Abstract: The present invention pertains to a drug for the treatment and/or prevention of pain, more specifically to a medicinal preparation for external use to treat and/or prevent peripheral neuropathic pain, the medicinal preparation containing as an active ingredient N2-{[1-ethyl-6-(4-methylphenoxy)-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl]methyl}-L-alaninamide.

Abstract: The present invention addresses the problem of developing a fat-processed starch which is excellent in terms of all of three properties, i.e., “workability during the preparation of a coating material for fries,” “function required of coating materials for fries (adhesion to ingredients)” and “moderate slurry viscosity.” The fat-processed starch of the present invention is produced by a process comprising the steps: adding a fat with which an emulsifying agent has been mixed to a starch having a water content adjusted to 25 to 45 mass %, in an amount of 0.02 to 0.4 mass % in terms of the weight of the fat excluding the emulsifying agent relative to the weight of dry matter of the starch, and mixing the fat and the starch; adjusting the water content of the mixture is 0.2 to 0.5 time that of the starch before the addition of the fat; and aging the starch having the adjusted water content.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a saccharide polycondensate which is inexpensive and is applicable to a food or beverage product. Disclosed is a method for producing a saccharide polycondensate, which comprises carrying out a saccharide polycondensation reaction in the presence of activated carbon.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a carbohydrate-derived energy supplying agent having slow digestibility and sustained digestibility functions. According to the present invention, there is provided a slowly digestible, sustained-type energy supplying agent comprising a saccharide composition which satisfies the following (A), (B), (C), and (D): (A) a percentage of ?-1,6 bonds relative to all glycosidic bonds is 60% or more; (B) a content of saccharides having a degree of polymerization of 1 and 2 relative to all saccharides is 9 mass % or less; (C) a content of saccharides having a degree of polymerization within a range of 3 to 30 relative to all saccharides is 41 mass % or more; and (D) a content of saccharides having a degree of polymerization of 31 or more relative to all saccharides is 50 mass % or less.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a saccharide polycondensate which is inexpensive and is applicable to a food or beverage product. Disclosed is a method for producing a saccharide polycondensate, which comprises carrying out a saccharide polycondensation reaction in the presence of activated carbon.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a carbohydrate-derived energy supplying agent having slow digestibility and sustained digestibility functions. According to the present invention, there is provided a slowly digestible, sustained-type energy supplying agent comprising a saccharide composition which satisfies the following (A), (B), (C), and (D): (A) a percentage of ?-1,6 bonds relative to all glycosidic bonds is 60% or more; (B) a content of saccharides having a degree of polymerization of 1 and 2 relative to all saccharides is 9 mass % or less; (C) a content of saccharides having a degree of polymerization within a range of 3 to 30 relative to all saccharides is 41 mass % or more; and (D) a content of saccharides having a degree of polymerization of 31 or more relative to all saccharides is 50 mass % or less.

Abstract: The present invention addresses the problem of developing a fat-processed starch which is excellent in terms of all of three properties, i.e., “workability during the preparation of a coating material for fries,” “function required of coating materials for fries (adhesion to ingredients)” and “moderate slurry viscosity.” The fat-processed starch of the present invention is produced by a process comprising the steps: adding a fat with which an emulsifying agent has been mixed to a starch having a water content adjusted to 25 to 45 mass %, in an amount of 0.02 to 0.4 mass % in terms of the weight of the fat excluding the emulsifying agent relative to the weight of dry matter of the starch, and mixing the fat and the starch; adjusting the water content of the mixture is 0.2 to 0.5 time that of the starch before the addition of the fat; and aging the starch having the adjusted water content.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a saccharide polycondensate which is inexpensive and is applicable to a food or beverage product. Disclosed is a method for producing a saccharide polycondensate, which comprises carrying out a saccharide polycondensation reaction in the presence of activated carbon.

Abstract: The invention provides a gene (isolated nucleic acid molecule) encoding the cyclodextrin glucanotransferase which produces a considerable amount of ?-cyclodextrin (?-CD) from the substrates selected from among starch and starch decomposition products such as dextrin, amylopectin and amylose; recombinant plasmids comprising this gene; transformants transformed with the recombinant plasmid; methods of manufacturing the cyclodextrin glucanotransferase by employing these transformants to act upon the substrates selected from among starch and decomposition products thereof and causing the production of ?-CD as a main product; and methods of manufacturing ?-CD and CD-comprising compositions having a desired CD balance (?-, ?- and ?-CD balance) employing this recombinant cyclodextrin glucanotransferase.

Abstract: CGTase enzymatically acts on starch, dextrin, amylopectin, and amylose to produce primarily ?-CD, with quantities of ?- and ?-CD produced being smaller than the quantity of ?-CD produced, has an optimum pH of 10.5-11.0, an optimum temperature of about 60° C., a stable pH of 6-11, and temperature stability, exhibits residual activity of not less than 90 percent with a 15 minute-treatment at 50° C., is produced by culturing a Bacillus clarkii (for example, FERM B-7156), reacts with starch or the like to produce principally ?-cyclodextrin.

Abstract: CGTase having the following enzymatic chemical properties: (1) Function and substrate specificity: funtioning on starch, dextrin, amylopectin, and amylose to produce primarily &ggr;-CD, with the quantities of &bgr;- and &agr;-CD produced being smaller than the quantity of &ggr;-CD produced; (2) Optimum pH: 10.5-11.0; (3) Optimum temperature: About 60° C.; (4) Stable pH: 6-11; and (5) Temperature stability: With a 15 minute-treatment at 50° C., residual activity of not less than 90 percent is exhibited. A method of manufacturing cyclodextrin glucanotransferase in which a microorganism belonging to the species Bacillus clarkii (for example, FERM BP-7156) and having the ability to produce cyclodextrin glucanotransferase is cultured, cyclodextrin glucanotransferase is produced in the cultured product, and the cyclodextrin glucanotransferase that has been produced is collected.

Abstract: The invention provides a gene (isolated nucleic acid molecule) encoding the cyclodextrin glucanotransferase which produces a considerable amount of &ggr;-cyclodextrin (&ggr;-CD) from the substrates selected from among starch and starch decomposition products such as dextrin, amylopectin and amylose; recombinant plasmids comprising this gene; transformants transformed with the recombinant plasmid; methods of manufacturing the cyclodextrin glucanotransferase by employing these transformants to act upon the substrates selected from among starch and decomposition products thereof and causing the production of &ggr;-CD as a main product; and methods of manufacturing &ggr;-CD and CD-comprising compositions having a desired CD balance (&agr;-, &bgr;- and &ggr;-CD balance) employing this recombinant cyclodextrin glucanotransferase.

Abstract: There are disclosed a compound represented by the following general formula I wherein R represents a cyclic hydrocarbon group, and n represents 0 (zero) or an integer not less than 1, as well as &bgr;-glucosidase inhibitor, aromatic substance formation inhibitor, plant life lengthening agent, each of which contains at least one of compound represented by the aforementioned general formula I as an active ingredient, and plant or a part thereof in which formation of aromatic substance is inhibited by the aforementioned aromatic substance formation inhibitor. The present invention provides a novel compound that has &bgr;-glucosidase inhibition activity and can easily be produced in an industrial process, as well as a &bgr;-glucosidase inhibitor and aromatic substance formation inhibitor each containing such a novel compound as an active ingredient, and plant or part thereof in which the formation of aromatic substances is inhibited by the aforementioned aromatic substance formation inhibitor.

Abstract: There are disclosed a compound represented by the following general formula I wherein R represents a cyclic hydrocarbon group, and n represents 0 (zero) or an integer not less than 1, as well as &bgr;-glucosidase inhibitor, aromatic substance formation inhibitor, plant life lengthening agent, each of which contains at least one of compound represented by the aforementioned general formula I as an active ingredient, and plant or a part thereof in which formation of aromatic substance is inhibited by the aforementioned aromatic substance formation inhibitor. The present invention provides a novel compound that has &bgr;-glucosidase inhibition activity and can easily be produced in an industrial process, as well as a &bgr;-glucosidase inhibitor and aromatic substance formation inhibitor each containing such a novel compound as an active ingredient, and plant or part thereof in which the formation of aromatic substances is inhibited by the aforementioned aromatic substance formation inhibitor.