Natural Products Research Laboratory

Dr. Sakshi Painuli, Scientist-B
In-charge Natural Products Research Laboratory (NPRL), Dehradun

Natural Products Research Laboratory (NPRL)

The Natural Products Research Laboratory of Uttarakhand Biotechnology Council is dedicated to the exploration, characterization, and value addition of medicinal and aromatic plants, traditional spices, and other bioresources of the Himalayan region. The laboratory focuses on the isolation, extraction, analysis, and biological evaluation of bioactive compounds from natural sources for their potential applications in healthcare, nutraceuticals, agriculture, and industrial product development.
The Himalayan ecosystem is a rich repository of diverse plant species possessing immense medicinal and economic value. The laboratory undertakes multidisciplinary research aimed at identifying novel phytochemicals, standardizing extraction methodologies, developing value-added products, and promoting sustainable utilization of regional biodiversity.
The laboratory also supports research scholars, students, and scientific personnel through training programmes, hands-on workshops, and analytical services in phytochemical and natural product research.

Areas of Research / Training Programmes
• Isolation and characterization of bioactive compounds from medicinal and aromatic plants.
• Extraction and quality evaluation of essential oils from Himalayan plant resources.
• Phytochemical screening and profiling of traditional medicinal plants and spices.
• Development of value-added products from natural resources.
• Standardization of extraction protocols for natural products.
• Assessment of antioxidant and biological activities of plant extracts.
• Conservation and utilization of economically important medicinal plant species.
• Training programmes on phytochemical analysis and natural product research techniques.
• Research on traditional knowledge-based plant resources for scientific validation.
• Product development based on natural bioactive compounds.
• Training in good lab practices for students.

Current Research Focus
• Development of herbal formulations and value-added natural products.
• Screening of plant-derived bioactive compounds for therapeutic and industrial applications.
• Sustainable utilization and scientific validation of indigenous plant resources.