Abstract: Methods for exterminating pests using compositions comprising at least one protease enzyme. A detergent component may also be utilized in such compositions.

Abstract: The present invention deals with a process for oxidation of a hydroxy group of C1 and/or C2 and/or C3 and/or C4 and/or C5 and/or C6 of a sugar monomer of an oligo- or a polysaccharide comprising contacting, in an aqueous medium, the oligo- or the polysaccharide with a phenol oxidizing enzyme and an enhancing agent, whereby an oligo- or a polysaccharide with altered characteristics compared to the native oligo- or polysaccharide is created.

Abstract: There are provided a calcium absorption enhancing agent produced by subjecting a vegetable protein to at least a treatment of removing a phytate with an anion exchange resin and a deamidation treatment with a weakly acidic cation exchange resin, and a method for producing it. Thereby, calcium absorption enhancing agents which can be widely applied and excellent in processability can be obtained.

Abstract: A stable blood factor composition contains a stabilising amount of trehalose in the absence of human serum albumin to provide a product stable at up to 60° C.

Abstract: Isolated cranberry seed oil and components thereof, in a form suitable for use as a foodstuff, dietary supplement, or pharmaceutical composition, are disclosed. The isolated cranberry seed oil or compositions comprising one or a combination of components derived from the cranberry seed oil can be used as anticancer, hypocholesterolemic, antithrombotic, antioxidizing, antiatherogenic, antiinflammatory, and immunoregulatory agents. In addition, the invention features novel methods of extracting cranberry seed oil from cranberry seeds in a form suitable for adding to foodstuffs, dietary supplements, or pharmaceutical compositions.

Abstract: Methods for obtaining taxanes from novel sources are disclosed. Angiosperms other than hazelnut and the gymnosperm ginkgo have been discovered to be sources of taxane, including paclitaxel. Taxane may also be obtained from fungal endophytes from these plants. Methods for optimizing the recovery of taxane from plant sources are disclosed in which a plant part is surface-sterilized before extracting taxane therefrom or before culturing fungal endophytes therefrom.

Abstract: This invention provides a bacterial cellulose comprising ribbon-shaped microfibrils having a thickness of 10 to 100 nm and a width of 160 to 1000 nm or a bacterial cellulose comprising ribbon-shaped microfibrils having a thickness of 10 to 100 nm and a width of 50 to 70 nm. The former bacterial cellulose can be produced by culturing cellulose-producing bacteria in a culture medium containing a cell division inhibitor, and the latter can be produced by culturing the bacterium in a culture medium containing an organic reducing agent. The bacterial cellulose is modified from conventional bacterial cellulose in the major axis, and is improved in Young's modulus, etc.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of removing phosphorous from sialyloligosaccharides isolated from a dairy stream using phytase.

Abstract: An entirely aqueous method for concentrating beta-glucan from a beta-glucan source, such as milled cereal bran, grain or distiller's dried grain. The method comprises providing an alkaline aqueous extract of a beta-glucan source; acidifying or neutralizing the extract and heating the extract to between about 60° C. and 100° C.; cooling the extract, whereby a flocculate is formed; acidifying the cooled extract if the extract was neutralized; and removing the flocculate from the aqueous solution to form an intermediate solution. The intermediate solution may be subjected to ultrafiltration for further purification of beta-glucan, or may be evaporated, resulting in formation of a solid film enriched in beta-glucan. Beta-glucan has cholesterol-lowering properties and is a topical immunostimulant.

Abstract: The invention relates to an enzymatic composition and also to a method for seasoning wood, intended in particular for applications in the food industry. The method consists in immersing green wood in an aqueous solution comprising an enzymatic composition. The wood can subsequently be dried very rapidly in a drying facility. The invention makes it possible to improve the aromatic characteristics of the wood by eliminating certain substances judged to be undesirable due to their astringent nature or bitter nature, and transforming them into neutrally-tasting molecules.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing resistant starch, the resistant starch obtainable from this process and use thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of identifying a compound which blocks the activation of a stress-activated protein kinase selected from the group consisting of SAPK4 and SAPK3 by SKK3. The method includes contacting the stress-activated protein kinase with the compound and determining whether the compound enhances or disrupts the interaction between the stress-activated protein kinase and SKK3. The invention further relates to a screening assay, a method of identifying agents able to influence the activity of a stress-activated protein kinase and a method of activating a stress-activated protein kinase.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fermented herbal health drink, comprising extract from plant Andrographis, extract from barley, wheat, and/or fruit and ethanol concentration ranging between 3 to 13% in the total health drink and optionally extract from plant Tinospora and other additives, said drink not containing hops and still having characteristic taste of a beer with no adverse effect and contributing to several medicinal properties comprising anti-oxidant, nervine relaxant, cholerectic, cardio-tonic, diurectic, digestive and immunomodulant, and a method of producing the herbal health drink, preferably a method of introducing bitterness into said health drink and using the same as a beer or to produce beer with said medicinal properties.

Abstract: A method of inhibiting amyloid formation, deposition, accumulation, or persistence, or amyloid protein-amyloid protein interactions, amyloid-proteoglycan interactions, amyloid-PG/GAG interactions and/or amyloid-glycosaminoglycan interactions, and/or dissolving or disrupting pre-formed or pre-deposited amyloid fibrils in Alzheimer's Disease in a mammalian subject. In the method a therapeutically effective amount of plant matter from the genus Uncaria, species tomentosa is administered, preferably from the inner bark or root tissue of Uncaria tomentosa.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a Sphingomonas bacteria and a method of producing exopolysaccharides by culturing a Shingomonas bacteria in a fermentation broth for a time and temperature effective for providing a sphingan exopolysaccharide in a slime form.

Abstract: A food supplement formulation comprises quercetin, bromelain, papain, passiflora incarnata, valeriana officinalis, gotu kola, usnea barbata, althea officinalis, and L-arginine.

Abstract: The invention relates to the production of mannitol by bioconversion with the aid of immobilized micro-organisms as well as to the use of the mannitol and by-products formed in the conversion process. In said process a solution containing a substrate convertible into mannitol is fed into contact with solid carrier particles containing viable mannitol-forming microorganism cells immobilized in and/or on said particles. The solution is reconditioned between successive conversion steps in order to provide conversion of a major portion of said substrate into mannitol.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a method for obtaining a polysaccharide substantially free from whole bacterial cells and bacterial cell debris including: (a) fermenting a Sphingomonas bacterium, which produces the polysaccharide, to produce an aqueous fermentation broth having the polysaccharide dissolved therein; (b) diluting the fermentation broth with an equal volume of deionized water; (c) partially hydrolyzing the polysaccharide by exposing the fermentation broth resulting from step (b) to a temperature in excess of 100° C.

Abstract: Compounds are disclosed for treating AIDS, herpes, and other viral infections by means of lipid derivatives of antiviral agents. The compounds consist of nucleoside analogues having antiviral activity which are linked, commonly through a phosphate group at the 5′ position of the pentose residue, to one of a selected group of lipids. The lipophilic nature of these compounds provide advantages over the use of the nucleoside analogue alone. It also makes it possible to incorporate them into the lamellar structure of liposomes, either alone or combined with similar molecules. In the form of liposomes, these antiviral agents are preferentially taken up by macrophages and monocytes, cells which have been found to harbor the target HIV virus. Additional site specificity may be incorporated into the liposomes with the addition of ligands, such as monoclonal antibodies or other peptides or proteins which bind to viral proteins.

Abstract: A cosmetic composition containing at least one plant extract from a plant belonging to a genus selected from the group consisting of Lannea, Odina, and mixtures thereof, for application onto a human substrate selected from the group consisting of skin, mucous membranes and epithelial appendages.