Academic Qualifications:
| Sr. | Degree | Institution | Year |
| 1 | B.Sc. (Hons), Chemistry | Faculty of Science, Banaras Hindu University | 1984 |
| 2 | M.Sc. (Biochemistry) | Faculty of Science, Banaras Hindu University | 1986 |
| 3 | Ph.D. (Biochemistry) | IMS, Banaras Hindu University | 1994 |
| 4 | Post-doctoral training | National Institute of Neuroscience, Tokyo. Japan | 1995-96 |
| 5 | Post-doctoral training | Uinv. of Illinois at Chicago & Johns Hopkins, USA | 2000-2008 |
Area of Specialization: Neurobiochemistry
Characterizing the Biochemical and Behavioural Effects of Ayurvedic Medicinal Plants on Parkinsonian Mouse Models:
Parkinson's disease is a movement disorder characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra region of the brain. The pathology of this disease remains largely elusive though its onset is known to be aggravated by the expression of environmental toxins, namely herbicides and pesticides such as paraquat, maneb and rotenone. We have developed two robust Parkinsonian mouse models in the lab that we have confirmed with behavioural characterizations and immunohistochemical straining of key markers of Parkinson's disease in the mouse brain, namely tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), dopamine expression and the quantification of its metabolites. Using these models, we have extensively characterized the oxidative stress response, altered expression of apoptotic genes and elucidated novel interactions between these pathways.
We have also demonstrated that medicinal Ayurvedic plants can effectively rescue the behavioural and physical deficits in toxin-mediated Parkinsonism. Mucuna pruriens and Withania somnifera are two potent nerve tonics used in Ayurveda and have been used in the modern clinic as well for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. Using HPLC analysis, we have characterized the active components of these herbs, including reporting a novel component of Mucuna pruriens that has high therapeutic potential in Parkinson's disease. We have shown that both of these herbs are highly effective at reducing the behavioural and biochemical characteristics of Parkinson's disease and reversing oxidative stress and pro-apoptotic signals. Overall, we have established a strong foundation for the use of Mucuna pruriens and Withania somnifera for the therapeutic use of Parkinson's disease and contributed to the understanding of its pathological features.
Investigation of the Reproductive and Cognitive Effects of Bisphenol-A Toxicity on Male Mice and the Treatment by Medicinal Plants
Bisphenol-A (BPA) is a monomer used in polycarbonate plastics such as baby bottles, plastic bags and in the coating of cans. BPA is an endocrine disruptor mimicking the function of estrogen, but causing severe disruption of normal estrogen signaling. The prevalence of BPA today has been shown to inflict damage on male reproductive functions, though the mechanism of this effect remains elusive. The work in my lab investigated the effect of BPA exposure on male mice fertility. We established that a low dose of BPA was more damaging than higher doses at reducing sperm counts, inhibiting testosterone synthesis and increasing oxidative stress in the testis of male mice. We have also proposed a novel mechanism of BPA's action for male infertility, involving the coordinate down regulation of iNOS and StAR proteins, which ultimately affects the transport of testosterone into the testis. Further, we characterized the effects of BPA on the cognitive functions of mice, namely learning and memory. We determined that BPA not inflicts reproductive damage in mice, but also impairs the learning and memory activities. Mechanistically, we propose that BPA impairs the expression of key receptors in the hippocampal region of the brain, namely NMDR.
Contact Information:
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science
Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi (U.P.) 221005
Tel: (off) 0542-6701543, mobile+91-9454734930
Email: [email protected], [email protected]
Projects Undertaken as PI/ Co PI:
| S No. | Title of Project | Funding Agency | Amount | Date of sanction and Duration |
| 1. | Mechanism of Neuroprotection of Parkinson in mouse by Estrodiol during oxidative damage caused by MPTP and role of estrogen
receptors |
CSIR, New Delhi. | Rs 20lakh | February 2012 3 years |
| 2. | Cognitive impairment in Parkinson disease and its alleviation using indigenous plant
extracts. | DST, New Delhi. | Rs.30.2 lakh | June 2012 3years |
Awards/ Recognitions:
a. Fellowship of Science & Technology Agency of Japan.
b. NIH postdoctoral fellowship of USA.
c. Travel award of Endocrine Society 2007 to present at Toronto, Canada.
d. DST International travel awards in 2011 & 2014 to present in Endocrine meeting at Boston and Chicago, USA respectively.
List of 10 major Publications: (in order of importance)
1. Chouhan S., Yadav S.K., Prakash J., Westfall S., Ghosh A., Agarwal N.K. and Singh SP (2014) Increase in the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase on exposure to bisphenol A: A possible cause for decline in steroidogenesis in male mice. Environ Toxicol Pharmacol. 13 (1): 404-416.
2. Prakash J., Chouhan S., Yadav S.K., Westfall S., Rai S.N. and Singh S.P. (2014). Withania somnifera alleviates Parkinsonian phenotypes by inhibiting apoptotic pathways in dopaminergic neurons. Neurochem Res. 9 (12): 2527-36.
3. Yadav S.K., Prakash J., Chouhan S., Westfall S., Verma M., Singh T.D. and Singh SP (2014) Comparison of the neuroprotective potential of Mucuna pruriens seed extract with estrogen in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced PD mice model. Neurochem Int. 65:1-13.
4. Yadav S.K., Prakash J., Chouhan S. and Singh S.P. (2013) Mucuna pruriens seed extract reduces oxidative stress in nigrostriatal tissue and improves neurobehavioral activity in paraquat-induced Parkinsonian mouse model. Neurochem Int, 62, 1039-1047
5. Prakash J., Yadav S.K., Chouhan S. and Singh S.P. (2013) Neuroprotective role of Withania somnifera root extract in maneb-paraquat induced mouse model of Parkinsonism. Neurochem Res. 38(5):972-80.
6. Singh Surya P., David M., Hope T.J. and Prabhakar B.S. (2004) Upon Thyroid Binding the Thyrotropin Receptor Is Internalized and Localized to Endosome. Endocrinology.145(2):1003-10
7. Singh S.P., Wolfe A., Ng Y., DiVall S.A., Buggs C., Levine J.E., Wondisford F.E., and Radovick S. (2009). Impaired estrogen feedback and infertility in female mice with pituitary-specific deletion of estrogen receptor alpha (ESR1). Biol Reprod. 81(3):488-96.
8. Wolfe A., Divall S., Singh S.P., Nikrodhanond A.A., Baria A.T., Le W.W., Hoffman G.E. and Radovick S. (2008). Temporal and spatial regulation of CRE recombinase expression in gonadotrophin-releasing hormone neurones in the mouse J Neuroendocrinol.. 20 (7): 909-16.
9. Ramaswamy M., Efimova E.V., Martinez O., Mulherkar N.U., Singh S.P. and Prabhakar B.S. (2004) IG20 (MADD Splice Variant-5), a pro-apoptotic protein, interacts with DR4/DR5 and enhances TRAIL induced apoptosis by increasing recruitment of FADD and caspase-8 to the DISC. Oncogene, 23 (36):6083-94
10. Gomes I., Gupta A., Singh S.P. and Sharma S.K. (1999) Monoclonal antibody to the delta opioid receptor acts as an agonist in dual regulation of adenylate cyclase in NG108-15 cells. FEBS letters, 456, 12-130.
Achievements:
1. Member of Endocrine Society (USA).
2. Member of International Society of Neurochemistry (USA).
3. Life member of Indian Academy of Neuroscience.
4. Life member of Association of Clinical Biochemists of India.
Full List of Publications:
1. Chauhan A.K., Ahmad A., Singh S.P. and Kumar A. (2015). Nucleotide sequencing of dszABC genes from a desulfurizing strain Mycobacterium phlei SM120-1. International Journal of Applied Biochemistry (accepted).
2. Chauhan A.K., Ahmad A., Singh S.P. and Kumar A. (2015). Biodesulfurization of Benzonaphthothiophene by an isolated Gordonia sp. IITR100. International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation (under review).
3. Chouhan S., Yadav S.K., Prakash J., Westfall S., Ghosh A., Agarwal N.K. and Singh SP (2015) Increase in the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase on exposure to bisphenol A: A possible cause for decline in steroidogenesis in male mice. Environ Toxicol Pharmacol. 13 (1): 404-416.
4. Chauhan A.K., Singh S.P. and Kumar A. (2014). Cloning, sequencing and characterization of the �desulfurization gene cluster' from an isolated strain Gordonia sp. IITR100. Journal of Applied Biotechnology, 2(2), 65-74.
5. Prakash J., Chouhan S., Yadav S.K., Westfall S., Rai S.N. and Singh S.P. (2014). Withania somnifera alleviates Parkinsonian phenotypes by inhibiting apoptotic pathways in dopaminergic neurons. Neurochem Res. 9 (12): 2527-36.
6. Yadav S.K., Prakash J., Chouhan S., Westfall S., Verma M., Singh T.D. and Singh SP (2014) Comparison of the neuroprotective potential of Mucuna pruriens seed extract with estrogen in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced PD mice model. Neurochem Int. 65:1-13.
7. Chouhan S., Yadav S.K., Prakash J. and Singh S.P. (2014) Effect of Bisphenol A on human health and its degradation by microorganisms: a review, Ann. Microbiol 64:13�21
8. Keswani C., Mishra S., Sharma B.K., Singh S.P. and Singh H.B. (2014). Unraveling the efficient applications of secondary metabolites of various Trichoderma spp. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 98(2):533-44.
9. Gupta P., Goel R., Agarwal A.V., Pathak S., Srivastava A., Singh S.P., Sangwan R.S., Hasan M.A. and Trivedi P.K. (2013). De Novo Assembly, Functional Annotation and Comparative Analysis of Withania somnifera Leaf and Root Transcriptomes to Identify Putative Genes Involved in the Withanolides Biosynthesis, Plos One 8 (5):e6271.
10. Gupta P., Agarwal A.V., Akhtar N., Sangwan R.S., Singh S.P., and Trivedi P.K. (2013) Cloning and characterization of 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol-4-phosphate pathway genes for isoprenoid biosynthesis from Indian ginseng, Withania somnifera. Protoplasma. 250(1):285-95.
11. Prakash J., Yadav S.K., Chouhan S., Prakash S. and Singh S.P. (2013) Synergistic effect of Mucuna pruriens and Withania somnifera in a paraquat induced Parkinsonian mouse model, Advances in Bioscience and Biotechnology, 4, 1-9
12. Chouhan S., Prakash J., Yadav S., Singh S.P. and Agrawal N. (2013). Effects of Bisphenol A on Fertility of Male Mice. Journal of Scientific Research, 57, 77-84.
13. Yadav S.K., Prakash J., Chouhan S. and Singh S.P. (2013) Mucuna pruriens seed extract reduces oxidative stress in nigrostriatal tissue and improves neurobehavioral activity in paraquat-induced Parkinsonian mouse model. Neurochem Int, 62, 1039-1047
14. Prakash J., Yadav S.K., Chouhan S. and Singh S.P. (2013) Neuroprotective role of Withania somnifera root extract in maneb-paraquat induced mouse model of Parkinsonism. Neurochem Res. 38(5):972-80.
15. Keswani, C., Singh, S.P. and Singh H.B. (2013) Beauveria bassiana: Status, Mode of action, Applications and Safety issues Biotech Today 3 (1), 16-20
16. Singh S.P., Wolfe A., Ng Y., DiVall S.A., Buggs C., Levine J.E., Wondisford F.E., and Radovick S. (2009). Impaired estrogen feedback and infertility in female mice with pituitary-specific deletion of estrogen receptor alpha (ESR1). Biol Reprod. 81(3):488-96.
17. Wolfe A., Ng Y., Divall S.A., Singh S.P. and Radovick S. (2008). Development of an immortalised, post-pubertal gonadotrophin-releasing hormone neuronal cell line. J Neuroendocrinol. 20 (9):1029-37.
18. Wolfe A., Divall S., Singh S.P., Nikrodhanond A.A., Baria A.T., Le W.W., Hoffman G.E. and Radovick S. (2008). Temporal and spatial regulation of CRE recombinase expression in gonadotrophin-releasing hormone neurones in the mouse J Neuroendocrinol.. 20 (7): 909-16.
19. Singh Surya P., David M., Hope T.J. and Prabhakar B.S. (2004) Upon Thyroid Binding the Thyrotropin Receptor Is Internalized and Localized to Endosome. Endocrinology.145(2):1003-10
20. Ramaswamy M., Efimova E.V., Martinez O., Mulherkar N.U., Singh S.P. and Prabhakar B.S. (2004) IG20 (MADD Splice Variant-5), a pro-apoptotic protein, interacts with DR4/DR5 and enhances TRAIL induced apoptosis by increasing recruitment of FADD and caspase-8 to the DISC. Oncogene, 23 (36):6083-94
21. Gomes I., Gupta A., Singh S.P. and Sharma S.K. (1999) Monoclonal antibody to the delta opioid receptor acts as an agonist in dual regulation of adenylate cyclase in NG108-15 cells. FEBS letters, 456, 12-130.
22. Singh S. P. and Shankar R. (1996) Effect of haloperidol on phospholipid biosynthesis in rat brain. Indian. J. Exp. Biol., 34,111-114.
23. Ralhan R., Kaur J., Chelvi P. T., Singh S. P. and Zeba H. (1995). Heat stress stimulates high affinity GTPase in cervical carcinoma cells. Int. J. Biochem. Cell. Biol., 27(3), 263-269.
24. Singh S. P. and Shankar R. (1994). Effect of haloperidol on phospholipid turn over in rat brain in vitro. J. Neurochem., 63(2), S32B. |
