Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST)

Science & Technology for National Development

Science for Society : Innovation for Prosperity

Laboratory of Catalysis and Frontier Molecules

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  2. Laboratory of Catalysis and Frontier Molecules

Dr. Gan B. Bajracharya
Phone: +977-1-5547715 (Ext: 253)
Email: [email protected]

 

RESEARCH

Isolation and characterization of frontier molecules

With the help of the experiences gained by the people through many generations, the traditional medicinal practitioners, faith healers and ethnic groups have made use of herbal products for various purposes. The herbal plants are being consumed by the people for the treatment of infectious diseases like flu, measles, typhoid, diarrhea, wound, cold, cough and other microbial diseases. Many medicinal plants such as Aconitum species, Aconitum spicatum, Acorus calamus, Allium prattii, Bergenia ciliate, Bergenia purpurascens, Caragana jubata, Caragana sukiensis, Mallotus philippensis, Picrorhiza scrophulariaeflora, Rheum australe, Rheum nobile, Rhododendron anthopogon, Usnea aciculifera, Zanthoxylum armatum and many more are currently under chemical and biological investigation in our laboratories. We are looking for frontier molecules from various natural sources to be utilized as potential drug. Our works on natural products have been described in several articles.


Derivatisation of natural bioactive compounds for activity enhancement 

We are working on derivatisation of natural secondary metabolites such as flavonoids, anthraquinones etc. for enhancement of their bioactivities. For example, quercetin, a naturally occurring flavonoid, exhibits a high antioxidative property. Unfortunately its water insoluble property and the nature of rapid conjugation with glucuronosyltransferases and sulfotransferases present in the small intestine halts it to reach in the malignant organs through gastrointestinal tract in oral therapy. We are synthesizing several quercetin derivatives and comparing their in vitro and in vivo bioactivities to obtain medicinally important frontier molecules.


Development of novel synthetic methodologies

Development of novel strategies for the synthesis of various target molecules is our another research topic. We have established all basic requirements to work on advanced organic synthesis. Currently we are using various metal (Cu, Ag, Au, Fe, Ru, Rh, Ni, Pd, Pt, etc.) complexes to develop new catalytic reactions and studying their mechanisms. Cyclizations, nucleophilic additions, C-H activations and macrolide synthesis are our currently running projects. 

 

Development of industrial processes and green chemistry

We are focusing on development of economic, industrial processes. Avoiding of organic solvents and hazardous reagents, development of high yielding and atom economic process, the use of mild conditions and ease work up protocols, microwave synthesis and short step total synthesis are the goals. 

 

Laboratory facilities


PUBLICATIONS

2020

  • G. B. Bajracharya*, M. Paudel, R. K. C., S. L. Shyaula. Structure-activity relationship and MM2 energy minimized conformational analysis of quercetin and its derivatives in the DPPH• radical scavenging capacity. Bibechana 2020, 17, 20–27. 

Books and Chapters

  • G. B. Bajracharya*, R. K. Gupta. Rhubarb: The king of herbs. In Wild Plants: The Treasures of Natural Healers (Eds. M. Rai, S. Bhattarai, C. M. Feitosa). CRC Press, USA (In Press).

2019

  • G. B. Bajracharya*, P. K. C. A high antibacterial efficacy of fruits of Litsea cubeba (Lour.) Pers from Nepal. Pharmacognosy Journal 2019, 11(5),889–893. https://www.phcogj.com/article/949
  • C. M. Nemkul*, G. B. Bajracharya, I. Shrestha. Phytochemical evaluation and in vitro antimicrobial activity of the roots of Flemingia strobilifera (L.) R. Br. Journal of Plant Resources 2019, 17(1), 98–103.

Books and Chapters

  • S. P. Dhaubhadel, G. B. Bajracharya, B. Bajracharya. Methodologies in Chemical Research. Sukunda Pustak Bhawan, Bhotahity, Kathmandu, Nepal. 2019.

2018

  • C. M. Nemkul*, I. Shrestha, G. B. Bajracharya. Ethno-medico-botanical study of Magar community in Dhaubadi vdc, Nawalparasi district, Nepal. Proceedings of 13th International Knowledge Globalization Conference 2018, 55–65. 
  • C. M. Nemkul, G. B. Bajracharya*, I. Shrestha. Phytochemical, antibacterial and DPPH free radical scavenging evaluations of the barks of Aegle marmalos (L.) Correa. Journal of Pharmacognosy Phytochemistry 2018, 7(4), 1637–1641. http://www.phytojournal.com/archives/?year=2018&vol=7&issue=4&ArticleId=5165
  • G. B. Bajracharya*, S. S. Shrestha. An unprecedented acetylation of phenols using a catalytic amount of magnesium powder. Synthetic Communications 2018, 48(3),1688–1693. https://doi.org/10.1080/00397911.2018.1459721

2017

  • G. B. Bajracharya*, M. Paudel, R. K. C. Insight into the structure elucidation of flavonoids through UV-visible spectral analysis of quercetin derivatives using shift reagents. Journal of Nepal Chemical Society 2017, 37, 55-64.  
  • R. K. Gupta, L. Bharati, K. S. Shakya, B. M. Regmi, G. B. Bajracharya*, R. N. Jha*. In vitro and in vivo pharmacological activities of the extracts of Rheum nobile rhizomes Nepal. Indian Journal of Natural Products and Resources 2017, 8(3), 230–239. http://nopr.niscair.res.in/handle/123456789/43354
  • B. Sharma, S. Thapa, G. B. Bajracharya*. Promising antioxidative potentiality and antibacterial activity of Mallotus philippensis grown in Nepal. Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry 2017, 6(3), 629–632. http://www.phytojournal.com/archives/?year=2017&vol=6&issue=3&part=J&ArticleId=1285

2016

  • S. Thapa, G. M. S. Thakuri, P. K. C., S. L. Shyaula, G. B. Bajracharya*. Chalcones bearing hydroxyl substituent in the cinnamoyl ring possess antioxidative potentiality. Journal of Nepal Chemical Society 2016, 35, 152–160.
  • R. K. Gupta, G. B. Bajracharya, R. N. Jha*. Quantitative and qualitative chemical analyses of the rhizome of Rheum nobile. Journal of Nepal Chemical Society 2016, 34, 51–57.
  • S. L. Shyaula*, T. Tamang, N. Ghouri, A. Adhikari, S. Marasini, G. B. Bajracharya, M. D. Manandhar, M. I. Choudhary. Antileishmanial diterpenoid alkaloids from Aconitum spicatum (Bruhl) Stapf. Natural Product Research 2016, 30(22), 2590–2593. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14786419.2015.1114941

2015

  • L. Pokhrel*, B. Sharma, G. B. Bajracharya. Brine shrimp lethality and antibacterial activity of extracts from the bark of Schleichera oleosa. Journal of Coastal Life Medicine  2015, 3(8), 645–647. http://oaji.net/articles/2015/2154-1445324632.pdf
  • R. K. Gupta, P. K. Gupta, R. N. Jha, G. B. Bajracharya*. Pharmacognostical comparison and standardization of wild and cultivated rhizomes of Rheum australe (Padanchal) of Nepal. Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry 2015, 3(6),112–116. http://www.phytojournal.com/archives/?year=2015&vol=3&issue=6&ArticleId=506&si=false
  • G. B. Bajracharya*. Diversity, pharmacology and synthesis of bergenin and its derivatives: potential materials for therapeutic usages. Fitoterapia 2015, 101, 133–152. [Review article] https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fitote.2015.01.001

2014

2013

  • G. B. Bajracharya*, R. Maharjan. Development of an ease methodology for the isolation of Ayurveda drug ‘Bergenin’. Journal of Nepal Chemical Society 2013, 32(1), 65–69.
  • G. B. Bajracharya*, B. R. Bhetuwal, R. K. C. An unexplored, wild and consumable vegetable Allium prattii: nutritional value, cytotoxicity and antibacterial potentiality. Journal of Nepal Chemical Society 2013, 31(1), 1–8.
  • G. B. Bajracharya*, D. B. Thapa. Quercetin as a protease (α-chymotrypsin) inhibitor. Nepal Journal of Science and Technology 2013, 14(2),91–96.  https://www.nepjol.info/index.php/NJST/article/view/10420
  • G. B. Bajracharya*, R. Maharjan. Cytotoxicity, total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of Bergenia purpurascens rhizome. Nepal Journal of Science and Technology 2013, 14(1), 87–94. https://www.nepjol.info/index.php/NJST/article/view/8927

Books and Chapters

  • G. B. Bajracharya (Editor). NAST’s Research Activities at Manaslu Conservation Area, Nepal. Nepal Academy of Science and Technology, Khumaltar, Lalitpur, Nepal. 2013.

2011

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