Aswathy C V (CSIR-SRF)

Studies on Antioxidant, Antitumor and Anti-inflammatory properties of phytochemicals extracted from Indigofera longiracemosa Baill.

Using natural products as a means of illness prevention and treatment has a long and storied history in the civilian era, and this practice is growing in popularity as a result of the harmful side effects of modern synthetic pharmaceuticals. In light of the increasing interest in discovering new natural products, we came across Indigofera longiracemosa, a dye-producing plant from the Fabaceae family that has been mentioned in traditional medicine as having therapeutic potential. Since there is a lack of coherent research regarding the health effects and safety of phytochemicals extracted from this specific plant species, we set out to identify and describe its bioactive phytochemicals in an attempt to comprehend its role in preclinical models and in vitro systems for chronic diseases such as cancer, inflammation, and oxidative stress. 

The discovery will be intriguing since there is evidence supporting the medicinal value of plants in the genus Indigofera, but there is also potential risk associated with dye-producing plants. Thus, to evaluate the phytochemistry and pharmacognostical activity of Indigofera longiracemosa, we have extracted phytochemicals from the plant's leaf and stem, employing solvents with increasing polarity. 

Navya G Menon (CSIR-SRF)

Investigations on the role of Sterol regulatory element binding protein 1 (SREBP1) mediated lipid biosynthesis in cancer cell proliferation. 

Lipid synthesis is a major hallmark of cancer cells. Especially during stress conditions, cancer cells increase lipid synthesis to maintain the ATP source and to produce NADPH for scavenging reactive oxygen species. Increased lipid synthesis is thought to play a pivotal role in cancer cell proliferation and metastasis. It has been reported that SREBP1 is the major contributor of fatty acid synthesis. But there is minimal knowledge about which isoform of SREBP1 is more active and the mechanisms that is involved in their expression. In our study we are focusing on how the proliferative phase of cancer cells is being mediated by SREBP1.We anticipate that our studies will provide insightful mechanistic details on how lipid biogenesis aids tumor development and may also provide vital clues to develop therapies targeting lipid biosynthetic process as a treatment regimen against tumors in combination with the existing treatment modalities.

Silpa K G

Studies on lipid metabolism in Sertoli cells with special focus on sulphated glycolipid

This work expects to address a hitherto unexplored area in male germ cell development, i.e., the fate of apoptotic germ cells and their membrane lipid components following phagocytosis by Sertoli cells in the seminiferous epithelium.  The prime focus is to understand how Sertoli cells metabolize sulphated glycolipids that constitute a significant part of the apoptotic germ cell membranes and the defective glycolipid metabolism. Studies on these lines are expected to provide insights into the mechanism operative in Sertoli cells to metabolize sulphated glycolipids, a hitherto unexplored area to the best of our knowledge. This may have implications in understanding how defects in sulphated glycolipid metabolism impact the functioning of Sertoli cells and the impact on male germ cell development and spermatogenesis.