The University of Tokyo · Engineering
Professor Kōji Shimizu's research lab specializes in natural product chemistry and pharmacology, with a focus on the metabolic transformation and structural elucidation of saikosaponins—bioactive triterpenoid saponins from Bupleuri Radix. The lab investigates the in vitro and in vivo metabolism of these compounds using biological fluids and microbial systems, aiming to understand their metabolic pathways and excretion profiles. Additionally, the lab explores the pharmacological interactions of traditional Chinese herbal formulas, such as Shosaikoto, particularly in combination with synthetic drugs like prednisolone, to enhance anti-inflammatory effects. The lab also engages in genetic studies, particularly on globin gene disorders in neonatal populations, and applies computational methods to study alloy systems for energy storage applications.
Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.
Structural transformation of saikosaponin a and saikosaponin d, main components of Bupleuri Radix, were investigated using rat gastric juice (pH 1.5) and mouse intestinal flora in vitro and the excretion of saikosaponin derivatives in rat feces was also studied. Quantitative analysis of saikosaponins and their derivatives was carried out by high performance liquid chromatography. By the incubation of saikosaponins in rat gastric juice, saikosaponin a decreased with time dependently. After 3 h, s
In the course of studies on the metabolism of saikosaponins, which are the main constituents of Bupleurum falcatum L., five new compounds derived from saikosaponins a, c and d were isolated after incubation with acid and snail enzyme. On incubation of saikosaponins a and c at 60°C in a 1 N sulfuric acid-dioxane solution, saikosaponins g and i possessing a homoannular diene moiety at C-9 (11), 12 were isolated, and their structures were elucidated as 3β, 16β, 23, 28-tetrahydroxyoleana-9 (11), 12-
Data were obtained on blood samples from a relatively large group (264) of healthy Japanese newborns, collected at hospitals in Tokyo, Kurashiki, and Ube. The studies included an evaluation of anomalies in alpha-globin gene and gamma-globin gene arrangements using gene mapping and gamma-chain composition analyses. The results confirmed the rarity of alpha-thalassemia among Japanese; only a few babies had alpha-thalassemia-2 trait (the -3.7-kilobase [kb] deletion), while others had alpha-globin g
Effects of combined use of Shosaikoto (one of the famous crude Chinese medicines) and prednisolone were examined in anti-inflammatory effects, using the carrageenan edema and the cotton pellet methods. Shosaikoto and prednisolone were orally given to rats or mice at the dose of 1.1 g/kg (corresponding to 10 times the usual human dose) for the former and 1.0, 4.0 and 16.0 mg/kg for the latter. Shosaikoto showed the mild anti-inflammatory action and significantly increased the anti-inflammatory ef
The miscibility of Au and Li exhibits a potential application as an adhesion layer and electrode material in secondary batteries. Here, to explore alloying properties, we constructed a neural network potential (NNP) of Au-Li binary systems based on density functional theory (DFT) calculations. To accelerate construction of NNPs, we proposed an efficient and inexpensive method of structural dataset generation. The predictions by the constructed NNP on lattice parameters and phonon properties agre
Hereditary erythroblastic anaemia was found in a homozygous mutant (hea/hea) of an inbred strain CFO, which originated from noninbred CF#1 mice from Carworth Inc. This newly-described anaemia is inherited as an autosomal recessive and is lethal at 15-25 days of age. Erythrocytes of anaemic mice show striking polychromasia, anisocytosis, and poikilocytosis. One of the most marked features of this anaemia is the presence of large numbers of nucleated cells, mainly orthochromatophilic erythroblasts
In this study, we found that advanced airway management during prehospital emergency transport by paramedics showed high CCF and ROSC rates and contributed to improving the prognosis of OHCA patients through high-quality resuscitation.
Haplotypes and subhaplotypes in the beta-globin gene cluster were identified in 146 and 156 chromosomes, respectively, of three tribes of Colombian Amerinds. Subhaplotype [+----] was a major one in Colombian Amerinds as in most human ethnic groups except Africans. A major subhaplotype [----+] in Africans was observed in only one chromosome. The framework 2 frequencies were very low (0.018-0.067). Haplotype [+----++], which is a major one in Europeans, but not in Asians, and [+-----+], which is a
Understanding the atomistic mechanism of ion conduction in solid electrolytes is critical for the advancement of all-solid-state batteries. Glass-ceramics, which undergo crystallization from a glass state, frequently exhibit unique properties including enhanced ionic conductivities compared to both the original crystalline and glass forms. Despite these distinctive features, specific details regarding the behavior of ion conduction in glass-ceramics, particularly concerning conduction pathways,
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