Botany Research Centre

[COUNTER_NUMBER id=30305]

[COUNTER_NUMBER id=30309]

[COUNTER_NUMBER id=30318]

Introduction

The Department of Botany is one of the departments which was established the same year as the college in June1963. In 1972 the research centre was recognised to register students for M Sc by research and Ph D. In absence of a University Department the Botany department of Ramniranjan Jhunjhunwala college played a major role in the development of the subject.  It being one of the pioneering centre, it attracted research scholars from various colleges. This created a research culture in the department which continues till date.

Dr S M Karmarkar ( 1963-1991) former Principal Ramniranjan Jhunjhunwala college ( 1983-1991) , Head Department of Botany ( 1963-1991),  Chairman Board of studies in Botany, Dean faculty of Science  , member Academic Council now known as University of Mumbai did his Ph. D. under the able guidance of Dr G V Joshi who was in Wilson college worked on Crassulacean acid metabolism was the first research guide of Ramniranjan Jhunjhunwala college and started the research centre in 1972 with recognition to enroll student for M Sc by research and Ph D degrees. He guided more than 30 students for their Ph D degree. Late Dr D V Amonkar in his short span of guideship successfully completed four students. There area of interest were Ecophysiological studies in halophytes

Dr R H Shete recognised as a research guide in the subject of Botany successfully  guided 25 students for their Ph D degree. His area of interest was plant anatomy and Palaeobotany

Dr Usha Mukundan former Principal Ramniranjan Jhunjhunwala college (2004-2020) , Head department of Botany ( 2001-2020), former Chairman BOS Botany , member faculty of Science, member Academic council University of Mumbai, former chairman BOS, Academic council chairman (2018-2020) Ramniranjan Jhunjhunwala college (Autonomous) has guided 35 students during the period of 1991- till date. During her tenure the research centre could mobilise funds to the tune of 1.25 crores via funding received from major research projects sponsored by UGC, CSIR, ICMR, DBT, industries like Johnson & Johnson, Bharat Serum, Ganesh Medicaments, Hindustan Unilever and  MARICO. Her areas of interest are transformed root cultures for secondary metabolite production, production of proteins like peroxidases, conservation of medicinally important plants, chemical profiling of medicinal plants using HPTLC, waste water treatment using root culture/plants/ enzymes, natural saponins and their applications. As the Director of the Hindi Vidya Prachar Samiti she continues to contribute to the academic development of the institute and is actively involved in research.

Dr Himanshu G  Dawda Principal of Ramniranjan Jhunjhunwala college and Head department of Botany has six students registered under him working on phytochemicals, Ecophysiology of Mangroves. He has successfully guided two students for their Ph D degree.

Dr Anil Avhad has two students registered under his guidance and is interested in Phytochemistry and Ecophysiology

The research centre has a  mentored students who are in leading position in academia and corporate world.

Terrace garden for hardening of tissue cultured plants and experimental area for hydro and aquaponics.

Facilities: 

Plant tissue culture with collection of in vitro medicinal plants. Plant tissue culture laboratory with controlled environment , laminar air flows, shakers, set up for plant bioreactors, preparation and analytical area with  milli Q water filtration unit, precision balances, Spectrophotometers, LEICA microscope with imaging facility, pH meters, magnetic stirrers, electrophoresis units, power packs, chemical storage unit, microwave, extraction units, refrigerator,  Deep fridge for storing cultures.

Heating panels like autoclaves, incubators, ovens, washing and drying facilities for glasswares.

Departmental library for research students with books, journals and research papers from back volumes and e resources

Consultancy: Our research team provides consultancy in following areas

  1. Standardization of protocol for Mass propagation of plant using plant tissue culture
  2. Electrophoresis for protein profiling of plant material
  3. Soil  and water testing
  4. Identification of flowering plants, fungi, algae etc.
  5. Biotransformation
  6. Standardization of protocol for treatment of industrial effluents using microbes/plants
  7. Standardization of tissue culture medium components in comparison to available components

The policy for consultancy are available on college website and we also abide by the confidential non disclosure agreement with the organization which provides us project work under consultancy

Research Guide

Name of the Research GuideYear of Obtaining Ph.D DegreeYear of recognition as a Research Guide
Dr Usha Mukundan19811990
Dr Himanshu G Dawda19962006
Dr Anil Avhad20122005

Research Students

Name of the Research ScholarAdmission StatusMonth and Year of registration of the scholarPhD Scholar's Title of the Thesis Name of the Research Guide
Rajkumar Sangamlal DiwakarRegistered45-26/06/2013Optimising Corosolic Acid content in leaves of Lagerstroemia speciosa L.Dr Usha Mukundan
Pratiksha Chheda Registered58-05/06/2015EVALUATION OF MATRIX-ASSISTED LASER DESORPTION IONIZATION-TIME OF FLIGHT MASS
SPECTROMETRY FOR RAPID IDENTIFICATION OF CLINICAL MICROBIAL PATHOGENS
Dr Usha Mukundan
Vaishali Rajesh KamathRegistered48-03/02/2014Micropropagation and pharmacological properties of Hedychium coronarium Dr Himanshu G Dawda
Aishwarya Dipak Parab Registered82-22/01/2020Phytochemical and Pharmacological studies on Corn Silk (Stigma maydis)Dr Himanshu G Dawda
Ashish LadRegistered23-22/11/2007Hypolipidemic or Antihyperlipidemic effects of selected vegetables.Dr Himanshu G Dawda
Pravin NayakRegistered49-06/02/2014Dynamic of Mangrove EcosystemsDr Himanshu G Dawda
Satya Jodha KaushikRegistered24-22/11/2007Eco-Restoration of Mangroves of Mithi RiverDr Himanshu G Dawda
Nidhi Pathak Registered78-28/09/2018Studies on Ursolic acid as a biochemical marker in order Myrtales Dr Anil Avhad
Ruchira JavkarRegistered77-26/09/2018Portulacaria afra as a model system for studying stress induced metabolismDr Anil Avhad

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