Kuniyoshi Shimizu

Dr. Kuniyoshi Shimizu

Kyushu University
orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

29Years (1998-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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1 January 2010 in Biomedical Research
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
MNMayumi Nagano
Mayumi Nagano
Kuniyoshi ShimizuKuniyoshi Shimizu
Kuniyoshi Shimizu
RKRyuichiro Kondo
Ryuichiro Kondo
CHChickako Hayashi
Chickako Hayashi
DSDaigo Sato
Daigo Sato
KOKoichiro Ohnuki
Koichiro Ohnuki
Hericium erinaceus, a well known edible mashroom, has numerous biological activities. Especially hericenones and erinacines isolated from its fruiting body stimulate nerve growth factor (NGF) synthesis, which expects H. erinaceus to have some effects on brain functions and autonomic nervous system. Herein, we investigated the clinical effects of H. erinaceus on menopause, depression, sleep quality and indefinite complaints, using the Kupperman Menopausal Index (KMI), the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the Indefinite Complaints Index (ICI). Thirty females were randomly assigned to either the H. erinaceus (HE) group or the placebo group and took HE cookies or placebo cookies for 4 weeks. Each of the CES-D and the ICI score after the HE intake was significantly lower than that before. In two terms of the ICI, “insentive” and “palpitatio”, each of the mean score of the HE group was significantly lower than the placebo group. “Concentration”, “irritating” and “anxious” tended to be lower than the placebo group. Our results show that HE intake has the possibility to reduce depression and anxiety and these results suggest a different mechanism from NGF-enhancing action of H. erinaceus.


1 June 1998 in Planta Medica
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
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Kuniyoshi ShimizuKuniyoshi Shimizu
Kuniyoshi Shimizu
RKRyuichiro Kondo
Ryuichiro Kondo
KSKokki Sakai
Kokki Sakai
SLSeon-Ho Lee
Seon-Ho Lee
HSHiroaki Sato
Hiroaki Sato
The inhibitory effects of methanol extracts of heartwood of 23 Papua New Guinean wood species on tyrosinase activity were examined. The extract of Artocarpus incisus showed the strongest tyrosinase inhibitory activity which was equivalent to kojic acid. The extract apparently inhibited melanin biosynthesis of both cultured B16 melanoma cells without any cytotoxicity and in the back of a brown guinea pig without skin irritation. Thus, the potentiality of the extracts of heartwood of A. incisus both as material of a useful skin whitening agent and as a remedy for disturbances in pigmentation is evident. Tyrosinase inhibitory activity-guided fractionation led to the isolation of seven active compounds including a new compound which has been characterized as 6-(3″-methyl-1″-butenyl)-5,7,2′,4′-tetrahydroxyflavone, named isoartocarpesin. Other active compounds were (+)-dihydromorin, chlorophorin, (+)-norartocarpanone, 4-prenyloxyresveratrol, artocarbene, and artocarpesin. These compounds are probably responsible for the melanin biosynthesis inhibitory effects.

10 August 2021 in Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
EAEnos Tangke Tangke Arung
Enos Tangke Tangke Arung
RRRico Ramadhan
Rico Ramadhan
BKBinti Khairunnisa
Binti Khairunnisa
Yhiya AmenYhiya Amen
Yhiya Amen
MMMasako Matsumoto
Masako Matsumoto
Kuniyoshi ShimizuKuniyoshi Shimizu
Kuniyoshi Shimizu
Our effort to find new material for anti cancer from natural resources leads us to focus on stingless bee products such as honey, bee pollen, and propolis. The products were from seven stingless bees named Homotrigona fimbriata, Heterotrigona itama, Heterotrigona bakeri, Tetragonula sarawakensis, Tetragonula testaceitarsis, Tetragonula fuscobalteata, Tetragonula laeviceps. The stingless bee products were evaluated for their cytotoxicity effect on MCF-7, HeLa and Caco-2 cancer cell lines. This is the first time to be reported that the honey, ethanol extracts of bee pollen and propolis of H. fimbriata displayed more potent cytotoxicity than other stingless bee products. By chromatography and biological activity-guided fractionation, ethanol extract of propolis from H. fimbriata was fractionated and isolated its active compound named mangiferonic acid. Mangiferonic acid showed a cytotoxicity effect with IC50 values 96.76 µM in MCF-7, >110.04 µM in HeLa, and > 110.04 µM in Caco-2, respectively. These results exhibited the potential of ethanol extracts from propolis of H. fimbriata to be further developed for drug and experiments to verify the function are essential.

26 August 2015 in Scientific Reports
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
QZQinchang Zhu
Qinchang Zhu
TBTran Hai Bang
Tran Hai Bang
KOKoichiro Ohnuki
Koichiro Ohnuki
TSTakashi Sawai
Takashi Sawai
KSKen Sawai
Ken Sawai
Kuniyoshi ShimizuKuniyoshi Shimizu
Kuniyoshi Shimizu
Neuraminidase (NA) inhibitors are the dominant antiviral drugs for treating influenza in the clinic. Increasing prevalence of drug resistance makes the discovery of new NA inhibitors a high priority. Thirty-one triterpenoids from the medicinal mushroom Ganoderma lingzhi were analyzed in an in vitro NA inhibition assay, leading to the discovery of ganoderic acid T-Q and TR as two inhibitors of H5N1 and H1N1 NAs. Structure-activity relationship studies revealed that the corresponding triterpenoid structure is a potential scaffold for the design of NA inhibitors. Using these triterpenoids as probes we found, through further in silico docking and interaction analysis, that interactions with the amino-acid residues Arg292 and/or Glu119 of NA are critical for the inhibition of H5N1 and H1N1. These findings should prove valuable for the design and development of NA inhibitors.