The Dhanvanthri Laboratory, is an organic chemistry research laboratory, headed by Dr. Prasanna Ramani. The research focuses on the syntheses and development of new small molecules, with various biological applications, including anti-cancer and markers for DNA recognition. Establishment of medicinal properties of endangered plants has also been a very important research area. Over the years, the laboratory has developed various new small molecules, which exhibit potent anti-cancer activity, new methods to synthesise PNA monomers with various markers. The laboratory has also, established the medicinal properties of multiple endangered plants, by studying the extracts of the plant’s various parts. The lab is also involved in the development of new carriers as alternatives to gelatin in sustained drug release systems.
The research team targets the synthesis of new molecules that can target cancer. Cancer results from the mutation of certain genes that allow the cells to begin their uncontrolled growth. These mutations are inherited or acquired. The group members intend to find a possible solution to a cancer-free world. The following are our Research interests:
The remarkable binding properties of ‘Peptide Nucleic Acids’ (PNA), the so-called artificial DNAs, have spawned a rapidly expanding new field of research and their applications as therapeutics, DNA diagnostics, tools in biotechnology and much more. PNA is linked to various scientific disciplines, a few including medicinal chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology, immunology and drug development. Our focus is to improve the solubility and sensitivity to detect complementary natural nucleobases.
Endangered Plants
Herbal medicines are assumed to be of great importance in the primary health care of individuals and communities. The World Health Organization has estimated that 80% of the population of developing countries still relies on traditional medicines, mostly plant drugs, for primary health care needs. The high degree of efficacy and safety of herbal medicines make them more acceptable compared to other therapeutic inventions. Plant-based traditional knowledge has become a recognized tool in the search for new sources of drugs and nutraceuticals. Our basic aim is to identify the plants which are on the verge of extinction and find the medicinal value of that plant, which can be used in our day-to-day life.
Anti-Cancer molecules
Alkaloids are a class of naturally occurring organic nitrogen containing compounds. Typical alkaloids are derived from plant sources, they are basic, they contain one or more nitrogen atoms (usually in a heterocyclic ring) and they usually have a marked physiological action on man or other animals. Alkaloids have potent anticancer activity against various cancers. Our intentions are to synthesis some alkaloids and study their biological properties.
Organic heterocycles, such as substituted chromenes, pyrroles, imidazole and pyridine, are molecules, whose biological activity has been established over time, with extensive research. The group focuses on the application of this statement, by trying to synthesize new molecules, based on one scaffold, and synthesize molecules with other biologically active units, and study their anti-cancer activity.
Sustained Drug Delivery refers to approaches, formulations, technologies, and systems for transporting a pharmaceutical compound in the human system as needed to safely achieve its desired therapeutic effect. This can be attained by maintaining a constant drug concentration for a specific period with the minimum side effects. Most pharmaceutical drugs in the market are encapsulated with gelatin, which is manufactured from the collagen of animal skin or bone. The target in this research is to find an alternative means of encapsulating those drugs for sustained release.
Head – Dhanvanthri Laboratory
Doctoral Student
Modified Arecoline Derivatives: Synthesis and Preliminary Anti-Cancer Studies
Doctoral Student
Identification, extraction, purification and biological analysis of medicinal plants,
Doctoral Student
Synthesis, characterization and biological studies of pyrrole based imidazole scaffolds
Doctoral Student
Development of biocompatible drug embedded polymer membrane for pre-clinical model
Doctoral Student
Fluorescently labelled Peptide Nucleic acids for DNA recognition
Doctoral Student
Chalcones and bio-applications
Doctoral Student
Synthesis of Fluorescent sensors for the detection of various gas
Academic
Industry
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham,
Amritanagar Campus
Coimbatore- 641 112,
Tamilnadu, India
