Pranabkumar Das
Biography
Dr. Pranab Kumar Das is an accomplished microbiologist and academician currently serving as an Assistant Professor in Microbiology at Asutosh College, affiliated with the University of Calcutta, India.
He earned his Ph.D. in Science from Jadavpur University in 2013 as a UGC Research Scholar. His doctoral research focused on the effects of physical and chemical mutagens on chromosomes, with a special emphasis on Ayurvedic compositions for chromosomal alterations. His groundbreaking research led to the discovery of a new anti-cancer formulation, earning him a Gold Medal in the Young Scientist Competition at the All India Zoology Congress in 2013.
Dr. Das has over five years of industrial experience as an approved microbiologist under the Directorate of Drugs Control, Government of West Bengal. He has worked in various esteemed institutions, including R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital, Zuventus Healthcare Ltd., and Micro Labs Ltd., gaining expertise in microbiological quality control and research.
His current research focuses on assessing the anti-cancer properties of Barleria lupulina extracts, funded by the Research & Development Cell of Asutosh College. With expertise in chromosome preparation, mutagenesis studies, and plant extract analysis, he continues to contribute significantly to microbiology and genetic research.
Research Interest
This research project has been undertaken to assess and reassess the hazardous effect of some artificial mutagens on the genetic system of freshwater tilapia fish Oreochromis mossambicus.
Moreover, an anticlastogenic formulation from a plant extract of Barleria lupulina had been discovered for the first time from this research project.
Abstract
CLASTOGENIC STUDY OF IONIZING RADIATIONS ON TILAPIA FISH OREOCHROMIS MOSSAMBICUS AND A DISCOVERY OF NOVEL ANTICANCER FORMULATION
Fluctuating environmental conditions & other natural parameters are enough to induce a great variety of mutations on natural biota. From time immortal, the living world is exposed to hazardous ionizing radiations [as X-rays and gamma-rays (yrays)] and non ionizing radiations (as uv rays from the Sun). The ionizing radiations induce free radical formation within a cell leading to chromosomal damage within living cells and tissues. In previous studies, the author had extensively investigated the effect of such ionizing radiations on a wide range of animal models as grasshoppers, mice and shrew. Chromosomal aberration is regarded as an index of cancer. This research project has been undertaken to assess and reassess the hazardous effect of some artificial mutagens on the genetic system of freshwater tilapia fish Oreochromis mossambicus. Moreover, an anticlastogenic formulation from a plant extract of Barleria lupulina had been discovered for the first time from this research project. Artificial mutagenesis was induced by exposing the fishes to X-rays and gamma rays of different doses viz. 0.8 Gy, 2.4 Gy etc. Mitotic chromosomes from the gill cells were prepared from metaphase stages, and the study was carried out after different time intervals as 1 hr, 16 hr, 48 hr, 1 wk, 2 wk; to observe the immediate and prolonged clastogenic effect of the ionizing radiations. As a result, various chromosomal aberrations were encountered as gaps, breaks, translocations, etc. The highest and lowest chromosomal aberration frequency was scored w.r.t. time interval as well as types of aberrations. Furthermore, the plant extract from leaves of Barleria lupulina was administered pre and post irradiation; and an amelioration of chromosomal aberrations was observed upto a significant level. Moreover, tumor in one of the fishes in the snout region was obtained with 2.4 Gy gamma rays, post exposure. At this stage, the fish was administered with the plant extract and the tumor abolished within 9 days and the fish lived in the laboratory thereafter till one and half year. Active constituents in the plant extract was subsequently identified and a novel anti-calstogenic formulation was formulated which the author duly patented under his name (India Patent Number: 549235, Grant Title: "A NOVEL PHARMACEUTICAL COMPOSITION", Date of Grant: 30/08/2024).
