Kiyotaka Kabata

Extraction of novel sulfated polysaccharides from Aphanothece sacrum (Sur.) Okada, and its spectroscopic characterization*

We extracted polysaccharides (PS) from Aphanothece sacrum using a hot alkaline solution which degraded other biopolymers such as proteins and nucleotides. The spectroscopy and elemental analyses indicated the PS contain carboxyls and sulfate groups. The degree of sulfation was estimated as about 10 mol %. 1H NMR studies demonstrated that the PS of A. sacrum had a dimethylated fucose unit. The combination of sulfate group and fucose in the prokaryotic PS was first evidenced by the direct spectroscopic studies. The PS showed efficient gelation behavior, binding to metal ions abundant in soil, and the swelling volume of the gel was approximately 250 times the dry volume. These results imply that PS of A. sacrum, which has been mass cultivated in Japan for a long time, may have potential as an environmentally benign water absorbent.

Antiviral Activity of Four New Resin Glycosides Calysolins XIV-XVII from Calystegia soldanella against Herpes Simplex Virus.

Four new resin glycosides, named calysolins XIV (1), XV (2), XVI (3), and XVII (4) were isolated from the leaves, stems, and roots of Calystegia soldanella ROEM.. et SCHULT. (Convolvulaceae). Their structures were determined based on spectroscopic and chemical evidence, and consisted of two different types: those (1) with a macrolactone structure and those (2-4) with a non-macrolactone structure. Their sugar moieties were partially acylated by specific organic acids, including tiglic, 2S-methylbutyric, and 2S,3S-nilic acids. Additionally, evaluation of the antiviral activity of 1-4 revealed effects against the herpes simplex virus type 1.

Calysolins I–IV, Resin Glycosides from Calystegia soldanella

Four new resin glycosides having intramolecular cyclic ester structures (jalapins), named calysolins I-IV (1-4), were isolated from the methanol extract of leaves, stems, and roots of Calystegia soldanella , along with one known jalapin (5) derivative. The structures of 1-4 were determined on the basis of spectroscopic data and chemical evidence. They fall into two types, one having a 22-membered ring (1 and 4) and the other with a 27-membered ring (2 and 3). The sugar moieties of 1-4 were partially acylated by some organic acids. Compound 4 is the first example of a hexaglycoside of jalapin.

Aphanothece sacrum (Sur.) Okada Prevents Cataractogenesis in Type 1 Diabetic Mice

Aphanothece sacrum (Sur.) Okada is a species of cyanobacteria found in Japan. Although it has been used in local cuisine in Kyushu, Japan, for 250 y, little is known about its beneficial effect as food. The daily intake of health beneficial phytochemicals is believed to be useful for preventing lifestyle-related diseases, such as diabetic cataracts. In this study, the inhibitory effect of freeze-dried A. sacrum (Asa) on the formation of diabetic cataracts (DCs) was evaluated. Type 1 diabetes was induced in mice using streptozotocin (STZ). The mice were divided into two groups: one was fed a normal diet (DM-control group) and the other was fed a diet containing 1% Asa (DM-Asa group). During the study, changes in blood glucose levels and the amount of food and water consumed were measured. After 3 mo, the amount of Nε-(carboxymethyl)lysine (CML), an oxidative stress marker, in the lens was measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Although the blood glucose levels (p=0.91) and food consumption did not significantly change in any group, the oral administration of Asa tended to suppress CML accumulation (p=0.15) and significantly inhibited the progression of cataractogenesis in the diabetic lens compared with that reported for the normal diet (p=0.009). These results suggested that the daily intake of A. sacrum prevents the pathogenesis of cataracts, and indicated that may reduce the number of DC patients.

Animal Production and Phytodiversity in Semi-natural Grasslands of the Aso Region, Japan

In this review, we present the results of our ten years of study on beef cattle production as a means of preserving phytodiversity and landscape in the semi-natural grasslands of the Aso region of Japan. There are about 16,000 ha of semi-natural grasslands in the region. The grasslands are maintained for animal production through such activities as grazing, mowing, and controlled burning. The Shannon`s diversity index values, as measured in the present study, were higher in the grazed sites than in the abandoned sites. The grazing activities thus seem to create suitable habitats for coexisting herbaceous species. The grassland grazed moderately over a long term was able to sustain more animals than the grassland unused over a long term