Abstract: The present invention aims to provide antidementia agents which are free from the problem of side effects and are excellent in safety. The present invention also aims to provide agents for improving learning and memory which are useful for improvement of learning and memory and can be ingested continuously. The present invention provides antidementia agents and agents for improving learning and memory, each comprising a cyclic dipeptide with the 2,5-diketopiperazine structure as an active ingredient.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide antidepressants which are free from the problem of side effects and are excellent in safety. The present invention also aims to provide learning motivation improvers which are useful for improvement of learning motivation and can be ingested continuously. The present invention provides antidepressants and learning motivation improvers, each comprising a cyclic dipeptide with the 2,5-diketopiperazine structure as an active ingredient.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide Humulus lupulus-derived monoterpene glycosyltransferase and a method for producing a monoterpene glycoside by means of this enzyme. The present invention provides Humulus lupulus-derived monoterpene glycosyltransferase and a method for producing a monoterpene glycoside by means of this enzyme. The present invention provides a transformant transformed with a gene for Humulus lupulus-derived monoterpene glycosyltransferase and a method for producing such a transformant.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a novel method for producing a terpene 8-glycoside. The present invention provides a method for producing a terpene 8-glycoside by means of glycosyltransferase acting on the 8-position of terpenes. The present invention provides a transformant transformed with a gene for the glycosyltransferase acting on the 8-position of terpenes and a method for producing such a transformant. The present invention provides a plant modified to suppress the expression of a protein having glycosylation activity on the 8-position of a monoterpene compound.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide antidepressants which are free from the problem of side effects and are excellent in safety. The present invention also aims to provide learning motivation improvers which are useful for improvement of learning motivation and can be ingested continuously. The present invention provides antidepressants and learning motivation improvers, each comprising a cyclic dipeptide with the 2,5-diketopiperazine structure as an active ingredient.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide antidementia agents which are free from the problem of side effects and are excellent in safety. The present invention also aims to provide agents for improving learning and memory which are useful for improvement of learning and memory and can be ingested continuously. The present invention provides antidementia agents and agents for improving learning and memory, each comprising a cyclic dipeptide with the 2,5-diketopiperazine structure as an active ingredient.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide Humulus lupulus-derived monoterpene glycosyltransferase and a method for producing a monoterpene glycoside by means of this enzyme. The present invention provides Humulus lupulus-derived monoterpene glycosyltransferase and a method for producing a monoterpene glycoside by means of this enzyme. The present invention provides a transformant transformed with a gene for Humulus lupulus-derived monoterpene glycosyltransferase and a method for producing such a transformant.

Abstract: There is provided a pharmaceutical agent, food, or beverage for treating or preventing a disease or condition that can be ameliorated by inhibiting serotonin reuptake, comprising a clinically-effective amount of (1S,3S)-1-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-?-carboline-3-carboxylic acid.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a novel method for producing a terpene 8-glycoside. The present invention provides a method for producing a terpene 8-glycoside by means of glycosyltransferase acting on the 8-position of terpenes. The present invention provides a transformant transformed with a gene for the glycosyltransferase acting on the 8-position of terpenes and a method for producing such a transformant. The present invention provides a plant modified to suppress the expression of a protein having glycosylation activity on the 8-position of a monoterpene compound.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide antidepressants which are free from the problem of side effects and are excellent in safety. The present invention also aims to provide learning motivation improvers which are useful for improvement of learning motivation and can be ingested continuously. The present invention provides antidepressants and learning motivation improvers, each comprising a cyclic dipeptide with the 2,5-diketopiperazine structure as an active ingredient.

Abstract: It is intended to provide a safe composition for treating a disease or condition relating to autonomic nervous activity which has an autonomic nervous control effect; in particular, an effect of enhancing parasympathetic nervous activity. Thus, a medicinal composition, a food or a drink containing L-phenyl lactic acid and/or D-phenyl lactic acid and having an autonomic nervous control effect is provided.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide antidepressants which are free from the problem of side effects and are excellent in safety. The present invention also aims to provide learning motivation improvers which are useful for improvement of learning motivation and can be ingested continuously. The present invention provides antidepressants and learning motivation improvers, each comprising a cyclic dipeptide with the 2,5-diketopiperazine structure as an active ingredient.

Abstract: There is provided a pharmaceutical agent, food, or beverage for treating or preventing a disease or condition that can be ameliorated by inhibiting serotonin reuptake, comprising a clinically-effective amount of (1S,3S)-1-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-?-carboline-3-carboxylic acid.

Abstract: It is intended to provide a safe composition for treating a disease or condition relating to autonomic nervous activity which has an autonomic nervous control effect; in particular, an effect of enhancing parasympathetic nervous activity. Thus, a medicinal composition, a food or a drink containing L-phenyl lactic acid and/or D-phenyl lactic acid and having an autonomic nervous control effect is provided.

Abstract: It is intended to provide a safe composition for preventing or treating obesity or related complications which has an autonomic nervous control effect, in particular, an effect of enhancing sympathetic nervous activity and an effect of promoting energy metabolism. Thus, a medicinal composition, a food or a drink containing 2,3-dihydro-3,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl-4H-pyran-4-one and having an autonomic nervous control effect and an effect of promoting energy metabolism is provided.

Abstract: There is provided a composition comprising carnosine, in which said composition comprises carnosine so that the amount of carnosine per ingestion is 0.7 &mgr;g/kg to 0.09 mg/kg, and which may take the form of a tablet, a capsule, powders, granules, a drink, bread, biscuit, cake and the like. The composition preferably has an effect of controlling the autonomic nervous system, and more specifically it has an effect of preventing, improving or alleviating disturbances in the autonomic nervous system and disease conditions resulting therefrom.

Abstract: A novel megakaryocyte differentiation factor, for example, consisting essentially of SEQ ID NO: 30; DNA coding for the megakaryocyte differentiation factor, an expression vector comprising the DNA, a host transformed with the expression vector, and a process for production of the megakaryocyte differentiation factor using the host.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a serine protease or its partial peptide containing an amino acid sequence identical to serine protease indicated in SEQ ID NO: 6, an amino acid sequence in which a portion of the identical amino acid sequence is deleted or substituted, or an amino acid sequence in which at least one amino acid is added to the identical amino acid sequence or an amino acid sequence in which a portion of the identical amino acid sequence is deleted or substituted.

Abstract: A novel megakaryocyte differentiation factor, for example, consisting essentially of SEQ ID NO: 30; DNA coding for the megakaryocyte differentiation factor, an expression vector comprising the DNA, a host transformed with the expression vector, and a process for production of the megakaryocyte differentiation factor using the host.

Abstract: A novel megakaryocyte differentiation factor, for example, consisting essentially of SEQ ID NO: 30; DNA coding for the megakaryocyte differentiation factor, an expression vector comprising the DNA, a host transformed with the expression vector, and a process for production of the megakaryocyte differentiation factor using the host.The megakaryocyte differentiation factor accelerates differentiation of megakaryocytes in the presence of IL-3, and acts as a thrombopoietin, and therefore an effective medicament to various diseases involving a decrease in platelete.