The laboratory focuses on research studies in the following areas:

• Plant metabolites and their biological properties: Investigations on therapeutic potential of phytochemicals isolated from plants and spices as anti-tumorigenic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents and their mode of action.

Ongoing project: Studies on antioxidant, antitumor and anti-inflammatory properties of phytochemicals extracted from Indigofera longiracemosa Baill.

Indigofera longiracemosa is a dye-yielding plant that belongs to the Fabaceae family. In traditional medicine, this plant is recognized for its therapeutic potential against a variety of diseases. However, there have been limited studies assessing the therapeutic properties of phytochemicals extracted from I. longiracemosa. Our research focuses on evaluating the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor properties of extracts derived from the aerial parts of the plant, utilizing both in vitro and in vivo approaches. The study found that the leaf methanolic extract (LME) of I. longiracemosa exhibits the best antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential.

Comparative antioxidant analysis of extracts prepared from Indigofera longiracemosa aerial parts identifies leaf methanolic extract as a promising antioxidant. Nat Prod Res. 2025 Jun;39(11):3135-3139. doi: 10.1080/14786419.2024.2331023. Epub 2024 Mar 22. PMID: 38516708.

Toxicity profiling and HR-LCMS analysis of Indigofera longiracemosa leaf methanolic extract exhibiting anti-inflammatory activity. 3 Biotech. 2025 Jun;15(6):160. doi: 10.1007/s13205-025-04320-7. Epub 2025 May 9. PMID: 40352767; PMCID: PMC12064542.

• Lipid metabolism in Sertoli cells and cancer cells

Ongoing project: Studies on lipid metabolism in Sertoli cells with special focus on sulphated glycolipid (Funded by ICMR: 2022-2025)

This study aims to explore a previously unexamined aspect of male germ cell development: the fate of apoptotic germ cells and their membrane lipid components following phagocytosis by Sertoli cells in the seminiferous epithelium. The primary focus is to understand how Sertoli cells metabolize sulphated glycolipids, which constitute a significant portion of the membranes of apoptotic germ cells, as well as the consequences of defective glycolipid metabolism. Research in this area is expected to provide insights into the mechanisms by which Sertoli cells metabolize sulphated glycolipids, an area that has not been thoroughly investigated to date. Understanding these processes is expected to shed light on how defects in sulphated glycolipid metabolism affect Sertoli cell function and, consequently, male germ cell development and spermatogenesis.

Ongoing project: Investigations on the role of Sterol regulatory element binding protein 1 (SREBP1) mediated lipid biosynthesis in cancer cell proliferation.

Metabolic reprogramming is a defining hallmark of cancer cells, essential for maintaining redox status, meeting energy demands, and synthesizing macromolecules during their rapid growth and proliferation. The overexpression of enzymes involved in lipid biosynthesis has been reported in various cancers, leading to an increase in lipid droplets—cellular storage organelles that serve as energy sources. In addition to the formation of lipid droplets, an increase in lipid metabolism, particularly lipid synthesis, has been shown to alter membrane lipid composition and protect cancer cells from therapy-associated damage. Dysregulated lipid metabolism is a critical metabolic reprogramming event occurring in cancer cells, and ongoing studies in this area aim to identify unique metabolic pathways that cancer cells adopt for their survival. In this context, we are particularly interested in exploring the role of the transcription factor SREBP1 in lipid biosynthesis in cancer cells, with a specific focus on lipid droplet homeostasis. We anticipate that our research will provide valuable insights into the unique signaling pathways that modulate lipid droplet status in cancer cell proliferation and survival.

• Cancer chemotherapy and pain: Investigations on the mechanistic underpinnings of cancer chemotherapy and pain specifically addressing the role of Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) channel proteins in chemotherapy induced pain.