Dr.R.K.Radha
Position:Senior Scientist
Mobile No: 9495121079
Email:radhapkumar@rediffmail.com,
radhark.biotech@gmail.com,
radhark@jntbgri.res.in
Google Scholar link
Research Gate link
radhark.biotech@gmail.com,
radhark@jntbgri.res.in
Google Scholar link
Research Gate link
Qualifications
Ph D (Botany), University of Kerala, M Phil (Botany), M Sc (Botany) with Distinction and First Rank, University of Kerala, Recipient of Dr. A. Abraham Gold Medal. SERB-SPG, DST Awardee, 2023.
Specialization
Ex situ Conservation of RET species; In vitro regeneration, zygotic embryo cryopreservation, Bio-prospecting of natural resources and identification of elite genotypes
About Me
Expertise in the field of Conservation Biotechnology since 1992. Research interests include In vitro regeneration of medicinal and aromatic plants; reinforcement of threatened trees of the Western Ghats; zygotic embryo cryopreservation, cell culture based metabolite production; bioprospecting and identification of elite genotypes; Tissue banking/cryobanking for bio-diversity conservation. Accomplished 6 research projects funded by Govt. of Kerala and Govt. of India. 4 ongoing Research Projects supported by Government of India, 4 ongoing Ph D programs, supervised more than 75 PG/UG dissertation programs, Reviewer in 3 international Journals, Published research articles in peer reviewed National and International Journals/Conference Proceedings, Published Book Chapters in International editions. Procured more than 100 Gene bank Accessions of Medicinal Plants.
Projects
➤ Biotechnological interventions for defensible conservation and restoration of Dialium travancoricum Bourd., a Critically Endangered Endemic Tree of the Southern Western Ghats, Principal Investigator, SERB, DST, Govt. of India (2023-2026) – 23.8 Lakhs
➤ Habitat distribution modelling and re-inforcement of two threatened trees in the Kerala region of the Western Ghats for the improvement of their conservation status, Principal Investigator, MoEF CC, Govt. of India (2022-2025) – 14.6 Lakhs
➤ Species distribution modelling and bioprospecting of wild germplasm of Salacia species (high value antidiabetic plants) across the Western Ghats, Principal Investigator (Collaborative Project with ICAR-IIHR, Bangalore, Govt. of India), Principal Investigator, National Medicinal Plant Board (NMPB), Ministry of Ayush, Govt. of India (2021-2024) – 32 Lakhs
➤ Implementation of Special Purpose Planting in the selected natural habitats of the VSSC Campus as part of the Environmental Conservation & Clearance Committee (ECC), Project Coordinator, Consultancy project – KSCSTE-JNTBGRI and VSSC, ISRO, Govt. of India 2022-2023 – 14.6 Lakhs
➤ Analysis of species distribution and reinforcement of two threatened trees in the Kerala region of the Western Ghats for the improvement of their conservation status, Co-Investigator, Plan Program (2022-202
➤ Program on Product Formulation with Industry collaboration (2022-2024) – Development of bio – safe mosquito repellent formulation by the exploitation of a repellent plant species against the deleterious mosquitoes, Principal Investigator, Collaborative Research Work – KSCSTE-JNTBGRI,NCDC, Coonoor, ICAR-IIHR,Bangalore, CSIR-IICT, Hyderabad, Govt. of India, Industry Partner – Care KERALAM (P) Ltd, Thrissur, Kerala
➤ Habitat distribution modelling and re-inforcement of two threatened trees in the Kerala region of the Western Ghats for the improvement of their conservation status, Principal Investigator, MoEF CC, Govt. of India (2022-2025) – 14.6 Lakhs
➤ Species distribution modelling and bioprospecting of wild germplasm of Salacia species (high value antidiabetic plants) across the Western Ghats, Principal Investigator (Collaborative Project with ICAR-IIHR, Bangalore, Govt. of India), Principal Investigator, National Medicinal Plant Board (NMPB), Ministry of Ayush, Govt. of India (2021-2024) – 32 Lakhs
➤ Implementation of Special Purpose Planting in the selected natural habitats of the VSSC Campus as part of the Environmental Conservation & Clearance Committee (ECC), Project Coordinator, Consultancy project – KSCSTE-JNTBGRI and VSSC, ISRO, Govt. of India 2022-2023 – 14.6 Lakhs
➤ Analysis of species distribution and reinforcement of two threatened trees in the Kerala region of the Western Ghats for the improvement of their conservation status, Co-Investigator, Plan Program (2022-202
➤ Program on Product Formulation with Industry collaboration (2022-2024) – Development of bio – safe mosquito repellent formulation by the exploitation of a repellent plant species against the deleterious mosquitoes, Principal Investigator, Collaborative Research Work – KSCSTE-JNTBGRI,NCDC, Coonoor, ICAR-IIHR,Bangalore, CSIR-IICT, Hyderabad, Govt. of India, Industry Partner – Care KERALAM (P) Ltd, Thrissur, Kerala
Publications
✤ In Vitro Multiplication and Conservation of Threatened Medicinal Plants of Western Ghats of South India. In: Rajasekharan P., Wani S. (eds) Conservation and Utilization of Threatened Medicinal Plants, Radha RK, Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-39793-7-7,2020
✤ AswathyAnand and Radha RK, Acute dermal toxicity study of flower essential oil from Etlingera fenzlii(Kurz.)K.Schum. in Wistar albino rats, Research Journal of Biotechnology, 18(7), 2023
✤ Anju Sudhakaran and Radha R K,Evaluation of hepatoprotective effect of essential oil of Etlingera fenzlii (Kurz) Skronick. &M. Sabu (Zingiberaceae)- the honey bee repellent endemic plant species of Andaman Nicobar Islands,Indian Journal of physiology and Pharmacology,63(4)309-316,2019
✤ Anju Sudhakaran and Radha R K, Evaluation of acute and dermal toxicity of essential oil of Etlingera fenzlii (Kurz) K. Schum: an in vivo study, International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences,8(7),69-72,2016
✤ Krishnan PN.Decruse SW and RadhaRK,Conservation of medicinal plants of Western Ghats, India and its sustainable utilization through in vitrotechnology, In vitro cell Dev.Biol-Plant,47(1),110-122,2011
✤ Radha R K, William Decruse S and Krishnan P N,Cryopreservation of excised embryonic axes of Nothapodytesnimmoniana (Graham) Mebberly, a vulnerable tree species of the Western Ghats,Indian Journal of Plant Biotechnology,9(4),435-437,2010
✤ AswathyAnand and Radha RK, Acute dermal toxicity study of flower essential oil from Etlingera fenzlii(Kurz.)K.Schum. in Wistar albino rats, Research Journal of Biotechnology, 18(7), 2023
✤ Anju Sudhakaran and Radha R K,Evaluation of hepatoprotective effect of essential oil of Etlingera fenzlii (Kurz) Skronick. &M. Sabu (Zingiberaceae)- the honey bee repellent endemic plant species of Andaman Nicobar Islands,Indian Journal of physiology and Pharmacology,63(4)309-316,2019
✤ Anju Sudhakaran and Radha R K, Evaluation of acute and dermal toxicity of essential oil of Etlingera fenzlii (Kurz) K. Schum: an in vivo study, International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences,8(7),69-72,2016
✤ Krishnan PN.Decruse SW and RadhaRK,Conservation of medicinal plants of Western Ghats, India and its sustainable utilization through in vitrotechnology, In vitro cell Dev.Biol-Plant,47(1),110-122,2011
✤ Radha R K, William Decruse S and Krishnan P N,Cryopreservation of excised embryonic axes of Nothapodytesnimmoniana (Graham) Mebberly, a vulnerable tree species of the Western Ghats,Indian Journal of Plant Biotechnology,9(4),435-437,2010
Research Scholar
Work: Enhancement of anthocyanin production in in vitro culture system of Ipomoea batatas
Work: Ex situ conservation, molecular and chemical profiling of Acorus calamus
Work: Ex situ conservation of Etlingera fenzlii, honey bee repellent plant of the Andaman Nicobar Islands
Work: Utility of Semiochemicals and exploitation through in vitro technology of Etlingera fenzlii, an insect repellent plant species of the Andaman Nicobar Islands
Work: Bioprospecting of wild germplasm of Salacia species across the Western Ghats
Project Fellow
Work: Species distribution modelling and bioprospecting of wild germplasm of Salacia species across the Western Ghats
Work: Species distribution modelling and bioprospecting of wild germplasm of Salacia species across the Western Ghats
Work: Habitat distribution modelling and re-inforcement of two threatened trees in the Western Ghats.