CENTRE FOR ADVANCED RESEARCH IN DNA FINGERPRINTING AND DIAGNOSTICS OF MEDICINAL POTENTIAL IN PLANTS FROM EASTERN AND NORTH EASTERN INDIA

(with ICMR Funding and Bose Institute Infrastructural and Administrative support) 

 INTRODUCTION 

The plant resource needed for health curing systems constitute natural wealth of our country and have been used as the starting material of many allopathic drugs developed world wide.  The herbal drug market, globally, is expected to grow to US$ 5 trillion by the year 2050. In this, India with its rich natural plant resource and commendable traditional knowledge and empirical wisdom for the medicinal value of plants is expected to be involved as a major partner. Under the WTO regime for export of medicinal plants, it is important that plants to be exported have precise “passport data” in the way of their authentic characterization that is afforded by DNA fingerprinting. The use of DNA fingerprinting for germplasm characterization is also useful in establishment of sovereignty rights over indigenous plant genetic resources for ensuring fair benefit sharing that is called for under the Benefit Sharing Regime of the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD), to which India is a signatory. DNA fingerprinting that allows identity establishment for precise individualization is also considered an essential component towards adding specificity to conventional drug assessment protocols for ensuring uniformity in efficacy of herbal medicine produced in different batches. 

OBJECTIVE

Short Term: 

v  Characterization and Documentation of the medicinal plant diversity of our country through development of Species Specific DNA Markers.

v  Medicinal potential assessment using modern chemical analysis technology that helps in precise chemical evaluation of plants being undertaken using HPLC, GC-MS technology. This study, conducted with plants from different locations/altitudes/ environment would help to distinguish between genetic/epigenetic effects.

v  Statistical correlative studies involving DNA Fingerprinting pattern and chemical analysis data undertaken to establish Trait Related DNA marker that helps in wild germplasm screening for identifying non-conventional drug plants. 

Long Term :

v  Identification of specific gene associated with medicinal potential in plants

v  Studying variation in gene expression between closely related genotypes under different environment with an aim towards developing plants with enhanced medicinal value through technological interventions. 

Human Resource Development:

Conduct Workshops and impart hands-on training to young researches particularly of Eastern and North Eastern India for raising awareness and developing expertise in technology for DNA fingerprinting and Chemical analysis using modern analytical methods. 

Coordinator:                           Prof. Swati Sen-Mandi

                                             Senior Professor and consultant scientist

                                         ICMR Emeritus Medical Scientist (from September-2012)

                                            Bose Institute (Main Campus)

                                              93/1 APC Road, Kolkata – 700 009

 Co-Principal Investigators:  

·          Dr. P. Lakshminarasimhan, Scientist ‘D’, Central National Herbarium, Botanical Survey of India, (Supervising Scientist) for Director BSI, Kolkata

·           Prof. G. J. Sharma Department of Life Science, Manipur University

·          Dr. Tapas Kumar Ghose, Bose Institute, Kolkata

Members:       

  • Dr. Mrs Sangita Dey (Research Associate)
  • Dr. Mrs Harshata Pal (Research Associate)
  • Mr Shekhar Ghosh (Project Fellow)
  • Mr Debmalya Dasgupta (Project Fellow)
  • Mr. Susanta Chatterjee (Tech. Assistant)
  • Mr Arup Nayak (Tech. Assistant)

Equipments:

Automatic DNA Sequencer, Gel doc, Spectrophotometer, Spectroflurometer, Real Time PCR, Thermal Cycler, High Speed Refrigerated Centrifuge, Microfuge, Electro-blotter, Shaking Incubator, Gel Dryer, Ultra low Deep Freeze -80ºC, Deep Freeze -20ºC, Microbalance, Refrigerated Circulating Bath, , Autoclave, Water Purification System.