Dr. Sukhes Mukherjee of the Department of Biochemistry at the Amrita School of Medicine was awarded the 2008 Young Scientist Award. Effects of grape skin and flesh on ethanol induced alterations in blood — this research paper by Dr. Mukherjee won the PS Murthy award at the 35th Annual Conference of Association of Clinical Biochemists of India, held at the Vedic Village at Kolkata, 18th – 21st December, 2008.

Grapes have polyphenols, which can potentially provide a remedy for alcohol induced organ damage. Most alcoholic beverages have grapes as a major ingredient. It would seem counter-intuitive then, that their therapeutic qualities could be used to counter alcohol induced organ damage. The results of Dr. Mukherjee’s studies, however, do show that grape skin and flesh can significantly reduce ethanol induced deleterious effects in mitochondria and cytosol of organs. Polyphenol content is higher in grape skin than in flesh; hence grape skin is more salubrious.

Dr. Mukherjee has published these research results in the Indian Journal of Clinical Biochemistry. We congratulate Dr. Mukherjee for winning these honors.

December 30, 2008
School of Medicine, Kochi