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Forest Ecosphere Environmental Resource Sciences Lab
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The lab explores the functions of forest bioresources such as mushrooms and aromas.
AboutAbout the lab
Exploring the functions of forest bioresources with care for the human mind and body
The Forest Ecosphere Environmental Resource Sciences Lab focuses on the functions of forest bioresources and studies how to build a livable, sustainable society that is mindful of the environment.
In addition to examining how natural aroma compounds affect the mind and body, the lab searches for components in mushrooms and aims to clarify their mechanisms of action.
The lab also conducts research toward developing foods with function claims and cosmetic ingredients.
Professor Kume studies the evolution of land plants and plant gravity response across disciplines.
Key terms
- LOHAS
- Short for Life Of Health And Sustainability
- Bioactivity
- The property of affecting the functions of a living organism's body. This lab studies it in mushroom components and aroma compounds
- Foods with function claims
- Foods that state a health-supporting function based on scientific evidence
- Gravity response
- Reactions, such as changes in growth, that plants show according to the direction and magnitude of gravity
NewsLab news
Press release on research findings about the sleep-improving effect of hinoki cypress root essential oil (Journal of Wood Science)
Press release on research findings about the functionality of igusa (rush) mats (Scientific Reports)
Paper on component analysis of dried solid sugi (Japanese cedar) wood receives the Japan Wood Research Society Paper Award (FY2025)
A Project Assistant Professor received the Excellence award in the Young Researcher category at Kyushu University Asian Week 2025
A Project Assistant Professor received an award for an oral presentation at the Kyushu Branch Meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society
ResearchResearch themes
The lab studies the functions of forest bioresources, aiming to use nature wisely with care for the human mind and body and to build a sustainable society. Its main themes are the bioactivity of aroma and mushroom components and the development of foods with function claims and cosmetic ingredients, and it also studies plant evolution and gravity response.
*Illustrative imageElucidating and applying the bioactivity of forest bioresources
Oriented toward LOHAS, the lab focuses on bioactivity to elucidate the multifaceted functions of forests. It studies the effects of natural aroma compounds on the mind and body, searches for mushroom components effective against benign prostatic hyperplasia and osteoporosis, and works to clarify their mechanisms of action.
*Illustrative imageFoods with function claims made from forest bioresources
The lab conducts investigative research to clarify the functionality of foods that are effective for people to live healthy lives. It also performs nutritional and physiological evaluation of active ingredients, looking at how such functional foods should be consumed to obtain beneficial effects.
*Illustrative imageDeveloping cosmetic ingredients and evaluating their functions
Using skin whitening, anti-aging, and hair growth as keywords, the lab elucidates the mechanisms with chemical and biological approaches and aims to develop cosmetic ingredients with new functions. The research leads to safer, more reassuring cosmetics that benefit people's health.
*Illustrative imagePlant evolution and gravity response
The lab studies the evolution of land plants, the establishment of forests, climate change and air pollution, and plant gravity response across fields including plant ecophysiology, biological environmental physics, and space biology. Its subjects also include the solar radiation spectrum and plant evolution, and plant growth in space environments.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Forest Ecosphere Environmental Resource Sciences Lab consist of faculty, doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students, research students, visiting professors, visiting researchers, a Project Assistant Professor, academic researchers, technical staff, technical assistants, and administrative assistants.As of 2026
- ProfessorAtsushi Kume
- Associate ProfessorKuniyoshi Shimizu
- Project Assistant ProfessorWang Dongmei
- Project Assistant ProfessorMasumi Nagara
- Project Assistant ProfessorMasako Matsumoto
- Project Assistant ProfessorHitomi Miyazaki
- Project Assistant ProfessorAkiko Isa
- Project Assistant ProfessorFadilla Zennifa
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Report an errorAbout the images
The top and research theme images are illustrative and were not taken at the lab. They are cropped from Wikimedia Commons images. Cropped CC BY-SA images are provided under the same CC BY-SA license as the original (version shown on each line).
- Top image: “Lentinula edodes 20101113 a” Batholith (talk) / Public domain (cropped)
- Elucidating and applying the bioactivity of forest bioresources: “Special Forest Products ( )” BLM Oregon & Washington / Public domain (cropped)
- Foods with function claims made from forest bioresources: “Lentinula edodes” Eric Steinert / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Developing cosmetic ingredients and evaluating their functions: “Unique dessert with layered green ingredients in a modern presentation on a dark surface” Shixart1985 / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Plant evolution and gravity response: “Example of gravitropism found in a tree from Central Minnesota” Rufus22181496 / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Plant Production Physiology Lab): “Ice Plant ( )” dionysia / CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Food Chemistry Lab): “Vorspeise mit Dolma und Tzatziki” Kritzolina / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Agrochemical Chemistry Lab): “Schlenk flask 500mL” Ichwarsnur / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Gene Regulation Lab): “Genome Sequencer2” Database Center for Life Science (DBCLS) / CC BY 3.0 (cropped)
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