Abstract: Provided is a cosmetic containing a composite particle containing a starch alkenyl succinate metal salt coated with 0.05 to 2 parts by mass of zinc oxide to 1 part by mass of the starch alkenyl succinate metal salt. The starch alkenyl succinate metal salt may be at least one selected from the group consisting of a starch octenyl succinate metal salt, a starch decenyl succinate metal salt, a starch dodecenyl succinate metal salt, a starch tetradecenyl succinate metal salt, a starch hexadecenyl succinate metal salt, and a starch octadecenyl succinate metal salt.

Abstract: An external skin preparation containing an edelweiss extract, and one or more extracts selected from the group consisting of extracts of plants belonging to the genus Artemisia, pipsissewa extract, olive extract, jojoba extract, carambola extract, clove extract, chamomile extract, carrot extract, daisy extract, peach kernel extract, marsh mallow extract, cinnamon bark extract, told extract, marigold extract, parsley extract, coltsfoot extract, creeping saxifrage extract and European elderberry extract.

Abstract: An external skin preparation containing an edelweiss extract, and one or more extracts selected from the group consisting of extracts of plants belonging to the genus Artemisia, pipsissewa extract, olive extract, jojoba extract, carambola extract, clove extract, chamomile extract, carrot extract, daisy extract, peach kernel extract, marsh mallow extract, cinnamon bark extract, told extract, marigold extract, parsley extract, coltsfoot extract, creeping saxifrage extract and European elderberry extract.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cell activation agent, a collagen production accelerator, a whitening agent, an antioxidant, an anti-inflammatory agent, an aromatase activity accelerator, a protease activity accelerator, a skin external preparation, and food, which all contain an extract of Hibiscus makinoi.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an agent effective for the treatment and/or prevention of motor neuron disease such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The present invention provides a therapeutic and/or preventive agent for motor neuron disease comprising the following oligopeptide shown in any of (a) to (c) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof as an active ingredient: (a) an oligopeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence represented by Ser-Ala-Leu-Leu-Arg-Ser-Ile-Pro-Ala (SEQ ID NO: 1); (b) an oligopeptide consisting of an amino acid sequence having a deletion, substitution, insertion, or addition of one or several amino acids in Ser-Ala-Leu-Leu-Arg-Ser-Ile-Pro-Ala (SEQ ID NO: 1), and having an activity that inhibits neuronal cell death caused by a mutant superoxide dismutase-1 gene; and (c) a modified oligopeptide from the oligopeptide (a) or (b).

Abstract: An external preparation for skin is provided which can be readily applied to the skin surface in a uniform manner, is excellent in effectiveness and storage stability, and has a pH of 2.0 or less. More specifically, the external preparation for skin of the present invention comprises one kind or two or more kinds of organic acid(s), and one kind or two or more kinds of nonionic water soluble polymer(s) except for polysaccharides, and has a pH of 2.0 or less.