Abstract: An immuno-active agent of the present invention is obtained by incorporating hemicellulose obtained from cornhusk and/or its partially hydrolyzed product, as a main component. The hemicellulose is preferably the one obtained by removing starch and protein from cornhusk and subjecting the residue to extraction with an alkali.

Abstract: A water-soluble dietary fiber comprising as a main component a partially hydrolyzed product of a hemicellulose extracted from a vegetable fiber material by an alkali treatment and subjected to enzymolysis. Various kinds of food and drink can be prepared by mixture of this dietary fiber. Also disclosed is a method of preparing a water-soluble dietary fiber, comprising the steps of subjecting a vegetable fiber material to extraction by an alkali treatment, and treating an extract therefrom with a xylanase to give a partially hydrolyzed product of hemicellulose.

Abstract: The desmutagenic substances consist of a fibrous constituent of food which was produced from corn fibers. These substances have a function of inactivating mutagens which occur in our daily life environment, for example, dinitropyrene, pyrolysate mutagens of food or the like. The process for producing these substances comprises the step of subjecting corn fibers to a treatment process to remove starch, protein and other digestable substances therefrom, the treatment process being an enzyme treatment, chemical treatment or physical treatment or a combination thereof.