Jalandhar, April 18

Plants of various species have evolved a well-developed immune system to fight disease causing micro-organisms. Mechanism of these plant species is a huge promise for curing various life threatening diseases including cancer.

Delivering the plenary lecture, at the last day of a two-day National Conference on Emerging Trends in Host-Microbe Interactions (ETHMI) organized by DAV University, Dr I P Singh, Professor, Department of Natural Products, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Mohali said that a research at his lab has exhibited how Jamun fruit or Indian blackberry could hold the promise of eliminating a type of cancer. Researchers at his lab had successfully isolated a novel anti-cancer compound from the fruit.

Laying emphasis on the use of plants as a potential reservoir of new drugs, he said that natural products were more potent over chemically synthesized compounds for producing drugs.

Dr. Vipin Hallan, senior principal scientist from Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (IHBT), said that plants fast trigger response against pathogens.
Prof. Dinesh Goyal, Professor and head, Department of Biotechnology at Thapar University, Patiala said that microbial technologies could be beneficial for sustainable agriculture. Chemical fertilizers pose a potential threat to soil’s health and environment. He also emphasized the need of taking the research from laboratory to the field.

Delivering valedictory speech at the occasion, Dr Satish K Kapoor, Registrar, DAV University, related microbes to ancient wisdom and Vedas. He said that Rig Veda and Atharv Veda also had a mention of microbes. He said modern science had accepted the fact that humanity must return close to the nature. Dr Kapoor said that the followers of Jainism do not take meals after the sunset. They have the ancient wisdom that microbial activity amid sunlight due to ultra violet rays get retarded, making their food almost pathogen free.

Prof H R Gandhar, Advisor to the University said that he was happy to learn that the present generation had become more curious and analytical. Now, parents and teachers attempt to satiate the curious minds of children.

Prof. Rup Lal, Professor, Molecular Biology, Delhi University shared the results of his studies on multiple drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB). He emphasized that MDR-TB strains are emerging at a fast pace due to denial of patients to follow complete drug course. This study will have numerous biological and pharmaceutical applications
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Those present at the occasion included Dr Naresh Sahajpal, Dean, Academics, Dr P K Sehajpal from GNDU and Dr Dinesh Goyal from Thapar University.

Ends