Abstract: A method to stimulate ?-defensin production in oral epithelial cells of a subject in need thereof, that includes administering a food or drink containing Lactobacillus helveticus cells to a subject in need of stimulating ?-defensin production in oral epithelial cells.

Abstract: An object is to provide a joint function-improving composition which is useful for prevention or treatment of various arthropathies such as osteoarthritis including knee osteoarthritis as a typical example and rheumatoid arthritis because the composition has an action of promoting growth of chondrocytes and an action of suppressing the production of an inflammation factor, a cartilage matrix degradation factor, a pain factor or a neuronal outgrowth factor by synoviocytes and to provide a joint function-improving product containing the composition such as a food or a drink, feed and a medicine.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a novel technique for preventing muscle atrophy by directly promoting muscle synthesis or suppressing muscle degradation without through physical activity. An agent for preventing muscle atrophy containing a lactic acid bacterium having a muscle synthesis-promoting effect and/or a muscle degradation-suppressing effect, a treated product of the lactic acid bacterium or an extract thereof as an active ingredient in which the lactic acid bacterium having a muscle synthesis-promoting effect is Lactobacillus gasseri or the like and the lactic acid bacterium having a muscle degradation-suppressing effect is Lactobacillus reuteri or the like is provided.

Abstract: An object of one present invention is to provide a food composition including, as an active ingredient thereof, Lactobacillus mucosae that has a function of improving a gut microbiota. An object of another present invention is to provide an increasing drug for the rate of bifidobacteria in the human intestine and a bifidobacteria proliferation promoting drug, including Lactobacillus mucosae as an active ingredient thereof. The one present invention provides a composition for improving the gut microbiota, including the bacterial cell or a culture of Lactobacillus mucosae as an active ingredient thereof. The other present invention provides an increasing drug for the rate of bifidobacteria in the human intestine and a bifidobacteria proliferation promoting drug, including Lactobacillus mucosae as an active ingredient thereof.

Abstract: A medicine, a food or a drink and feed which are effective for preventing and/or improving decline, occurring with age (senescence), in memory and learning ability are provided. A novel microorganism having the effect of preventing and/or improving decline, occurring with age (senescence,) in memory and learning ability is provided. More specifically, the microorganism is characterized by being a microorganism belonging to Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Streptococcus, Leuconostoc or Pediococcus, more specifically a microorganism belonging to any of Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus gasseri, Lactobacillus gallinarum, Lactobacillus johnsonii, Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. delbrueckii, Bifidobacterium catenulatum, Bifidobacterium pseudolongum, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium longum, Streptococcus thermophiles, Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. dextranicum, Leuconostoc lactis, Pediococcus acidilactici and Pediococcus pentosaceus.

Abstract: An oxidation inhibitor containing, as an active ingredient, an aminocarbonyl compound having a structure resulting from binding of an amino group of a compound having sphingoid base structure and a carbonyl group of a carbonyl compound. The oxidation inhibitor has high oxidation inhibitory effects, and inhibits oxidation of fats and oils, in particular, fats and oils containing a large proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids to prevent deterioration due to oxidation of fats and oils.

Abstract: A problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a novel material increasing antimicrobial peptide production from epithelial cells and thereby having an infection-preventing effect. The present invention provides a composition for promoting antimicrobial peptide production containing lactic acid bacteria of the genus Lactobacillus as an active ingredient. The present invention also provides a composition for promoting antimicrobial peptide production containing a component derived from a Lactobacillus bacterial cell as an active ingredient. The present invention further provides a composition for promoting antimicrobial peptide production in which the component derived from a bacterial cell is one or more selected from the group consisting of an S-layer protein and a degradation product of the S-layer protein.

Abstract: The invention relates to a protein material includes angiogenin and/or angiogenin hydrolysate in an amount of 2 to 15 mg/100 mg, and cystatin and/or cystatin hydrolysate in the mass ratio to angiogenin and/or angiogenin hydrolysate of 0.003 to 0.6.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a composition containing ?-casein glycomacropeptide including: (A) preparing an aqueous solution containing a milk ingredient having a pH of 4 to 9; (B) pretreating the aqueous solution to obtain an aqueous solution containing carbonate (hydrogen) ions and metal ions; (C) subjecting the pretreated aqueous solution to membrane treatment using a membrane having a molecular weight fraction of 9,000 Da or more and 300,000 Da or less. According to the method, it is possible to obtain a composition containing GMP, which is simple to operate and has a high yield regardless of whether the starting material is cheese whey or whey protein concentrate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a drink includes angiogenin and/or angiogenin hydrolysate in an amount of more than 0.8 mg/100 ml and not more than 150 mg/100 ml, and lactoperoxidase and/or lactoperoxidase hydrolysate in the mass ratio to the angiogenin and/or angiogenin hydrolysate of 0.3 to 23.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a chondrogenesis promoter that is safe and exhibits a chondrogenesis-promoting effect by daily ingestion. It is also an object of the invention to provide a proteoglycan synthesis promoter that exhibits a proteoglycan synthesis-promoting effect by ingestion. Provided are a chondrogenesis promoter and a proteoglycan synthesis promoter each containing a milk-derived basic protein fraction as an active ingredient. Synthesis of proteoglycan and formation of a cartilage can be promoted by oral ingestion of the milk-derived basic protein fraction. A hydrolysate of the milk-derived basic protein fraction also has a similar chondrogenesis-promoting effect.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cheese includes angiogenin and/or angiogenin hydrolysate in an amount of 6.5 mg/100 g to 160 mg/100 g, and lactoperoxidase and/or lactoperoxidase hydrolysate in the mass ratio to the angiogenin and/or angiogenin hydrolysate of 0.3 to 33.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fermented milk product includes angiogenin and/or angiogenin hydrolysate in an amount of 0.9 mg/100 g to 150 mg/100 g, and cystatin and/or cystatin hydrolysate in the mass ratio to the angiogenin and/or angiogenin hydrolysate of 0.006 to 1.7.

Abstract: A powdered milk product that includes angiogenin and/or angiogenin hydrolysate in an amount of 1.4 to 24 mg/15 g, and cystatin and/or cystatin hydrolysate in a mass ratio to the angiogenin and/or angiogenin hydrolysate of 0.03 to 1.3.

Abstract: The invention relates to provide a fermented milk product includes angiogenin and/or angiogenin hydrolysate in an amount of 0.9 mg/100 g to 150 mg/100 g, and lactoperoxidase and/or lactoperoxidase hydrolysate in the mass ratio to the angiogenin and/or angiogenin hydrolysate of 0.3 to 23.

Abstract: A method for fractionating whey proteins, including: preparing a solution including a first whey protein and a second whey protein and separating the first whey protein and the second whey protein with a membrane; wherein the first whey protein forms a complex with at least one of carbonate ion, hydrogen carbonate ion, a light metal ion, and a transition metal ion; and the second whey protein satisfies at least one of the following (1) and (2): (1) the second whey protein forms no complex with any of the carbonate ion and the hydrogen carbonate ion; (2) the second whey protein forms no complex with any of the light metal ions and the transition metal ions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a protein material includes angiogenin and/or angiogenin hydrolysate hi an amount of 2 to 15 mg/100 mg, and cystatin and/or cystatin hydrolysate in the mass ratio to angiogenin and/or angiogenin hydrolysate of 0.003 to 0.6.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a safety sensation-improving agent that can improve dulled peripheral sensations through daily ingestion or application to the skin. Another object of the present invention is to provide a sensation-improving food, beverage, feed, or cosmetics that can improve dulled peripheral sensations through oral ingestion or application to the skin. A sensation-improving agent containing a milk-derived protein and/or a hydrolysate therefrom as an active ingredient is provided. The milk-derived protein and/or the hydrolysate therefrom can be orally ingested or applied direct to the skin to improve dulled sensations, particularly peripheral sensations, and be formed into a sensation-improving food, beverage, feed, or cosmetics.

Abstract: An oxidation inhibitor containing, as an active ingredient, an aminocarbonyl compound having a structure resulting from binding of an amino group of a compound having sphingoid base structure and a carbonyl group of a carbonyl compound. The oxidation inhibitor has high oxidation inhibitory effects, and inhibits oxidation of fats and oils, in particular, fats and oils containing a large proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids to prevent deterioration due to oxidation of fats and oils.

Abstract: A skin sensitivity improving agent which is safe and, when routinely taken or applied to the skin, exerts an effect of improving deterioration in peripheral sensation is provided. The present invention also provides a food, a drink, a feed or a cosmetic for improving sensation which exerts an effect of improving deterioration in peripheral sensation when orally taken or applied to the skin. The skin sensitivity improving agent includes, as the active ingredient, a basic protein fraction derived from milk or a degraded basic protein fraction derived from milk. By orally taking the basic protein fraction derived from milk or the degraded basic protein fraction derived from milk or applying the same directly to the skin, deterioration in sensation, in particular, peripheral sensation can be improved. Thus, a food, a drink, a feed or a cosmetic for improving sensation can be obtained.