Abstract: It is to provide a pharmaceutical composition which is different from an existing therapeutic agent of an adult disease, of a biochemical reaction-inhibiting type, and which action mechanism is to improve the basal metabolism, wherein the composition has no side effects, and does not generate drug resistance against adult disease; and a method for preventing/treating an adult disease by using the same.

Abstract: The present invention provides an external preparation for skin which contains 5-aminolevulinic acids as active components and which is excellent in skin-beautifying effects such as prevention/amelioration of skin roughness, dry skin, wrinkles, sagging and flecks of skin, and improvement of turnover of corneum; and in an ameliorating effect on skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis. An external preparation for skin which contains one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of 5-aminolevulinic acid, its salt and a derivative of them; and an iron compound; as active components, is used.

Abstract: To provide a therapeutic agent and a diagnostic agent for mitochondrial dysfunction brain diseases including cerebral infarction as a representative. A therapeutic agent for a mitochondrial dysfunction brain disease, which comprises (A) ?-aminolevulinic acid represented by the formula (1), a derivative thereof, or a salt thereof and (B) an iron compound in combination. R2R1NCH2COCH2CH2COR3 ??(1) wherein R1 and R2 each independently represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an acyl group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, an aryl group, or an aralkyl group; and R3 represents a hydroxy group, an alkoxy group, an acyloxy group, an alkoxycarbonyloxy group, an aryloxy group, an aralkyloxy group, or an amino group.