ALIGARH. Dr. M. Naeem, a young scientist at the Department of Botany, Aligarh Muslim University has been awarded with a research project sponsored by the Council of Science and Technology, UP for a period of three years in 2012. Dr Naeem said that he has found that periwinkle (Sadabahar) flowers bearing pink, white, purple, red and various colours, provide two very important cancer-fighting medicines vinblastine and vincristine. Vinblastine has helped increase the chance of surviving childhood leukaemia, while vincristine is used to treat Hodgkins' Disease. These flowers are originally from Madagascar but are found everywhere in the world. He said that Sadabahar is the only source of chemotherapeutically important alkaloids, vinblastine and vincristine that inhibit the growth of cancer cells. However these alkaloids are very expensive. Agricultural scientists are trying to increase the content of these alkaloid in leaves. Dr. Naeem said that his team has achieved success in increasing the content and yield of Sadabahar alkaloids with the collaboration of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai using radiation techniques. Dr. Naeem was given 'Young Scientist Award-2012' under the Young Scientist Scheme of the Council of Science and Technology (CST) UP. He has been conferred the prestigious 'Yuva Vaigyanik Samman' (2010-2011) by CST, UP.
No comments:
Post a Comment