Zhou Jun

Zhou Jun

Zhou Jun (February 5, 1932 - March 27, 2020), born in Dongtai, Jiangsu Province, is a plant resource and phytochemist, academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences, researcher, doctoral supervisor and former director of Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

In 1951, Zhou Jun graduated from Nanjing National College of Pharmacy (now China Pharmaceutical University) and joined the medical corps of Nanjing aid Korea; in 1953, he was transferred to the health care committee of East China Health Bureau and served as the pharmacist; in 1958, he graduated from East China Institute of Chemical Technology (now East China University of science and Technology) and entered the Kunming workstation of Institute of plant taxonomy of Chinese Academy of Sciences in Kunming, Yunnan Province He was promoted to associate researcher of Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1978, director of Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences from 1983 to 1990, researcher and doctoral supervisor in 1986, academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1999, outstanding contribution award of Yunnan Provincial Science and Technology Award in 2006, and died of illness in Kunming on March 27, 2020 at the age of 15 88 years old.

Zhou Jun has been engaged in the research of Phytochemistry and plant resources for a long time, taking the lead in the systematic research of plant glycosomes, Yunnan Baiyao and plant cyclic peptides in China.

The only State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry in China was established.

Profile

Zhou Jun (February 5, 1932 - March 27, 2020), born in Dongtai, Jiangsu Province, is a plant resource and phytochemist, academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences, researcher, doctoral supervisor and former director of Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences. He graduated from Nanjing National College of Pharmacy (now China Pharmaceutical University) in 1951, graduated from East China University of Chemical Technology (now East China University of science and Technology) in 1958, and entered Kunming work station of Institute of plant taxonomy of Chinese Academy of Sciences in Kunming, Yunnan Province. He was promoted to associate researcher of Kunming Institute of plant taxonomy of Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1978, and served as director of Kunming Institute of plant taxonomy of Chinese Academy of Sciences from 1983 to 1990 He was promoted as a researcher and doctoral supervisor in 986, elected as an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1999, and died of illness in Kunming on March 27, 2020 at the age of 88. he has been engaged in the research of Phytochemistry and plant resources for a long time, and took the lead in systematically carrying out the research of plant glycosomes, Yunnan Baiyao and plant cyclic peptides in China. established the only State Key Laboratory in the field of Phytochemistry in China.

Character experience

On February 5, 1932, Zhou Jun was born in Wujiaba (now xuzao Village), cuinian Township, east of Lixiahe, Fu'an Town, Dongtai County, Jiangsu Province. At the beginning of 1945, Zhou Jun's elder brother, Zhou Ti, graduated from high school and went home to set up a library to teach. Zhou Jun spent a year and a half learning some mathematics, history, geography and English. In the autumn of 1946, Zhou Jun used the funds raised by his family and friends to study in Nantong middle school. On the night of his arrival, he was arrested by the night patrol police for the crime of "militia" in the liberated area. After a week's imprisonment, his eldest brother went to Nantong to rescue him. After he came out, he was almost penniless. In November of the same year, his cousin Du Du and his elder brother managed to join the junior high school affiliated to Danyang National Institute of social education in Jiangsu Province for the second year of junior high school. This was his first time to study in foreign school. Soon after entering the school, he lost contact with his family and met great difficulties in study and economy. In the summer of 1948, after graduating from junior high school, Zhou Jun had no money to go to ordinary high school, so he was admitted to three vocational schools, and finally studied in the senior pharmacy department attached to Nanjing National Pharmaceutical College (now China Pharmaceutical University). In July 1951, after graduating from junior college, Zhou Jun began to work as a pharmacist of Nanjing aid Korea Medical Group and head of personnel of East China Pharmaceutical College (until August 1953). In September 1953, Zhou Jun was transferred to the health care committee of East China Health Bureau as a pharmacist (until August 1954). In September 1954, Zhou Jun was admitted to the pharmaceutical engineering major of East China University of Chemical Technology (now East China University of science and Technology). In the winter of 1957, Zhou Jun went to Chifeng pharmaceutical factory in Inner Mongolia for his graduation internship in ephedrine production equipment improvement. In September 1958, after graduating from East China Institute of chemical technology, Zhou Jun entered the Kunming work station of Institute of plant taxonomy, Chinese Academy of Sciences in Kunming, Yunnan Province, and was assigned to the resource phytochemistry group, which had just set up with only eight people. At the end of the same year, Zhou Jun served as the academic secretary of the group, and soon became the Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences. The group was renamed the wild plant resources research office. Zhou Jun successively served as a research intern and assistant researcher (until December 1976), mainly engaged in the research of plant resources and phytochemistry, especially the research of medicinal plant resources and chemistry. In 1964, Tao Yi, a botanist, was in charge of the Research Office of Botany. In May 1965, Zhou Jun took part in the first four Qing movement in Dali City, Yunnan Province. In October 1977, Zhou Jun and Wu Zhengyi attended the natural science planning conference held in Beijing Friendship Hotel, and served as the Secretary of biology group. In January 1978, Zhou Jun was promoted to associate researcher of Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences (until December 1985). In January 1983, Zhou Jun served as director of Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences (until January 1990). In January 1986, Zhou Jun was promoted to researcher and doctoral supervisor of Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences. In March 1990, Zhou Jun resigned from all administrative positions and concentrated on exploring new fields and directions of phytochemistry. In October 1999, Zhou Jun was elected academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. In October 2001, the State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and sustainable utilization of plant resources in Western China, which Zhou Jun participated in, was approved by the Ministry of science and technology. On March 27, 2020, Zhou Jun died of illness in Kunming at the age of 88.

Main achievements

Achievements in scientific research

Zhou Jun systematically studied the phytochemistry of phenols, terpenoids, steroids, alkaloids and cyclopeptides in 9 genera of Chinese beech family, dioscoreaceae, ginseng, Paris, Plantago, Aconitum and Caryophyllaceae. 296 new compounds were found, including 5 new types. The research on the water-soluble components of medicinal plants was carried out systematically. The relationship between the structure (active component of Gongxuening) and the activity of piannoside in Paris polyphylla was elucidated. He also carried out the research on cyclic peptides of Caryophyllaceae plants, and proposed a new method for the detection of cyclic peptides of plants. 66 new cyclic peptide compounds have been found in Caryophyllaceae plants. A new viewpoint was put forward that the material basis and mechanism of action of compound Chinese medicine are the combination of natural chemical library and multi-target mechanism of action. In 1975, Zhou Jun and Academician Wu Zhengyi published the relationship between ginseng plants and triterpenoids and their taxonomic system and geographical distribution. It was the first time that the chemical composition of Panax notoginseng and Panax quinquefolium saponins was similar, and the chemical composition was not affected by geographical distribution. This research achievement was adopted by the Pharmacopoeia of the people's Republic of China and the pharmaceutical circles, which clarified the confusion in the research of Panax, thus promoting the research, development and utilization of Panax and Panax. In 1978, Zhou Jun and other experts discovered the active ingredient of gastrodin (HPG) from Gastrodia elata produced in Zhaotong. as of January 2012, Zhou Jun has published more than 330 academic papers and two monographs on Chinese oil plants and acorn.

personnel training

As of January 2012, Zhou Jun has trained 17 postgraduates, 21 doctoral students and 5 doctoral students, and has successively guided more than 20 academic leaders, active in the field of Phytochemistry related research.

Honorary recognition

Social service

Personal life

Zhou Jun's grandfather set up a library in a rich family. His father went out to make a living when he was young. He served as a short-term township head in his hometown during the period of the Republic of China. During the Anti Japanese War, he served as a county councilor of the Anti Japanese democratic regime and director of the township support Army superior committee. Zhou Jun has five brothers. His eldest brother is a student of foreign school. Zhou Jun has been studying in a private school since he was five years old. Chen Siying, Zhou Jun's wife, has participated in the war to resist U.S. aggression and aid Korea. She has worked in the second line hospital of Shangganling for nearly a year. They married and gave birth to their eldest daughter, Zhou Yun. Shortly after the cultural revolution in Yunnan, she gave birth to her second daughter, Zhou Lu. During the cultural revolution, a traitor in the Institute for drug control made up a big lie that Zhou Yun scolded Chairman Mao in kindergarten. According to the logic of the traitor, it was his mother who taught him, so Chen Siying, who had just given birth to 12 days, became the current counter revolutionary and was sent to Qujing. During this period, Zhou Ji was born.

Character evaluation

Academician Zhou Jun has made outstanding contributions to the basic theory of Phytochemistry and plant resources in China, and has made significant economic and social benefits in the transformation of scientific and technological achievements and high-tech industries in the field of natural medicine in Yunnan Province. Academician Zhou Jun has made great contributions to Yunnan in the transformation of scientific research achievements. For example, the cumulative sales revenue of "gastrodin" products was 244 million yuan, and the cumulative main revenue and profit of "Gongxuening" drugs were 567.32 million yuan and 233.44 million yuan, respectively. Other research results, such as diosgenin and colchicine, have also achieved good economic and social benefits. In China, he creatively put forward the research idea of combining the chemical composition of plants with the genetic system and geographical distribution. He is good at pioneering and innovating in research methods, such as discovering new detection methods of cyclopeptides and broadening new fields of cyclopeptides research. He is good at discovering and cultivating talents. He is a major of Kunming Institute of Botany

Chinese PinYin : Zhou Jun4