Biography:

My research project involves understanding the role of Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptor gamma (PPARg) in the Interleukin -2 (IL-2) suppression by 2-Arachidonyl Glycerol (2-AG). PPAR is a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily, which exists as a heterodimer with Retinoid X Receptor (RXR) and on binding to Peroxisome Proliferator Response Elements (PPREs), causes the expression of various target genes. Specifically, PPARg has been found to inhibit cytokine production (IL-2), suppress proliferation and in some instances to either induce or prevent apoptosis. My research will focus on rigorously examining the mechanism for IL-2 suppression by 2-AG in activated T cells and the role of PPARg in eliciting the response.

Selected Achievements and Awards:

First Year Research Fellowship, Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University, 2003.

Selected Publications/Abstracts:

Priyadarshini Raman, Lina C. Patino, Muraleedharan G. Nair. Evaluation of metal and microbial contamination in botanical supplements. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2004, 52(26): 7822-7827.

Priyadarshini Raman, Muraleedharan G. Nair. Inhibition of lipid peroxidation and cyclooxygenase enzymes by aqueous extracts of selected botanical supplements. In International Congress on Natural Products Research, July 31 – August 4, 2004?Phoenix, Arizona USA.

Priyadarshini Raman, Lina C. Patino, Muraleedharan G. Nair. Detection of Metals in Selected Botanical supplements by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry. In 44th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Pharmacognosy, 12 – 16 July, 2003, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.

Priyadarshini, R., Maheshwari, R., Kamalam, A.K., Chamundeswari, D., Vasantha, J. Proteolytic activity of Triphala. In 53rd Indian Pharmaceutical Congress, 21 – 23 December 2001, New Delhi, India.

Raman, N., Radha, A., Priyadarshini, R. Bioactive molecules from Cynodon dactylon of Indian Biodiversity. In 3rd IUPAC International Conference on Biodiversity (ICOB –3), 3 –8 November 2001, Antalya, Turkey.

Raman, N., Kamaraj, R., Priyadarshini, R., Sembulingam, S., Govindaraj, M., Srinivasan.V. Pharmacognostical, Phytochemical and Microbiological studies on Clausena dentata (Willd) Roemer. In Millenium 52nd Indian Pharmaceutical Congress, 1 –3 December 2000, Hyderabad, India.