Intensive studies on (1) perilla, (2) agarwood, and (3) cinnamon, through fieldwork

(1) perilla

• Many types of experiments ranging from classical genetics to modern molecular cloning on perilla have been performed in our lab. Cloning and functional expression of enzymes related to the biosynthesis of essential oil compound is our recent topic for this plant. Structural similarity of these enzymes between these cloned from wild species (chromosome number 2n=20) and from cultivated species (chromosone number 2n=40) seemed to indicate their phylogenetic relationship. This also deeply concerned with investigation on the ancestral species of cultivated species of perilla.

(2) agarwood

• Agarwood has been used as the most noble fragrant wood, specially in Japanese traditional incense ceremony. Its fragrant regions portion is known to be formed by some sorts of stimuli on agar wood plant, however, precise mechanisms of regin production and the most effective way of artificial formation of regin have not been developed. Our studies are on the mechanisms of regin formation and also many other topics on agarwood. Pharmacological activities of agarwood oil is another interesting topic in our lab using an assay system of vapor-inhalation.

(3) cinnamon

• Cinnamon is an important natural medicine in Kampo Medicines and also is very common kitchen spice. Although big amount of cinnamon is imported mainly from China and Vietnam and used, not a many report have been made on it. We have performed field researches on Vietnamese cinnamon for several years and reported its cultivation systems. Taxonomical studies of origin plant and pharmcological examination of cinnamaldehyde is under performance now.

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