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Summary of our research
Green algae, Hitoegusa (Monostroma nitidum) is widely used as a garnish for miso soup and tsukudani (food boiled down in soy sauce), and is processed into "Aosanori" Rhamnan sulphate, a water-soluble dietary fiber composed mainly of rhamnose found in Hitoegusa, is known to have anti-clotting, anti-viral, and anti-inflammatory effects on vascular endothelial cells. In 2016, our research group also discovered that it has anti-obesity effects in a study on zebrafish.
In this study, Mie University and Konan Chemical Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (Yokkaichi City, Mie) jointly conducted mouse and human clinical trials using rhamnan sulfate, and found that rhamnan sulfate improves intestinal microflora (intestinal flora), resulting in improved constipation. Metagenomic analysis and network analysis of the intestinal microflora using next-generation sequencers also revealed that rhamnan sulfate may reduce inflammation in the intestines and promote the enhancement of biological defense mechanisms.
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Researcher information
SHIMADA Yasuhito
Director / Assistant Professor: Zebrafish Drug Screening Center / Department of Integrative Pharmacology, Graduate School of Medicine
Specialized area:
Obesity, Cancer, Environment
Current research field:
Drug discovery using zebrafish model
TERASAWA Masahiro
Konan Chemical Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
Specialized area:
Molecular Biology
Current research field:
Functional analysis of Rhamnan sulphate
NISHIMURA Norihiro
Professor: Graduate School of Regional Innovation Studies
Specialized area:
Translational science
Current research field:
Promotion of regional innovation