A composition for lubricant formulations is disclosed. The composition may include hypochlorite, dimethicone, and an emulsifier for improvement of lubricity. Methods of making and using the lubricant formulations are also disclosed.

The present invention relates to an acyl-CoA synthetase homolog protein from microorganisms of the genus Mortierella, a polynucleotide encoding the protein, and so on. The invention provides polynucleotides comprising an acyl-CoA synthetase homolog protein gene from, e.g., Mortierella alpina, expression vectors comprising these polynucleotides and transformants thereof, a method for producing lipids or fatty acids using the transformants, food products containing the lipids or fatty acids produced by the method, etc.

The present invention discloses a use of neohesperidin or a neohesperidin-containing plant extract in the manufacture of a product for improving and/or promoting skin microcirculation, or for eliminating and/or alleviating diseases or conditions associated with poor skin microcirculation. The present invention also discloses a composition comprising an effective amount of neohesperidin or a neohesperidin-containing plant extract, and to a method for improving and/or promoting skin microcirculation, or eliminating and/or alleviating diseases or conditions associated with poor skin microcirculation, by using neohesperidin. The skin microcirculation of the present invention is preferably eye skin microcirculation.

The disclosure provides for compounds of the general structure: ##STR00001##
and methods of using and compositions comprising the compounds for treating infections, cancer and neoplastic diseases and disorders.

Thus, the present invention provides a composition in powder form comprising highly dispersed silica particles, polymethylsiloxane particles, and a cationic surfactant, wherein at least 25% by weight of the cationic surfactant is present in primary polymethylsiloxane particles carrying the cationic surfactant on their surface and/or in agglomerates of these primary particles.

Disclosed is a compound of formula (I′): R′—O—CH2-CH(OH)—[CH2-O—CH2]s-[CH(OH)]p-CH2-O—R″ (I′), formula (I″), wherein s is equal to 0 or 1, and p is equal to 0, 1, 2 or 3, R′ and R″, identical or different, represent a hydrogen atom, or a monovalent radical of formula (II′a), or a monovalent radical of formula (II′b), in order to prevent or slow down the appearance of the signs of ageing of the human skin or lips or to eradicate these signs. Also disclosed are a novel product, novel composition and cosmetic method.

The present invention provides a skin barrier function-improving agent including an inositol derivative as an active ingredient in which inositol and saccharide are bonded, and a composition for improving a skin barrier function including the above skin barrier function-improving agent and a pharmacologically acceptable carrier.

The present invention provides a moisturizing agent including an inositol derivative as an active ingredient in which saccharide of three or more monosaccharide unit is bonded to per molecule of inositol.

The present invention relates to a novel pseudoceramide compound, and more particularly, to a novel pseudoceramide compound represented by formula 1 and having skin moisturizing and barrier function characteristics, and a skin topical composition comprising the pseudoceramide compound:

##STR00001##

wherein R.sub.1 represents a linear C12-C18 alkyl group and has at least one double bond, and R.sub.2 represents a linear C12-C22 alkyl group and has a double bond.

The use of selenite- or selenate-containing preparations supplemented with pharmaceutically acceptable or food-compatible acids for the preparation of an agent intended for topical or buccal application or mucosal administration is described.