1. Marine Natural Products
Our research focuses on developing and applying biotechnology to detect, isolate, identify and evaluate novel biologically active metabolites from the highly diverse marine algae and microbes. Our work to date has been highly successful. Hundreds of extracts from marine dinofalgellates and cyanobacteria show promise as potential antitumor and antidiabetes agents. Through an ongoing program of field-collection from Taiwan waters, our research team has successfully isolated and maintained a large collection of marine microalgae and microbes. These collections are mass-cultured and managed for bioactive detections. Target active agents are isolated through bioassay directed fractionation strategies using of modern chromatographic techniques. Structure elucidation is achieved through a combination of advanced spectroscopic analysis, as well as chemical modification. Promising lead compounds are forwarded to collaborators for in vitro/in vivo evaluation. We are part of a National Cooperative Drug Development Program with Department of Pharmacology and Institute of Fisheries Science, National Taiwan University, and National Health Research Institutes to discover new anticancer, cardiovascular, and reduction in blood sugar agents from marine sources.
Algal Biotechnology
The development of total technology for cultivation of marine dinoflagellates and cyanobacteria will assist with the development of commercial-scale algal culturing techniques for the reproducible production of bioactive compounds. Our Algal Biotechnology Group focuses on manipulating physical and chemical factors of cultivation to control the growth stages for optimal extraction of the bioactive compounds.
Selected Publications:
1. Chung-Kuang Lu*, Hong-Nong Chou, Ching-Kuo Lee and Tzong-Huei Lee, 2005, Prorocentin, a new polyketide from the marine dinoflagekkate Prorocentrum lima, Organic Letters 7(18), 3893-3896. (SCI)
2. Yuh-Chi Kuo, Chung-Kuang Lu, Li-Wei Huang, Yueh-Hsiung Kuo, Chen Chang, Feng-Lin Hsu, Tzong-Huei Lee, 2005, Inhibitory Effects of Acylated Kaempferol Glycosides from the Leaves of Cinnamomum kotoense on the Proliferation of Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells, Planta Medica 71, 1-4. (SCI)
3.Ching-Kuo Lee, Chung-Kuang Lu, Yuen-Hsiung Kuo, Jian-Zhi Chen and Guang-Zhong Sun, 2004, The New Prenylated Flavones from the Roots of Ficus beecheyana. J. Chin. Chem. Soc. 51, 437-441. (SCI)