Abstract: Disclosed is a neutralizing agent for a clostridium bacterial neurotoxin and a preparation method thereof. The neutralizing agent contains a flavonol glycoside (A) or a flavonol glycoside (B). The flavonol glycoside (A) has a flavone skelton which has two hydroxyl groups at the 5 and 7 positions, at least one hydroxyl group bonding at either one of the 3?, 4? and 5? positions, and an ether linkage forming glycoside at the 3 position with a carbohydrate chain containing a rutinose skelton. The flavonol glycoside (B) has also another ether linkage at the 4? position with a carbohydrate chain containing rhamnose. The neutralizing agent is prepared by separating the thearubigin fraction of black tea extract by elution with methanol/water solvent using a reverse phase liquid chromatography. A fraction eluted with methanol/water solvent containing 40% methanol and a fraction eluted with methanol/water solvent containing 60% methanol have high neutralizing activity, and at least one of them is collected.

Abstract: Disclosed is a neutralizing agent for a clostridium bacterial neurotoxin and a preparation method thereof. The neutralizing agent contains a flavonol glycoside (A) or a flavonol glycoside (B). The flavonol glycoside (A) has a flavone skelton which has two hydroxyl groups at the 5 and 7 positions, at least one hydroxyl group bonding at either one of the 3′, 4′ and 5′ positions, and an ether linkage forming glycoside at the 3 position with a carbohydrate chain containing a rutinose skelton. The flavonol glycoside (B) has also another ether linkage at the 4′ position with a carbohydrate chain containing rhamnose. The neutralizing agent is prepared by separating the thearubigin fraction of black tea extract by elution with methanol/water solvent using a reverse phase liquid chromatography.

Abstract: A sugar decomposition inhibitor, a maltase activity inhibitor, a glucoamylase activity inhibitor, a sucrase activity inhibitor and an isomaltase activity inhibitor comprising as an effective component a hot-water extract of banaba, a synthetic resin adsorption fraction of said hot-water extract, or a mixture thereof are provided. Further, an insulin secretion controller comprising as an effective component a hot-water extract of banaba is also provided. In addition, a healthy food and beverage comprising a hot-water extract of banaba, a synthetic resin adsorption fraction of said hot-water extract or a mixture thereof and sugar except for monosaccharides are provided.

Abstract: In order to provide a xanthine oxidase inhibitor having as an effective component an extract from highly safe plants, ten kinds of plant materials were compared for the xanthine oxidase inhibition activity, and in consequence Lagerstroemia speciosa (banaba) was found to have the strongest activity. In addition, it was found that the xanthine oxidase inhibition activity was present in an “crude extract” obtained by extracting banaba with hot water or the like, “resin adsorbed components” obtained by adsorbing the crude extract on a styrene-divinyl benzene synthetic resin or the like, and “organic solvent soluble components” obtained by the partition of the resin adsorbed component between water and an organic solvent.

Abstract: In order to provide a xanthine oxidase inhibitor having as an effective component an extract from highly safe plants, ten kinds of plant materials were compared for the xanthine oxidase inhibition activity, and in consequence Lagerstroemia speciosa (banaba) was found to have the strongest activity. In addition, it was found that the xanthine oxidase inhibition activity was present in an “crude extract” obtained by extracting banaba with hot water or the like, “resin adsorbed components” obtained by adsorbing the crude extract on a styrene-divinyl benzene synthetic resin or the like, and “organic solvent soluble components” obtained by the partition of the resin adsorbed component between water and an organic solvent.

Abstract: A sugar decomposition inhibitor, a maltase activity inhibitor, a glucoamylase activity inhibitor, a sucrase activity inhibitor and an isomaltase activity inhibitor comprising as an effective component a hot-water extract of banaba, a synthetic resin adsorption fraction of said hot-water extract, or a mixture thereof are provided. Further, an insulin secretion controller comprising as an effective component a hot-water extract of banaba is also provided. In addition, a healthy food and beverage comprising a hot-water extract of banaba, a synthetic resin adsorption fraction of said hot-water extract or a mixture thereof and sugar except for monosaccharides are provided.

Abstract: This invention is characterized by a brain function improving preparation containing theanine not less than 50 &mgr;M. It was confirmed that theanine could increase intracellular Ca2+ concentration by acting on NMDA receptors even at a low dose of about 50 &mgr;M. Thus, the brain function improving preparation of this invention was shown to be capable of causing plastic change in neurons or neural circuit. Since theanine has been approved as a food additive and being consumed daily, its safety has no problem. Moreover, theanine passes the blood-brain barrier relatively easily and, thus, it is effective as an oral preparation.

Abstract: An excitement accelerating agent was produced by incorporating a very small amount of theanine as an effective compoment in a range that shows the excitement accelerating action. The very small amount in a range that shows the excitement accelerating action means a range containing theanine in an amount of from about 0.17 mg/kg to 0.85 mg/kg, preferably from about 0.17 mg/kg to 0.34 mg/kg based on the weight as an injection agent, and in an amount of from about 0.20 mg/kg to 2.8 mg/kg, preferably from about 0.50 mg/kg to 2.5 mg/kg (0.17/0.338-0.85/0.338) as an oral agent. A safe and effective excitement accelerating agent can be provided by utilizing sufficiently the excitement accelerating action given by theanine, and if it is regularly taken for a long period of time, it is also effective as a nutritious tonic, an energy-increasing agent, and a stamina-sustaining agent.