FACULTY
- Department
- Department of Pharmacy
- Laboratory
- Natural Products Chemistry Laboratory
- Field of Study
- Chemistry
History
Graduate School/University, etc.
・2015: B.S., Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University ・2021: PhD, Major in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University
Why I Became a Researcher
I have always been fascinated by how plants work as medicines or poisons in the human body, so I chose to study under a professor of herbal medicine at the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences to learn how these plants function and what kind of plants are used. After that, I went on to graduate school with the desire to know more. Experiments are full of unknowns and they can be hard to conduct, but I decided to continue my research and do my best to make use of what I learned at university.
Research Information
Research Area and Theme
Biosynthesis and composition of components in medicinal plants
Using molecular biological methods and instrumental analysis, I am conducting research to clarify the biosynthetic pathways of components in medicinal plants (mainly perilla) and the differences in component composition among the various strains.
Thoughts on Research Theme
Different types of plants produce different components, which affect people's daily lives as medicines or poisons. However, research is still underway on how these components are produced in plants, namely, what genes are at work and what structures are biosynthesized from the raw materials. When I was a student, I elucidated the biosynthetic enzyme genes of essential oil components classified as phenylpropanoids, and I found it was simply enjoyable to discover new things that were not yet understood. Biosynthetic research can be applied to the study of plant evolution and the production of functional substances by incorporating genes into microorganisms. I intend to continue my research which will contribute to the fundamental understanding of biosynthesis.
Message to Students
Message to the Students
When I started university, I did not think I would ever become a researcher. However, through my various experiences and encounters with people at university, I thought about my future and decided to take the path I am currently on. I am sure that everyone has their own reasons for entering the College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, but now that you are at the university, I hope that you will find something that is important to you, whether it is research, academic pursuits, clubs, friends, or anything else, and work hard toward what you want to do. I am sure that there are many opportunities to do what you want to at the university, so I encourage you to actively seize every opportunity. But be careful. If you just let yourself be passively swept along, university life will go by surprisingly quickly.