Abstract: The present invention provides a novel oxidized protein hydrolase activity enhancing agent. The oxidized protein hydrolase activity enhancing agent of the present invention contains at least one kind of plant extract obtained from a plant selected from the group consisting of water chestnut, stevia, rosemary, thyme, chrysanthemum, savory, mugwort, chestnut, spearmint, marjoram, peppermint, lemon balm, allspice, perilla, basil, and caraway.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of use of AGEs-degrading agents. The methods include anti-aging methods and methods of treating or reducing likelihood of diseases, aging of tissues, and hypofunction of tissues caused by AGEs. The AGEs-degrading agents contain at least one kind of plant extract obtained from peanut, rosemary, knotweed, leaf lettuce, sweet basil, thyme, spearmint, lemon balm, perilla, or rhubarb.

Abstract: A measuring method by which carboxymethylarginine can be measured with ease and with a high degree of precision is disclosed. The measuring method is a method of measuring carboxymethylarginine in a sample. The method includes treating the sample with a pretreatment agent including urea; and measuring carboxymethyl arginine in the pretreated sample by an immunological method.

Abstract: The present invention provides a carboxymethylarginine production inhibitor for inhibiting the production of carboxymethylarginine and a collagen denaturation inhibitor for inhibiting the denaturation of collagen.

Abstract: The present invention provides an enhancer for enhancing the activity of oxidized protein hydrolase. The oxidized protein hydrolase activity enhancer according to the present invention contains an extract of at least one plant selected from the group consisting of Compositae Anthemis, Saururaceae Houttuynia, Rosaceae Crataegus, and Vitaceae Vitis.

Abstract: A new orally administerable DHEA production promoter is provided. A composition containing an extract of at least one selected from the group consisting of plants of Rosaceae Crataegus, Saururaceae Houttuynia, Vitaceae Vitis, and Compositae Anthemis is provided as a DHEA production promoter. The extract may be of one of the plants or extracts of two or more of them may be used in combination. A specific example is preferably a mixture of extracts of all four of the aforementioned plants. This DHEA production promoter also can be used as, for example, an anti-aging agent such as a skin improver as well as a pharmaceutical agent such as an immunostimulator, an antidiabetic agent, an anti-osteoporosis agent, an antiarteriosclerotic agent, an anti-obesity agent, a sleep-promoting agent, and a central nervous system depressant.

Abstract: An expression inhibitor of a nuclear transcription factor AP-1 is provided that is excellent in safety and activity of inhibiting the expression of a nuclear transcription factor AP-1. The AP-1 expression inhibitor of the present invention is characterized by containing chamaemeloside. In the present invention, chamaemeloside may be contained as an extract of Roman chamomile or German chamomile. The chamaemeloside is contained in Roman chamomile or German chamomile. Conventionally, Roman chamomile and German chamomile have been used as cosmetic materials and herb teas and have no problems in safety. An extract of Roman chamomile or German chamomile and chamaemeloside inhibit the expression of the AP-1 at the gene level (see FIG. 2) and therefore are excellent in an inhibition effect as compared to a conventional inhibitor that inhibits binding of the AP-1 to DNA.

Abstract: An intermittent coating member 10 delivers resin intermittently from a coating die 20 onto a length of base film 41 fed forth from a feeding member 40 to form intermittent coats of a coating film 43 on the base film 41. The coating film 43 is transferred to a transfer member 44 that actuates in synchronism with the coating action for the coating film 43, and is given a transfer by moulds 45 fixed on a mould roll 46. After the transfer, the coating film 43 is cured by an ultraviolet irradiation device 48 and wound up by a winding member 49.

Abstract: A flavor improving agent using material that has dietary history, i.e. material that has been eaten as food is provided, wherein the flavor improving agent suppresses peculiar smell of food and beverage. A composition containing extract from at least one plant selected from the group consisting of genus Crataegus of the family Rosaceae, genus Houttuynia of the family Saururaceae, genus Vitis of the family Vitaceae, genus Anthemis of the family Compositae, and genus Matricaria of the family Compositae is provided as the flavor improving agent for food and beverage. One of the extracts may be used alone or two or more of them may be used in combination. For example, a mixture of the extracts of the aforementioned four plants is preferable.

Abstract: A new orally administerable DHEA production promoter is provided. A composition containing an extract of at least one selected from the group consisting of plants of Rosaceae Crataegus, Saururaceae Houttuynia, Vitaceae Vitis, and Compositae Anthemis is provided as a DHEA production promoter. The extract may be of one of the plants or extracts of two or more of them may be used in combination. A specific example is preferably a mixture of extracts of all four of the aforementioned plants. This DHEA production promoter also can be used as, for example, an anti-aging agent such as a skin improver as well as a pharmaceutical agent such as an immunostimulator, an antidiabetic agent, an anti-osteoporosis agent, an antiarteriosclerotic agent, an anti-obesity agent, a sleep-promoting agent, and a central nervous system depressant.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel enzyme (&agr;-GARE) which releases an amino acid residue having a glycated &agr;-amino group (&agr;-GA) from a glycated protein etc. and to bacterial strains producing the same. Examples of the bacterial strains include Sphingomonas parapaucimobilis KDK1004 (FERM BP-7041). The &agr;-GARE is contained in the culture supernatant of this strain and &agr;-GA can be released from a glycated peptide by using the same, as shown in FIG. 1.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel enzyme (&agr;-GARE) which releases an amino acid residue having a glycated &agr;-amino group (&agr;-GA) from a glycated protein etc. and to bacterial strains producing the same. Examples of the bacterial strains include Sphingomonas parapaucimobilis KDK1004 (FERM BP-7041). The &agr;-GARE is contained in the culture supernatant of this strain and &agr;-GA can be released from a glycated peptide by using the same, as shown in FIG. 1.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel enzyme (&agr;-GARE) which releases an amino acid residue having a glycated &agr;-amino group (&agr;-GA) from a glycated protein etc. and to bacterial strains producing the same. Examples of the bacterial strains include Corynebacterium ureolyticum KDK1002 (FERM P-17135) and Pseudomonas alcaligenes KDK1001 (FERM P-17133). The &agr;-GARE is contained in the culture supernatant of these strains and &agr;-GA can be released from a glycated peptide by using the same, as shown in FIG. 1.

Abstract: A method of producing a protein degradation product is provided, by which a protein (including a peptide) in a sample can be degraded quickly and efficiently. A sample containing a protein is treated with a protease in the presence of the tetrazolium compound to give a protein degradation product. Further, by causing a redox reaction between the glycation site of a glycated protein degradation product obtained by this method and a fructosyl amino acid oxidase, and then determining this redox reaction, it is possible to determine the amount of a glycated protein quickly. As the tetrazolium compound, 2-(4-iodophenyl)-3-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)-5-(2,4-disulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium salt etc. can be used.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fructosyl amino acid oxidase that is obtainable from a culture of a strain of the genus Aspergillus. This strain grows in a selective medium containing at least either of fructosyl lysine and fructosyl-N.sup..alpha. -Z-lysine and is capable of producing a fructosyl amino acid oxidase.

Abstract: A novel fructosyl amino acid oxidase derived from genus Fusarium or Gibberella, a process for producing the enzyme, an assay of an amadori compound using the enzyme, a reagent or a kit containing the enzyme, a process for producing fructosyl lysine and/or fructosyl N.sup..alpha. -Z-lysine as a substrate of a fructosyl amino acid oxidase, which is useful for screening and/or culturing a microorganism capable of producing the enzyme, and a medium containing fructosyl lysine and/or fructosyl N.sup..alpha. -Z-lysine for screening and/or culturing a microorganism capable of producing a fructosyl amino acid oxidase is provided.

Abstract: A sample solution is stored in a total reflection cell, and a measuring beam is introduced from an incident optical system to be totally reflected, for measuring a total reflection absorption spectrum. Hydrogen peroxide contained in the sample solution is determined on the basis of absorbance at the position of any absorption peak of the spectrum which is present at 1200 to 1500 cm.sup.-1 or 2600 to 3000 cm.sup.-1. Hydrogen peroxide contained in an aqueous solution can be simply quantitatively analyzed through optical analysis.

Abstract: A novel fructosyl amino acid oxidase derived from genus Penicillium, which is active on both of fructosyl lysine and fructosyl valine, a process for producing the enzyme, an assay of an amadori compound using the enzyme, a reagent or a kit containing the enzyme is provided.

Abstract: Acid is added to a target sample such as urine, blood plasma or serum for converting mevalonic acid contained in the sample to lactone mevalonate, and the sample is irradiated with near infrared Raman excitation light, for determining mevalonic acid by measuring generated Raman scattered light. This method employs no mediatory reaction with simple pretreatment, requires no high-priced measuring apparatus, and can determine mevalonic acid in a short time.

Abstract: A novel fructosyl amino acid oxidase derived from genus Fusarium or Gibberella, a process for producing the enzyme, an assay of an amadori compound using the enzyme, a reagent or a kit containing the enzyme, a process for producing fructosyl lysine and/or fructosyl N.sup..alpha. -Z-lysine as a substrate of a fructosyl amino acid oxidase, which is useful for screening and/or culturing a microorganism capable of producing the enzyme, and a medium containing fructosyl lysine and/or fructosyl N.sup..alpha. -Z-lysine for screening and/or culturing a microorganism capable of producing a fructosyl amino acid oxidase is provided.