著者

久保 輝幸

出版者

日本薬史学会

雑誌

薬史学雑誌 (ISSN:02852314)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.48, no.2, pp.116-125, 2013 (Released:2020-12-30)

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Shaoyao, the Chinese name of the herbaceous peony, appeared in the Classic of Poetry or Shijing. Shijing was compiled much earlier than the third century BC when peony was discussed in the botanical treatise by Theophrastus in ancient Greece. However, several Confucian scholars questioned what shaoyao in Shijing actually referred to. In addition, shaoyao was considered to be a fragrant grass and was often added to food as a spice in the Han dynasty, whereas the peony is hardly ever used in that way today. In the three kingdom dynasty, Lu Ji remarked: Since the medicinal shaoyao does not have a particular scent, shaoyao [of Shijing] cannot be identified.”These old descriptions suggest that they may have used a different plant as shaoyao in early China, and accordingly it allows us to reflect on shaoyao in the old Chinese medical texts. This paper traces various hypotheses historically with attention paid to regional differences and ages. The results, confirm that shaoyao has most certainly been a name of the peony since the six dynasties when shaoyao was prized as an ornament plant. Before the six dynasties, four candidates of shaoyao can be listed: the peony itself, water chestnuts (Eleocharis dulcis), magnolia and Szechuan lovage (Ligusticum wallichii), though for all four, sufficient and definitive evidence is lacking.

著者

高乗 仁 寺田 弘

出版者

日本薬史学会

雑誌

薬史学雑誌 (ISSN:02852314)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.55, no.2, pp.236-240, 2020 (Released:2021-01-28)

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目的:安土桃山時代から江戸時代初期にかけて,武将・幕府官僚として活躍した柳生但馬守宗矩が認めた書状の中に,薬薗に関して言及した書状を発見した.本論文の目的は,書状に記載された人物の特定を通して,薬薗の特定と柳生宗矩の薬薗との関係を明らかにすることである. 方法:書状の釈文作成に基づき,書状記載の人物の特定,薬薗の特定,柳生宗矩を含む書状記載の人物と薬薗との関係を解析した. 結果:書状に記載の文面より,次の仮説が提案された.即ち,江戸幕府直営の御薬園の 1 つである京都鷹ヶ峰御薬園の設営において,徳川将軍家御典医であった岡本玄冶が,後に鷹ヶ峰御薬園の初代預かりに任命される藤林道寿と共に,主導的役割を果たし,また,柳生宗矩は,後見人としてその設営に関わっていたとする説である. 結論:書状は,京都鷹ヶ峰御薬園の設営に柳生宗矩を始めとする複数の人物が関与したことを示唆するものであることが明らかにされた.江戸初期の幕府による御薬園創設の政策経緯の詳細は詳らかにされていないが,柳生宗矩の本書状は,その解明に貢献する資料になるものと考える.

著者

森田 宏

出版者

日本薬史学会

雑誌

薬史学雑誌 (ISSN:02852314)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.55, no.1, pp.6-12, 2020 (Released:2020-08-02)

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Dietary requirements that reduce the risk of dementia are sufficient nutrition and a well-balanced diet. Regarding the three main types of nutrients, for carbohydrates, it is good to consume mainly low-glycemicindex foods that release glucose slowly. These include deep-colored vegetables, fruits, beans, mushrooms and seaweeds. It is also important to reduce the intake of white sugar. For fats, it is best to consume mainly blue-backed fish, which are high in DHA, linseed oil and perilla oil, which are high in omega-3 fat, and olive oil, which is high in omega-9 fat. For proteins, it is best to consume mainly eggs and soy beans. It is also good to consume meats and seafoods. On the contrary, it is better to avoid soft drinks, trans-fatty acids (margarine) and too much protein.

著者

木村 友香

出版者

日本薬史学会

雑誌

薬史学雑誌 (ISSN:02852314)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.55, no.2, pp.128-135, 2020 (Released:2021-01-28)

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緒言:本研究の目的は,戦前の数少ない理系の女子教育機関であった女子薬学専門学校の設立目的について検討することにある. 方法:本稿では,東京府下の女子薬学専門学校の学則を手がかりに,男子対象の私立薬学専門学校との比較,考察を行った.資料は東京都公文書館所蔵の,東京府下の女子薬学専門学校設置時の申請文書を使用し,同じく同館所蔵の男子を対象とした私立薬学専門学校の設置認可書類および学則変更書類と比較した. 結果:その結果,女子薬学専門学校の教育方針および教育課程において,薬剤師資格の取得と家庭の主婦としての役割が矛盾しない形で編成されていることを具体的に確認した. 考察・結論:戦前の社会においては,性別役割分業観が支配的で,女性の高等教育への進学者はごく少数であった.女性の進学可能な理系の教育機関も限られていた時代,専門職としての女性薬剤師の養成機関の設立目的にも,「良妻賢母」との両立が説明されていた.

著者

毛利 千香 御影 雅幸

出版者

日本薬史学会

雑誌

薬史学雑誌 (ISSN:02852314)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.50, no.1, pp.78-83, 2015 (Released:2020-12-03)

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The original formulation for Tusujiu, which Japanese people still consume on the morning of January 1st, was created by Hua Tuo, but has not been studied in detail. The book Huatuo Shenyi Bizhuan, found in 1918, describes a concoction, Biyijiu, that shows great similarity to the current Tusujiu; the ingredients for Biyijiu being rhubarb, atractylodes rhizome, cinnamon bark, platycodon root, zanthoxylum fruit, processed aconite root and smilax rhizome. The procedures for preparing and drinking it are to pound the ingredients and then put them into a silk bag dyed with madder. During the daytime of the last day of the year, hang the bag in a well to soften the powder. Take the bag out early in the morning of the next day, the first day of the year. Heat the bag in fermented liquor until simmering. Drink the liquid with all family members, doing so while facing east. If one person drinks it, there will be no disease in the family. If the whole family drinks it, there will be no disease in their neighborhood in an area of one square li. In this study, to determine the original formulation for Tusujiu, we examined a number of ancient medical texts from the 3rd to the 13th century that discuss Biyijiu and Tusujiu. As a result, we concluded that Biyijiu is likely to be the original formulation developed by Hua Tuo. PMID: 26427101 [Indexed for MEDLINE]

著者

柳沢 清久

出版者

日本薬史学会

雑誌

薬史学雑誌 (ISSN:02852314)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.50, no.2, pp.143-158, 2015 (Released:2020-12-03)

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Transitions in the Standards and Test Methods of Bromovalerylurea in JP V (1932) and JP X VI (2011), and Comparison with Deutsches Arzneibuch]. Soam discovered the drug Bromovalerylurea (or less BV) in 1907. After that, BV was imported in Japan in the latter part of the Meiji period as Western medicine. Under the influence of the First World War, in Japan, BV was domestic production. And BV are listed in JP V (1932), it is continued listing until the current JP X VI (2011). As a foreign pharmacopoeia which listed the BV, only in addition to the JP, there was a German Pharmacopoeia (DAB). During this time, the JP and DAB, the standards and test methods of BV, it was amended as shown in Table 1 and Table 2. The discrimination test and analysis test was defined based on the chemical properties of urea and isovaleric acid and bromine. Therefore, consistency was seen in the chemical criteria for test. From this it is understood that BV is Bromoisovalerateureido synthesized based on urea and isovaleric acid and bromine. This isovaleric acid is the active ingredient of Japanese Valerian and Valerian roots. BV is an organic synthetic urea derivative that was effectively improved organic synthesis isovaleric acid with respect to quality and efficacy surface. For this reason at the time that BV have been developed, it is an ideal new drug, it was described as a good medicine have no side effects. But to BV, there is a nature that it has tolerance, addictive, a dependency. In Japan after the Second World War, there was a lack of awareness about the nature of such BV. That it had become a system that masses can easily purchase the BV. Revision of the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law of 1960 against in this, selling regulation of BV is provided. However, for analgesic formulated with BV of dose observed in the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law, as generic drugs, selling is permitted, it is continuing until today. For this reason in recent years, long-term use of BV by self-judgment of the masses is frequent. And chronic bromine poisoning BV by this it have been a problem. Therefore regard to BV, always for their safety, including the overseas situation, I think it is important to seize the new knowledge and information. PMID: 27149780 [Indexed for MEDLINE]

著者

奥田 潤

出版者

日本薬史学会

雑誌

薬史学雑誌 (ISSN:02852314)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.49, no.2, pp.171-175, 2014 (Released:2020-12-05)

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In Japan, there are about 250 Yakushi Buddha (i.e., Buddha of Healing) statues in Buddhist temples. They are listed as Important Cultural Properties and 14 of them are National Treasures. Belief in Yakushi Buddha was especially prevalent from the 7th to the 13th centuries in Japan. The oldest wooden Yakushi Buddha statue is in Horin-ji Temple in Nara. Among the approximately 250 Yakushi Buddha statues, about 200 have medicinal containers-or rarely, a bowl-in the palm of the left hand. However, these medicinal containers are wooden blocks. Very recently, it was found that the Yakushi Buddha statue in the Suho-Kokubun-ji Temple in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan has a medicinal container in the palm of his left hand, in which an offering (i.e., 220 g of materials) was found. The date on the reverse side of the lid places the offering at October 12, 1699. The offering is composed of five cereals (rice, barley, wheat, soybean and azuki bean), five medicinal plants (Acori graminei, Acori calami, Ginseng, Flos caryophylli and Lignum santali albi) and six minerals (rock crystals, purple and blue lead glass, CaCO3 particles, and silver and golden foils). Recently, the pharmacy educational program was extended from four to six years in order to meet clinical pharmacy requirements for patients. From studying the Buddha of Healing and its medicinal container described above, the author suggests that, in addition to pharmaceutical bioscience, philosophical concept be studied as part of the history of pharmacy in the future. PMID: 25799838 [Indexed for MEDLINE]

著者

成田 研一

出版者

日本薬史学会

雑誌

薬史学雑誌 (ISSN:02852314)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.52, no.1, pp.64-70, 2017 (Released:2020-08-09)

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Specific techniques known as Saiseihigen are reported as a measure for Mine Worker's Disease at the Iwami-Ginzan Silver Mine (Omori-cho, Oda City, Shimane). One was to boil four kinds of medicinal herbs with vinegar and water, and to send the medicine in the form of steam into the tunnel during ventilation. The other was to use have the workers use a mask, Fukumen, which included sandwiching plum meat in the mask. As a result, it is reported that both the air that was ventilated became fresher and dust suppression were realized. Neither the aim nor the assumed effect of the application of steam medicine, the main subject, were mentioned in a classical book on herbs, so inference was used. For dust suppression, it was argued that moisturization using steam and acid steam acted as a dust suppression agent. The author argues that the effects of countermeasures against dust prevention, which are carried out today, such as humidification and the use of dust suppression agents, were obtained. It is noteworthy that implementation of countermeasures resulted in a foreseeable effect.

著者

五位野 政彦

出版者

日本薬史学会

雑誌

薬史学雑誌 (ISSN:02852314)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.48, no.2, pp.169-174, 2013 (Released:2020-12-30)

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Jo-zai or tablet is a most popular form of pharmaceutical dosage in modern Japan. The term jo-zai first appears in the Japanese Navy Pharmacopoeia, First Edition (1872). Its Latin name was translated as torikisuki and was written in Japanese katakana characters. Jo-zai translated as trochischi can also be found in the Japanese Pharmacopoeia, First Edition (JP1) (1897). Its Latin name and definition have changed several times : trochisichi ; pastilli, JP3 (1906) ; tablettae, JP5 (1932) ; tabellae : JP6 (1951), etc. The etymon of the word jo-zai is based on the English word, lozenge. Its square-shaped form is similar to old Japanese silver coins. During Japan's Edo era (1603-1868) and in ancient China, silver coins were called jo. Therefore the word lozenge was translated into Japanese as jo-zai,combining the character for coin with the one for drug, zai.

著者

奥田 潤

出版者

日本薬史学会

雑誌

薬史学雑誌 (ISSN:02852314)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.55, no.1, pp.78-82, 2020 (Released:2020-08-02)

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In this report, the author proposes the phrase, Philosophy of Pharmacy. In Japan, such a phrase has scarcely been used by pharmacists because they have considered medicines and drugs as materials and have not focused on their patients enough. As a way for pharmacists to consider their patients more, the author recommends the following two philosophies: 1. Revision of the Pharmacists Act Article 1: A pharmacist is to contribute to the improvement and promotion of public health by dispensing of medicine, and supplying medicines and other pharmaceutical health and sanitation services, thereby ensuring citizens lead healthy lives. The above, Article 1, needs to be revised by adding the following sentence. In addition, pharmacists should observe the new code of ethics for pharmacists introduced in 2018, and sympathize with patients to contribute to their medication. 2. Fully Consider Patients' Needs The author made a figure illustrating the relations between natural science(pharmacy),cultural science, social science and cultural art with care taken to fully consider the needs of the patient.

著者

五位野 政彦

出版者

日本薬史学会

雑誌

薬史学雑誌 (ISSN:02852314)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.56, no.2, pp.129-131, 2021

著者

奥田 潤

出版者

日本薬史学会

雑誌

薬史学雑誌 (ISSN:02852314)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.36, no.2, pp.175-179, 2001-12-30

参考文献数

3

著者

杉山 茂

出版者

日本薬史学会

雑誌

薬史学雑誌 (ISSN:02852314)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.43, no.2, pp.189-191, 2008-12-30

著者

柳沢 清久

出版者

日本薬史学会

雑誌

薬史学雑誌 (ISSN:02852314)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.50, no.1, pp.13-32, 2015 (Released:2020-12-03)

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In mental clinics, bromide agents such as potassium bromide were often once used as therapeutic drugs to treat psychiatric disorders. They were also given as hypnotic, sedative and antiepileptic medicines. However, the appearance of new medicines has resulted in them not being used for these purposes in recent years. Potassium bromide is still continuously listed in today's JP and BP. This suggests that it maintains value as a basic medicine for treating mental disorders in the history of psychotropic medicines. However, regarding the standards and test methods for potassium bromide in the present JP, as a result of a comparison between the USP of the same age, BP and EP, a gap is seen, and this is very regrettable. The exchange of art and scientific information related to medical sciences with foreign countries is becoming more active today. Therefore, scholarly information overseas should be collected and reflected in the standards and test methods for potassium bromide adopted in the JP of Japan. The author believes that the standards and test methods comparable to those at the international level should introduced. On the other hand, potassium bromide was recently relisted by USP29 (2006) for the first time in approximately 50 years. Moreover, instrumental analysis was introduced as part of the test methods in BP2013; that is, an epoch-making revision was made in terms of test methods. It is assumed from this that there is a sign of new change regarding the existence of potassium bromide as hypnotic, sedative and antiepileptic medicines, and its utility value. It is believed that the sign of change in view of the utility value and pharmacological evaluation probably arose with the new clinical knowledge that potassium bromide was used to treat a baby seriously ill with myoclony epilepsy, as well as to treat a dog with epilepsy. PMID: 26427096 [Indexed for MEDLINE]

著者

柳沢 清久

出版者

日本薬史学会

雑誌

薬史学雑誌 (ISSN:02852314)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.48, no.1, pp.63-74, 2013 (Released:2020-12-30)

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Japanese valerian is a herbal medicine with a long history that continues from the first edition of the Japanese Pharmacopoeia (JPI) (1886) to the present JPXVI (2011). This research focuses on the standards and test methods of this item in JPI (1886) to JPXVI (2011), and the pharmacological evaluation of this item in Japan was considered while comparing it with the result of transitions of the standards and test methods of European valerian (valerian root) in the United States Pharmacopoeia (USP) described in a previous report and in the British Pharmacopoeia (BP). It can be said that the standards and tests of this item in today's JPXVI (2011) have been able to maintain quality. However, based on comparison with today's USP and BP, the JPXVI (2011) standards and tests do not reflect the surprising progress in pharmacology that has been made in recent years and do not sufficiently reflect the circumstances of this item that are clarified to some extent in the surrounding information. For these reasons, the pharmacological evaluation of this item in the JP is considered satisfactory. It is thought that there is relatively low demand for this item in Japan compared with the demand for valerian root in Europe and America. That is, it is thought that this item is not highly evaluated in Japan compared to the pharmacological evaluation of European valerian (valerian root) in Europe and America. It was found that the pharmacological evaluation in Japan has not been high in recent years although this item received high appraisal before World War II worldwide in terms of quality. However, there are expectations for higher evaluations in the future in respect to its effect and safety as a natural medicine.

著者

柳沢 清久

出版者

日本薬史学会

雑誌

薬史学雑誌 (ISSN:02852314)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.52, no.1, pp.41-50, 2017 (Released:2020-08-09)

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The author felt that the course of history for the cultivation of Angelica is very similar to that of Valerian in Japan, and therefore conducted a philological investigation regarding the history of Angelica. It is believed that the historical value of Valerian could be increased by evaluating the pharmaceutical history of Angelica. First, a search of the transition in standards and test methods of Angelica, as indicated in JP, was carried out. After that, research on the origin of the drug (area of production), which is considered important in the evaluation of quality, and the relation to demand as a crude drug were considered. As the result, it was found that the origin and cultivar of Angelica, as the standard product of JP, were revised during the distribution of Angelica in Japan' s crude drug market. This was also influenced by a change in circumstances resulting from the popularity of Chinese medicine. The scope of Angelica plant origin was expanded when JP IX (1976) was revised. However, the properties of crude drugs, including appearance, internal geometry, and contents such as ash, acid-insoluble ash, and mare ethanol extract of Angelica, were the standard for Yamato Angelica, the same as before. This data remains to be valid, and is exists in the current volume, JP XVII (2016). It is possible to adjust the contents of ash, acid-insoluble ash, and mare ethanol extract by devising ways to prepare the crude drug after harvesting. However, the properties of a crude drug are a fixed standard that cannot be changed by adjustment. The standards of the original Angelica plant is limited to only two species: Yamato Angelica and Hokkai Angelica, as reported in JPXIII-2 (1997). The difference in the properties of the two species as a crude drug are the appearance, such as color and shape, aromaticity and taste. There is also a notable difference in part of the internal geometry. The property standard of Angelica stated in JP is the standard for evaluating its quality. Therefore, if the properties of the crude drug Hokkai Angelica, or the differences between the two species, are presented in JP, it is believed that the quality evaluation for Angelica would be more specific. Due to the progress of plant chemistry studies in recent years, the constituents of Angelica have been identified and chemical structure determined. The active elements have also been clarified and the assay system established. The author believes that the results of these plant chemical building-block studies will be contribute to judging the quality of Angelica and providing a reliable chemical quality evaluation method.

著者

井上 健夫

出版者

日本薬史学会

雑誌

薬史学雑誌 (ISSN:02852314)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.51, no.2, pp.75-85, 2016 (Released:2020-08-16)

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The first coloring known to have been used deliberately in Japan is the red of red-ocher rouge. This red is also the color of the sun and blood, so it seems natural that people in ancient times would have ascribed to it the magical properties of conferring long life and reviving the dead. In the Kofun period, which corresponds to the 3rd century A.D., many colors began to be used. The theory of Yin and Yang and the five elements, said to have been transmitted to Japan from China in the latter half of the 7th century, had a strong influence on color aesthetics in Japan. According to this theory, the five colors of blue, red, yellow, white and black are the primary colors, and are also imbued with symbolic meanings. Documentary evidence of the use of coloring in food is extremely scarce before the Edo period.The Shosoin text of the Nara period (8th century) contains references to soybean cakes and adzuki-bean cakes, so it is known that colored processed foodstuffs were eaten in some social strata such as the Imperial Court. In the Heian period (8-12th century), ceremonies became increasingly formal, and the rice, rice cakes, rice gruel and other foods eaten during them were colored with vegetable substances such as soy beans, adzuki beans, sesame and chestnuts. In the feudal society of medieval Japan (12-16th century), menus at samurai houses featured food coloring in foods eaten at ceremonies and formal meals. Records indicate that dishes colored with the five primary colors were served plated on turtle shells. Rice with red beans was also served in the Imperial Court during seasonal festivals on March 3rd, May 5th and September 9th. An anthology of old Chinese herbals -books describing the medicinal properties of plants- was compiled by Li Shi Zhen in Ben Cao Gang Mu. This work included mention of many plants such as madder, safflower, and gardenia, which are used not only as medicines, but for coloring as well. Therefore, it seems reasonable to assume that they were used to color food. Old Chinese herbals contain a good deal of information relating to the use of coloring. From the Edo period onwards, people began to enjoy the appearance of artificially colored food, as well as using it for symbolic, ceremonial purposes. Many books were written about cookery, and many of these mention adding coloring to a wide variety of foods including arum root, cakes, rice, rice gruel, dumplings and rice cakes. The pigments of madder, gardenia, turmeric, sappanwood, grapes, perilla, soy beans, adzuki beans and mugwort were used as food coloring. Many of these plants are used in processed foods today, and our study has shed light on their history as food coloring. In the latter half of the 19th century, synthetic coloring ingredients began to be used for coloring food in both Western countries and Japan, and coloring ingredient regulations began to be enforced in these countries. In 1900, the regulations for the control of harmful coloring ingredients were enacted in Japan. They listed harmful coloring not to be used for food. On January 1, 1948, the Food Sanitation Law was enacted and 22 coloring ingredients were listed as food additives. Since then, the specifications and use restrictions have been revised many times.

著者

柳沢 清久

出版者

日本薬史学会

雑誌

薬史学雑誌 (ISSN:02852314)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.58, no.1, pp.36-51, 2023-06-30 (Released:2023-08-10)

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目的:パッションフラワーには,穏やかな催眠・鎮静作用と抗不安作用があり,ヒステリー・ノイローゼの緩和,不眠の緩和・解消に使われてきた. 2000年になって,EPおよびBPに収載され,その規格・試験法が規定された.方法:1)EP3.0(2000)-EP10.3(2021),およびBP2000-BP2022に収載されたパッションフラワーの規格・試験法について調査した.2)EP,BPに収載のパッションフラワーの規格・試験法に規定された各種C-グリコシルフラボンの学術情報に関して,J-Globalで検索した.結果:1)EPおよびBPでは,薄層クロマトグラフィーによる成分定性分析によりビテキシン,イソビテキシン,オリエンチン,イソオリエンチン,スウェルチシンなどの各種C-グリコシルフラボンが検出できることが規定された.2)近年の研究では,パッションフラワーは成分化学的一貫性により従来のイソビテキシン化学種とスウェルチシン化学種の2つの化学種(タイプ)に種分けされる.3)C-グリコシルフラボンはポリフェノール類のフラボノイドに属する.パッションフラワーの抗うつ効果,抗不安効果は含有成分のC-グリコシルフラボンの(1)抗炎症作用,(2)抗酸化作用,(3)抗酸化ストレス作用に準じたものと考えられる.抗不安作用は中枢神経系のベンゾジアゼピン受容体への特異的結合,鎮静作用は脳内GABA受容体の結合によるGABAの活性化と考えられる.結論:パッションフラワーは抗うつ効果,抗不安効果,抗ストレス効果などの精神安定作用を発揮する.さらに(1)-(3)の生物学的活性効果に準じて,多種多様の幅広い生体利用が捻出されヒトの健康維持,恒常性維持への貢献に期待できるものと考えられる.今後,パッションフラワーが医薬品(生薬)としてのさらなる展開に期待したい.

著者

五位野 政彦

出版者

日本薬史学会

雑誌

薬史学雑誌 (ISSN:02852314)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.47, no.1, pp.90-93, 2012 (Released:2021-07-02)

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The etymon of the Japanese word nyu-bachi (mortar) is unknown. The first step in the research process is to consult books on chemistry and pharmacy published in the 1870s, the first decade of the Meiji era when Japan began to modernize. The word nyu-bachi can be found in the Shogaku-Kagaku-Sho, published in 1874. Before 1873, the word usu (mil) is used in place of hachi or bachi, which also mean mortar. Before 1873, mills / mortars were used for crushing and grincling. In books published after 1873, one can find references in several books on chemistry and pharmacy to their use in mixing and dispensing. More in-depth research in the areas of pharmacy and Western-style cooking is necessary to determine the etymon.

著者

南雲 清二 佐々木 陽平

出版者

日本薬史学会

雑誌

薬史学雑誌 (ISSN:02852314)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.47, no.1, pp.11-20, 2012 (Released:2021-07-02)

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We are studying how cinchona, one of the most important medicinal plants, was introduced and cultivated in Japan. As part of this research, here we report on cinchona cultivation at the Koshun nettai syokubutu syokuikujo (Hengchun Tropical Plant Cultivation Farm; now the Hengchun Branch of the Taiwan Forestry Research Institute) in Taiwan, which was under Japanese colonial rule from 1895. The Koshun-nettaisyokubutusyokuikujo was established in 1901 by the Governor-General of Taiwan at Hengchun in southern Taiwan, as a cultivation facility for useful plants. The person who directly conducted the construction and operation of the facility was Yasusada Tashiro. For approximately ten years (1901-1910), he strived to construct the cultivation farm and grow plants of economic value. Among many plants of which cultivation attempts were made was cinchona. Tashiro was also the first person in Japan who attempted to cultivate cinchona (in 1882) and thus, his attempt to cultivate cinchona in Hengchun, Taiwan, was the second chalenge for him. With the cooperation of Motoo Higuchi, a staff with outstanding skills in cultivation, Tashiro began to see the prospects for cinchona domestication. However, Higuchi was suddenly fired from his job at the cultivation farm. In the aftermath, cinchona seedlings that they had cultivated up to that time gradually started to wither and subsequently, cinchona cultivation at the cultivation farm ended in failure. Tashiro was disappointed; nevertheless, the technical experience gained from cinchona cultivation at the cultivation farm was very valuable and proved to be greatly useful later in life.