Research

Our research group has made outstanding contribution in the discovery of several natural and nature like molecules that may serve as leads for the development of new pharmaceuticals for unmet therapeutic needs. Several drug leads responsible for biological effects were discovered, and the emphasis was on agents that control neglected parasitic infectious diseases, cancer and cardiometabolic disorders. One of his most exciting recent successes in this area has been the discovery of the naturally occurring diterpene from the leaves of Polyalthia longifolia for treatment and prevention of hypertriglyceridemia (United States Patent No- 8921417). The isolated clerodane (K09) diterpene showed better lipid lowering activity than clinically used standard statins. (European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. 2011, 46, 5206-5211.) The compound inhibits adipogenesis and ameliorates obesity, weight gain, impaired glucose tolerance, inflammatory markers and lipid parameters in HFD fedmice (Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology. 2015, 399, 373-385.) Also, taking cues from natural products his group has discovered several nature inspired hybrid drug leads, as exemplified by the discovery of a coumarin-chalconehybrid, (Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters. 2010, 20, 7205-7211) which has shown to possess anti proliferative and anti-tumour effect by triggering apoptosisby inducing PUMA and altering Bax/Bcl-2 ratio (United States Patent No- 8815940, andMolecular Cancer Therapeutics. 2017, 16(9), 1791-1805.). Also another phytopharmaceutical of standardized fraction of Picrorhiza kurroa for the management of NAFLD and hepatic steatosis is undergoing Phase III clinical trial (Protocol no: CDRI-ICMR-6/2021). Overall, his contribution to the discovery of biomedical potential of natural products is immense.
Our contributions in the area of medicinal chemistry (including natural products) and the use of hybridization approach in carefully designed entities, embodying important pharmacophore have drawn considerable visibility both nationally and internationally. All the important translational research findings have been published in over 121 research publications in international journals of high repute, resulting in a total number of citations of more than 4040 with H index, 40 (Google Scholar). I also have (15) patents to my credit and so far guided 14 PhD scholars.