Pharmacology & Toxicology

The department of Pharmacology and Toxicology is involved in both basic and applied research. The department works on varied research areas viz., pharmacology, toxicology, pharmacokinetics and toxicokinetics. The animal house facility is equipped with Individually Ventilated Cage (IVC) system and an Air Handling Unit (AHU) with centralized air conditioning system. The animal species available in the animal house are rats (Sprague Dawley, Wistar), mice (Balb/C, Swiss albino and C57BL6), guinea pigs (Dunkin Hartley) and New Zealand white rabbits. The department has various pharmacological screening models for different disease conditions. The department boasts of well equipped laboratory instruments and state of art facility to carry out both applied and basic research. Some of the ongoing research activities of the department include:

Basic Research

• Identification of biomarkers for early detection of drug-induced hepatotoxicity
• Effect of stress on ovulation and implantation in mice
• Role of pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic differences in diabetes and healthy conditions
• Mechanistic study of implantation
• Role of various drug efflux proteins with progression of diabetes
• Pathway elucidation of Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis, angiogenesis and tumorigenesis

Applied Research

I. Toxicological Evaluation of Synthetic, Herbal and Biotech products which involves

a. In vivo studies

• Abnormal toxicity
• Acute Toxicity
• Sub-acute Toxicity
• Chronic Toxicity
• Allergenecity/hypersensitivity toxicological study
• Genotoxicity
• Mutagenecity
• Local Toxicity studies (Dermal, vaginal, rectal, ocular, parenteral and inhalation toxicity)
• Reproductive Toxicity

b. In vitro studies

• In vitro Mammalian Cell Micronucleus Test: OECD Guideline Test number 487
• Mammalian Erythrocyte Micronucleus Test: OECD Guideline Number TG 474
• In vitro skin sensitization test: OECD guidelines Test number 442D (ARE-Nrf2 Luciferase Test Method) using the KeratinoSens^TM
• In Chemico Skin Sensitization: OECD guidelines test number 442C Direct Peptide Reactivity Assay (DPRA)
• In Vitro Mammalian Cell Gene Mutation Tests using the Hprt and xprt genes: OECD Guideline Test number 476
• Comet assay
• In vitro mammalian cell line cytotoxicity assay
• In vitro assay for anti-tuberculosis molecules using Mycobacterium smegmatis
• In vitro Red Blood Cell (RBC) Lysis and Protein Denaturation for potential irritants to eye.

II. Pharmacological evaluation of chemicals, herbal extracts/formulations in various areas such as

III. Pre-clinical Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamics studies using cannulation techniques such as

• Jugular vein
• Lymph duct

IV. Other Research Activities

• Targeting Cancer Stem Cells Using Nanoparticles
• Hepatic Targeting: A Novel Approach for the Treatment of Hepatic Fibrosis
• Effect of herbal compounds in galactopoiesis of lactating animals
• Development of novel drug delivery system for the management of NSAID induced gastroenteropathy.
• Evaluation of anti-epileptic and anti-asthmatic activity of herbal compounds
• Cardiac toxicity of chemotherapeutic drugs
• Repositioning of clinical drugs as therapy for cervical cancer

Lab Group Photograph

Instruments

Other Photographs :

Ph.D Students