Abstract: Foods and beverages, quasi-drugs, and pharmaceuticals that exhibit high antioxidative activity in the living body for a long time are provided. High antioxidative activity can be imparted by incorporating desrhamnosyl acteoside in an olive extract. A desrhamnosyl acteoside-containing composition can be prepared by treating an acteoside-containing composition with glycosidase.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to increase the rate at which lignan-class compounds are absorbed into the body, namely, to provide fast-acting lignan-class compounds. Provided is an oil-in-water emulsion which comprises a water phase and an oil phase comprising at least one kind of lignan-class compounds dissolved therein and being emulsified in the water phase, wherein the oil droplets which serve as a dispersion phase in the emulsion are made finer by high-speed agitation or other method so that their average particle size is 1000 nm or smaller, preferably 500 nm or smaller, and more preferably 300 nm or smaller, whereby the rate at which lignan-class compounds are absorbed into the body is improved to impart immediate action.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a means of enhancing the bodily absorption of sesamin-class compounds. By using sesamin-class compounds and quercetin glycosides in combination, the bodily absorption of the sesamin-class compounds can be enhanced.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a means of enhancing the bodily absorption of sesamin-class compounds. By using sesamin-class compounds and quercetin glycosides in combination, the bodily absorption of the sesamin-class compounds can be enhanced.

Abstract: An O/W/O emulsion composition having at least one of lignan-class compounds dissolved in an internal oil phase is disclosed. This composition can be produced by a process comprising the steps of 1) dissolving at least one of lignan-class compounds in oil or fat to prepare a lignan-class compound dissolving liquid; 2) emulsifying the lignan-class compound dissolving liquid in a water phase to form an O/W emulsion; and 3) further emulsifying the O/W emulsion in an oil phase to prepare an O/W/O emulsion. This is a lignan-class compound containing composition that is enhanced in the amount of bodily absorption of lignan-class compounds.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to increase the rate at which lignan-class compounds are absorbed into the body, namely, to provide fast-acting lignan-class compounds. Provided is an oil-in-water emulsion which comprises a water phase and an oil phase comprising at least one kind of lignan-class compounds dissolved therein and being emulsified in the water phase, wherein the oil droplets which serve as a dispersion phase in the emulsion are made finer by high-speed agitation or other method so that their average particle size is 1000 nm or smaller, preferably 500 nm or smaller, and more preferably 300 nm or smaller, whereby the rate at which lignan-class compounds are absorbed into the body is improved to impart immediate action.

Abstract: The present invention provides an ?-glycosyl isoquercitrin-containing novel composition which has a high in vivo absorbability, and hence exhibits a significant in vivo antioxidative activity. The present invention further provides preparation methods for such a composition. The composition contains a mixture of quercetin glycosides represented by the following formula: wherein Glc represents a glucose residue, and n is 0 or a positive integer of 1 or more, includes at least a quercetin glycoside wherein n is 3, and satisfies the following requirement (a): (a) the total proportion of quercetin glycosides in which n is 3, and in which other n values may be 1 or 2, or 1 and 2, is 50 mol % or more, and the total proportion of quercetin glycosides wherein n is 4 or more is 15 mol % or less, in the composition. The composition can be prepared by treating an enzymatically modified isoquercitrin with ?-amylase.

Abstract: Sesamin and episesamin are incorporated at specified weight ratios in oral compositions so that the oral absorption of episesamin and/or its transfer into blood circulation is increased. Sesamin and episesamin are also incorporated at specified weight ratios in oral compositions so that the physiological activities of sesamins are enhanced.

Abstract: The present invention provides an astaxanthin medium-chain fatty acid ester, which is expected to be applied in the fields of food, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, and has higher digestibility and tissue penetration than long chain fatty acid ester form astaxanthins. When the synthesis of an astaxanthin medium-chain fatty acid ester is attempted using the catalytic action of lipase by conventional methods, ester cannot be formed. However, according to the present invention, a composition comprising an astaxanthin medium-chain fatty acid monoester and/or diester is produced by adding a certain amount of water into a reaction system and reacting an astaxanthin or a long chain fatty acid ester thereof with a medium-chain fatty acid, a triglyceride thereof or a suitable ester. Moreover, these monoesters and/or diesters are isolated, as necessary. The present invention further provides food or cosmetics comprising the composition of the present invention.