Abstract: The invention provides a peptide having an activity of inhibiting angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), and a food and drink and/or a pharmaceutical composition containing the peptide.

Abstract: Various types of lactic acid bacteria were cultured in the presence of a purine, the amount of the purine consumed and the amount of purine degradation products produced were measured, and several lactic acid bacteria showing remarkable purine-decomposing ability were selected. Lactic acid bacteria that were assessed to have high purine-decomposing ability according to the above-mentioned selection were orally administered to rats reared on purine-containing feed, the general status and serum uric acid level of the rats were measured, and the effect of lactic acid bacteria administration on serum uric acid levels was examined. As a result, lactic acid bacteria that significantly suppress the increase of serum uric acid levels, Lactobacillus gasseri OLL2959 and Lactobacillus oris OLL2779, were found.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a preventive and/or a therapeutic agent for inflammatory bowel diseases containing a fermentation product of a propionic acid bacterium as an active ingredient.

Abstract: The present invention provides lactic acid bacteria having oxalic acid-degrading activity several times higher than those of conventionally known lactic acid bacteria having an oxalic acid-degrading activity, and uses thereof. Lactic acid bacteria capable of degrading a large amount of oxalic acid were screened from 132 strains of Lactobacillus lactic acid bacteria that have been independently isolated from feces and gastric juices of human adults. As a result, lactic acid bacteria having an oxalic acid degradation rate of 50% or more when cultured at 37° C. for 72 hours in a culture medium containing 10 mM oxalic acid at pH 6.5 at the start of culture were discovered.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a preventive and/or a therapeutic agent for inflammatory bowel diseases containing a fermentation product of a propionic acid bacterium as an active ingredient.

Abstract: An amino acid composition comprises alanine, arginine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, valine, and glutamine. The amino acid composition of the present invention has such an effect that it can improve the action of promoting the process wherein the body fat is converted into the energy required for the physical exercise during and/or after the anoxic motions performed under an extremely high load.

Abstract: An amino acid composition comprises alanine, arginine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, valine, and glutamine. The amino acid composition of the present invention has such an effect that it can improve the action of promoting the process wherein the body fat is converted into the energy required for the physical exercise during and/or after the anoxic motions performed under an extremely high load.

Abstract: The present invention aims at providing novel spread and edible oil having excellent characteristics as a spread or an edible oil. An edible oil and a suitable emulsifier, in a water-in-oil type emulsion is filled with a suitable gas propellant into an aerosol container, and the emulsion is discharged as mousse form at the time of jetting.

Abstract: Provided is a process for producing fermented milk which makes it possible to effectively prevent increases in acidity in the fermented milk during transportation and storage, and also makes it possible to produce fermented milk with a good flavour. Bacteriocin-producing lactic acid bacteria and/or a culture or fermentation product thereof are/is added to a yoghurt mix. The bacteriocin-producing lactic acid bacteria are then killed. Lactic acid bacteria different from the bacteriocin-producing lactic acid bacteria are then added as a starter. It is thus possible to incorporate bacteriocin in yoghurt without directly adding bacteriocin. Since the bacteriocin-producing lactic acid bacteria are killed, intensification of the flavour of cheese, for example, can be prevented, and it is possible to produce fermented milk with a good flavour.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition for immunostimulation useful for promoting IgA and secretory component productions in mucosal tissues, comprising, alone or in combination, a cell of bifidobacterium belonging to Bifidobacterium bifidum or a processed product thereof, wherein the bifidobacterium has an activity to stimulate secretory component production and a high activity to stimulate IgA production, for example, it is a Bifidobacterium bifidum OLB 6377 strain or Bifidobacterium bifidum OLB 6378 strain.

Abstract: A long-acting improver of muscular fatigue characterized by comprising 4 kinds of amino acids made up of leucine, isoleucine, valine and glutamine, and a whey protein component (whey protein and/or decomposition product of whey protein). At least one of a whey protein isolate (WPI), a whey protein concentrate (WPC), ?-lactoglobulin, and ?-lactalbumin is used as the whey protein. Novel food or drink, and pharmaceuticals which exhibit sustained recovery effects on muscular fatigue are provided.

Abstract: Provided is an indole long-chain alcohol, or a hydrate or an isomer thereof, represented by the following formula (I): wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a methyl group, an acetyl group, or a hydroxyl group, and n represents a number from 0 to 20; and a medicinal composition comprising the same. The indole long-chain alcohol (I) exhibits an excellent nerve growth promoting effect, as well as potent antioxidative and anti-tumor effects, and is therefore useful as a prophylactic and/or therapeutic agent for cerebral diseases including dementia diseases, and malignant tumors including brain tumors.

Abstract: The present invention provides compounds that are useful for preventing or treating brain dysfunctions, motor dysfunctions, or urinary dysfunctions caused by the degeneration and/or loss of the central nervous system or peripheral nervous system cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an agent for suppressing STAT3 phosphorylation and for suppressing Notch1 expression comprising as an active ingredient a compound represented by the following formula (1): wherein R1, R2 and R3 each independently represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; and X represents a linear or branched alkyl, alkylene or alkenylene group having 10 to 28 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A powder compression molding machine is configured such that a plurality of lower and upper punches 61, 41 are allowed to enter a plurality of through-die holes 31 provided in first and second molding die sections 32, 33 of a slide plate 3 in a compression molding zone 21 to compressively mold powder and the slide plate 3 is slid to push out compacts downward and collect them in compact discharge zones 22a, 22b. Even when powder is compressively molded at a low compression force into solids having high porosity, compacts can satisfactorily be molded and collected without crumblingness, the compacts having sufficient high porosity and being dissolvable in water or the like.

Abstract: Various types of lactic acid bacteria were cultured in the presence of a purine, the amount of the purine consumed and the amount of purine degradation products produced were measured, and several lactic acid bacteria showing remarkable purine-decomposing ability were selected. Lactic acid bacteria that were assessed to have high purine-decomposing ability according to the above-mentioned selection were orally administered to rats reared on purine-containing feed, the general status and serum uric acid level of the rats were measured, and the effect of lactic acid bacteria administration on serum uric acid levels was examined. As a result, lactic acid bacteria that significantly suppress the increase of serum uric acid levels, Lactobacillus gasseri OLL2959 and Lactobacillus oris OLL2779, were found.

Abstract: A composition containing 1,4-dihydroxy-2-naphthoic acid at a high concentration is obtained by intracellularly and extracellularly producing 1,4-dihydroxy-2-naphthoic acid using a bacterium belonging to the genus Propionibacterium and collecting it. This composition is efficacious in improving intestinal flora, alleviating abdominal ailments in association with the intake of milk, and preventing metabolic bone diseases.

Abstract: The present invention provides lactic acid bacteria which are suitable for use for dietary products and pharmaceuticals, and which can suppress the increase of blood uric acid level. Various types of lactic acid bacteria were cultured in the presence of a purine, the amount of the purine consumed and the amount of purine degradation products produced were measured, and several lactic acid bacteria showing remarkable purine-decomposing ability were selected. Lactic acid bacteria that were assessed to have high purine-decomposing ability according to the above-mentioned selection were orally administered to rats reared on purine-containing feed, the general status and serum uric acid level of the rats were measured, and the effect of lactic acid bacteria administration on serum uric acid levels was examined. As a result, lactic acid bacteria that significantly suppress the increase of serum uric acid levels, Lactobacillus gasseri OLL2922, were found.

Abstract: [Object] To provide a food product that exhibits excellent solubility, such as solid milk. [Means] The above purpose is achieved by a food product having a top surface (4) including a flat area (2); a bottom surface (8) including a flat area (6) parallel to the flat area (2) on the top surface; and a recess (10) formed on the top surface (4) and a recess (12) formed on the bottom surface (8), wherein when the food product has both the recess (10) formed on the top surface (4) and the recess (12) formed on the bottom surface (8), the total of the largest depth du (14) of the recess (10) on the top surface and the largest depth dd (16) of the recess (12) on the bottom surface is 30% or larger of the thickness w (18) of the food product.

Abstract: A preventive and/or therapeutic agent for diabetes complications, which comprises as an effective ingredient a cyclohexenone long-chain alcoholic derivative represented by the following formula (1): wherein, R1, R2 and R3 each independently represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group and X represents a linear or branched C10-28 alkylene or alkenylene group. The cyclohexenone long-chain alcoholic derivative of the present invention significantly suppresses a reduction in a peripheral nerve conduction rate and alleviates the hypofunction of the bladder so that it is useful as a preventive and/or therapeutic agent for diabetes complications, particularly, for diabetic neuropathy.