A compound of general formula (1) ##STR00001## [wherein: R.sub.1 and R.sub.2, which are the same or different, each represent a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a lower alkyl group, a lower cycloalkyl group, a lower alkanoyl group, a halogen substituted lower alkyl group, a lower alkoxy group, a halogen substituted lower alkoxy group, a cyano group, a cross-linked methylenedioxy group, an ethylenedioxy group, a propylenedioxy group, a lower alkylthio group, a lower alkylsulfonyl group, a carboxyl group, a lower alkoxycarbonyl group, a lower alkylamide group, a lower alkylamino alkylene amide group, an amino group, an alkylamino group, a hydroxy group, a functional group represented by general formula (2), or a functional group represented by general formula (3)
—CONH(CH.sub.2).sub.p—R.sub.3  (2) [wherein R.sub.3 represents a di-lower alkylamino group, a morpholino group, a piperidino group, a 2-methyl-piperidino group, or a 2-oxo-pyrrolidinyl group; p represents an integer from 2 to 6]; ##STR00002## [wherein, R.sub.4 represents a lower alkyl group]; m and n each represent an integer from 0 to 3; the term lower represents a carbon number of 1 to 6; and the halogen atom represents a fluorine, chlorine or bromine atom] can inhibit endoplasmic reticulum stress to a greater extent as compared to known chemical chaperones. The compound thus can be used suitably as an agent for preventing, ameliorating or treating various diseases that are caused by endoplasmic reticulum stress.

A compound of general formula (1) ##STR00001## [wherein: R.sub.1 and R.sub.2, which are the same or different, each represent a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a lower alkyl group, a lower cycloalkyl group, a lower alkanoyl group, a halogen substituted lower alkyl group, a lower alkoxy group, a halogen substituted lower alkoxy group, a cyano group, a cross-linked methylenedioxy group, an ethylenedioxy group, a propylenedioxy group, a lower alkylthio group, a lower alkylsulfonyl group, a carboxyl group, a lower alkoxycarbonyl group, a lower alkylamide group, a lower alkylamino alkylene amide group, an amino group, an alkylamino group, a hydroxy group, a functional group represented by general formula (2), or a functional group represented by general formula (3)
—CONH(CH.sub.2).sub.p—R.sub.3  (2) [wherein R.sub.3 represents a di-lower alkylamino group, a morpholino group, a piperidino group, a 2-methyl-piperidino group, or a 2-oxo-pyrrolidinyl group; p represents an integer from 2 to 6]; ##STR00002## [wherein, R.sub.4 represents a lower alkyl group]; m and n each represent an integer from 0 to 3; the term lower represents a carbon number of 1 to 6; and the halogen atom represents a fluorine, chlorine or bromine atom] can inhibit endoplasmic reticulum stress to a greater extent as compared to known chemical chaperones. The compound thus can be used suitably as an agent for preventing, ameliorating or treating various diseases that are caused by endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Polymeric compositions are provided that include a poly(ethylene glycol), a viscoelastic polymer, and an antioxidant, where, in polymerized form, the compositions have a refractive index of about 1.30 to about 1.40. Methods of synthesizing the compositions are also provided and include the steps of heating an amount of water; adding a buffering agent to the water to form a buffer solution; mixing a poly(ethylene glycol) and a viscoelastic polymer into the buffer solution to form a reactive mixture; adding a plurality of antioxidant particles to the reactive mixture; and removing suspended gas bubbles from the reactive mixture. Methods of preventing oxidative damage to an eye lens of a subject are further provided and include administering the foregoing polymeric compositions to the eye lens of the subject.

A composition containing black ginger extract including black ginger extract, and cyclodextrin. The composition containing black ginger extract includes certain 6 polymethoxyflavones (6PMF). When a total amount of 6PMF in the composition containing black ginger extract is determined as 100 parts by mass, an amount of 5-hydroxy-7-methoxyflavone in the composition containing black ginger extract is 5 parts by mass or less. When absorbance of an aqueous solution of the composition containing black ginger extract, in which a total amount of the 6 polymethoxyflavones is adjusted to a certain amount, is measured, the absorbance of the aqueous solution satisfies P1/V1≥1.45.

The present invention relates to specific doses of and dosing regimens for using a 1,2,4-oxadiazole benzoic acid compound in treating or preventing diseases associated with nonsense mutations. In particular, the invention relates to specific doses and dosing regimens for the use of 3-[5-(2-fluoro-phenyl)-[1,2,4]oxadiazol-3-yl]-benzoic acid in mammals having diseases associated with nonsense mutations.

Methods and kits for treating oral mucositis are disclosed. The treatment comprises administering to a patient in need thereof a Reactive Oxygen Species scavenger in a pharmaceutically acceptable formulation.

Provided are methods for improving exercise performance and endurance of a mammal, comprising administering to the mammal in need thereof a composition comprising dihydroberberine (DHB), or an analog or derivative thereof, and a physiologically acceptable carrier. DHB in the composition can serve as an antioxidant to defend red blood cells against oxidative stress damage, by scavenging reactive oxygen species generated during to increase the deformability and the survival of red blood cells.

Provided are methods for improving exercise performance and endurance of a mammal, comprising administering to the mammal in need thereof a composition comprising dihydroberberine (DHB), or an analog or derivative thereof, and a physiologically acceptable carrier. DHB in the composition can serve as an antioxidant to defend red blood cells against oxidative stress damage, by scavenging reactive oxygen species generated during to increase the deformability and the survival of red blood cells.

A porous carbon material composite formed of a porous carbon material and a functional material and equipped with high functionality. The porous carbon material composite is formed of (A) a porous carbon material obtainable from a plant-derived material having a silicon (Si) content of 5 wt % or higher as a raw material; and (B) a functional material adhered on the porous carbon material, and has a specific surface area of 10 m.sup.2/g or greater as determined by the nitrogen BET method and a pore volume of 0.1 cm.sup.3/g or greater as determined by the BJH method and MP method.

The invention discloses a composition exhibiting enhanced bioavailability comprising tri-molecular complex of a natural compound or a natural compound containing component, a divalent or tri-valent metal ion and a phospholipid embedded in natural matrix. The composition of the invention further exhibits a sustained release profile for the natural compound or natural compound containing component. The invention further discloses a process for manufacturing the tri-molecular complex containing composition.