Abstract: The present invention aims at providing NOX inhibitors and NF?B inhibitors having superior actions, as well as agents for preventing or treating NOX- or NF?B-associated diseases that utilize such inhibitors. To this end, specified methoxyflavones are employed.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide an anti-obesity agent which contains a tea-derived component and which is safe and does not compromise the flavor of foods and beverages. According to the present invention, a safe and palatable anti-obesity agent can be provided by incorporating a benzotropolone ring-containing compound which has tea-derived, high inhibitory activities against lipase and alfa-glucosidase. The anti-obesity agent of the present invention does not compromise the flavor of foods and beverage, has palatability, and can be used in various use applications including foods and beverages intended for health enhancement such as reduction in triglycerides.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide an anti-obesity agent which contains a tea-derived component and which is safe and does not compromise the flavor of foods and beverages. According to the present invention, a safe and palatable anti-obesity agent can be provided by incorporating a benzotropolone ring-containing compound which has tea-derived, high inhibitory activities against lipase and alfa-glucosidase. The anti-obesity agent of the present invention does not compromise the flavor of foods and beverage, has palatability, and can be used in various use applications including foods and beverages intended for health enhancement such as reduction in triglycerides.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide an anti-obesity agent which contains a tea-derived component and which is safe and does not compromise the flavor of foods and beverages. According to the present invention, a safe and palatable anti-obesity agent can be provided by incorporating a benzotropolone ring-containing compound which has tea-derived, high inhibitory activities against lipase and alfa-glucosidase. The anti-obesity agent of the present invention does not compromise the flavor of foods and beverage, has palatability, and can be used in various use applications including foods and beverages intended for health enhancement such as reduction in triglycerides.

Abstract: There are provided foods and beverages that will suppress the absorption of dietary lipids, thereby suppressing the rise of triglyceride in blood. High-molecular weight polyphenol fractions recovered from oolong tea are added to foods or beverages as an active ingredient for inhibiting lipase activity. The foods and beverages of the present invention are safe and their inherent flavor has not been impaired; hence, they may be taken in routinely so that the lipase inhibitory action of the high-molecular weight polyphenol fractions will suppress the rise of triglyceride in blood and prevent obesity.

Abstract: The present invention provides lipase inhibitors containing dimers of flavan-3-ols derived from teas as well as foods and beverages and medicines containing said inhibitors. More specifically, the present invention provides lipase inhibitors containing at least one of assamicains represented by the formula: wherein G represents a galloyl group; theasinensins represented by the formula: wherein R1 represents G or H, and R2 represents G; and theaflavins represented by the formula: wherein R1 and R2 independently represent G or H; as well as foods and beverages and medicines containing said lipase inhibitors.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide an anti-obesity agent which contains a tea-derived component and which is safe and does not compromise the flavor of foods and beverages. According to the present invention, a safe and palatable anti-obesity agent can be provided by incorporating a benzotropolone ring-containing compound which has tea-derived, high inhibitory activities against lipase and alfa-glucosidase. The anti-obesity agent of the present invention does not compromise the flavor of foods and beverage, has palatability, and can be used in various use applications including foods and beverages intended for health enhancement such as reduction in triglycerides.

Abstract: Disclosed is a composition which is safe for a human body and an animal, can be ingested continuously on a daily basis, has an anti-fatigue activity, and is effective for the prevention or treatment of a disease or condition associated with fatigue. Specifically disclosed is an anti-fatigue agent comprising andrographolide optionally together with an ?-lipoic acid as an active ingredient(s). Also disclosed is a novel oral composition comprising andrographolide and an ?-lipoic acid. The anti-fatigue agent and the oral composition are useful for the prevention or treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome, overfatigue, physical fatigue, mental fatigue and organ fatigue.

Abstract: This invention provides, a novel polyphenol compound having lipase inhibitory activity derived from tealeaves, a process for the preparation of the compound, and foods and/or beverages and pharmaceutical drugs containing the compound. Particularly, this invention provides a novel dimer compound of formula: obtained by oxidative polymerization of epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate, a main catechin component of oolong tea, with a tealeaf enzyme (polyphenol oxidase), as well as foods and/or beverages and pharmaceutical compositions containing said novel compound which suppress absorption of dietary lipids and suppresses increase of blood triglyceride.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a lipase activity inhibitor that shows high inhibitory activity against pancreatic lipase to suppress the absorption of meal-derived fat and/or which contributes to suppressing and preventing obesity, as well as a food or beverage that has such lipase activity inhibitor incorporated therein. Another object of the invention is to provide a lipase inhibitor of tea origin that suits most consumers' taste and which will not impair the flavor of the food or beverage when incorporated therein. Still another object of the invention is to provide a process for producing said lipase inhibitors. Further object of the invention is to provide antioxidants. To attain these objects, epigallocatechin dimers (oolong homobisflavans) or trimers are incorporated in foods or beverages. As a result, the absorption of meal-derived fat can be suppressed and, in addition, antioxidation effect is obtained.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide an anti-obesity agent which contains a tea-derived component and which is safe and does not compromise the flavor of foods and beverages. According to the present invention, a safe and palatable anti-obesity agent can be provided by incorporating a benzotropolone ring-containing compound which has tea-derived, high inhibitory activities against lipase and alfa-glucosidase. The anti-obesity agent of the present invention does not compromise the flavor of foods and beverage, has palatability, and can be used in various use applications including foods and beverages intended for health enhancement such as reduction in triglycerides.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a lipase activity inhibitor that shows high inhibitory activity against pancreatic lipase to suppress the absorption of meal-derived fat and/or which contributes to suppressing and preventing obesity, as well as a food or beverage that has such lipase activity inhibitor incorporated therein. Another object of the invention is to provide a lipase inhibitor of tea origin that suits most consumers' taste and which will not impair the flavor of the food or beverage when incorporated therein. Still another object of the invention is to provide a process for producing said lipase inhibitors. Further object of the invention is to provide antioxidants. To attain these objects, epigallocatechin dimers (oolong homobisflavans) or trimers are incorporated in foods or beverages. As a result, the absorption of meal-derived fat can be suppressed and, in addition, antioxidation effect is obtained.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a lipase activity inhibitor that shows high inhibitory activity against pancreatic lipase to suppress the absorption of meal-derived fat and/or which contributes to suppressing and preventing obesity, as well as a food or beverage that has such lipase activity inhibitor incorporated therein. Another object of the invention is to provide a lipase inhibitor of tea origin that suits most consumers' taste and which will not impair the flavor of the food or beverage when incorporated therein. Still another object of the invention is to provide a process for producing said lipase inhibitors. Further object of the invention is to provide antioxidants. To attain these objects, epigallocatechin dimers (oolong homobisflavans) or trimers are incorporated in foods or beverages. As a result, the absorption of meal-derived fat can be suppressed and, in addition, antioxidation effect is obtained.

Abstract: This invention provides, a novel polyphenol compound having lipase inhibitory activity derived from tealeaves, a process for the preparation of the compound, and foods and/or beverages and pharmaceutical drugs containing the compound. Particularly, this invention provides a novel dimer compound of formula: obtained by oxidative polymerization of epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate, a main catechin component of oolong tea, with a tealeaf enzyme (polyphenol oxidase), as well as foods and/or beverages and pharmaceutical compositions containing said novel compound which suppress absorption of dietary lipids and suppresses increase of blood triglyceride.

Abstract: It is intended to provide ACE inhibitory tripeptides which are not easily digested by digestive enzymes after being orally taken and thus have fewer tendencies to lose their ACE inhibitory activity in vivo. More specifically, 3 tripeptides having an ACE inhibitory activity and showing a hypotensive effect in an animal experiment are discovered from a thermolysin digestion product of sesame. These tripeptides respectively have amino acid sequences Leu-Ser-Ala, Val-Ile-Tyr and Leu-Val-Tyr and show an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitory activity.

Abstract: The present invention provides lipase inhibitors containing flavan-3-ol monomers or acylates thereof derived from teas as well as foods and beverages and medicines containing said inhibitors. More specifically, the present invention provides lipase inhibitors containing at least one of flavan-3-ol monomers represented by the formula: wherein R1 and R3 independently represent H or OH, R2 represents H, R4 represents H, G, 3MeG or p-cou, R5 represents H or G, R4? and R5? independently represent H or G, R4? represents H or G, and G, 3MeG and p-cou respectively represent the groups of the formulae: or acylates thereof; as well as foods and beverages and medicines containing said lipase inhibitors.

Abstract: It is intended to provide ACE inhibitory tripeptides which are not easily digested by digestive enzymes after being orally taken and thus have fewer tendencies to lose their ACE inhibitory activity in vivo. More specifically, 3 tripeptides having an ACE inhibitory activity and showing a hypotensive effect in an animal experiment are discovered from a thermolysin digestion product of sesame. These tripeptides respectively have amino acid sequences Leu-Ser-Ala, Val-Ile-Tyr and Leu-Val-Tyr and show an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitory activity.

Abstract: The present invention provides lipase inhibitory agents comprising a gallotannin or ellagitannin component(s) isolated from teas or Tellima grandiflora as well as foods and beverages and medicines containing said inhibitory agents. The present invention provides lipase inhibitory agents comprising at least one of compounds represented by formula I below: wherein R1, R2 and R3 independently represent H or a gallic acid residue, and R4 and R5 represent H or a gallic acid residue, or R4 and R5 together form an HHDP group represented by the formula below: provided that at least two of R1 to R5 represent a gallic acid residue or when all of R1, R2 and R3 are H, R4 and R5 together form the HHDP group; as well as foods and beverages and medicines containing said lipase inhibitory agents.

Abstract: Disclosed is a composition which is safe for a human body and an animal, can be ingested continuously on a daily basis, has an anti-fatigue activity, and is effective for the prevention or treatment of a disease or condition associated with fatigue. Specifically disclosed is an anti-fatigue agent comprising andrographolide optionally together with an ?-lipoic acid as an active ingredient(s). Also disclosed is a novel oral composition comprising andrographolide and an ?-lipoic acid. The anti-fatigue agent and the oral composition are useful for the prevention or treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome, overfatigue, physical fatigue, mental fatigue and organ fatigue.

Abstract: It is intended to provide ACE inhibitory tripeptides which are not easily digested by digestive enzymes after being orally taken and thus have fewer tendencies to lose their ACE inhibitory activity in vivo. More specifically, 3 tripeptides having an ACE inhibitory activity and showing a hypotensive effect in an animal experiment are discovered from a thermolysin digestion product of sesame. These tripeptides respectively have amino acid sequences Leu-Ser-Ala, Val-Ile-Tyr and Leu-Val-Tyr and show an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitory activity.