Ajinomoto Co., Ltd.

Yusuke Amino

Tadashi Takemoto

Ryoichiro Nakamura

Kazuko Yuzawa

Shigeru Kawahara

Nao Funakoshi

Yoshinobu Takino

Kenichi Mori

Masakazu Sugiyama

Yuzuru Eto

Kazuko Hirasawa

Kunihiko Watanabe

Megumi Kaneko

Naohiro Miyamura

Sen Takeshita

Fumie Okura

Takeaki Ohsu

Keiji Iwasaki

Shinji Kuroda

Hiroaki Nagasaki

Wataru Kurosawa

Tomohiko Yamanaka

Takashi Nakano

Kazutaka Nagashima

Eriko Ono

Koichiro Sagawa

Hisao Iwagami

Tetsuo Yano

Satoru Ohashi

Reiko Yasuda

Yuuichi Aoki

Yoshihito Nogusa

Risa Ubagai

Yukie Seki

Takashi Miyaki

Takaho Tajima

Takuya Toyoda

Junya Yoneda

Kana Ohyama

Kana Oyama

Cysteine compounds represented by the following formula wherein each symbol is as defined in the specification, and salts thereof, are superior in stability, have less odor, exhibit an eumelanin production suppressive effect, and are useful as cosmetic agents.

Cysteine derivative

A topically applied circulation enhancing agent suited for application over the entire body which has good transdermal absorptivity and causes little irritation is provided. A topically applied circulation enhancing agent is provided which contains a fatty acid ester denoted by general formula (1): 

Topically applied circulation enhancing agent and skin and hair cosmetic and bath agent containing the same

The present invention encompasses a method for screening for a kokumi-imparting substance by using the calcium receptor activity as an index, a composition containing a kokumi-imparting substance obtained by the screening method, a method for producing food or drink imparted with kokumi, and food or drink imparted with kokumi.

Kokumi-imparting agent

Compound represented by formula (I): wherein the symbols are as defined in the description, and salts thereof, are useful as skin whitening agents.

Amide derivative and whitening agent

Compounds of formula (I&#x2033;) wherein:

Glycoside compound

A compound represented by the following formula (I') wherein Xis a methylene group, an ethylene group, a trimethylene group or a vinylene group, Xis a divalent group represented by the following formula A or B, Y is an ethylene group or a vinylene group, m and n are each an integer of 0 to 7, which satisfy m+n=0 to 8, R1 and R2 are each independently a hydrogen atom, a methyl group or an ethyl group, provided that when Xis a methylene group, then Xis not a divalent group represented by the formula A, and when Xis a vinylene group, then Xis not a divalent group represented by the formula A. The compound is a stable capsinoid derivative, and is useful as an active ingredient of an external blood circulation enhancer or a cosmetic composition, a pharmaceutical composition, or a food composition.

Ester derivative and use thereof

A process for producing efficiently glutamic acid derivatives (including salts thereof) such as monatin is described. This process entails converting a substituted &#x3b1;-keto acid of formula (1) into a glutamic acid derivative of formula (2) in the presence of an enzyme catalyzing conversion of the same. 

Process of producing glutamate derivatives

A substance capable of imparting a kokumi having CaSR agonist activity is described. This substance is able to impart kokumi in a superior manner, in particular, at the initial taste, and is also highly stable and can easily be produced at a low cost. The present invention thus provides a kokumi-imparting composition which includes such a substance as well as a complex kokumi-imparting composition which includes the substance and other substances possessing the CaSR agonist activities in combination. More particularly, the present invention herein provides a kokumi-imparting composition including &#x3b3;-Glu-Nva (L-&#x3b3;-glutamyl-L-norvaline), and a complex kokumi-imparting composition including the foregoing substance and another substance having a CaSR agonist activity, in combination.

The present invention relates to a process for producing efficiently glutamic acid derivatives (including salts thereof) such as monatin by converting a substituted &#x3b1;-keto acid of formula (1) into a glutamic acid derivative of formula (2) in the presence of an enzyme catalyzing conversion of the same. 

Process for producing glutamate derivatives

Kokumi-imparting agent, method of using, and compositions containing same

Glutamic acid derivatives, in particular monatin, may be conveniently prepared by alkylating a 4-protected hydroxyl pyroglutamic acid derivative with an alkylating agent to prepare a 4-protected hydroxyl-4-alkylglutamic acid derivative, followed by the steps of hydrolysis and deprotection. The 4-protected hydroxyl pyroglutamic acid derivative is easy to produce from hydroxyproline. The 4-protected hydroxyl pyroglutamic acid derivative is particularly suitable for use in the efficient manufacture of monatin of high optical purity, since it can be alkylated selectively at the 4-position and stereoselectively and after its alkylation, it can easily be converted to a glutamic acid derivative.

Process for manufacturing a glutamic acid derivative and a pyroglutamic acid derivative and a novel intermediate in the manufacture thereof

Growing community of inventors

Kawasaki, Japan

Yusuke Amino