Abstract: Steroids of the formula wherein R is defined as in the application capable of increasing the synthesis of collagen.

Abstract: Steroids of the formula wherein R is defined as in the application capable of increasing the synthesis of collagen.

Abstract: A method of determining calciotropic activity of a preparation of algae of the genus Padina pavonica. The algae preparation may be in the form of a powder or an extract. The method consists of culturing human or animal osteoblasts in a culture medium containing calcium ions in a well plate. The preparation is added thereto and non-fixed calcium ions are eliminated in the culture medium. Further, the culture medium is acidified to destroy an extracellular matrix formed by the osteoblasts in the culture medium. Thereafter, filtering of the culture medium is carried out and then a concentration of fixed calcium ions in the osteoblasts is determined and compared with a calibration scale of a known activator of the fixation of calcium or in the presence of an inhibitor of the fixation of calcium or both.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of cosmetology, more specifically to novel topical compositions containing an alga extract.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of chemistry and more particularly to that of plant chemistry.

Abstract: The invention concerns the field of biochemistry, and more precisely biological substances of vegetable origin. The invention concerns substances having non-cytotoxic biological activity, extracted from plants with CAM metabolism, such as plants of the Cactacees, Crassulacees and Saxifragacees family. The invention also concerns the method for obtaining these substances as well as compositions containing them. Said compositions are designed for accelerating and amplifying the synthesis of thermal shock proteins of cells of living beings in vivo or in vitro.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of cosmetology, more specifically to novel topical compositions containing an alga extract.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for preparation of biologically active substances and has the following characteristic features: (a) nacre is reduced to a powder whose grain size is less than approximately 200 &mgr;m; (b) it is placed in close contact with an aqueous solvent, (c) at the end of the contact period, the insoluble fraction is separated out to give the aqueous fraction; (d) the solvent of the aqueous fraction is concentrated to separate out the soluble or water-transportable fraction of the nacre, which is made up of biologically active substances with essentially no mineral components. The invention likewise relates to the products obtained by this method, their use for medicinal purposes and the compositions containing them.

Abstract: Biological substances and particularly biologically active substances of marine origin are disclosed. The novel biologically active substances are extracts of plants of the dictyotales family and have characteristic analytical properties. A method for preparing said novel substances and pharmaceutical, cosmetic and/or food compositions containing such substances are also disclosed. Said biologically active substances are useful for preparing pharmaceutical, cosmetic and/or food compositions for altering the synthesis of glycosylated elements in the extracellular matrix of human and animal tissues.

Abstract: Cinchonine, dihydrocinchonine or hydroquinidine are used as multidrug resistance inhibiting substance in the treatment of cancerous tumors by the use of cytotoxic agents. Particularly, cinchonine, dihydrocinchonine or hydroquinidine are used in the preparation of pharmaceutical compositions used in the treatment of cancerous tumors developing the phenomenon of multidrug resistance. Application to the treatment of human cancers.