Abstract: A composition for preventing or ameliorating multiple risk factor syndrome involving visceral fat-type obesity, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipemia and hypertension, which comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of a licorice hydrophobic extract, a turmeric extract, a clove extract, and a cinnamon extract.

Abstract: The present invention easily and efficiently provides a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ligand, and a composition for amelioration of insulin resistance or for prevention and/or amelioration of the insulin resistance syndrome containing the same, as an active ingredient. The present invention relates to a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ligand which comprises a prenylflavonoid, a chalcone derivative exclusive of prenylflavonoids, a flavonol derivative exclusive of prenylflavonoids, and a salt, a glycoside and/or an esterified substance thereof acceptable as a pharmaceutical preparation or a food or a beverage; a composition containing the above ligand; a plant-derived extract containing the above ligand; and a process for producing the above extract.

Abstract: The present invention easily and efficiently provides a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ligand, and a composition for amelioration of insulin resistance or for prevention and/or amelioration of the insulin resistance syndrome containing the same, as an active ingredient. The present invention relates to a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ligand which comprises a prenylflavonoid, a chalcone derivative exclusive of prenylflavonoids, a flavonol derivative exclusive of prenylflavonoids, and a salt, a glycoside and/or an esterified substance thereof acceptable as a pharmaceutical preparation or a food or a beverage; a composition containing the above ligand; a plant-derived extract containing the above ligand; and a process for producing the above extract.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a composition suitable for normalizing the blood pressure, which is useful as food, health food, supplement, nutritional supplement, food for specified health uses, food with nutrient function claims, pharmaceutical product, quasi-drug, feed or pet food. The present inventors have found that coenzyme Q has a superior effect for normalizing the blood pressure and completed the present invention. That is, the present invention provides a composition for normalizing the blood pressure, which contains reduced coenzyme Q as an active ingredient, and a composition for normalizing the blood pressure, which contains oxidized coenzyme Q as an active ingredient and improves hypotension.

Abstract: The present invention easily and efficiently provides a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ligand, and a composition for amelioration of insulin resistance or for prevention and/or amelioration of the insulin resistance syndrome containing the same, as an active ingredient. The present invention relates to a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ligand which comprises a prenylflavonoid, a chalcone derivative exclusive of prenylflavonoids, a flavonol derivative exclusive of prenylflavonoids, and a salt, a glycoside and/or an esterified substance thereof acceptable as a pharmaceutical preparation or a food or a beverage; a composition containing the above ligand; a plant-derived extract containing the above ligand; and a process for producing the above extract.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide IL-8 production promoters derived from safe food materials and to provide immunostimulants or preventive or treating agents of infectious disease comprising the IL-8 production promoter. The present inventors have found that a composition comprising, as an active ingredient, at least one plant extract from peppermint, dokudami (houttuynia herb), or licorice promotes IL-8 production, and that a composition comprising, as an active ingredient, at least one compound selected from the group consisting of ?-humulene, ?-pinene, ?-pinene, and L-menthol promotes IL-8 production. These IL-8 production promoters can be used in foods and drinks supplemented with immunostimulants or preventive or treating agents of infectious disease.

Abstract: In the present invention, an oil and fat composition containing 10% by weight or more of a specific fat-soluble polyhydric fatty acid ester, in particular, a glycerol fatty acid ester, is used as a solvent for extracting hydrophobic components from licorice. Consequently, it is possible to reduce the production costs for hydrophobic components of licorice which have excellent effects as food and drink, such as health food and food with health claims (food for specified health uses and food with nutrient function claims), pharmaceutical products, etc. It is also possible to improve the stability and handling properties of the resulting composition.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide PPAR? ligand derived from naturally occurring sources and a composition for preventing and/or improving Insulin Resistance Syndrome, diabetes mellitus, obesity or visceral fat obesity comprising the PPAR? ligand as an active agent. The present invention relates to a ligand for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor which comprises curcumin or its derivatives. The composition according to the present invention, which comprises the PPAR? ligand as an active agent is useful for preventing and/or improving Insulin Resistance Syndrome, diabetes mellitus, obesity or visceral fat obesity.

Abstract: The invention aims at a composition for preventing or ameliorating multiple risk factor syndrome involving visceral fat-type obesity, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipemia and hypertension, which comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of a licorice hydrophobic extract, a turmeric extract, a clove extract, and a cinnamon extract.

Abstract: A disease treatment is provided by controlling the expression of a protein induced by a heat shock factor. The novel compound benzo-1,3-dioxole provides an inhibitor of HSF activity or an inhibitor of inducing the production of a protein regulated by HSF, which inhibits the activity of a heat shock factor, a transcriptional regulatory factor, thereby in turn inhibiting transcription of a structural gene having a heat shock element sequenc in the gene region for transcriptional regulation into RNA, and thus inhibiting translation of the gene into a protein, and resulting in inhibition of inducing production of RNA or protein encoded by the gene. It also provides a drug for treating or preventing cancer through thermotherapy and a drug for treating or preventing stress diseases such as depression.

Abstract: In the present invention, an oil and fat composition containing 10% by weight or more of a specific fat-soluble polyhydric fatty acid ester, in particular, a glycerol fatty acid ester, is used as a solvent for extracting hydrophobic components from licorice. Consequently, it is possible to reduce the production costs for hydrophobic components of licorice which have excellent effects as food and drink, such as health food and food with health claims (food for specified health uses and food with nutrient function claims), pharmaceutical products, etc. It is also possible to improve the stability and handling properties of the resulting composition.

Abstract: The present invention easily and efficiently provides a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ligand, and a composition for amelioration of insulin resistance or for prevention and/or amelioration of the insulin resistance syndrome containing the same, as an active ingredient. The present invention relates to a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ligand which comprises a prenylflavonoid, a chalcone derivative exclusive of prenyl flavonoids, a flavonol derivative exclusive of prenylflavonoids, and a salt, a glycoside and/or an esterified substance thereof acceptable as a pharmaceutical preparation or a food or a beverage; a composition containing the above ligand; a plant-derived extract containing the above ligand; and a process for producing the above extract.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide PPAR&ggr; ligand derived from naturally occurring sources and a composition for preventing and/or improving Insulin Resistance Syndrome, diabetes mellitus, obesity or visceral fat obesity comprising the PPAR&ggr; ligand as an active agent.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a composition having a TNF production inhibitory effect and TNF production inhibitors, which raise no adverse effect or safety problem, can inhibit any excessive production of TNF and is useful in the prevention or amelioration of various TNF-mediated diseases, such as chronic inflammatory diseases, acute inflammatory diseases, infectious inflammatory diseases, autoimmune diseases, and allergic diseases.

Abstract: The present invention provides a bioassay system, for detection of hazardous chemical substances, natural toxic substances in the environment and unknown toxic compounds, with high sensitivity, simplicity and speed. The invention provides cells and a method of using the cells for use in the bioassay system. The cell provided by the invention contains a heat shock factor binding DNA sequence and a transcriptional regulatory sequence necessary on an occasion of stress induction as a transcriptional regulatory factor binding site. The cell also possesses a reporter gene under the control of the promoter. The reporter gene is connected, on the downstream side, to the SV40pA signal without any intervening intron.

Abstract: The invention aims at a composition for preventing or ameliorating multiple risk factor syndrome involving visceral fat-type obesity, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipemia and hypertension,

Abstract: A disease treatment is provided by controlling the expression of a protein induced by a heat shock factor. The novel compound benzo-1,3-dioxole provides an inhibitor of HSF activity or an inhibitor of inducing the production of a protein regulated by HSF, which inhibits the activity of a heat shock factor, a transcriptional regulatory factor, thereby in turn inhibiting transcription of a structural gene having a heat shock element sequence in the gene region for transcriptional regulation into RNA, and thus inhibiting translation of the gene into a protein, and resulting in inhibition of inducing production of RNA or protein encoded by the gene. It also provides a drug for treating or preventing cancer through thermotherapy and a drug for treating or preventing stress diseases such as depression.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide PPAR&ggr; ligand derived from naturally occurring sources and a composition for preventing and/or improving Insulin Resistance Syndrome, diabetes mellitus, obesity or visceral fat obesity comprising the PPAR&ggr; ligand as an active agent.

Abstract: A disease treatment is provided by controlling the expression of a protein induced by a heat shock factor.

Abstract: The present invention is aimed to provide a bioassay system that can detect hazardous chemical substances or natural toxic substances in the environment, inclusive of the unknown homologs, with high sensitivity, simplicity and speed.