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 present invention provides a novel UDP-glucuronosyltransferase and a polynucleotide encoding the same, for example, a polynucleotide comprising nucleotides 1 to 1359 of SEQ ID NO: 4, nucleotides 1 to 1365 of SEQ ID NO: 10, nucleotides 1 to 1371 of SEQ ID NO: 12, and nucleotides 1 to 1371 of SEQ ID NO: 22; or a polynucleotide encoding a protein having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOS: 5, 11, 13 or 23. The invention provides a novel UDP-glucuronosyltransferase with a broad substrate specificity.

Abstract: A method for producing a rose characterized by artificially suppressing the rose endogenous metabolic pathway and expressing the pansy gene coding for flavonoid 3?,5?-hydroxylase.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel method for assaying OPC contained in natural substances, foods and beverages, pharmaceuticals and/or cosmetics. The present invention is a novel method for assay of OPC which assays anthocyanidin, obtained by hydrolysis of OPC, to determine the total amount of OPC, and elucidates the proportions of the polymerization degrees of OPC by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to determine the contents of the respective polymers in OPC.

Abstract: The present invention provides an ?-glucosidase inhibitor containing a novel epigallocatechin gallate trimer and an epigallocatechin gallate polymer. Decomposition of starch derived from a meal and sugar derived from a polysaccharide can be suppressed by ?-glucosidase inhibitory action, thus suppressing absorption. A food and drink excellent in ?-glucosidase inhibitory action for suppressing sugar absorption and further for preventing diabetes for a long time can be provided by adding the ?-glucosidase inhibitor to a food and drink.

Abstract: The object is to provide beverages that allow for sustained intake and which have an effect of improving the vascular endothelial function as by promoting the secretion of NO from vascular endothelial cells so as to potentiate the NO action. The object is attained by providing proanthocyanidins containing tea beverages that contain procyanidin B1 (PB1) and procyanidin B3 (PB3) in a total amount not smaller than a certain concentration and which are free from any peculiar flavor to become easier to drink; they allow for sustained intake and have an effect of improving the vascular endothelial function.

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 invention provides an enzyme having a lignan-hydroxylating activity, particularly an enzyme capable of catalyzing the reaction of transferring a hydroxyl group to a lignan, an enzyme capable of catalyzing the hydroxylation of piperitol to 9-hydroxylpiperitol or pinoresinol to 9-hydroxylpinoresinol. The invention provides a polypeptide having a lignan-hydroxylating activity; a polynucleotide encoding the same; a vector or transformant comprising the polynucleotide; a method for producing a polypeptide having a lignan-hydroxylating activity which comprises using the transformant; and so on. The transformant wherein the polynucleotide is expressibly introduced is useful for the hydroxylation of a lignan or for the production of a product using the same in the food sector and a variety of industry sectors.

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 novel compound contained in blue rose. This novel compound, which is contained in blue rose, has a chemical structure represented by general formula (I): [wherein R1 is a group as set forth in claim 1; and R2 represents —OH, or R1 and R2 together form —O—]. Also disclosed are a rose plant containing the aforesaid compound, and a part of the same.

Abstract: A method of acylating the 3? position of anthocyanin using an enzyme that transfers an aromatic acyl group to a sugar at the 3? position of anthocyanin or a gene encoding the enzyme.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel glucuronosyltransferase, a polynucleotide encoding the same (e.g., a polynucleotide comprising a polynucleotide consisting of the nucleotide sequence at positions 1 to 1362 in the nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 7, or a polynucleotide comprising a polynucleotide encoding a protein having the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 8); and so on. A novel glucuronosyltransferase having a broad substrate specificity and others can thus be provided.

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 present invention provides an ?-glucosidase inhibitor containing a novel epigallocatechin gallate trimer and an epigallocatechin gallate polymer. Decomposition of starch derived from a meal and sugar derived from a polysaccharide can be suppressed by ?-glucosidase inhibitory action, thus suppressing absorption. A food and drink excellent in ?-glucosidase inhibitory action for suppressing sugar absorption and further for preventing diabetes for a long time can be provided by adding the ?-glucosidase inhibitor to a food and drink.

Abstract: Providing a compound capable of continuously taking and having a vascular endothelial function improving effect by enhancing NO function from the vascular endothelial cells. A compound represented by Formula (I) wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 are each independently H or a gallate group, a vascular endothelial function improving agent, food and drink or pharmaceutical composition containing the compound.

Abstract: Provided is a highly palatable and safe glucosyltransferase inhibitor or anti-dental caries agent. A glucosyltransferase inhibitor or anti-dental caries agent having an epigallocatechin gallate polymer or a salt thereof. Particularly, the above agent containing an epigallocatechin gallate polymer, which is a compound in which chroman rings are bonded at position 6 and/or 8 via a methylene group.

Abstract: A method for producing a rose characterized by artificially suppressing the rose endogenous metabolic pathway and expressing the pansy gene coding for flavonoid 3?,5?-hydroxylase.

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: A new and distinct cultivar of Rose plant named ‘Florirosavio04’, characterized by its upright flowering stems; vigorous growth habit; freely branching plant habit; and strongly fragrant flowers that are light violet in color.