From Kampo Medicine to Sustainable Agriculture: Investigating the Allelopathic Properties of Medicinal Plants

• Project/Area Number: 24K18296
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 47050:Environmental and natural pharmaceutical resources-related
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: Nuntawong Poomraphie 九州大学, 薬学研究院, 助教 (20982408)
• Project Period (FY): 2024-04-01 – 2027-03-31
• Project Status: Granted (Fiscal Year 2024)
• Budget Amount: ¥4,550,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,050,000); Fiscal Year 2026: ¥1,560,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥360,000); Fiscal Year 2025: ¥1,430,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥330,000); Fiscal Year 2024: ¥1,560,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥360,000)
• Keywords: Allelopathy / Kampo medicine / Arabidopsis / Allelochemical / Immunoaffinity column

Outline of Research at the Start

This project explores the use of Kampo medicine plants for sustainable weed management by isolating and characterizing their allelochemicals for use as green herbicides. It employs immunoaffinity columns for allelochemical isolation and emphasizes the role of soil in allelopathic activity. The research aims to identify novel allelochemicals, understand their mechanisms via Arabidopsis Thaliana, and develop sustainable agricultural practices, reducing herbicide reliance.