula (I): These compositions include foods, drinks, cosmetics, etc. containing as the active ingredient at least one such compound, its aldehyde, its hydrate and 2-O-methylated derivatives thereof and soluble sugar compounds containing the above compound. These compounds show an apoptosis-inducing activity, carcinostatic activity and inhibitory activities on the production of active oxygen, lipid peroxide radicals and NO, which makes them useful also as the active ingredient of antioxidants and preservatives.