Hangekobokuto (Banxia-houpo-tang), a Kampo Medicine that Treats Functional Dyspepsia

Although abdominal bloating is one of the most bothersome symptoms experienced by patients with functional dyspepsia (FD), therapeutic drugs to relieve abdominal bloating have not been established. We investigated the Kampo (Chinese herbal) medicine, Hangekobokuto (Banxia-houpo-tang, HKT) for patients with FD from the standpoint of bowel gas retention. The bowel gas volume calculated from a plain abdominal radiogram (gas volume score, GVS) in FD patients was significantly higher than that in healthy subjects. Two week administration of HKT in the FD patients showed a significant decrease of GVS. Furthermore, gastrointestinal symptoms, especially symptoms of abdominal pain, indigestion and constipation, all of which are closely related to abdominal bloating, improved significantly in FD patients after the administration of HKT. These results suggest that HKT improves abdominal bloating accompanied by the reduction of bowel gas in FD patients

2019年度 八戸工業大学公開講座

Last updated: 6/15/201

Rapid and efficient callus induction and plant regeneration from seeds of zoysiagrass (Zoysia japonica Steud.)

A rapid and efficient in vitro culture system has been established in zoysiagrass (Zoysia japonica Steud.). Embryos isolated from mature seeds were used to induce callus, which improved callus formation and shortened the culture period. A high concentration of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (5 mg L−1) in combination with low concentration of 6-benzyladenine (0.2 mg L−1) was proved to be suitable for callus induction in zoysiagrass. Eight types of calli were observed; friable callus was the most regenerable type. Shoot regeneration efficiency was improved by using 1 mg L−1 of thidiazuron with 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (0.05 mg L−1) and gibberellic acid (0.1 mg L−1). Zoysiagrass shoots continued to grow in MS medium, and rooted in half-strength MS medium. With this system, it appears the duration of in vitro regeneration could be shortened to 16 weeks for zoysiagrass, i.e. from inoculation of embryos to regeneration of plantlets with shoots and roots

Respiratory burst oxidase-D Expression and Biochemical Responses in Festuca arundinacea under Drought Stress

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidases catalyze the production of superoxide, a type of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In plants, the NADPH oxidase homologs have been identified as respiratory burst oxidase homologs (Rboh). They are involved in ROS production in response to drought stress. Three entries of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) were used for analyses in the present study: tolerant (‘Isfahan’) and sensitive (‘Quchan’) accessions to drought during the germination stage, selected from 14 wild populations in Iran, as well as ‘Barvado’ as a control. Partial sequence of the Festuca respiratory burst oxidase-D (FrbohD) gene was isolated from Barvado. We compared expression levels of the FrbohD gene as well as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), catalase activity and some biochemical responses among the three entries. Gene expression was evaluated for leaf and shoot samples subjected to 3, 6, and 9 d without water. The transcript level of FrbohD, H2O2 content, and catalase activity increased in Quchan under drought stress. It appears that lower levels of FrbohD gene transcription and H2O2 concentration in F. arundinacea leaves contributed to drought stress tolerance in Isfahan. Total protein and total soluble carbohydrate content also increased significantly in Isfahan when it was subjected to drought stress. Isfahan exhibited drought resistance through various strategies, which could serve as selection criteria for improving drought resistance in turfgrass breeding programs

Establishment of an efficient in vitro culture and particle bombardment-mediated transformation systems in Miscanthus sinensis Anderss., a potential bioenergy crop

Plants belonging to the genus Miscanthus are considered promising bioenergy crops. Here, we report the establishment of tissue culture system through particle bombardment- mediated transformation in Miscanthus sinensis Anderss. Callus was induced efficiently from mature seeds in a medium containing a combination of a relatively high level of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (5mgL 1) and a relatively low level of 6-benzyladenine (BA) (0.01mgL 1). Callus induction potential of 18 accessions of M. sinensis, which were collected from various sites in Japan, was compared. Significant correlation was detected between compact (embryogenic) callus induction frequency and average annual air temperature in collection sites. An accession from Tanegashima Island showed the highest production of compact callus. We found that a higher level of BA causes callus browning; the 2mg L 1 BA is the optimal concentration for regeneration. Both compact and friable calli were suitable for particle bombardment transformation. Through selection under the presence of 50mgL 1 hygromycin for 3 weeks and further selection under the presence of 150mgL 1 for 1 month, hygromycin-resistant calli survived, of which 72.2% had been entirely transformed. Plants were regenerated from calli in the presence of hygromycin; transcripts of the hpt and gfp genes, which were cobombarded to the calli, were detected in the regenerated plants. This is the first report on the establishment of the in vitro culture of M. sinensis using mature seeds, the variation of callus formation among accessions collected from various sites in Japan, and particle bombardment-mediated transformation in the genus Miscanthus