Registered under University of Calicut (SilpaPrabha- U.O.No.11366/2015/Admn, dated, 06.11.2015).Title of the work: ‘evaluation of biological properties of coconut inflorescence sap-Neera’. Coconut inflorescence sap commonly known as Neera (sweet toddy) is obtained from unopened spadix or inflorescence of Cocosnucifera. Coconut sap is rich in sugars, minerals and other nutrients and has several health beneficial effects. Due to its low glycemic index, Neera is ideal drink for diabetic patients. Raw Neera is highly susceptible to microbial fermentation in ambient temperature. In order to avoid this, the collected sap was immediately transferred to sterile and cold condition. Considering the nutritional value, the collected raw sap is preserved and marketed as a soft drink. Even though, the in-vitro antioxidant property is reported, scanty literature is available regarding its biological properties. As a readily available and highly nutritious drink, this coconut inflorescence sap can be effectively used for curing many human diseases. Hence, the work aims to evaluate the various biological properties of Neera and this study will provide awareness among the people regarding its consumption.
Pareeth C M (ICMR-JRF)
Registered under University of Calicut (U.O.No. 14364/2017/Admn dated 15.11.2017).Title of work: Anticancer properties of Saracaasoca (Roxb.) De Wilde and its allied species Kingiodendronpinnatum (Roxb. ex DC.) Harms with special emphasis on breast cancer. Saraca asoca is one of the legendary and sacred trees of the country. Asokarishta, an Ayurvedic fermented polyherbal formulation with Asoka (Saraca asoca) as the main ingredient is used as a uterine tonic and is considered as feminine specific and is known as a woman’s friend. The study focuses on the anticancer potential of S. asoca on breast cancer, especially Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC). Due to poorer prognosis, fewer treatment options and lack of targeted therapies for TNBC’s has resulted in high mortality rate when compared to other breast cancer subtypes.The study is expected to provide an insight on the anticancer property of S. asoca with special emphasis on TNBC’s along with its allied taxa, Kingiodendron pinnatum.
Soumya V V (CSIR-JRF)
Registered under University of Calicut (15237/2017/Admn: Dated: 11/12/17).Title of work:The role of palmitic acid on endoplasmic reticulum stress: Implication in cancer cell survival. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is critical for protein folding,secretion and trafficking.During cytological perturbations, an adaptive mechanism called ER stress is generated due to the accumulation of misfolded proteins. As a result, cell will halt the protein folding machinery and develop different signalling mechanism to maintain ER homeostasis either through apoptosis or survival. However, in cancer cells such phenomenon is exploited to activate the survival pathway by suppressing apoptosis. Palmitic acid, one of the initial saturated fatty acid synthesised denovo and obtained through diet found to be the initiator of colon cancer and it can induce ER stress.The study, try to open up the role of palmitic acid on endoplasmic reticulum stress, and how it implicate the colon cancer cell survival.
