Abstract: An AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activating agent comprises 1,2-di-O-galloyl-4,6-O—(S)-hexahydroxydiphenoyl-b-D-glucose (“GHG”) as an active ingredient. The AMPK activating agent can be a GHG-containing composition wherein the GHG is an active ingredient of the composition. The GHG-containing composition can be derived from Kenyan purple tea, whose scientific name is Camellia sinensis, variety name: TRFK306. An effective amount of the GHG can be administered to a cell to activate the AMPK. Drinks, foods, and cosmetics can have the GHG as an active ingredient.

Abstract: This invention provides a prophylactic and therapeutic agent for dry eye, having new ingredients to reduce the deterioration of the lacrimal secretory ability and to inhibit the generation of radical oxygen in lacrimal gland tissue. The prophylactic and therapeutic agent for dry eye of this invention contains the maqui berry extract as the active substance of this invention, i.e. containing delphinidin glycoside extracted from the maqui berry and at least one or more of the active substances delphinidin-3-sambubioside-5-glucoside, delphinidin-3,5-diglucoside, delphinidin-3-sambubioside and delphinidin-3-glucoside, preferably delphinidin-3,5-diglucoside.

Abstract: Disclosed is an AGE production inhibitor or the like, which effectively inhibits the production of an advanced glycation end product (AGE), while having improved biological safety. Specifically disclosed is an AGE production inhibitor or the like, which contains en extract of cherry tree (preferably blossoms or leaves thereof) and/or a processed product of the extract as an active substance. The AGE production inhibitor or the like contains, as an active substance, at least one compound that is selected from among 1-O-(E)-Caffeoyl-?-D-glucopyranoside, 1-O-(E)-Coumaroyl-?-D-glucopyranoside, 1-O-(E)-Cinnamoyl-?-D-glucopyranoside, Kaempferol 3-O-?-D-glucopyranoside, Quercetin 3-O-?-D-glucopyranoside, Kaempferol 3-O-(6?-malony)-?-D-glucopyranoside, and Quercetin 3-O-(6?-malony)-?-D-glucopyranoside.

Abstract: (PROBLEMS) To provide a highly safe dietetic composition originating in green coffee beans by which excellent dietetic effects can be obtained and which contributes to the prevention and treatment of life style-related diseases such as diabetes. (MEANS FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS) A dietetic composition characterized by comprising, as the active ingredient, a polar solvent extract of defatted green coffee beans. It is preferable that the above-described polar solvent extract is an extract obtained by using water-containing ethanol, still preferably water-containing ethanol having an ethanol concentration of from 40 to 90% (wt/wt). It is preferable that the above-described defatted green coffee beans are those obtained by extracting green coffee beans with N-hexane to thereby separate oily components therefrom. It is recommended to combine the above-described dietetic composition with one or more members selected from among salacia extract, evening primrose extract, sesamine and garcinia.

Abstract: Disclosed is an AGE production inhibitor or the like, which effectively inhibits the production of an advanced glycation end product (AGE), while having improved biological safety. Specifically disclosed is an AGE production inhibitor or the like, which contains en extract of cherry tree (preferably blossoms or leaves thereof) and/or a processed product of the extract as an active substance. The AGE production inhibitor or the like contains, as an active substance, at least one compound that is selected from among 1-O-(E)-Caffeoyl-?-D-glucopyranoside, 1-O-(E)-Coumaroyl-?-D-glucopyranoside, 1-O-(E)-Cinnamoyl-?-D-glucopyranoside, Kaempferol 3-O-?-D-glucopyranoside, Quercetin 3-O-?-D-glucopyranoside, Kaempferol 3-O-(6?-malony)-?-D-glucopyranoside, and Quercetin 3-O-(6?-malony)-?-D-glucopyranoside.

Abstract: This invention provides an anti-inflammatory agent or the like which is safer and less adverse and has the great effectiveness to prevent and treat arthritis, or the like. An anti-inflammatory agent or the like in this invention is characterized by comprising anthocyanidin and gingerol as an active substance. Also, the abovementioned anthocyanidin and gingerol are preferably extracted from red ginger.

Abstract: (Problems) To provide a highly safe dietetic composition originating in green coffee beans by which excellent dietetic effects can be obtained and which contributes to the prevention and treatment of life style-related diseases such as diabetes. (Means for Solving Problems) A dietetic composition characterized by comprising, as the active ingredient, a polar solvent extract of defatted green coffee beans. It is preferable that the above-described polar solvent extract is an extract obtained by using water-containing ethanol, still preferably water-containing ethanol having an ethanol concentration of from 40 to 90% (wt/wt). It is preferable that the above-described defatted green coffee beans are those obtained by extracting green coffee beans with N-hexane to thereby separate oily components therefrom. It is recommended to combine the above-described dietetic composition with one or more members selected from among salacia extract, evening primrose extract, sesamine and garcinia.

Abstract: This invention provides carbohydrate absorption inhibitor derived from evening primrose seed which is significantly effective to prevent and cure diabetes mellitus and prevent obesity, and the manufacturing method of the same. Carbohydrate absorption inhibitor in this invention is characterized that the effective component is an alcohol extract of evening primrose seed. The aforementioned evening primrose seed is preferably a defatted evening primrose seed. Extracting solvent of the aforementioned evening primrose seed is preferably ethanol, or preferably a 70 to 85% (v/v) aqueous ethanol. Also, this invention is characterized that the carbohydrate absorption inhibitor is an effective component of polyphenol derived from evening primrose seed. The polyphenol is preferably one or more substances selected from among gallic acid, ellagic acid, catechin, pentagalloylglucose, procyanidin, and proantocyanidin.

Abstract: Novel inhibitors of the enzyme action of lipoxygenase, especially 5-lipoxygenase and 12-lipoxygenase that are derived from the extraction of the seeds of the perilla (crispa) or perilla (frutescens) plant. These inhibitors are suitably extracted from these seeds using alcohol, preferably ethanol, to form an extract or more preferably to further extract the alcoholic extract with ethyl acetate and water to partition the active inhibitors to the ethyl acetate. The particularly preferred inhibitors are luteolin and chrysoeriol.

Abstract: This invention pertains to a field of the art for producing crude oil from rice bran, and it relates to a pretreatment method for extracting crude oil from rice bran and an apparatus used therefor.The object of this invention is to obtain an extremely high-quality and light-colored crude oil from rice bran while eliminating any risk of environmental pollution in the pretreatment process for the extraction. In order to accomplish this object, as the pretreatment for extracting crude oil from rice bran, said rice bran is compressed in a screw extruder to break the cells in said rice bran and mold it into a form suited for the extraction of crude oil.