Novel compositions extracted from corn products provide contraceptive and anti-neoplastic activities. Using novel extraction procedures, compositions may be isolated from corn products. For example, a Zea mays plant product is extracted in a first solvent to produce a solvent extract, the solvent extract is dried to produce an extracted solid, the extracted solid is solubilized in a second solvent, the solubilized extract is purified in a chromatographic process, and an active fraction is collected from the chromatographic process. Compositions may be applied to animal bedding or food, and are adaptable to any suitable method of administration. The contraceptive activity of these compositions is effective for both males and females.

Baylor College of Medicine

Corn extract contraceptive

A biologically active substance comprising a kind of glycolipid having an elemental analysis (%) of H: 5.20-5.40, C: 42.55-44.17 and N: 3.94-4.08 and a molecular weight of about 30,000-10.sup.6 is obtained by extracting the tissue of a plant of maize (Zea mays Linne) or a variant thereof by extracting the tissue with water and recovering the desired active substance from the resultant extract. This substance is capable of inhibiting the formation of IgE antibodies and promoting the formation of IgG and IgM antibodies, and moreover exhibits various biological activities such as interferon-inducing activity, polyclonal B lymphocite activating activity, mitrogenic activity, adjuvant activity and anti-tumour activity. Thus, this substance is expected to be useful for preventing and treating, for example, aesthema, rhintitis, B-type hepatitis, AIDS and other allergic diseases and immunological insufficiency.

zea/ailse

Corn extract contraceptive

Process for producing a biologically active substance and compositions containing the same

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