A research team from the Departments of Chemical Pharmacology and Pharmacognosy at the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Toho University, has found that Schisandrin A, a natural compound found in the traditional medicinal plant Schisandra chinensis, suppresses intestinal smooth muscle contraction. The study shows that Schisandrin A inhibits calcium (Ca²⁺) influx through L-type calcium channels, thereby reducing intestinal contractions triggered by various stimuli (Fig. 1). These findings help explain why Schisandra chinensis fruits have long been used to treat diarrhea and other gastrointestinal disorders. The results were published online on April 9, 2026, in Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin.

A research team from the Urban and Transportation Systems Laboratory, Department of Architecture and Urban Systems, Toyohashi University of Technology (lead researcher: Dr. Mustafa Mutahari), has developed a quantitative policy evaluation framework for assessing how cities can attract startups while maintaining high living standards. In this study, the team evaluated the startup ecosystem under an air-front smart city using a model that integrates Quality of Life (QOL), Quality of Business (QOB), and accessibility from both digital and physical dimensions, and revealed that policy, accessibility, and QOL are the key determinants. This research was conducted as part of the JST e-ASIA Joint Research Program, an international collaborative project involving Japan, Thailand, and the Philippines, and the findings have been published in Smart Cities, an international academic journal.

A surprising breakthrough in anti-aging research raises hopes of delaying muscle aging and weakness by harnessing the potential of a garlic-derived compound, S-1-propenyl-L-cysteine (S1PC). Researchers identify a key role for S1PC in orchestrating a key inter-organ communication between fat tissue and the hypothalamus in the brain, thus supporting muscle function in aged mice. Elements of this signaling mechanism were also observed in humans, highlighting the potential of S1PC-based anti-aging interventions.

Circularly polarized luminescent materials emitting red to near-infrared light are of interest for technologies such as 3D displays and bioimaging. However, achieving high emission efficiency, stability, and durability simultaneously has remained a challenge. In a recent study, researchers at Kyushu University developed a new series of small luminescent radicals with exceptional photoluminescence efficiency and photostability. Their work demonstrates how a favorable electronic structure, chirality, and light emission can be achieved in a single molecular system.

A large-scale study of more than 31,000 patients found pneumonia occurred more often after breathing tubes were removed than during ventilation. Researchers say the condition, tied to swallowing dysfunction, should be recognized as a distinct clinical entity—one that may be preventable with early intervention.

Invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells are promising for cancer immunotherapy because they can coordinate broader immune responses, but sourcing enough functional cells is challenging. In a recent study, researchers from Japan showed that combining stem cell-derived iNKT cells with an immune-activating lipid compound can strongly suppress tumors in mice by training the body’s own T cells to recognize and remember cancer. These findings point to a more effective and scalable form of immunotherapy.