Establishment of Amaryllidaceae alkaloid biosynthesis technology that was oriented to Alzheimer's drug discovery

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25860081
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Natural medicines
• Research Institution: Iwate Medical University
• Principal Investigator: ASANO TAKASHI 岩手医科大学, 薬学部, 助教 (10552888)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: ヒガンバナアルカロイド / 生合成 / 組織培養 / LCMS-IT-TOF

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Alzheimer's disease is a condition of unknown etiology; and since complete recovery is impossible, a number of medications aimed at slowing the progression of symptoms are under development, and the effectiveness of a number of alkaloids has been reported. This study was focused on a plant of the family Amaryllidaceae which contained galanthamine, a substance with an inhibitory effect on acetylcholinesterase; and the findings have allowed for establishing a stable and efficient production of Amaryllidaceae alkaloids in aseptically cultured plants, as a basis for the creation of effective therapeutic agents against Alzheimer's disease.

Free Research Field

天然医薬資源学