This invention relates to plant extracts containing nutritionally beneficial or medicinally active compounds. Some of these extracts, or the purified compounds contained therein, may be used for the nutritional support, prevention, treatment, or possible cure of various metabolic and other diseases and disorders in human beings and animals, including type 1 and type 2 diabetes, by regulating insulin signaling. This regulatory effect may include modulations of the levels and/or activity of the Insulin Receptor (IR), the Insulin-like Growth Factor (IGF) Receptor, and/or the Insulin Receptor Substrate (IRS) proteins in cells and tissues in the body.

This invention relates to plant extracts containing nutritionally beneficial or medicinally active compounds. Some of these extracts, or the purified compounds contained therein, may be used for the nutritional support, prevention, treatment, or possible cure of various metabolic and other diseases and disorders in human beings and animals, including type 1 and type 2 diabetes, by regulating insulin signaling. This regulatory effect may include modulations of the levels and/or activity of the Insulin Receptor (IR), the Insulin-like Growth Factor (IGF) Receptor, and/or the Insulin Receptor Substrate (IRS) proteins in cells and tissues in the body.

Calcium and silicon are known to strengthen the formation of hair, skin and nails. The efficacy of oral intake of calcium and silicon is very difficult. Local delivery and uptake of the ions would enable more efficient strengthening of 5 nails, skin or hair. The invention relates to the addition of calcium silicate to products for local release of calcium and silicate to nails, hair and skin.

An iron-containing composition containing ferric pyrophosphate, a polyhydric alcohol, gum arabic, and gum ghatti, wherein the content of the polyhydric alcohol is from 93 to 630 parts by mass, based on 100 parts by mass of the ferric pyrophosphate, and wherein a total amount of gum arabic and gum ghatti is from 15 to 23 parts by mass, based on 100 parts by mass of the ferric pyrophosphate, and wherein a mass ratio of the content of the gum arabic to the content of the gum ghatti (gum arabic/gum ghatti) is from 0.01 to 0.5, and wherein the ferric pyrophosphate has a volume-average particle size of 0.20 μm or less. The iron-containing composition of the present invention can be used in foodstuff, feeds, cosmetics, pharmaceutical compositions, and the like.

Feeding bees a composition containing at least one oxidizing agent (e.g., peroxide), optionally also containing other components such as an oxidizing agent activator or a viscosifying agent, to treat against, reduce and/or limit the spread of bacterial, virus, and fungi infestation in bees and/or beehives.

Feeding bees a composition containing at least one oxidizing agent (e.g., peroxide), optionally also containing other components such as an oxidizing agent activator or a viscosifying agent, to treat against, reduce and/or limit the spread of bacterial, virus, and fungi infestation in bees and/or beehives.

Provided are dietary supplement composition comprising one or both of L-theanine and a trace mineral complex, optionally in combination with bioactive peptides, in an amount or amounts individually or in combination effective to promote gut health. Further optional components include a fiber oligosaccharide prebiotic, a polyphenol prebiotic, and a polynucleotide or blend. Examples of benefits include one or more of: —an increase in the amount of total short-chain fatty acid production or of at least one of propionate, acetate and butyrate; —an increase the expression or level of at least one tight junction protein (for example, claudin-1, claudin-3, claudin-4, occludin, or a zona occludens protein) or mucin-3 or decrease the expression or level of claudin-2; —an increase in transepithelial electrical resistance; —an increase in the abundance or diversity of a member or phylum of the intestinal bacterial community of the Intestinal lumen or mucus area (for example, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Lactobacilli, Bifidobacteria, F. prausnitzii, or A. muciniphila); —an increase in the expression or level of at least one intestinal surface area marker protein (for example, villin, myosin, cadherin or sucrase-isomaltase). Methods for using such supplements are also disclosed.

Provided are dietary supplement composition comprising one or both of L-theanine and a trace mineral complex, optionally in combination with bioactive peptides, in an amount or amounts individually or in combination effective to promote gut health. Further optional components include a fiber oligosaccharide prebiotic, a polyphenol prebiotic, and a polynucleotide or blend. Examples of benefits include one or more of: —an increase in the amount of total short-chain fatty acid production or of at least one of propionate, acetate and butyrate; —an increase the expression or level of at least one tight junction protein (for example, claudin-1, claudin-3, claudin-4, occludin, or a zona occludens protein) or mucin-3 or decrease the expression or level of claudin-2; —an increase in transepithelial electrical resistance; —an increase in the abundance or diversity of a member or phylum of the intestinal bacterial community of the Intestinal lumen or mucus area (for example, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Lactobacilli, Bifidobacteria, F. prausnitzii, or A. muciniphila); —an increase in the expression or level of at least one intestinal surface area marker protein (for example, villin, myosin, cadherin or sucrase-isomaltase). Methods for using such supplements are also disclosed.

A new means of creating a standardized honey that can be used for a variety of uses. One example is a honey product that protects the stomach and inhibits H. pylori. This product has a consistent minimal antimicrobial effect. The honey may be standardized to pH, organic acid level, mineral levels, aldehyde levels, and polyphenol levels. Molasses or natural syrup may be substituted for honey. Other variations are honey that is supplemented with molasses, natural syrup, standardized molasses and/or standardized natural syrup.

A new means of creating a standardized honey that can be used for a variety of uses. One example is a honey product that protects the stomach and inhibits H. pylori. This product has a consistent minimal antimicrobial effect. The honey may be standardized to pH, organic acid level, mineral levels, aldehyde levels, and polyphenol levels. Molasses or natural syrup may be substituted for honey. Other variations are honey that is supplemented with molasses, natural syrup, standardized molasses and/or standardized natural syrup.