Abstract: Compounds having formula (I) may be used as skin lightening agents wherein R1 is CH═CH2, COOH or CH2—CH3; R3 is OH, or —OCH3; R4 is OH; and R2, R5 and R6 are all hydrogen, the compound of formula (I) optionally being in the form of a salt, when it contains a COOH and/or OH group.

Abstract: A method of producing a melanin comprises oxidizing a phenolic compound at one or more hydroxyl groups thereof, wherein the phenolic compound is selected from 5-hydroxyindole and derivatives thereof and compounds of formula (1) and the oxidation is provided by biotransformation in the presence of an oxidoreductase enzyme, the compound of formula (1), wherein R1 is H or OH; R2 is H, OH orOCH3; R3 is H or OH at least one of R1 and R3 being OH; R4 is selected from H , R, —COOX and R7—COOX, wherein R is an optionally substituted saturated or unsaturated alkyl group having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, R7 is an optionally substituted saturated or unsaturated alkylene group having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms and X is selected from H and aliphatic and aromatic ester forming groups; and R5 and R6 is each independently selected from H, OH, NH2, OCH3, CH3, SH, NHCO2, NHCH3, COOH and saturated or unsaturated alkyl groups having up to 8 carbon atoms.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for treating plant material such as sunflower seed meal with water and a hydrolytic enzyme in an aqueous environment to increase its nutritional value and to enzymatic methods for converting plant derived material into useful products.

Abstract: There is disclosed a novel method of producing caffeic acid in large quantities, comprising the esterification of chlorogenic acid with an esterifying enzyme. Caffeic acid and its derivatives, produced by this method, may be used in sunscreen compositions, the caffeic acid and its derivatives absorbing both uvA and uvB light.

Abstract: The invention related to the use of monoalkyl citrates having an alkyl group of 7-10 carbon atoms as solubilizing agents in perfumery, cosmetics, personal care and household products consisting of oil-in-water emulsions as well as to hydrophobic cosmetic, personal care and household product ingredients containing such monoalkyl citrates. The emulsions preferably contain at least 0.01% w/w of monoalkyl citrate. Especially prefereed in monooctyl citrate.

Abstract: Gamma-decalactone is obtained from a source of ricinoleic acid, for example castor oil, by incubation with Sp. odorus or Rh. glutinis. The product lactone is obtained by lactonising the product hydroxydecanoic acid. The lactone is of value in perfumery and flavors.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for preparing L-rhamnose by hydrolyzing a rhamnosidic bond of a glycoside having rhamnose in a terminal position, by enzymatically hydrolyzing the glucoside with an enzyme combination comprising biological structural material degrading enzyme and a naringinase preparation which has a higher rhamnosidase activity than beta-glucosidase activity. Preferably the enzyme combination having rhamnosidase activity together with additional enzyme activity is a selected partially purified enzyme preparation having high rhamnosidase activity and low glucosidase activity together with biological structural material degrading activity. More preferably the additional enzyme activity is derived from an enzyme of the group consisting of protease, lipase, pectinase, cellulase and hemicellulase.

Abstract: The novel chlorinated sugar O-.alpha.-D-6-chloro-6-deoxygalactopyranosyl-(1.fwdarw.6)-.alpha.-D-4-chlo ro-4-deoxygalactopyranosyl-(1.fwdarw.2)-.beta.-D-1, 6-dichloro-1, 6-dideoxyfructofuranoside (TCR) can be used to prepare sucralose by incubating the TCR in solution in the presence of an enzyme serving to remove the 6-chloro-6-deoxygalactosyl moiety from the 6-position, especially an enzyme derived from a strain of Mortierella vinacea, Circinella muscae or Aspergillus niger. TCR is prepared by treating raffinose with thionyl chloride in the presence of triphenylphosphine oxide.

Abstract: Isomaltulose is produced by a process in which at least the isomaltulose-forming enzyme system of an isomaltulose-forming micro-organism is immobilized and then the immobilized enzyme system is contacted with a sucrose solution to convert at least part of the sucrose to isomaltulose.

Abstract: A process for preparing a fructoside, especially a fructosyl disaccharide, comprises reacting a fructosyl saccharide such as sucrose or raffinose with an alcohol or aldose in the presence of a fructosyl-transferase, especially one derived from B. subtilis NCIB 11811, 11872 or 11873. In particular, aldose is a compound of the formula ##STR1## in which A represents a hydrogen atom or the group CH.sub.2 X, where X represents a hydrogen atom or an alkoxy group, and the fructosyl disaccharide so formed is halogenated to provide a halosucrose or halogalactosucrose sweetener.

Abstract: Isomaltulose is of use as a whole or partial replacement for sucrose in products for human or animal consumption.

Abstract: Enzyme-containing cells immobilized in an alginate gel are stabilized by contacting the gel with glycerol in a ratio of cellstoglycerol of 2:1 to 1:5. The enzyme-containing cells preferably convert sucrose to isomaltulose.

Abstract: Glucose or other substrate is converted to ethanol using immobilized bacterial cells under conditions which prevent growth of the cells.

Abstract: Isomaltulose is produced by a process in which at least the isomaltulose-forming enzyme system of an isomaltulose-forming micro-organism genus Erwinia is immobilized on calcium alginate gel and then the immobilized enzyme system is contacted with a sucrose solution to convert at least part of the sucrose to isomaltulose.