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Staff

Professor Katsuko KOMATSU Katsuko KOMATSU
Professor, Ph. D. (Pharmaceutical Sciences)
Division of Medicinal Resources, Section of Pharmacognosy,
Institute of Natural Medicine, University of Toyama
2630 Sugitani, Toyama, 930-0194, Japan
TEL: 076-434-7601
FAX: 076-434-5064

Research field

Pharmacognosy, Pharmaceutical Botany, Comparative Ethnopharmacology

Research subjects

  1. Diversity analysis of medicinal plants from molecular, chemical and pharmacological viewpoints
  2. Authentication and quality evaluation of various herbal drugs
  3. Field investigation of herbal drug resources and traditional medicines in Asian countries
  4. Constructing and expanding the database on traditional herbal drugs

Selected peer-reviewed publications

1) Zhu S, Sugiyama R, Batkhuu J, Sanchir C, Zou K, Komatsu K (2009). Survey of Glycyrrhizae Radix resources in Mongolia: chemical assessment of the underground part of Glycyrrhiza uralensis and comparison with Chinese Glycyrrhizea Radix. J Nat Med, 63, 137-146.
2) Zhu S, Fushimi H, Komatsu K (2008). Development of a DNA microarray for authentication of ginseng drugs based on 18S rRNA gene sequence. J Agric Food Chem 56, 3953-3959.
3) Komatsu K, Nagayama Y, Tanaka K, Ling Y, Cai SQ, Omote T, Meselhy MR (2006). Comparative study of chemical constituents of rhubarb from different origins. Chem Pharm Bull 54, 1491-1499.
4) Tohda C, Tamura T, Matsuyama S, Komatsu K (2006). Promotion of axonal maturation and prevention of memory loss in mice by extracts of Astragalus mongholicus. Br J Pharmacol 149, 532-541.
5) Kuboyama T, Tohda C, Komatsu K (2006). Withanoside IV and its active metabolite, sominone, attenuate Aβ(25-35)-induced neurodegeneration. Eur J Neurosci 23, 1417-1426.
6) Komatsu K, Tohda C, Zhu S (2005). Ginseng drugs - Molecular and Chemical Characteristics and Possibility as Antidementia Drugs. Current Topics in Nutraceutical Research 3, 47-64.
7) Yang DY, Hushimi H, Cai SQ, Komatsu K (2004). Molecular Analysis of Rheum Species Used as Rhei Rhizoma Based on Chloroplast matK Gene Sequence and Its Application for Identification. Biol Pharm Bull 27, 375-383.
8) Zhu S, Zou K, Fushimi H, Cai SQ, Komatsu K (2004). Comparative Study on Triterpene Saponins of Ginseng Drugs. Planta Med 70, 666-677.
9) Zhu S, Fushimi H, Cai SQ, Komatsu K (2003). Phylogenetic Relationship in Genus Panax: Inferred from Chloroplast trnK Gene and Nuclear 18S rRNA Gene Sequences. Planta Med 69, 647-653.
10) Sasaki Y, Goto H, Tohda C, Hatanaka F, Shibahara N, Shimada Y, Terasawa K, Komatsu K (2003). Effects of Curcuma Drugs on Vasomotion in Isolated Rat Aorta. Biol Pharm Bull 26, 1135-1143.
11) Sasaki Y, Fushimi H, Cao H, Cai SQ, Komatsu K (2002). Sequence Analysis of Chinese and Japanese Curcuma Drugs on the 18S rRNA Gene and trnK Gene and the Application of Amplification-Refractory Mutation System Analysis for Their Authentication. Biol Pharm Bull 25, 1593-1599.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

Education:

1986: Ph. D. (Pharmaceutical Sciences)
Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Toyama, Japan
1983: M.S. Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Toyama, Japan
1979: B.S. Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Toyama University, Toyama, Japan

Position and Employment:

2019-present: Director, Institute of Natural Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
2005-present: Professor, Department of Medicinal Resources, Curator, Museum of Materia Medica, Institute of Natural Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
2004-2005: Professor, Department of Medicinal Resources, Institute of Natural Medicine, Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Toyama, Japan
1996-2004: Associate Professor, Research Center for Ethnomedicines, Institute of Natural Medicine, Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Toyama, Japan
1996-1998, 2002-2005: Director of Reseasrch Center for Ethnomidicines
1990-1996: Assistant Professor, Development for Natural Drug Resources, Research Institute for Wakan-yaku (Currently, Institute of Natural Medicine), Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Toyama, Japan
1988-1990: Research Associate, Development for Natural Drug Resources, Research Institute for Wakan-yaku, Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Toyama, Japan
1986: Visiting Researcher, Nanjing College of Pharmacy, Nanjing, China

Honors

2000: Incitement Award of the Japanese Society of Pharmacognosy

Scientific and Professional Activities

Member of: The Pharmaceutical Society of Japan
The Japanese Society of Pharmacognosy (member of editorial board of J. Nat. Med.)
Medical and Pharmaceutical Society for WAKAN-YAKU (1998- councilor, 2006-2009 trustee)
Ayurveda Society in Japan (1996- trustee)
The Japan Society for Oriental Medicine
Japanese Society for Plant Systematics

Fieldwork Carrier

Peoples Republic of China, Mongolia, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, India, Nepal, etc. (total 38 times)

Research Support

© Shoyaku Shigen Kagaku Bun'ya

Division of Medicinal Resources, Section of Pharmacognosy,
Institute of Natural Medicine, University of Toyama
2630 Sugitani, Toyama, 930-0194, Japan
TEL: 81-76-434-7601 / FAX: 81-76-434-5064
Institute of Natural Medicine
University of Toyama