WORLD'S FIRST REPORTINGS IN SCIENCE , AND FIRST REPORTINGS IN INDIA Researched by Dr C K Atal at RRL Jammu-

FIRST REPORTINGS IN THE WORLD IN MEDICINE AND SCIENCE

 

105.FIRST REPORTINGS IN MEDICINE, DRUG RESEARCH AND DRUG DEVELOPMENT

 

A.NEW CONCEPTS & NEW / BETTER DRUG MECHANISMS (Serial no 91-104, details in drug discovery). Potassium embelate, Bioenhancers, Plant immunomodulators from rasayanas, RLX, etc.

B.WORLD’S FIRST IN BIOENHANCERS (details in drug discovery).

1.First Bioenhancer Piperine (1979) - (first bioenhancer, first plant based bioenhancer, and first broad spectrum bioenhancer).

2.First chapter of bioenhancers in Medical Science (1979) - (See details in drug discovery).

3.First scientific evidence based reference on bioavailability enhancers (1979) - “A breakthrough in Drug Bioavailability – A clue from age old wisdom of Ayurveda”, Atal. C. K., I.D.M.A. Bull, 1979, 10, 36. . scholar.google.co.in/scholar?q=related:e_6ca0A5tXoJ:schol...

4.First experimental bioenhanced drugs Sparteine and Vasicine(1979)- this established the first bioenhancer concept.

5.First marketed Bioenhanced Antitubercular Drug Risorine (2009) - based on anti tubercular drug development work on Rifampicin initiated by Dr. Atal. pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=71235

6.World’s Second Marketed Bioenhanced Drug (2009) - due to delayed approval, Risorine became the world’s second bioenhanced drug in market after antiretroviral Keletra (See drug discovery for explanation).

7.Bioenhanced Drug Risorine is perhaps the only Drug (2011) - to be officially released on world TB day 2011 by Government of India at Delhi and same day presented to a world dignitary Mr. Bill Gates by the Indian government at Delhi. pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=71235

C.POTASSIUM EMBELATE-THE ONLY DRUG OF ITS KIND –See details in drug development.

D. FIRST PLANT IMMUNOMODULATORS FROM RASAYANAS - (See drug discovery).http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3560991 www.herbalnet.org/events.htm

 

OTHER FIRST REPORTINGS

 

106.SEX REVERSAL IN HEMP AND CUCURBITS BY APPLICATION OF GIBERELLIN. First reporting of “Sex reversal in hemp” by application of gibberellin, C. K. Atal – pg 408 -9, details in article in Current Science, 1959. www.ias.ac.in/j_archive/currsci/28/10/408-409/viewpage.html

107.CYTOPLASMIC MALE STERILITY IN PSYLLIUM –report on the occurrence of cytoplasmic genes (not chromosomal) in Plantago ovata (Psyllium), these factors being found in the cytoplasm (maternal inheritance).These contributed to the propagation of species to produce only female offsprings even though the plant showed male sterility. These were earlier known as cytoplasmic factors and were reported only in few plants like tomatoes and Zea maize (See details in article at provided link). Cytoplasmic male sterility in psyllium (P. ovata Forsk) C. K. Atal – pg 268, Current Science, 1958(letter dated 14 March 1958, dept. of Pharmacognosy, Punjab University, Amritsar). www.ias.ac.in/j_archive/currsci/27/7/268/viewpage.html

108.PLANTLET FORMATION IN A TREE SPECIES FROM LIGNOTUBERS- www.ias.ac.in/j_archive/currsci/38/2/69-69/viewpage.html He was the first to succeed in producing successful multiple plantlets in a tree species by using lignotuber tissues taken from E. citriodora (callus culture from lignotubers of Eucalyptus citrodora). Reference- Plantlet formation in tissue cultures from lignotubers of Eucalyptus citriodora Hook, S Aneja, CK Atal – pg 69, Curr. Sci, no 3, Feb 5, (article dated 17 Sep, 1968 was published in 1969). The other simultaneous earliest case on record is by Winton who in the same year (1968) also successfully produced plantlets from callous cultures of P. tremuloides which later formed normal trees. Reference- www.jstor.org/pss/2473987 (Botanical Gazette, published by University of Chicago press, Vol. 135, No 1, March,1974,pp 61-73, Organogenesis and plantlet formation in vitro in almond, Asha Mehra and P. N. Mehra). www.jstor.org/stable/2473987

109.FIRST EVER REPORT (use of geothermal energy for Borax extraction which was the highest factory in the world at that time) SEE SERIAL NO 117-141. In 1975, establishing the recorded highest commercial factory in that period in the world in Ladakh (roof of the world)at altitude of about 14,500 feet which was also covered by the BBC News. Using a very ingenious method for Borax extraction, a commercial plant was fabricated using natural geothermal energy from natural geysers in PUGA valley of Ladakh (Chumathang hot springs). It was also the first industrial activity in the region. www.flickr.com/photos/13059662@N06/6506093813/in/photostr...

110.NEW ECONOMICALLY SIGNIFICANT PLANT VARIETIES DEVELOPED - Serial no 115-116, CONTRIBUTIONS IN ESSENTIAL OILS. www.flickr.com/photos/13059662@N06/6506485397/

111.NEW PLANT PROPAGATION METHOD FOR WINTERS- As a result of experiments, vegetative cuttings of Ocimum were successfully grown for the first time in the month of February using certain controlled environment which was earlier not possible to achieve in winters. This has resulted in extended vegetative propagation period in lean season also, resulting in availability of much larger quantity of raw material /plants annually. (Serial no 115-116, Essential Oil section). Reference-Pushpangadan, P., Sobti, S. N., Khosla, M. K. and Atal, C. K. – Experiments on different nursery beds for raising Seedings during winter: Indian Jour. Forestry, 17, 1984, 31-34. drpalpupushpangadan.com/publications.php?pubId=13

112.FIRST IN WORLD FOR COMMERCIAL CONVERSION OF PINE NEEDLES INTO PINE WOOL FOR FABRICATION OF PINE BOARDS- Innovative use of forest waste like pine needles, having hazard of igniting forest fires, and developing technology for converting it into pine wool and finally into pine boards, a packing material. This industry was successfully established in Bilaspur, as a first in the world, for Himachal Pradesh state Government. Turpentine was also obtained from pine needles as a parallel by product. Official agreement was also signed for Baijnath area in Himachal Pradesh (RRL newsletter Dec 1982, vol 9, no 7). www.flickr.com/photos/13059662@N06/6952344393/sizes/l/in/...

 

FIRST REPORTINGS IN INDIA

 

113.FIRSTS REPORTINGS IN INDIA- All points above in the first reporting in science are also applicable here.

A.Hops Industry-He was first to successfully introduce, develop and establish Hops industry (Humulus lupulus) in India, at Kashmir and also Himachal Pradesh.

B.First Indian Ethnopharmacology research team and centre was launched in India for the Ethnic preservation and benefit of tribal systems, traditional methods and customs. He has also been on the editorial board of prestigious Journal of Elsevier, International Journal of Ethnopharmacology. www.flickr.com/photos/13059662@N06/6506301553/in/photostream The earliest steps in Ethnobiological studies were taken by conducting ethno-studies on alcoholic Chhang beverage of Ladakh and studies in Sunderbani area of Jammu district(on request by the army to search for emergency wild food in Sunderbani areas of Indian border if personnel are stranded in event of war). RRL Jammu was selected and entrusted by the Science and technology department, Govt of India for systematic studies on nutritive value of foods consumed by tribal societies, particularly in J&K and Himachal Pradesh (RRL newsletter Dec 1982, vol 9 no.7, link below). First Indian Ethnopharmacology research team and centre was launched in India and implemented by Padamshree Dr. Pushpangadan at RRL, Jammu in 1985 under Dr. Atal’s guidance. The aim was to blend the strengths of traditional herbal Indian systems with modern tools and technology, scientifically upgrade/update and validate the science of herbal systems, and to preserve the threatened traditions of tribal people from extinction. REFERENCE-International conference on “Strategies for development of herbal drugs in third world countries, a report”, Journal of Scientific and Industrial research, J Sci Ind Res Vol 63 JULY 2004, See details at PAGE 620 at link-http://nopr.niscair.res.in/contents/jsir_toc/2005/JSIR%2064%287%29%20%28Report%29.pdf www.flickr.com/photos/13059662@N06/6805733538/in/photostr...

C.Mint Technology-The first director of RRL, Jammu Col Sir R. N. Chopra (1941-1957), was the first in India to introduce high yielding Japanese mint, and later Dr. Atal, director of RRL (1971-1985/87), developed turnkey technology for manufacture of bold crystals of mint / mark into boards, which was a significant and major boost to the Indian mint industry and mint technology.

D.Founder signatory member of CCRAS (Government of India).

E.First in India to develop technology for manufacture of Xanthotoxin (Methoxalen, USP) from two different plant sources (Ammi majus and Heracleum candicans), a great financial savings in import of the drug.

F.First to establish and head the CSIR Complex (now called IHBT) at Palampur, Himachal Pradesh.

G.First to receive the Prof. G. P. Srivastava award (APTI) and Dr. I. C. Chopra award for distinguished contributions in Pharmaceutical profession, revolutionizing Pharmacognosy in India, excellence in teaching, research, drug development etc.

H.Sarguja Poisoning-First team in India to solve the mysterious phoolan bimari (swelling of the body) at Sarguja district of Madhya Pradesh. (Serial no 66, heading world authority on Crotalaria- serial 122).

I.Mountain Cheese-First to develop technology for traditional maash kalari (mountain cheese of J&K) and this led to its introduction in the Jammu market.

J.Second Indian single plant based drug-Sallaki (active ingredient Boswellic acid) is a significant scientific herbal marketed drug in India (second drug in India as per criteria detailed in drug development.

K.First in Ladakh and India to implement borax extraction plant at Puga valley, which was also the first industrial activity in that region and highest in the world at that time. It is also perhaps the first example in the world for use of geothermal energy to extract borax.He also conducted the first ethno pharmacological studies (preservation and bottling) of Chhang in Ladakh and studies at Sunderbani area of J&K.

L.Imported Seeds of Eucalyptus macrorhynea which was a high yielding variety of rutin was introduced in India for cultivation and was found to perform best in salubrious climate of Palampur, Himachal Pradesh. Palampur branch played a leading role in popularizing cultivation of Eucalyptus macrorhynea for the first time in India.

M.Symposium-First to hold the first national symposium on edible mushroom in India also attended by international delegates (Serial no 184-211, author section, book on the topic and symposium).

 

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