Abstract: The invention relates to an enzyme stabilizer comprising a lignin derivative produced by reaction between lignin and a hydrophilic compound, and to a method of saccharifying lignocellulosic biomass which employs the enzyme stabilizer. According to the invention it is possible to accomplish effective saccharification of cellulosic biomass with saccharifying enzymes, by enhancing saccharifying enzyme activity and preventing nonspecific adsorption of saccharifying enzyme onto substrate.

Abstract: The invention relates to an enzyme stabilizer comprising a lignin derivative produced by reaction between lignin and a hydrophilic compound, and to a method of saccharifying lignocellulosic biomass which employs the enzyme stabilizer. According to the invention it is possible to accomplish effective saccharification of cellulosic biomass with saccharifying enzymes, by enhancing saccharifying enzyme activity and preventing nonspecific adsorption of saccharifying enzyme onto substrate.

Abstract: A milk-protein hydrolyzate consisting of a mixture of peptides and free amino acids having proliferation activating property on human cutaneous cells but not having antigenicity of the milk-protein may be obtained by enzymatic hydrolysis of milk protein. The peptides of the hydrolyzate have molecular weights less than 1000 daltons, and the hydrolyzate has a free aromatic amino acid/total aromatic amino acid ratio of at least 90%. Fractionation of the milk protein hydrolyzate yields a fraction consisting of a mixture of peptides. The fraction has a proliferation activating property on human cutaneous cells but does not have the antigenicity of the milk protein. The fraction contains aromatic amino acids in an amount of less than 5% by weight of total amino acids. Both the hydrolyzate and the fraction can be formulated into cosmetic compositions for application to the hair and skin.