Department of Pharmacology

Department of Pharmacology- A profile

The fields of Pharmacology and Toxicology are interdisciplinary biomedical sciences in nature, drawing upon the foundation and approaches to systems physiology, biochemistry, molecular pharmacology, genetics and neuroscience. A primary objective of Pharmacology is to investigate the fundamental aspects of molecular bio-regulatory mechanism of the cell, for the purpose of understanding how drugs act and in order to develop new drugs for treatment of disease. Toxicology examines toxicity and adverse effects of developed drugs, mechanisms of chemical agent how they produce mutagenicity, carcinogenicity, teratogenicity and neurological disorders.

This multi-faceted perspective applies to the Department of Pharmacology at JSS College of Pharmacology, Ooty. The department offers training in pharmacology and toxicology to both undergraduate and post graduate students, who may subsequently go on to exciting research, regulatory and administrative careers in academic, industrial and healthcare provision settings. Current areas of research investigation in the Department listed below;

Analytical and molecular toxicology
Behavioural Pharmacology
Cardiovascular Pharmacology
Cancer chemotherapy
Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics
Endocrine Pharmacology
Immunopharmacology
Infectious diseases
Neuropharmacology

Integrative, multi-disciplinary and state of art experimental approaches are used in each of these research areas and investigations are range from molecular level to the whole animal. The department has spacious laboratories equipped with modern instruments that are used by both faculty and students in these research areas. Our faculty is expert in diverse techniques in these research areas. We are also a member of interdepartmental collaborative research programs, including Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacogenomics and Phytopharmacology.

Objectives of the department

To attain dynamic and innovative curricula to cope with the monumental advancements in pharmacy education.
To Nurture both undergraduate and post graduate students with the aforementioned values by providing multidisciplinary programs that encourage the development of an entrepreneurial spirit with emphasis on creativity, innovation, motivation, team-working, and scientific competence.
To motivate continuous upgrading of teaching faculty and technical staff as well as students with respect to education, professional skills, knowledge, morality, and experience, through training, courses, seminars, lectures & workshops.
To establish close partnerships with the pharmacy community and pharmaceutical industry, through consultancies and services, that enhances the intellectual quality and economics of pharmaceutical services. This will emphasize the role of the university in serving society.
To promote outstanding programmes of research and scholarship in pharmacology and toxicology. Put simply, research is the engine that drives the department.
To help students to find jobs in pharmaceutical fields that complies with their interests and professional skills and to follow their career development.

Research papers published (past five years)

International: 22

National: 30

Research papers presented (past five years)

International: 18

National: 45

Activities for 2007-2009

Research papers published

International: 06

National: 09

Research papers presented

International: Nil

National: 20

Research programmes completed (sponsored/academic)

Modernization and upgradation of pharmacology laboratory for research excellence in anti-inflammatory and osteoarthritic area sponsored by AICTE, New Delhi under MODROBS scheme.
"Pharmacognostical, Phytochemical investigations and screening for immunomodulatory activity of a few Indian medicinal Plants" submitted to The Tamilnadu Dr MGR Medical University, Chennai by Mr.J.Suresh as partial fulfillment of Ph.D degree under the supervision of Dr.K.Elango.
"Evaluation of some medicinal plants for their antimicrobial and wound healing properties" submitted to The Tamilnadu Dr MGR Medical University, Chennai by Mr.M.N.Satish Kumar as partial fulfillment of Ph.D degree under the supervision of Dr.P.Vijayan.

Ongoing research projects (sponsored/academic)

Isolation of bioactive principles from Mucuna pruriens, Tinospora cordifolia, and their pharmacological activities in experimental Parkinsonism models sponsored by AICTE, New Delhi under Research promotion scheme.
A study on the comparative safety and efficacy on certain immunosuppressants.
Phytochemical and Pharmacological studies on Cyathula prostrata and Heliotropium indicum.
Investigation of selected medicinal plants and marketed formulation for their anti inflammatory and anti-Osteoarthritis activity.
Comparative pharmacognostical, phytochemical and pharmacological studies on Cardiopsermum species.
Development of herbal formulations for cardioprotective action.
Antifungal and anti-inflammatory studies on Tea tree oil (Malaleuca alternifolia).
Pharmacy education and practice in post GATS era.
Role of flavonoids in cancer chemotherapy.
Anti-diabetic activity of Asparagus recemosus.
Implication of Momordica charantia on partial aortic banding and Isoproternerol induced cardiac hypertrophy.
Toxicological evaluation of anti-asthamatic formulation in Wistar rats.
Ameliorating effect of polyherbal formulations Shatyadiguathar and Rasnasapthak on rheumatoid arthritis.
Evaluation of the role of Tinospora cordifolia in alleviating CNS toxicity of levodopa in the treatment of Parkinson disease.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) - effect of natural and marketed preparation of probiotics with proton pump inhibitors.
Study of different herbal extracts in combination with testosterone on post menopausal condition in overectomised rats.
Role of opioid agonist and antagonist in the treatment of neuronal and cardiac ischemia.
Effect of oral administration of Adhtoda vasica Nees on strepatozocin induced diabetes and associated cognitive decline in rats.

Awards and achievements

100% results in both I and II M.Pharmacy
100% results in IV B.Pharmacy
Received Best poster presentation award to Mr. Partha Deb Roy, II M.Pharmacy under the guidance of Mr.A.Shanish Antony, Lecturer at 2^nd IPA SF congress at Acharya and BM Reddy College of Pharmacy, Bangalore on July 9-11, 2009.

Guest lecturers arranged

Comprehensive data analysis and graphing concepts in pharmacology using analytical tools- Mr. Shomsekar and Mr. Hussain, m/s. Cranes soft ware international Ltd. Bangalore on 28.07.2007.
Statistical analysis- various approaches to calculate the scientific data- Dr.TK Gupta, Dept. of Statistics, Govt. College of Haldia, West Bengal on 24.10.2007.
Chronopharmacology- Its applications in drug discovery and drug delivery - Dr.PD.Gupta, Rtd. Director Grade Scientist, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad on 22.04.2008.
Discovery of MP-529: A selective inhibitor of Aurora 2 kinase in development for the treatment of Cancer- Dr. Hariprasad, Director of Medicinal Chemistry, SuperGen Inc., USA on 18.08.2008.
Changing trends in Pharmacology research- S. Sathyanarayana, Prof and Head, Dept. of Pharmacology, Andhra University, Vishakapatnam, Andhra Pradesh on 31.03.2009.
Drug discovery for Alzheimer's disease: Challenges- Dr. KS. Jagannatha Rao, Scientist, Dept of Food Chemistry, CFTRI, Mysore on 02.04.2009.
The neglected American diseases - Prof. Claudio Salomon , Prof and Head, Dept. of Pharmacy, Faculty of Biochemical and Pharm. Sciences, National University of Rosario, Argetina on 06.04.2009.

Equipments purchased

Name of the equipment	Make	Cost in Rs
Incapacitance meter	Linton instruments, London, UK	5.58 lakhs
otor Activity Monitor	Pan Lab, Spain	5.83 lakhs
Microscope	Motic
Non Invasive blood pressure	AD instruments, Australia	2.5 lakhs
Biopotential recordings in animals (ECG and EEG couplers)	AD instruments, Australia	0.8 lakhs

Equipments placed order

Stereotaxic digital lab standard with LED display and accessories	Stoelting company, Illinois, USA	8.7 lakhs
EC detector for HPLC	Shimadzu, Japan	6.24 lakhs

Continuing education programmes

Conducted quality improvement programme (QIP) for pharmacy teachers on "Advance techniques in experimental pharmacology" on March 3- April 5, 2007 and "Recent trends in experimental pharmacology" on March 2-8, 2009.

Institutional animal ethics committee (IAEC)

Conducted IAEC meetings on August 2007 and October 2008, 23 M.Pharmacy, 06 Ph.d projects in 2007 and 48 M.Pharmacy projects, 09 Ph.D projects, 04 CADRAT projects were pursued for animal experimentation.

Faculty

Dr. K.Elango	M.Pharm., Ph.D.,	Principal I/c.
Prof.V.B. Desai	M.Pharm.,	Visiting Professor
Mr. M.N. Sathishkumar	M.Pharm.,	Assistant Professor
Mr. R. Vadivelan	M.Pharm.,	Assistant Professor
Ms. Subashini	M.Pharm.,	Assistant Professor
Mr. A. Shanish Antony	M.Pharm.,	Lecturer