Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide an &agr;-isomaltosylglucosaccharide-forming enzyme, process of the same, cyclotetrasaccharide, and saccharide composition comprising the saccharide which are obtainable by using the enzyme; and is solved by establishing an &agr;-isomaltosylglucosaccharide-forming enzyme which forms a saccharide, having a glucose polymerization degree of at least three and having both the &agr;-1,6 glucosidic linkage as a linkage at the non-reducing end and the &agr;-1,4 glucosidic linkage other than the linkage at the non-reducing end, by catalyzing the &agr;-glucosyl-transfer from a saccharide having a glucose polymerization degree of at least two and having the &agr;-1,4 glucosidic linkage as a linkage at the non-reducing end without substantially increasing the reducing power; &agr;-isomaltosyl-transferring method using the enzyme; method for forming &agr;-isomaltosylglucosaccharide; process for producing a cyclotetrasaccharide having the structure of cyclo{→6)-&a

Abstract: A reduction inhibitory agent for active oxygen eliminating activity which comprises cyclotetrasaccharide, i.e., cyclo{→6}-&agr;-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-&agr;-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-&agr;-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-&agr;-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→), as an effective ingredient, a method for inhibiting the reduction of active oxygen eliminating activity which comprises incorporating either cyclotetrasaccharide or the reduction inhibitory agent into plant edible products and/or plant antioxidants, and a composition where the reduction of active oxygen eliminating activity of the plant edible products and/or plant antioxidants has been satisfactorily inhibited by the method.

Abstract: A physiologically active extract comprising an ethyl acetate-soluble ingredient of an indigo plant, which is obtainable by soaking a raw indigo plant in an organic solvent used for extraction. The ethyl acetate-soluble ingredient includes tryptanthrin, 3,5,4′-trihydroxy-6,7-methylenedioxy-flavone, kaempferol, 3,5,7,4′-tetrahydroxy-6-methoxy-flavone, gallic acid, caffeic acid, indirubin, pheophorbide a, and methylpheophorbide a.

Abstract: Disclosed are a composition for inhibiting body odor which comprises trehalose and/or maltitol as an effective ingredient, a method for inhibiting body odor by using the composition, and an article incorporated with the composition.

Abstract: A reduction inhibitory agent for active oxygen eliminating activity comprises trehalose as an active ingredient. This agent can be incorporated into plant edible products and/or plant antioxidants.

Abstract: Disclosed are a composition for inhibiting body odor which comprises trehalose and/or maltitol as an effective ingredient, a method for inhibiting body odor by using the composition, and an article incorporated with the composition.

Abstract: A saccharide composition containing trehalulose, which is obtainable by allowing a maltose/trehalose converting enzyme to act on a sucrose solution to produce trehalulose, and collecting the resulting trehalulose-containing mixture. Since the enzyme converts sucrose into trehalulose in a relatively high yield and the conversion rate is controllable, a saccharide composition rich in trehalulose is readily obtained on an industrial scale.

Abstract: A neuro-function regulatory agent with lesser side effects, comprising glycosyl vitamin P as an effective ingredient. When administered to patients with nerve diseases, the agent exerts a remarkable effect on the relief of patients' symptoms accompanied by nerve diseases.

Abstract: A composition which comprises a flavonoid and a processed product of a plant of the genus Pfaffia. The composition effectively maintains and promotes the health, treats and prevents diseases, and exerts immunoenhancement, antiallergic, psychotropic, and/or tonic activities.

Abstract: An agent for susceptive diseases, which contains a polypeptide that has a molecular weight of 18,500±3,000 daltons on SDS-PAGE and a pI of 4.9±1.0 on chromatofocusing, strongly induces the IFN-&ggr; production by immunocompetent cells with only a small amount, and does not cause serious side effects even when administered to human at a relatively-high dose. The agent treats and/or prevents malignant tumors, viral diseases, bacterial infectious diseases, and immune diseases including atopies.

Abstract: A process for producing or separating trehalose and/or sugar alcohols from hydrogenated saccharide mixtures containing trehalose and sugar alcohols selected from the group consisting of sorbitol, maltitol, and maltotriitol, which comprises the steps of subjecting hydrogenated saccharide mixtures containing trehalose and the sugar alcohols to column chromatography using strong-acid cation exchange resins, and successively eluting and collecting a trehalose-rich fraction and a sugar alcohol-rich fraction in this order.

Abstract: Disclosed are a propolis extract where the peculiar odor of propolis is reduced by decreasing the odorizing ingredients, a process to produce the propolis extract which comprises soaking propolis in a hydrophilic organic solvent to effect extraction and treating the liquid layer in the resultant extract with an anion-exchange resin, and a biologically active composition comprising the propolis extract.

Abstract: A propolis extract having a reduced peculiar odor is prepared by deceasing the amount of odorizing ingredients. This propolis extract can be used to prepare biologically active compositions.

Abstract: An agent for improving the blood circulation, which contains as an effective ingredient glycosyl vitamin P such as glycosyl hesperidin and glycosyl rutin. The agent improves the blood circulation in humans to effectively relieve muscular rigidity.

Abstract: A saccharide composition comprising maltooligosyl derivatives of turanose and palatinose which can be readily produced, separated, and purified in a relatively-high yield from maltooligosylsucrose by allowing non-reducing saccharide-forming enzymes to act on aqueous solutions containing maltooligosylsucrose. These saccharides are reducing oligosaccharides with a mild and high-quality sweetness and can be used orally and parenterally, as well as being readily metabolized and used by living bodies.

Abstract: A saccharide composition containing trehalulose, which is obtainable by allowing a maltose/trehalose converting enzyme to act on a sucrose solution to produce trehalulose, and collecting the resulting trehalulose-containing mixture. Since the enzyme converts sucrose into trehalulose in a relatively high yield and the conversion rate is controllable, a saccharide composition rich in trehalulose is readily obtained on an industrial scale.

Abstract: A novel melanin formation-inhibitory protein, which has a molecular weight of 90,000.+-.20,000 and a pI of 5.5.+-.0.5, exerts a tyrosinase formation-inhibitory activity in pigment cells but does not substantially inhibit the inherent tyrosinase activity. Thus, the protein is advantageously used as a pharmaceutical and as a cosmetic in the prevention and/or treatment for local chromatosises such as chloasma, ephelis and sunburn, as well as for systemic chromatosises such as addisonism.