Abstract: A compound of the formula I, wherein the symbols are as defined in the remaining specification, or a mixture of two or more compounds of the formula I, for use as active ingredient in the therapeutic—including prophylactic—treatment of a warm-blooded animal for the regulation of body weight (preferred) and/or fat loss (preferred) and/or for the management of obesity and/or for improving the total cholesterol HDL/LDL ratio; where the compound(s) of the formula I may be present in free form, in the form of a pharmaceutically and/or nutraceutically acceptable salt, in the form of tautomers, in the form of esters and/or in the form of solvates, as well as related invention embodiments.

Abstract: The present invention relates to certain polyhydroxylated pentacyclic triterpene acids of formula (I) for use as HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors in the prophylactic and/or therapeutic treatment of a disease, disorder or condition that responds to a reduction of the HMG-CoA reductase activity in a mammal, preferably a human being. The present invention further relates to certain mixtures and plant extracts comprising euscaphic acid and tormentic acid, wherein the amount of euscaphic acid to tormentic acid exceeds a certain ratio. Further, the present invention also relates to a formulation, preferably pharmaceutical or nutraceutical formulation, comprising one or more of said compounds of formula (I), a composition according to the present invention or a plant extract according to the present invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to compositions and methods (with regard to animals and humans) for utilizing an extract and/or one or more natural spiro triterpenoids and derivatives thereof alone or as a supplement. Certain materials utilized are from the blazeispirol family, obtainable from Agaricus species. Treatments include the prophylactic and/or therapeutic treatment of a disease, disorder or condition that responds to the modulation of Liver X receptor, as well as corresponding methods of treatment, the manufacture of a pharmaceutical and nutraceutical formulation for said treatment. The invention also relates to the use of the extract and compound(s) in the treatment or in the preparation of a medicament (e.g. a nutraceutical) for the prophylactic and/or therapeutic treatments, as well as their preparation. It also relates to pharmaceutical or nutraceutical formulations described herein which are useful in prophylactic and therapeutic treatments. They can also be used for non-therapeutic, e.g.

Abstract: The present invention relates to certain polyhydroxylated pentacyclic triterpene acids of formula (I) for use as HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors in the prophylactic and/or therapeutic treatment of a disease, disorder or condition that responds to a reduction of the HMG-CoA reductase activity in a mammal, preferably a human being. The present invention further relates to certain mixtures and plant extracts comprising euscaphic acid and tormentic acid, wherein the amount of euscaphic acid to tormentic acid exceeds a certain ratio. Further, the present invention also relates to a formulation, preferably pharmaceutical or nutraceutical formulation, comprising one or more of said compounds of formula (I), a composition according to the present invention or a plant extract according to the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an isolated, recombinant or synthetic polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide with protoilludene synthase activity and comprising a sequence selected from the group consisting of a) SEQ ID Nos. 1 or 14 of the attached sequence listing; b) a nucleic acid sequence complementary to SEQ ID Nos. 1 or 14; c) nucleic acid sequences which hybridize under stringent conditions to the nucleic acid sequences defined in a) and b) or their complementary strands, as well as to the polypeptide encoded by the isolated polynucleotide, as well as a method for the production of melleolides employing the polynucleotide or polypeptide of the invention.

Abstract: The use or methods of use of extracts comprising one or more special clerodane compounds against inflammatory (including allergic) diseases or conditions, as well as novel compounds of this type, said clerodane derivatives for use against inflammatory (including allergic) diseases or conditions, pharmaceutical formulations comprising them especially for use against inflammatory disease or conditions, and related embodiments; said extract and/or compound(s) for use in the treatment or in the preparation of a medicament (including a nutraceutical) for the prophylactic and/or therapeutic treatment of said disease or condition, as well as their preparation; pharmaceutical or nutraceutical formulations comprising said extract and/or natural compound(s) which are useful in said prophylactic and/or therapeutic treatment, and related embodiments.

Abstract: The invention relates to compositions and methods (with regard to animals and humans) for utilizing an extract and/or one or more natural spiro triterpenoids and derivatives thereof alone or as a supplement. Certain materials utilized are from the blazeispirol family, obtainable from Agaricus species. Treatments include the prophylactic and/or therapeutic treatment of a disease, disorder or condition that responds to the modulation of Liver X receptor, as well as corresponding methods of treatment, the manufacture of a pharmaceutical and nutraceutical formulation for said treatment. The invention also relates to the use of the extract and compound(s) in the treatment or in the preparation of a medicament (e.g. a nutraceutical) for the prophylactic and/or therapeutic treatments, as well as their preparation. It also relates to pharmaceutical or nutraceutical formulations described herein which are useful in prophylactic and therapeutic treatments. They can also be used for non-therapeutic, e.g.

Abstract: A compound of the formula I, wherein the symbols are as defined in the remaining specification, or a mixture of two or more compounds of the formula I, for use as active ingredient in the therapeutic—including prophylactic—treatment of a warm-blooded animal for the regulation of body weight (preferred) and/or fat loss (preferred) and/or for the management of obesity and/or for improving the total cholesterol HDL/LDL ratio; where the compound(s) of the formula I may be present in free form, in the form of a pharmaceutically and/or nutraceutically acceptable salt, in the form of tautomers, in the form of esters and/or in the form of solvates, as well as related invention embodiments.

Abstract: Compounds obtainable from plants, e.g. of the genus Eucalyptus, or from microorganisms are shown to be useful as CNS activity modulators useful e.g. in the treatment of depression, for lifting mood and/or for increasing behavioural initiative and the like. This use and related aspects form embodiments of the invention. Also compounds as such are presented. The compounds useful are acylphloroglucine derivatives of the formula I, wherein the substituents are as defined in the description.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use, or methods (especially with regard to animals, especially human, that are in need of such treatment) comprising the use, of an extract and/or one or more natural compounds from plants or parts of plants, respectively, from a genus selected from the group consisting of Schisandra, Illicium, Kadsura, Steganotaenia and Magnolia, alone or as supplement, as active ingredient in the regulation of body weight and/or fat loss and/or for the management of obesity, either in humans or in animals, to the use of said extract and/or natural compound(s) or mixtures in the manufacture of a pharmaceutical or nutraceutical formulation for the regulation of body weight and/or fat loss and/or for the management of obesity either in humans or in animals. The above extract and/or compound(s) can further be used to reduce one or more adverse metabolic parameters in a subject.

Abstract: Compounds obtainable from plants, e.g. of the genus Eucalyptus, or from microorganisms are shown to be useful as CNS activity modulators useful e.g. in the treatment of depression, for lifting mood and/or for increasing behavioural initiative and the like. This use and related aspects form embodiments of the invention. Also compounds as such are presented. The compounds useful are acylphloroglucine derivatives of the formula I, wherein the substituents are as defined in the description.

Abstract: The invention relates to aurones and extracts comprising them useful in the prophylactic and/or therapeutic treatment of an animal (including a human) with a phosphodiesterase (PDE) dependent disease or condition of the central nervous system, as well as methods, uses and other inventions related thereto.

Abstract: The invention relates to aurones and extracts comprising them useful in the prophylactic and/or therapeutic treatment of an animal (including a human) with an estrogen receptor (ER) related disease or condition of the animal or human body, as well as methods, uses and other inventions related thereto.

Abstract: This invention provides a salutaridinol 7-O-acetyltransferase protein, a salutaridinol 7-O-acetyltransferase gene, and a sequence which is complementary thereto. This invention further provides a method for the production of thebaine comprising the steps of (i) contacting in vitro a protein having salutaridinol 7-O-acetyltransferase activity with salutaridinol and acetyl coenzyme A at pH 8 to 9, and (ii) recovering the thebaine thus produced.

Abstract: This invention provides a protein comprising consecutive amino acids, the amino acid sequence of which is illustrated in FIG. 8 (SEQ. ID No. 14) or, a fragment thereof having at least 15 amino acids, or a variant thereof, the sequence of which has at least 70% identity with the amino acid sequence of FIG. 8 (SEQ. ID No. 14) over a length of at least 400 amino acids. This invention further provides a peptide comprising a fragment of salutaridinol 7-O-acetyltransferase protein of at least 6 consecutive amino acids which is not present in other plant acetyltransferases as illustrated in FIG. 2 (SEQ. IDs No. 8 to 12). This invention further provides a nucleic acid molecule comprising consecutive nucleotides (i) the nucleic acid sequence of which is illustrated in FIG. 9 (SEQ. ID No. 13) or FIG. 10 (SEQ. ID No. 15), or (ii) a fragment thereof having a length of at least 45 nucleotides, or (iii) a variant thereof, the sequence of which has at least 70% identity with the sequence of FIG. 9 (SEQ. ID No. 13) or FIG.

Abstract: This invention provides: (A) a protein the sequence of which is in FIG. 8 (SEQ. ID n° 14), or a fragment thereof having at least 15 amino acids, or a variant thereof, having at least 70% identity with FIG. 8 (SEQ. ID n° 14) over a length of at least 400 amino acids; (B) a peptide comprising a fragment of salutaridinol 7-O-acetyltransferase of at least 6 consecutive amino acids not present in other plant acetyltransferases as in FIG. 2 (SEQ. IDs n° 8 to 12); (C) a nucleic acid (i) the sequence of which is in FIG. 9 (SEQ. ID n° 13) or FIG. 10 (SEQ. ID n° 15), or (ii) a fragment thereof of at least 45 nucleotides, or (iii) a variant thereof, having at least 70% identity with FIG. 9 (SEQ. ID n° 13) or FIG. 10 (SEQ.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of iminodisuccinic acid ammonium metal salts, characterized in that, in a first stage, maleic anhydride (MA), alkali metal hydroxide and water are mixed in the molar ratio of 2:0-3:5-30 and then ammonia is metered in in the ratio MA:ammonia 2:1.5-8, in order to obtain iminodisuccinic acid ammonium salts which, in a second stage, are reacted with metal oxides, metal hydroxides (and) or other metal salts or their mixtures to give iminodisuccinic acid ammonium metal salts of the formula 8, IDA(NH4)x(Na)y(K)z(Me)m.(NH3)n??Formula 8 in which IDA represents iminodisuccinic acid anion, x=0.1-3.9 y=0-3 z=0-3 m=0.1-2 n=0-6 and Me represents metals of the IInd, IIIrd and IVth main groups and of the Ist to VIIIth subgroups as well as metals of the lanthanide series, of the Periodic Table, which can occur in the oxidation states 1, 2, 3 or 4, the compounds themselves and their intermediates, and the use.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of iminodisuccinic acid ammonium metal salts, characterized in that, in a first stage, maleic anhydride (MA), alkali metal hydroxide and water are mixed in the molar ratio of 2:0–3:5–30 and then ammonia is metered in in the ratio MA: ammonia 2:1.5–8, in order to obtain iminodisuccinic acid ammonium salts which, in a second stage, are reacted with metal oxides, metal hydroxides (and) or other metal salts or their mixtures to give iminodisuccinic acid ammonium metal salts of the formula 8, IDA(NH4)x(Na)y(K)z(Me)m.(NH3)nFormula 8 in which IDA represents iminodisuccinic acid moiety, x=0.1–3.9 y=0–3 z=0–3 m=0.1–2 n=0–6 and Me represents metals of the IInd, IIIrd and IVth main groups and of the Ist to VIIIth subgroups as well as metals of the lanthanide series, of the Periodic Table, which can occur in the oxidation states 1, 2, 3 or 4, the compounds themselves and their intermediates and the use.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing ytterbium(III) ?-diketonates, especially ytterbium(III) acetylacetonate, to the ytterbium(III) ?-diketonates prepared by this process and to the use thereof as catalysts.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions for water treatment based on biodegradable polymers containing repeating succinyl units, biocidal oxidizing agents and unsubstituted or substituted amidosulphonic acid, their use in, and the process for, conditioning water of cooling circuits.