The subject invention concerns materials and methods for alkene reduction of compounds, such as levoglucosenone (LGO) and (S)-γ-hydroxymethyl-α,β-butenolide (HBO), using an alkene reductase enzyme. In one embodiment, a method of the invention comprises alkene reduction of a target compound by reacting the compound with an Old Yellow Enzyme (OYE) that reduces alkene bonds. In one embodiment, the OYE is OYE 2.6 from Pichia stipites and comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: I. In a specific embodiment, the enzyme is an Old Yellow Enzyme (OYE) 2.6 mutant having an amino acid substitution at position 78 in the sequence, wherein the tyrosine at position 78 is substituted with a tryptophan amino acid (Y78W) and is designated as OYE 2.6 Y78W (SEQ ID NO:2).

A method for controlling nematode includes treating a plant or soil with a composition comprising a grammicin compound of Formula 1 or an agriculturally acceptable salt thereof. The grammicin compound may be isolated from a Xylaria grammica strain so that it is harmless to a human body, does not cause any environmental contamination, and exhibits an excellent control activity against root knot nematodes. Thus, it can be advantageously used for developing an environment-friendly natural nematicide and production of a high value-added organic agricultural product.

The invention relates to a method for the biotechnological production of the blue-green fungus pigment xylindein from fungus biomass in a bioreactor, the reactor contents being inoculated with biomass that is uncoloured. The invention also relates to the use of uncoloured biomass of the fungus culture Chlorociboria sp. for inoculation in the biotechnological production of the blue-green fungus pigment xylindein.

Use of pycnidione, epolone A, and epolone B as anti-dandruff actives either alone or in combination in anti-dandruff compositions, particularly shampoos and conditioners. The actives are particularly effective against Malassezia yeasts and Malassezia furfur. A method of obtaining pycnidione, epolone A, and epolone B from culturing of Neosetophoma samarorum is also described.

The present invention relates to gentiopicroside free Gentiana acaulis and/or Gentiana septemfida extracts. Furthermore, it relates to cosmetic compositions comprising such gentiopicroside free Gentiana acaulis or Gentiana septemfida extract, as well as mixtures thereof.

Disclosed are spray-dried powders containing a mixture of structurally distinct human milk oligosaccharides, methods for the production of said spray-dried powder, its use for the manufacture of nutritional compositions, and nutritional compositions containing said spray-dried powder.

Disclosed is a method for the manufacture of a spray-dried powder consisting essentially of 3-SL and/or 6-SL, the spray-dried powder, its use for the manufacture of nutritional compositions, and nutritional compositions containing the spray-dried powder.

Provided herein, inter alia, is a modular-functional technology for the expression of a functional heterologous polyketide synthases (PKS) system in a photosynthetic cyanobacteria.

A pharmaceutical composition intended for use in the prevention and/or treatment of leukaemia in a subject, the composition includes palytoxin (PLTX) and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The application also relates to other medical uses of palytoxin and a method for its extraction from Palythoa clavata polyps. A method for isolating the symbiodinium dinoflagellate from Palythoa clavata is also described.

The present invention is related to an active substance of Hericium erinaceus having a pain-relieving effect, and a pharmaceutical composition including the active substance. The active substance is prepared using the following steps: (a) inoculating a mycelium of H. erinaceus on an agar plate and incubating at 15-32 C. for 8-16 days; (b) inoculating the incubated H. erinaceus mycelia from step (a) into a medium in a flask and incubating at 20-30 C. and pH 4.5-6.5 for 3-5 days; (c) inoculating the incubated H. erinaceus mycelia from step (b) into a medium in a fermentation tank and incubating at 24-32 C. and pH 4.5-5.5 for 8-16 days to obtain a fermented medium of the H. erinaceus mycelia; and (d) desiccating the fermented medium of the H. erinaceus mycelia from step (c) to obtain the powder of the H. erinaceus mycelia, which is further purified and isolated to obtain a novel compound of H. erinaceus.