Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing saccarides of definite chain length, such as glucose, maltose, malto-oligosaccharides and isomalto-oligosaccharides with a high purity. Saccharides such as starch, dextran and cellulose, and hydrolyzates thereof, are subjected to modification of the anomeric carbon at the reducing end of the molecule without modification of the non-reducing end of the molecule. The modification may be oxidation, for example by bromine to produce a carboxylic acid at the anomeric carbon, or amination, for example by phenylhydrazine to produce an osazone or osone of the saccharide. After modification, the modified saccharide can be adsorbed on an ion exchange resin and then repeatedly cleaved with a suitable enzyme, such as .beta.-amylase, to produce the desired saccharide of definite chain length.

Abstract: A simplified process is provided for producing saccharides of definite chain length, such as glucose, maltose and maltooligosaccharides, each in an isolated state and with a high purity.The process comprises transferring a saccharide chain, using a saccharide chain transferase, from a saccharide chain source to a substance substantially separable from the saccharides mentioned above and treating the thus-obtained oligosaccharide with an enzyme capable of excising the saccharide chain of definite chain length in an exo manner.

Abstract: The present invention relates to stabilizing agents for enzymes which comprises an enzyme stabilizing amount of an N-substituted moranoline derivative of the formula (III): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is phenyl lower alkynyl, phenoxy lower alkenyl or phenoxy lower alkynyl, wherein the phenyl moiety is unsubstituted, or a glucose oligomer thereof.

Abstract: A compound of the formula (I): ##STR1## or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein Y is S or O;R is hydrogen or alkyl having from about 1 to about 4 carbon atoms;R.sup.1 is hydrogen, alkyl having from about 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, alkoxy having from about 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, halogen or trifluoromethyl;R.sup.2 is hydrogen or unsubstituted or substituted alkyl having from about 1 to about 4 carbon atoms; andR.sup.3 is hydrogen, alkyl having from about 1 to about 6 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl having from about 3 to about 6 carbon atoms, alkoxy having from about 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, aryloxy having from about 6 to about 10 carbon atoms, alkylthio having from about 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, hydroxyalkoxy having from about 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, or unsubstituted or substituted phenyl is useful to obtain inhibition of aldose reduction in animals, including humans.

Abstract: A method of preparing a molecular compound of glucosylmoranoline of the formula I ##STR1## with methanol, which comprises stirring an aqueous solution comprising (I) and other moranoline derivatives with methanol, whereupon crystals of the molecular compound of (I) with methanol are formed.

Abstract: A compound of the formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R is hydrogen or unsubstituted or substituted 1-naphthyl. These compounds are useful to obtain inhibition of aldose reductase in animals, including humans.

Abstract: Bisglucosyl moranoline of the formula (I) ##STR1## is useful in inhibiting increase of blood sugar in sugar-loaded animals and humans, and particularly for treatment of diabetes mellitus.