Mechanistic evaluation and in vivo validation of the
anticancer potential of Uttroside B against hepatocellular carcinoma
SERB, Department of Science and Technology [DST]
Research Summary
Our lab is mainly focusing on identification of non-toxic natural products having chemotherapeutic, chemosensitizing or chemopreventive efficacy. Curcumin is the most studied compound in our lab (Bava et al, 2005, Vineshkumar et al, 2010, Bava et al, 2011, Sreekanth et al, 2011, Vinod et al, 2013, Vineshkumar et al, 2015, Arun Kumar et al, 2017). Currently we are elucidating the mechanism of curcumin-mediated chemosensitization of breast cancer cells towards 5-FU chemotherapy, using two different breast cancer models. Uttroside B, which exhibits exceptional cytotoxicity towards liver cancer cells (Lekshmi et al, 2016), tryptanthrin, which shows excellent anticancer potential towards melanoma (Jayesh et al, 2014) and non melanoma skin cancer and kaemferide, which displays significant anticancer efficacy towards cervical cancer (Lekshmi et al, 2015), were isolated and identified in our lab. We have filed a patent on uttroside B (Filing No 201641018401), and have signed an MOU with Oklahoma Research foundation, USA, for the clinical validation of its anticancer potential towards hepatocellular carcinoma. The anti-melanoma activity of tryptanthrin was studied using two different tumor models; in NOD SCID mice bearing melanoma xenografts and in C57BL/6 mice injected intravenously with B16F10 murine melanoma cells. The efficacy of tryptanthrin as a chemopreventive was evaluated using DMBA/PMA-induced multi-stage skin carcinogenesis model in Swiss albino mice and found that tryptanthrin blocks the promotion stage of non-melanoma skin cancer. In vitro studies conducted in the lab strongly demonstrate that resveratrol can chemosensitize Her-2 over-expressing breast cancer cells towards docetaxel (Vinod et al, 2015) and heteronemin can chemosensitize acute myeloid leukemia cells, with constitutively active Ras towards cytarabine ( Minakshi et al 2018).
Current Research Grants
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2020 2017
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2019 2016
Mechanistic evaluation and in vivo validation of the anticancer principle isolated from Chromolaena odorata against cervical cancer (PI)
Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment [KSCSTE]
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2019 2016
Isolation, identification and characterization of anticancer principle from the medicinal plant Corallocarpus epigaeus (Co-PI)
Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment [KSCSTE]
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2019 2016
Investigating the mechanism behind the protective effect of the anticancer compounds isolated from Woodfordia fruticosa(L.)Kurz flowers against hepatocellular carcinoma (Co-PI)
Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment [KSCSTE]
Previous/ Completed Research Grants
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In vivo evaluation of the anticarcinogenic effect and toxicity of the active principle of Wrightia tinctoria
Indian Council of Medical Research [ICMR] 2015-2016Comparison of the chemopreventive efficacy of free curcumin and biodegradable polymer based nano curcumin in Benzo[a] pyrene-induced lung carcinogenesis
Department of Science and Technology [DST] 2013-2016Isolation and identification of anticancer principle from the mistletoe growing on Chrsophyllum spp
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research [CSIR] 2012-2015Novel polymer nanoparticle based drug releasing systems for improving the efficacy of drug administration in cancer chemotherapy ( Co-PI)
Department of Biotechnology [DBT] 2008-2011Antineoplastic molecules associated with bacteria from entomopathogenic nematodes Co-PI
STEC, Govt of Kerala 2007-2010Isolation and identification of anticancer principle from the indigenous medicinal plant, Wrightia tinctoria
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research [CSIR] 2006-2009Development of High Specific and High Affinity monoclonal antibody against human IgM.
TreeLand Biotech (Industrial project) 2006-2009Isolation and identification of anticancer principle from Mistletoes(Viscum album) growing on various host trees.
Indian Council of Medical Research [ICMR] 2006-2009Potential Role of curcumin in regulating the effects induced by the major carcinogens in cigarette smoke, such as nicotine, NNK and B(a)P in normal and cancerous lung cells.
Department of Science and Technology [DST] 2005-2008Sensitization of conventional chemotherapeutic drugs using non-toxic chemo preventives
Department of Biotechnology [DBT] 2003-2008Synergistic effect of Taxol and curcumin in inducing apoptosis of cancer cells
STEC, Govt of Kerala 2003-2006
