Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT), Hyderabad engaged in the synthesis of complex molecules from natural sources is in sync with the global research going on in leading organic chemistry labs across the globe. The molecules produced in the lab are used to screen various diseases. Over 60% drugs available have origins to natural products.

It is now collaborating with Mayo Clinic, USA, University of Dortmund, Germany and University of Rennes, France. This apart several Indian research institutes like the CCMB, Hyderabad, CDRI, Lucknow, IISc, Bengaluru and NCCS, Pune are engaged to evaluate the molecules.

The research efforts led by Dr. Srivari Chandrasekhar, Scientist G, Organic Chemistry Division, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT), Hyderabad, helped him bag the 2014 Infosys Prize in the Physical Sciences category for his contributions in the general area of synthetic organic chemistry with a special focus on the synthesis of complex molecules from natural sources.

“Many natural products are scarcely available by isolation, especially from marine sources. We have chosen natural products which are architecturally complex and biologically relevant and synthesized them using chemicals which are available commercially at low cost. This is an important research area going on in leading organic chemistry labs across the globe. More than 60% drugs available in the market today have origins to natural products as inspiration. Our synthesis of Plaedinolide, Bengazole, Beraprost a synthetic prostaglandin, Azumamide etc are well acknowledged,” Dr. Chandrasekhar told Pharmabiz in an email.

“The research group has been working on synthesis of complex molecules for over two decades.Natural products as such are not commercialised. We use the molecules made in the lab to screen against various diseases. We are collaborating with global and Indian research centres for evaluating our molecules”, said Dr. Chandrasekhar.

The CSIR-IICT research group for synthesis of complex molecules from natural sources comprises of 14 PhD students and 3 Post-doctoral fellows. CSIR provides maximum funding for the research for this project through 12th plan project referred to as ORIGIN. Also, DBT, Ministry of Earth Sciences, DBT also fund the research activities in this group.

“This is a very important research around which early drug discovery research revolve around. There are many schools working in the area of total synthesis of bio-actives and medicinal chemistry, stated Dr. Chandrasekhar, adding that ‘Health Care for All’ will be possible only through inter-disciplinary research amongst chemists and biologists. The invisible boundaries will soon disappear and this work will mature into a full- fledged global theme,” he said.

The Infosys Prize, which is awarded under the aegis of the Infosys Science Foundation, honors the outstanding achievements of contemporary researchers and scientists across various categories - Engineering and Computer Science, Humanities, Life Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, Physical Sciences and Social Sciences. The prize consists of a purse of Rs.55 Lakh, a 22 karat gold medallion and a citation certificate for each category.