Abstract: The present invention provides an antiwrinkle agent and skin cosmetic composition having excellent alleviating effects on wrinkles appearing due to aging, and especially at exposed locations of skin, and a high degree of safety. The present invention relates to an antiwrinkle agent and skin cosmetic composition comprising a sclareol derivative represented by the following structural formula (1).

Abstract: The invention provides a surfactant comprising at least one trehalose-6-fatty acid ester selected from those represented by the following formula: wherein R represents a saturated or unsaturated acyl group having 8-22 carbon atoms, and may have a hydroxyl group or other substituents, and an emulsion-type cosmetic composition comprising said surfactant and a water-soluble polymer. The surfactant of the invention has excellent surface activity and safety. Also, the emulsion-type cosmetic composition has excellent long-term storage stability and sensory properties, has no irritation to skin, and gives beautiful appearance with fine surface texture. Further, the invention is a liposome having a membrane wall composed of trehalose fatty acid ester. Said liposome has excellent chemical and physical stabilities such as long-term storage stability.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for enhancing epidermal permeability barrier function of the aged skin, which includes the step of externally administering to the aged skin an amount of a fumaric acid diester derivative expressed by the following general formula (1) as an active ingredient wherein R1 represents a C1-4 alkylene group; R2 and R3 each represents a linear or branched C1-8 alkyl group; and n is an integer of 2 to 5.

Abstract: A skin cosmetic composition comprising the compound represented by the following formula (1): wherein R1 is hydrogen and R2 is hydrogen or glucose residue.

Abstract: Skin external agent compositions and drugs characterized by containing fumaric acid diester derivatives represented by following general formula (1), wherein R1 represents C1-4 alkylene; R2 and R3 represent each liner or branched C1-8 alkyl; and n is an integer of 2 to 5; which provide epidermal barrier function potentiating agents and skin external agent compositions having a high safety, quickly relieving epidermal permeation barrier function failures and having an effect of maintaining the skin in a cosmetologically healthy state; agents to be used together with HB-EFG expression inducing agents accelerating epidermal turnover, amphiregulin expression inhibitors regulating excessive epidermal proliferation, and retinoic acid or its derivative preventing skin chapping caused by retinoic acid or its derivative; and skin aging relieving agents capable of ameliorating depression in the skin metabolism and thinning in association with aging.

Abstract: The present invention is a compound represented by the following formula (1) or (2): where one of R1 and R2 is hydrogen and the other one is hydrogen or glucose residue. The compound is effective for reforming obese constitution, suppressing or preventing obesity. It is also effective for skin whitening.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of repelling noxious insects comprising the step of exposing said noxious insects to a composition containing from 0.1 to 90 wt.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions comprising compounds that induce weight and fat loss and compounds that mask the bitter and harsh taste of the composition. The invention further relates to a food, beverage, dietary supplement, medical food, or pet food comprising compounds that induce weight loss and compounds that mask the bitter and harsh taste of the product. The invention is further related to methods of reducing or controlling weight by administering such compositions. Further provided are cosmetic sheets for topical administration of compositions for inducing weight and fat loss.

Abstract: The invention provides a surfactant comprising at least one trehalose-6-fatty acid ester selected from those represented by the following formula: 1

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of repelling noxious insects comprising the step of exposing said noxious insects to a composition containing from 0.1 to 90 wt. %, based on the total weight of the composition, of at least one of 2-(1-hydroxyalkyl) cycloalkanones represented by the following formula 11: wherein n is an integer of 3-10, R1 is hydrogen or a straight-chain saturated hydrocarbon radical having 1-6 carbon atoms; R2 is hydrogen or methyl group and Rm′ represents m′ of the same or different, straight-chain or branched, saturated or unsaturated, hydrocarbon radicals R which, as a substituent group, can be bonded to carbocyclic atoms; m′ is an integer of 0-8, provided that m′ should be at least 2 when n is at least 4 and both the R1and R2 are alkyl groups; the sum of the carbon atoms of Rm′ does not exceed 12; and, further, when n is 4, R may be an isopropylidene group which intramolecularly bridges between the third and sixth carbocyclic atoms.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of repelling noxious insects comprising the step of exposing said noxious insects to a composition containing from 0.1 to 90 wt. %, based on the total weight of the composition, of at least one of 2-(1-hydroxyalkyl)cycloalkanols represented by the following formulae (1), (5) and (6): wherein n is an integer of 3-10, R1 is hydrogen or a straight-chain saturated hydrocarbon radical having 1-6 carbon atoms; R2 is hydrogen or a methyl group; Rm represents m of the same or different, straight-chain or branched, saturated or unsaturated, hydrocarbon radicals R which, as a substituent group, can be bonded to carbocyclic atoms; m is an integer of 0-8, provided that m is at least one when either one of R1 or R2 is an alkyl group and m is at least 2 when both R1 and R2 are alkyl groups; the sum of the carbon atoms of Rm does not exceed 8, wherein when n is 4, R is optionally an isopropylidene group which intramolecularly bridges between the third and sixth carbocyclic atoms.

Abstract: Skin external agent compositions and drugs characterized by containing fumaric acid diester derivatives represented by following general formula (1), wherein R1 represents C1-4 alkylene; R2 and R3 represent each liner or branched C1-8 alkyl; and n is an integer of 2 to 5; which provide epidermal barrier function potentiating agents and skin external agent compositions having a high safety, quickly relieving epidermal permeation barrier function failures and having an effect of maintaining the skin in a cosmetologically healthy state; agents to be used together with HB-EFG expression inducing agents accelerating epidermal turnover, amphiregulin expression inhibitors regulating excessive epidermal proliferation, and retinoic acid or its derivative preventing skin chapping caused by retinoic acid or its derivative; and skin aging relieving agents capable of ameliorating depression in the skin metabolism and thinning in association with aging.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sustained-release aromatic, characterized in that the aromatic comprises at least one perfume derivative as an active component selected from glycosides of perfumes, phosphoric acid ester derivatives of perfumes, amino acid derivatives of perfumes and carboxylic acid derivatives of perfumes, and contains no enzyme or acid which decomposes the perfume derivative, wherein the perfume derivative is decomposed by bacteria usually present on the skin or yeast to release a perfume component to exhibit aroma. The present invention also provides a method for the detection of micro-organisms using the aforesaid sustained-release aromatic. As the sustained-release aromatic of the present invention releases a perfume component only when it is decomposed by micro-organisms such as bacteria usually present on the skin or yeast, the amount of perfumes to be used can be extremely reduced. The sustained-release aromatic of the present invention is also excellent in keeping aroma.

Abstract: An oily base, which has excellent stability, a low melting point and does not irritate the skin and an external composition which contains the oily base. The present invention is directed to an alpha-hydroxy fatty acid derivatives represented by the general formula (1): wherein R1 represents a straight-chain or branched alkyl group having 10 to 24 carbon atoms, R2 represents a straight-chain or branched alkyl group having 1 to 31 carbon atoms, and R3 represents a straight-chain or branched alkyl group having 11 to 31 carbon atoms, and an external composition contains at least one of the derivatives.

Abstract: The present invention is a compound represented by the following formula (1) or (2): 1

Abstract: The invention provides a surfactant comprising at least one trehalose-6-fatty acid ester selected from those represented by the following formula: wherein R represents a saturated or unsaturated acyl group having 8-22 carbon atoms, and may have a hydroxyl group or other substituents, and an emulsion-type cosmetic composition comprising said surfactant and a water-soluble polymer. The surfactant of the invention has excellent surface activity and safety. Also, the emulsion-type cosmetic composition has excellent long-term storage stability and sensory properties, has no irritation to skin, and gives beautiful appearance with fine surface texture. Further, the invention is a liposome having a membrane wall composed of trehalose fatty acid ester. Said liposome has excellent chemical and physical stabilities such as long-term storage stability.

Abstract: A noxious-insect repellent which contains 0.1-90 wt.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of repelling noxious insects comprising the step of exposing said noxious insects to a composition containing from 0.1 to 90 wt. %, based on the total weight of the composition, of at least one of 2-(1-hydroxyalkyl)cycloalkanols represented by the following formulae (9) and (10): wherein R4 is a straight-chain or branched, saturated or unsaturated, hydrocarbon radical having 1-8 carbon atoms and R5 and R6 are hydrogens or lower alkyl groups having at most 3 carbon atoms and the sum of the carbon atoms of R5 and R6 is 0-3.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of repelling noxious insects comprising the step of exposing said noxious insects to a composition containing from 0.1 to 90 wt. %, based on the total weight of the composition, of at least one of 2-(1-hydroxyalkyl)-cycloalkanols represented by the following formulae (2), (7) and (8): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are independently a straight-chain or branched, saturated or unsaturated, hydrocarbon radical having 1-8 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A position sensor is provided with a displacement signal output circuit 1 that amplifies an electromagnetically induced and detected current signal from a slider and converts the result to a rectangular wave signal; a phase difference detection circuit that compares the output signal from the displacement signal output circuit with a clock signal employed for producing the alternating current component from the scaler and detects the phase difference; and an interpolation pulse counter that determines digital displacement data from the phase difference detected at phase difference detection circuit using interpolation pulses. Further, an averaging circuit is provided at the output stage of this interpolation pulse counter which calculates and outputs an average value of a plurality of instances of digital displacement data successively calculated by the interpolation pulse counter.