Dr. Muraleedharan G. Nair, Professor and Sr Asc To Dean

Joined Department

January 1, 1987

Appointment

10% Teaching, 90% Research

Qualifications

CChem., FRSC., Royal Society of Chemistry, London, Chemistry, 1999. Ph.D., University of the West Indies, Organic Chemistry, 1984. M.Sc., University of Calicut, Analytical Chemistry, 1974. B.Sc., University of Calicut, Chemistry, 1972.

Expertise and Research Interests

Nair's laboratory, the Bioactive Natural Products and Phytoceuticals Laboratory at Michigan State University, is engaged in the discovery, isolation, and identification of phytoceuticals that are potential candidates to be evaluated as phytomedicines. The diseases include cancer, neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD), musculoskeletal disease, mental health problems, type-2 diabetes, obesity, inflammation and parasitic/microbial diseases. BNPP addresses aspects of product discovery including efficacy, toxicity, mode of action and dosage of identified phytochemical(s) and facilitate commercialization of such products as phytomedicines. The phytochemicals of interest are also being evaluated for animal and plant health. Therefore, our research involves bioassay-directed discovery, purification and chemical characterization of natural products from plants and microbes using preliminary anticancer, antioxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antibacterial, nematicidal, mosquitocidal and insecticidal assays. Another component of this research focuses on phytoceuticals with biological activities to enhance food safety and add value to fresh and processed foods.

Our research on phytoceuticals includes (1) determination of structure and structure activity relationships of natural products in plant parts that have potential to be developed as alternative medicines (2) determining efficacy, toxicity and dosage of ingredients in supplements or potential natural products to be developed as botanical drugs and (3) evaluation of phytoceutical components to enhance food safety

© Copyright 2009, MSU Department of Horticulture. All Rights Reserved.
MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer.
Login to edit profile  |  Custom web site design by Dynamite Inc