DEPARTMENTS/
LABORATORIES
LABORATORIES
Botany
Faculty
Introduction
Exploring the Talents of Plants
Exploring the Talents of Plants
- Research and development of rare and endangered plant species: Within our medicinal plant garden’s collection, there are rare medicinal and useful plants that are endangered or extinct in the wild. These plants are being used as materials for molecular genetic lineage analysis and the search for distinctive components. Additionally, for some of these plants, development research from cultivation to commercialization is being conducted in collaboration with companies and other organizations.
- Research on changes in constituents during preparation and processing: Some medicinal and useful compounds in crude drugs are produced during the processing stage after harvesting. Research on the conditions for the production of sennosides, the laxative ingredient of senna, and vanillin, the aromatic component of vanilla, which are representative examples is being conducted.
- Distribution and seasonal variations of medicinal compounds in plants: We are conducting research to elucidate the distribution and seasonal variations of plants as well as differences between plant lineages and production areas using plants that produce indole alkaloids as materials.
- Development of botanical garden functions: As a medical university, we are exploring how our medicinal botanical garden can benefit the local community and are actively supporting the development of programs such as public lectures and other activities. We are also proposing new functions and envisioning what the future of medicinal botanical gardens should look like.