Plants synthesize secondary metabolites such as flavonoids as a strategy of defence against pathogens and pests. These diverse compounds, in turn, assume significance for humans in the form of medicinally pertinent natural products. How the desert plants, faced with extreme environmental stresses, store and utilize these metabolites in times of need is directly dependent on the catalytic machinery at its disposal. My research group has worked on the characterization of relevant enzymes from such plants, with a view to elucidate their functions in planta, and explore their usefulness for food processing/pharmaceutical industry. Besides, I have also worked on identification, isolation and developmental profiling of geraniol acetyltransferase (AAT) activity in leaves of palmarosa (an aromatic grass and a rich source of the monoterpene alcohol, geraniol, and its volatile ester, geranyl acetate)

 

Phytochemical profiling of desert plants is also my research interest. We have isolated and purified novel flavonoids/isoflavonoids and corresponding glycosides from a few edible plants of the arid/semi-arid zones, and analyzed the same using TLC/HPLC/HPTLC/LC-MS. We would like to characterize potent antioxidant compounds from food plants for combating human disorders like cancer, obesity, etc.

 

I have also done some teaching-based research, whereby I have developed some class activities to engage students in a proactive manner. Some of the methods I have tried in large classes with 500-students class strength and presented the same in international conferences in India. My team has also developed an online course 'Science of Living Systems' for undergraduate students.

 

One ICMR proposal is approved (as Co-PI).

 

Past Research projects:

 

1. As PI: "Phytochemical and Metabolic Characterization of Prosopis cineraria pods (sangri) as Potential Nutraceuticals", sponsored by DST-SERB, Dec 2012 - Dec 2015, "completed", Rs. 22 Lakhs.

 

2. As Principal Developer of the course 'Science of Living Systems' (alongwith Prof. Rajesh Mehrotra and Dr. Manoj Kannan as co-developers) in the project "Developing Suitable Pedagogical Methods for Various Classes, Intellectual Calibres and Research in e-Learning", sponsored by Ministry of HRD, Govt. of India, Aug, 2016-Dec, 2016, "completed", (PI: Dr. Bani Bhattacharya, IIT Kharagpur), Rs. 7 lakhs. 

 

3. As Project team member: "Bring back the Peacocks", sponsored by BITSAA, Feb 2017-till date - "ongoing", (PI: Prof. Sangeeta Sharma, Dept. of Humanities and Social Sciences, BITS, Pilani, Pilani Campus), Rs. 10 lakhs.

 

4. Assisted Sr. Prof. Rajiv Gupta, Civil Engg. Dept., in designing biochemical assays for nail fluoride testing, in the project "Costs and Remediation of Groundwater Contamination in India", sponsored by College of Arts and Sciences, at University of Virginia, USA. Dollar 1.50 lakhs. 

 

1. Bryophyte based Bio-filter development for combating air pollution 

2. Characterization of hydrolytic enzymes and bioactives in peel extracts from local fruit and vegetable cultivars for potential development of sustainable, bio-based cleaning agents 

 

Dr. Vidushi Asati, completed her PhD in 2020.

Ms. Tripti Joshi, PhD student, joined my research group in January, 2020.