Abstract: An agent for thermally stabilizing lactoferrin, which comprises a nucleic acid as an active ingredient, can be added to lactoferrin to impart thermal stability to lactoferrin. Thermally stabilized lactoferrin can be heat-sterilized at a pH value around a neutral pH value while keeping its activity.

Abstract: An agent for thermally stabilizing lactoferrin, which comprises a nucleic acid as an active ingredient, can be added to lactoferrin to impart thermal stability to lactoferrin. Thermally stabilized lactoferrin can be heat-sterilized at a pH value around a neutral pH value while keeping its activity.

Abstract: A fat composition for oral or enteral administration which contains eicosapentaenoic acid and/or a derivative thereof, docosahexaenoic acid and/or a derivative thereof, and a C20 or higher monoenoic acid and/or a derivative thereof and functions to diminish hexacosanoic acid; and a hexacosanoic acid depressant which comprises as active ingredients eicosapentaenoic acid and/or a derivative thereof, docosahexaenoic acid and/or a derivative thereof, and a C20 or higher monoenoic acid and/or a derivative thereof. They can be prepared by extraction from a fish oil or the like, purification, blending, etc. Based on the function of diminishing hexacosanoic acid, the composition and the depressant produce an aging-inhibitory effect on cell membranes, which is effective in the prevention and treatment of lifestyle-related diseases.

Abstract: A fat composition for oral or enteral administration which contains eicosapentaenoic acid and/or a derivative thereof, docosahexaenoic acid and/or a derivative thereof, and a C20 or higher monoenoic acid and/or a derivative thereof and functions to diminish hexacosanoic acid; and a hexacosanoic acid depressant which comprises as active ingredients eicosapentaenoic acid and/or a derivative thereof, docosahexaenoic acid and/or a derivative thereof, and a C20 or higher monoenoic acid and/or a derivative thereof. They can be prepared by extraction from a fish oil or the like, purification, blending, etc. Based on the function of diminishing hexacosanoic acid, the composition and the depressant produce an aging-inhibitory effect on cell membranes, which is effective in the prevention and treatment of lifestyle-related diseases.

Abstract: A Lactobacillus bifidus growth promoting composition which significantly grows lactobacillus bifidus and does not produce any side effect such as diarrhea, and a blend comprising the above composition and other edible ingredients, and the composition comprises at least one oligosaccharide selected among lactulose, fructo-oligosaccharide, and galacto-oligosaccharide, and raffinose as the active ingredients.

Abstract: A Lactobacillus bifidus growth promoting composition which significantly grows lactobacillus bifidus and does not produce any side effect such as diarrhea, and a blend comprising the above composition and other edible ingredients, and the composition comprises at least one oligosaccharide selected among lactulose, fructo-oligosaccharide, and galacto-oligosaccharide, and raffinose as the active ingredients.

Abstract: The present invention provides a safe antioxidant applicable for food, drug medicine, non-medical drug and other products.The antioxidant of the present invention contains, as an effective ingredient, an antioxidant substance selected from the group consisting of a hydrolysate of lactoferrin, one or more peptides isolated from a hydrolysate of lactoferrins, one or more synthetic peptides having the same sequence as that of the peptide isolated from the hydrolysate of lactoferrins, and any mixture thereof, or said antioxidant substance and oxidant preventive agent.This antioxidant has an excellent antioxidant action for various lipids, and is very safe even when used in foods and drug medicine. Scince it exhibits antioxidant effect with only small quantity, there is almost no adverse effect on flavor even when applied in foods and the like.

Abstract: There is disclosed an antimicrobial agent comprising one or more of antimicrobial peptides derived from lactoferrins, and one or more of specific compounds and/or at least an antibiotic, and a method for treating matters with said antimicrobial agent. The antimicrobial agent has a potent antimicrobial activity against wide variety of microorganisms, thus it is useful not only as a medication, but also useful for making antimicrobial treatment of matters such as foods, non-medical products, and the like with safety and great efficiency.

Abstract: There is disclosed an immunostimulatory agent comprising a peptide derived from lactoferrin having activity to modulate the release of inflammatory mediators from cells of the immune system. The peptide promotes the release of leukotriene B4 from polymorphonuclear neutrophils induced by activators such as the calcium ionophor A23187, It also promotes the release of histamine from mast cells induced by activators such as .alpha.-toxin-producing Staphylococcus aureus cells or the calcium ionophor A23187. The peptide is effective at low concentrations within the range of 1 to 100 ppm. By promoting the release of such inflammatory mediators the peptide can potentiate the cellular immune response and stimulate the host defense against infectious disease. This newly discovered immunostimulatory agent is useful as an active component of pharmaceuticals, hygiene products, clinical foods, etc., for prevention and treatment of bacterial, fungal, and viral infectious in humans and animals.

Abstract: Biologically pure strains of Thermus sp. FERM BP-1678, FERM BP-1679 and FERM BP-1680 have been isolated, and are capable of producing a beta-galactosidase. The beta-galactosidase produced by these strains has specific characteristics wherein the enzyme is optimum at a temperature of 75 to 85 degrees celsius and pH of 4.5 to 6.5. Further, the enzymatic activity is reduced by at most 10% in the presence of 50 millimoles (mM) of galactose and glucose, respectively.

Abstract: An antimicrobial peptide containing at least the following amino acid sequence, or a derivative thereof, an antimicrobial agent containing said antimicrobial peptide or a derivative thereof as active components at a concentration of at least 1 .mu.M, an antimicrobial composition containing said antimicrobial peptide or a derivative thereof, and a method for processing products which uses the antimicrobial agent containing at least said antimicrobial peptide or a derivative thereof:A--X--A(where, A is an arginine residue or a lysine residue; and X is an amino acid sequence comprising at least from three to nine arbitrary amino acid residues other than cysteine residues.

Abstract: An antimicrobial peptide containing an amino acid sequence comprising at least from three to six arbitrary amino acid residues, or a derivative thereof, an antimicrobial agent containing said antimicrobial peptide or a derivative thereof as active components at a concentration of at least 2 .mu.M, an antimicrobial composition containing said antimicrobial peptide or a derivative thereof, and a method for processing products which uses the antimicrobial agent containing at least said antimicrobial peptide or a derivative thereof.

Abstract: Lactoferrin hydrolyzates, having a decomposition rate between 6%-20% as measured by formol titration, for use as an antibacterial agent, and which have remarkably more potent activity than unhydrolyzed lactoferrin; and lactoferrin hydrolyzates, having a decomposition rate between 4-50% as measured by formol titration, for use as a tyrosinase inhibition agent, are obtainable by conventional methods for hydrolysis with acids or enzymes, and are stable to heating.

Abstract: Lactoferricin (Trade Mark), also called LFCIN (Trade Mark), a potent antimicrobial peptide, is produced by contacting an enzymatic hydrolysate of bovine lactoferrin or any mixture of peptides containing lactoferricin preferably with a butyl moiety-containing hydrophobic interaction chromatography medium, or alternatively with a carboxymethyl moiety-containing cation-exchange chromatography medium, rinsing the medium to remove unbound peptides, desorbing the lactoferricin solution at constant pH, and desalting the desorbed solution. The utility of the process is illustrated, for example, as follows. An enzymatic hydrolysate of bovine lactoferrin (600 g) was contacted with 3000 ml of BUTYL-TOYOPEARL 650M, the medium was rinsed with water, and then with McIlvaine (citric acid-sodium phosphate) buffer at pH 7.0., and lactoferricin was desorbed with McIlvaine buffer at pH 5.0.

Abstract: An antimicrobial peptide containing at least the following amino acid sequence (a), (b), (c) or (d), an antimicrobial agent containing the said antimicrobial peptide as active components at a concentration of at least 5 ppm (weight), an antimicrobial composition the said antimicrobial peptide and a method for processing products which uses the antimicrobial agent containing the said antimicrobial peptide.

Abstract: A .beta.-galactosidase having a high thermostability is produced by Thermus sp. FERM BP-1678, FERM BP-1679, and FERM BP-1680. The .beta.-galactosidase has an optimum temperature of 75 to 85 degrees celsius, and an optimum pH of 4.5 to 6.5 and an enzymatic activity which is not lowered substantially by 50 mM each of galactose and glucose. The .beta.-galactosidase is used to hydrolyze lactose in foods, such as milk, at a high temperature at which the putrefaction by saprophytes is difficult.

Abstract: Lactoferrin hydrolyzates, having a decomposition rate between 6%-20% as measured by formol titration, for use as an antibacterial agent and which have remarkly more potent activity than unhydrolyzed lactoferrin; and lactoferrin hydrolyzates, having a decomposition rate between 4-50% as measured by formol titration, for use as a tyrosinase inhibition agent, are obtainable by conventional methods for hydrolysis with acids or enzymes, and are stable to heating.