Projects

Seabuckthorn – A Repository of Bioactive Phytochemicals

Seabuckthorn (SBT), (Hippophae L.) are deciduous shrubs in the genus Hippophae, family Elaeagnaceae. In addition to the nutritionally active constituents, many clinically important activities of seabuckthorn (SBT), such as beneficial effects on skin, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, wound healing, cancer chemopreventive action, antiviral activity, sun screen and radioprotection have been established. Unfortunately, most of the reported studies have been carried out with ill-defined crude extracts (e g “flavone”, “hydro alcoholic extracts”, “SBT oil”, “aqueous extracts”). 

Due to non-uniformity, the results are often not reproducible. Therefore there is urgent need for identification of active principles. Presently, work in the laboratory is directed towards the isolation and characterization of active principles/fractions from bioactive fractions of SBT. Isolated compounds will be available for the treatment of diseases such as diabetes, dermatitis, CVD, peptic ulcers, sun-screen and radio protective formulations, wound healing agents. Wherever isolation presents difficulty within a reasonable time frame, the extracts will be standardized with respect to bio-markers and fingerprinting.

Publications:

1. “Drug Discovery Through Seabuckthorn Research,” Chinchu Bose and A. Banerji, invited presentation at the Fourth International Seabuckthorn Association Conference (ISA 2009): Seabuckthorn on the way between Science and Industry Interaction, Belokuriha, Russia, September2009
2. “Synthesis and Antioxygenic Properties of Seabuckthorn Flavones-3-ols and Analogs”,N. Pandurangan, Chinchu Bose, and A. Banerji, Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters21 (2011) 5328– 5330