The present invention relates to compositions comprising polypeptides and polysaccharides. The compositions are in general immune modulating. The invention also discloses methods of producing these compositions using filamentous fungi cultivated in liquid medium. The compositions are useful for example in the treatment of immune compromised conditions.

Immune modulating compounds from fungi

The present invention relates to a biopolymer-containing thermoplastic mixture which is obtained by preparing and mixing: (A) 100 parts by weight of a 1,4-α-D-polyglucane produced by a bio-catalytic method; (B) up to 400 parts by weight of a polymeric material other than (A) and capable of undergoing a thermoplastic process; (C) an amount of water sufficient for plastifying the mixture; (D) at least one plasticizer in amount ranging from 10 parts by weight to the half the summed parts by weight of (A) and (B); and (E) optional other common additives in an amount not exceeding ((A) + (B)) parts by weight. The water content of constituents (A) and (B) is reduced to 0 using computer techniques and plastification is carried out by using both thermal and mechanical energy. This invention also relates to the use of this mixture in the production of moulded articles and substantially bio-degrading films as well as to a method for preparing said mixture.

Thermoplastic mixture containing 1,4-α-D-polyglucane, method for making the same and use thereof

The present invention is related to optical non-invasive methods and instruments to detect the level of analyte concentrations in the tissue of a subject. The spectra of mid-infrared radiation emitted from a subject's body are altered corresponding to the concentration of various compounds within the radiating tissue. In one aspect of the invention, an instrument measures the level of mid-infrared radiation from the subject's body surface, such as the eye, and determines a specific analyte's concentration based on said analyte's distinctive mid-infrared radiation signature.

Method and instruments for non-invasive analyte measurement

The present invention is related to optical non-invasive methods and instruments to detect the level of analyte concentrations in the tissue of a subject. The spectra of mid-infrared radiation emitted from a subject's body are altered corresponding to the concentration of various compounds within the radiating tissue. In one aspect of the invention, an instrument floods a body surface of the subject, such as the subject's eye, with radiation in the mid-infrared range and measures analyte concentrations based on mid-infrared radiation reflected back to the instrument.

Methods and device for non-invasive analyte measurement

The present invention relates to feed and food compositions comprising material obtained by fermenting fungi of the Basidiomycetes family in a liquid medium. Interestingly, Basidiomycetes grown in a liquid culture produce compounds which, when used in feed or food compositions enhance survival and/or support growth of normal, healthy animals. Furthermore, the compounds may modulate the microbial population in the digestive tract after oral intake.

Feed or food products comprising fungal material

A novel polysaccharide comprising (1->4) bonded α-D-glucose units represented by the following formula ##STR1## wherein R is a hydrogen atom or an acetyl group in a ratio of 7:3 is extracted and isolated from a liquid culture medium of a microorganism belonging to the class Basidiomycetes in the presence of a plant tissue extract. About 30% by mole of hydroxyl groups at the 2,3-positions of each unit is acetylated and the polysaccharide has a molecular weight of 500 to 10,000. The polysaccharide has properties of biological response modifiers (BRM) and is useful as an immuno-enhancing agent or immuno-activator.

Polysaccharides and preparation thereof

PURPOSE: To obtain an extract solution of Perilla frutescens Britton var. acuta Kudo, capable of specifically suppressing the production of a tumor necrosis factor (TNF), greatly effective against allergic diseases such as atopic dermatitis and usable in the form of an antiallergic food, a healthy food, a cosmetic, a quasi-drug, etc. CONSTITUTION: This extract solution is obtained by removing perillaldehyde and a fraction having ≥1000 molecular weight from ingredients prepared by grinding a stem and a leaf of a plant of the family Labiatae and extracting the resultant ground stem and leaf with water, an organic solvent or a mixture solution thereof. The extract solution has suppressing actions on the production of a TNF. COPYRIGHT: (C)1995,JPO

Extract solution of perilla frutescens britt0n var. acuta kudo having suppressing action on production of tnf

PURPOSE: To obtain an antiallergic cosmetic composition containing an extract of a plant of the family Labiatae, having an immunological function-suppressing action and especially effective for ameliorating allergy such as atopic dermatitis. CONSTITUTION: Leaves and stalks of a plant of the family Labiatae are cut to small pieces and extracted with a solvent such as water-ethanol. The obtained extract is used as an active component and compounded to a cosmetic composition in an amount of 0.01-20wt.%. The composition is further compounded properly with other components such as aqueous solution, powdery component, oil component, surfactant, humectant, thickener, antiseptic agent, antioxidant and perfume and formed in the form of ointment, liniment, aerosol, cream, soap, shampoo, baby powder, bathing agent, face lotion impregnated in a roll paper made of pulp or nonwoven cloth, etc. The suitable Labiatae plant is Perilla furtescens viridi-crispa, P.f. rosea, P.f. crispa and P.f. discolor grown in Japan or Leonurus sibiricus, Pogostemon cabin, Orthosiphon grandiflorus, Ocimum basilicum, Ocimum sanctum, etc., which are allied species of Labiatae grown in the Southeast Asia. COPYRIGHT: (C)1994,JPO

Antiallergic comsmetic composition

PURPOSE: To obtain a food containing a ω 3-based highly unsaturated fatty acid containing oil and fat such as fish oil or sesame oil and an extract of perilla leaf as active ingredients and useful for improving constitution of patient of inflammatory intestine disease such as Behcet's disease, Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis CONSTITUTION: This food is obtained by homogeneously mixing and dispersing (A) oil and fat containing (preferably >=10wt%) of a ω 3-based highly unsaturated fatty acid such as α-linolenic acid or eicosapentaenoic acid into (B) an extract extracted from perilla leaf The content of the component B is usually 01-30wt% The component A suppresses production of eicosanoid and relieves disorder of a mucous membrane and the component B suppresses excess and continuous production of TNF(tumor necrosis factor)

Food for inflammatory intestine disease

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an composition capable of enhancing the physiological activity of a substance prepared by making a basidiomycete having a β- glucosidase activity act in a culture medium containing isoflavones. SOLUTION: This composition comprises a substance (G) obtained by culturing the basidiomycete having the β-glucosidase activity in a culture medium in which a material containing the isoflavones is present and comprising a cultured product of an aglycone of the isoflavones with the basidiomycete and a substance (A) prepared by culturing the basidiomycete in the presence of a plant extract liquid raw material by aeration agitation culture, then removing solid matter and subsequently drying a liquid part and has a synergistically increased physiological activity of the substances (G) and (A). Healthy food products, antitumor agents and pet food products which use thereof are obtained. Furthermore, the method for inhibiting the proliferation of tumorous cells comprises using the substances (G) and (A) in combination.

Kenichi Kosuna

Papers

Polysaccharides and preparation thereof

Extract solution of perilla frutescens britt0n var. acuta kudo having suppressing action on production of tnf

Antiallergic comsmetic composition

Food for inflammatory intestine disease

Composition derived from cultured product of basidiomycete and use thereof