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BHUBANESWAR: If you thought the ubiquitous tulsi growing in your backyard only cures cough and cold, think again. The herbal plant may soon act as a shield against radiation disasters. Scientists at Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) have already done the animal trial (clinical trial phase I) of tulsi's radiation protection potential.
"The results are encouraging," said Dr W Selvamurthy, chief controller of research and development, DRDO. The Institute of Nuclear Medicines and Allied Sciences (INMAS) at DRDO is planning to develop India's indigenous defence against all kinds of radiation. The DRDO will initiate the phase II trials soon, Selvamurthy said.
Speaking on NBC (nuclear, biological and chemical) technologies for armed forces and civilians on the sidelines of the 99th Indian Science Congress here, Selvamurthy said certain herbal plants such as tulsi have compounds, which act as antioxidants, quenching the oxidative stress in case of a radiation exposure and repair the damaged DNA.
"Scientists are working on that property of the plant to develop medicine to protect against radiation poisoning," Selvamurthy said. Herbal radio protectors such as tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum or basil) will have an advantage over chemical compounds, because these would have lesser side effects. Besides the widely available tulsi, Podophyllum Hexandrum (Himalayan May Apple) and Sea Buckthorn hold similar properties, Dr Selvamurthy said.
Once developed, the same medicine can be used both for animals and human beings in case of a radiation disaster.The DRDO scientist said civilians should also have certain knowledge about NBC related emergencies as a measure of preparedness towards any threat.
Towards this goal, the DRDO will soon come out with a civilian training centre on NBC at Panipat, he added. DRDO has already established a model NBC hospital at Gwalior. The hospital can survive NBC attacks and offer services in the aftermath, he said, adding the preparedness must be to checkmate a threat scenario emerging from non-state actors, nuclear pilferage and reactor accidents.
DRDO develops anti-cancer drug
BHUBANESWAR: An anti-cancer drug, facilitating precision radiation therapy, developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is slated to hit the market soon, a top DRDO scientist said here on Thursday.
The 2-Deoxy-D-Glucose (2-DG) drug has cleared all the three stages of clinical trials (phase I, II and III) besides clearance by the drugs controller general of India and Indian Council of Medical Research.
"We are hopeful the New Drug Advisory Committee (NDAC) will clear it soon, after which a private company will launch it commercially," said Dr W Selvamurthy, chief controller of research and development at DRDO. Speaking on the sidelines of the 99th Indian Science Congress here, Dr Selvamurthy said the 2 DG drug, with molecular structure similar to glucose, changes the glucose mechanism of the body.
The hyperactive cancer cells feed more on glucose than on oxygen and absorb the drug. As a result, the cells can be distinguished from normal cells, facilitating optimization of radiation by pre-administering the drug. Dr Selvamurthy said Dr Reddy's laboratory in Hyderabad will market it. Since it is being indigenously developed and marketed, the cost of the anticancer drug will be very less in the country.
Tulsi may act as shield against radiation: Experts - The Times of India
"The results are encouraging," said Dr W Selvamurthy, chief controller of research and development, DRDO. The Institute of Nuclear Medicines and Allied Sciences (INMAS) at DRDO is planning to develop India's indigenous defence against all kinds of radiation. The DRDO will initiate the phase II trials soon, Selvamurthy said.
Speaking on NBC (nuclear, biological and chemical) technologies for armed forces and civilians on the sidelines of the 99th Indian Science Congress here, Selvamurthy said certain herbal plants such as tulsi have compounds, which act as antioxidants, quenching the oxidative stress in case of a radiation exposure and repair the damaged DNA.
"Scientists are working on that property of the plant to develop medicine to protect against radiation poisoning," Selvamurthy said. Herbal radio protectors such as tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum or basil) will have an advantage over chemical compounds, because these would have lesser side effects. Besides the widely available tulsi, Podophyllum Hexandrum (Himalayan May Apple) and Sea Buckthorn hold similar properties, Dr Selvamurthy said.
Once developed, the same medicine can be used both for animals and human beings in case of a radiation disaster.The DRDO scientist said civilians should also have certain knowledge about NBC related emergencies as a measure of preparedness towards any threat.
Towards this goal, the DRDO will soon come out with a civilian training centre on NBC at Panipat, he added. DRDO has already established a model NBC hospital at Gwalior. The hospital can survive NBC attacks and offer services in the aftermath, he said, adding the preparedness must be to checkmate a threat scenario emerging from non-state actors, nuclear pilferage and reactor accidents.
DRDO develops anti-cancer drug
BHUBANESWAR: An anti-cancer drug, facilitating precision radiation therapy, developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is slated to hit the market soon, a top DRDO scientist said here on Thursday.
The 2-Deoxy-D-Glucose (2-DG) drug has cleared all the three stages of clinical trials (phase I, II and III) besides clearance by the drugs controller general of India and Indian Council of Medical Research.
"We are hopeful the New Drug Advisory Committee (NDAC) will clear it soon, after which a private company will launch it commercially," said Dr W Selvamurthy, chief controller of research and development at DRDO. Speaking on the sidelines of the 99th Indian Science Congress here, Dr Selvamurthy said the 2 DG drug, with molecular structure similar to glucose, changes the glucose mechanism of the body.
The hyperactive cancer cells feed more on glucose than on oxygen and absorb the drug. As a result, the cells can be distinguished from normal cells, facilitating optimization of radiation by pre-administering the drug. Dr Selvamurthy said Dr Reddy's laboratory in Hyderabad will market it. Since it is being indigenously developed and marketed, the cost of the anticancer drug will be very less in the country.
Tulsi may act as shield against radiation: Experts - The Times of India
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