Investigation for functional property of essential oils prepared from Cryptomeria japonica aiming for health benefit

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24380096
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Partial Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Wood science
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: SHIMIZU Kuniyoshi 九州大学, (連合)農学研究科(研究院), 准教授 (20346836)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): MITSUNAGA Tohru 岐阜大学, 応用生物科学部, 教授 (20219679)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: スギ / 精油 / 枝葉 / 幹 / 生理応答 / 心理応答

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Cryptomeria japonica is a major species for afforestation. On the other hand, effective use of unused resources such as branches and leaves, and scrap wood associated with manufacturing, which occur in the production process of C. japonica lumber, becomes an important issue. The aim of this study was to find out new functionality of essential oils from branches and leaves and wood of C. japonica. We prepared the essential oils from branches and leaves and wood. The main components were monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, respectively. In addition, we investigated the effects of the essential oils on physiological and psychological responses in humans. We demonstrated that each essential oil has different effects on the physiological and psychological responses. This study suggested that qualitative and quantitative differences in volatiles in presented air contribute to differences in the physiological and psychological responses.

Free Research Field

木材化学