Abstract: The present invention provides a method for suppressing and relieving itching and inflammation, by administering to a host in need of such treatment an effective amount of the pharmaceutical composition containing highly lipophilic polyalkoxyflavonoid. The pharmaceutical composition and functional food of the present invention for suppressing and relieving itching and inflammation contain highly lipophilic polyalkoxyflavonoid extracted from squeezed juice of a whole portion of a citrus fruit (inclusive of pericarp thereof). Furthermore, the functional food of the present invention contains it.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for suppressing and relieving itching and inflammation, by administering to a host in need of such treatment an effective amount of the pharmaceutical composition containing highly lipophilic polyalkoxyflavonoid. The pharmaceutical composition and functional food of the present invention for suppressing and relieving itching and inflammation contain highly lipophilic polyalkoxyflavonoid extracted from squeezed juice of a whole portion of a citrus fruit (inclusive of pericarp thereof). Furthermore, the functional food of the present invention contains it.

Abstract: Agents or pharmaceutical compositions for promoting osteoblast differentiation include purified auraptene or coumarin analogs thereof represented by the following formula 1: wherein R1 represents a hydrogen, a hydroxy, a methoxy, a methyl, an ethyl, a propyl, a carboxyl, a carboxymethyl, or a carboxyethyl; R2 represents a hydrogen, a hydroxy, a methoxy, a methyl, an ethyl, a propyl, a carboxyl, a carboxymethyl, a carboxyethyl or a coumarinyl; R3 represents a hydrogen, a hydroxy, a methoxy, a methyl, an ethyl, a propyl, a carboxyl, a carboxymethyl or a carboxyethyl; and R4 represents a hydrogen, a C1-C15 liner or branched alkyl, an alkenyl, an alkadienyl or an alkatrienyl.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a highly safe composition that improves glucose tolerance and sugar metabolism at skeletal muscles, and a prevention/treatment drug for diabetes/metabolic syndrome containing the composition. Provided is a composition that is for improving sugar metabolism and glucose tolerance and that contains a compound represented by formula (I) derived from a plant selected from the group consisting of Rumex japonicus, R. crispus, and R. obtusifolius as the active ingredient.

Abstract: Provided is a composition that, even when used in a very small amount, has the effect of improving bone density and promoting bone growth, and has few side effects, and also provided are a pharmaceutical preparation for promoting bone growth, functional food product, and health food product containing the composition as an active ingredient. The composition can be obtained from any plant part selected from the group consisting of the bud, leaf, bark or wood of a plant belonging to the family Magnoliaceae. The composition comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of fargesin and physiologically acceptable salts, hydrates, and glycosides thereof. The pharmaceutical preparation, functional food product, and health food product comprising this composition as an active ingredient sufficiently improve bone density and promote bone growth, even when used in small amounts, and therefore realize preventive and/or therapeutic effects against bone disease etc. such as osteoporosis.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a highly safe composition that improves glucose tolerance and sugar metabolism at skeletal muscles, and a prevention/treatment drug for diabetes/metabolic syndrome containing the composition. Provided is a composition that is for improving sugar metabolism and glucose tolerance and that contains a compound represented by formula (I) derived from a plant selected from the group consisting of Rumex japonicus, R. crispus, and R. obtusifolius as the active ingredient.

Abstract: Agents or pharmaceutical compositions for promoting osteoblast differentiation include purified auraptene or coumarin analogs thereof represented by the following formula 1: wherein R1 represents a hydrogen, a hydroxy, a methoxy, a methyl, an ethyl, a propyl, a carboxyl, a carboxymethyl, or a carboxyethyl; R2 represents a hydrogen, a hydroxy, a methoxy, a methyl, an ethyl, a propyl, a carboxyl, a carboxymethyl, a carboxyethyl or a coumarinyl; R3 represents a hydrogen, a hydroxy, a methoxy, a methyl, an ethyl, a propyl, a carboxyl, a carboxymethyl or a carboxyethyl; and R4 represents a hydrogen, a C1-C15 liner or branched alkyl, an alkenyl, an alkadienyl or an alkatrienyl.

Abstract: A method for screening a substance for treating visceral adiposity syndrome comprises: (1) extracting a total RNA fraction from skeletal muscle collected from non-human mammals of a group to which a predetermined amount of the test substance has been administered and from non-human mammals of a group to which the test substance has not been administered; (2) quantifying the expression quantity of mRNA in the total RNA fraction extracted that encodes a glucose transporter gene by a specific method; and (3) comparing and analyzing the quantity of the test substance ingested, the body weight gain, and the expression quantity of RNA encoding the glucose transporter gene during the administration period for the non-human mammals of the test substance-administered group to these quantities for the non-human mammals that constitute the test substance-unadministered group to thereby determine the effect of the test substance on the metabolic syndrome.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for suppressing and relieving itching and inflammation, by administering to a host in need of such treatment an effective amount of the pharmaceutical composition containing highly lipophilic polyalkoxyflavonoid. The pharmaceutical composition and functional food of the present invention for suppressing and relieving itching and inflammation contain highly lipophilic polyalkoxyflavonoid extracted from squeezed juice of a whole portion of a citrus fruit (inclusive of pericarp thereof). Furthermore, the functional food of the present invention contains it.

Abstract: The present invention provides the pharmaceutical compositions, the pharmaceutical preparations thereof as an active ingredient, the health food, the food with health-promoting benefits and the like. The present invention provides the above-mentioned pharmaceutical preparations and the like comprising at least one of the compound shown in the following formula (I), physiologically acceptable salt thereof, or hydrate thereof. (wherein, R?1, R?2, and R?3 are independently a hydrogen atom, OH, or alkoxy group having C1 to C3, respectively. R1, R2, and R3 are independently a hydrogen atom or alkenyl group having C3 to C5, respectively).

Abstract: The present invention provides the pharmaceutical compositions, the pharmaceutical preparations thereof as an active ingredient, the health food, the food with health-promoting benefits and the like. The present invention provides the above-mentioned pharmaceutical preparations and the like comprising at least one of the compound shown in the following formula (I), physiologically acceptable salt thereof, or hydrate thereof. (wherein, R?1, R?2, and R?3 are independently a hydrogen atom, OH, or alkoxy group having C1 to C3, respectively. R1, R2, and R3 are independently a hydrogen atom or alkenyl group having C3 to C5, respectively).