Current Position: Coordinator and Associate Professor
Qualification: M.Sc., Ph.D
Teaching Experience: 16 Years
Postdoctoral Research Fellow (Sep 2006- Jan 2007)
Worked on a project entitled “EPITOPE mapping of mAb against Human 4-1BB” at
Immunomodulation research center, University of Ulsan, Ulsan, S.Korea.
Courses offered: Microbiology
Current research interests: Therapeutic value of Phytochemicals & Bioremediation, Bacteriology, Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering techniques.
Doctoral Research: The primary focus of my research was to purify and characterize the bioactive constituents of the roots of Decalepis hamiltonii, which is/are believed to possess health-promoting properties. In order to accomplish this, isolation of the antioxidant compounds from the methanolic extract of the roots of D. hamiltonii was undertaken by activity-guided purification using silica gel column chromatography, TLC and HPLC. The purified compounds were characterized by NMR, UV, IR and mass spectroscopy. Six antioxidant compounds were isolated and identified of which one was found to be novel antioxidant molecule, reported for the first time. The isolated compounds showed antioxidant activity in in vitro assays and inhibited human LDL oxidation. The root extract containing the antioxidant compounds protected against hepatotoxicity induced by CCl 4 and ethanol in rats and therefore exhibited hepatoprotective potential. The protective effect of the root extract against xenobiotic induced tissue damage in the liver as is attributed to the antioxidant molecules, the mechanism of which involves free radical scavenging as well as boosting of the antioxidant defenses in vivo. That the in vivo toxicity could involve cytotoxic injury as the basic cellular event in the tissue injury, was investigated by using in vitro cell culture employing EAT cells and rat primary hepatocytes. The antioxidant compounds isolated from D. hamiltonii ameliorated xenobiotic-induced cytotoxicity in EAT cells and rat primary hepatocytes. The mechanism of cytoprotective action appears to involve inhibition of lipid peroxidation, suppression of ROS and maintaining GSH level in cells. We have demonstrated that the novel antioxidant molecules isolated from D. hamiltonii ameliorate the xenobiotic induced cytotoxic injury thus strengthening our in vivo studies. The root extract, a cocktail of antioxidants, could be promising nutraceutical preparation with positive health benefits against free radical-induced degenerative disorders and aging. Also Bioremediation of pesticides is in progress.
Research Experience: 23 years
Publications:
No. of publications: 18
Academic Achievements/Awards: 02 (Best Poster Presenter Award)
Research Projects:
Principal investigator for two Research Projects:

• UGC funded minor research project on “Bioremediation of organochlorine pesticide (endosulfan) from coffee plantation soil. Grant approved 1.75 lakhs
• Vision group on Science and Technology (VGST) funded project on “Isolation and Characterization of Bioremediating Microorganisms” Grant approved 30 lakhs

Publications

• Harish, R and Jyoti Bala Chauhan. 2016. “Antioxidant and Cytoprotective Action of Aqueous Extract of Citrus Sinensis Fruit Peel against Endosulfan Induced Damage on Saccharomyces Cerevisiae”. Int J. Pharm. Res. Health Sci. 4(1), 954-960. IF-5.9
• Harish, R., Pooja, v and Jyoti Bala Chauhan. 2015. “Anti radical activity and cytoprotective effect of Sauropaus Androgynous against oxidative damage induced by CCl4 in yeast cells”. J. Nat. Prod. Plant Resour. 5 (1), 31-37.
• Harish, R and Jyoti Bala Chauhan. 2014. “In vitro antioxidant activity and total phenolic of Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera(Brussel sprouts)”. J. Nat. Prod. Plant Resour. 4 (1), 57-63.
• Harish, R, Supreeth. M and Jyoti Bala Chauhan. 2013. “Biodegradation of Organophosphate pesticide by soil fungi”. Advanced Biotech, 12, (9), 4-9.
• R, Harish and T, Shivanandappa. 2006. “Antioxidant and hepatoprotective potential of phyllanthus niruri”. Food Chemistry, 95(2), 180-185. IF-8.8
• R, Harish, S, Divakar, Anup Srivastava and T.Shivanandappa. 2005. “Isolation of antioxidant compounds from the methanolic extract of the roots of Decalepis hamiltonii”. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 53(20), 7709-7714.IF-6.1
• A, Srivastava, R, Harish, and T, Shivanandappa. 2006. “Novel antioxidant compounds from the aqueous extract of the roots of Decalepis hamiltonii (Wight & Arn) and their inhibitory effect on low density lipo protein oxidation”. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 54, 790-795. IF-6.1
• A, Srivastava, Shereen, R, Harish and T, Shivanandappa. 2006. “Antioxidant activity of the roots of Decalepis hamiltonii (Wight & Arn)”. LWT/ Food Science and Technology, 39 (10) 1059-1065. IF-2.6
• Abdul Mueed Bidchol, A, Wilfred & P. Abhijna and  R, Harish. 2011. “Free Radical Scavenging Activity of Aqueous and Ethanolic Extract of Brassica oleracea L. var. italic”. Food Bioprocess Technol. 4(7), 1137-1143.IF-5.8
• Wilfred, A, Akshatha, A, R, Harish, and Jyothi Bala Chauhan. 2009. “Antioxidant potential of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Brassica oleracea var. capitata ICFAI” Journal of Biotechnology.1, 1-3. IF-4.1
• Harish, R and Santa Ram. 2010. Antioxidant properties of citrus paradisi. IUP, Journal of  Biotechnology. 4(2), 1-10. IF-4.1
• Harish, R and Shivanandappa. 2010. “Hepatoprotective potential of Decalepis hamiltonii (Wight & Arn) against carbon tetrachloride – induced hepatic damage in rats”. J. Pharm. Bio.Alli Sci. 2 (4), 341-345. IF-0.8
• Harish, R and Jyoti Bala Chauhan. 2012. “Bioremediation of Organochlorine Pesticide-Endosulfan by a soil bacteria” Advanced biotech. 11(10), 10-13.
• Harish, R and Jyoti Bala Chauhan 2017. “Isolation, Characterization of Protease Producing Microbes from Soil of Agriculture Land and Purifcation of Protease”. Int J Pharma Res Health Sci. 5 (1), 1581-1585. IF-5.9
• Harish, R and Jyoti Bala Chauhan. 2018. “Inhibition of Oxidative Stress Induced Free Radicals Damage and Cytoprotective Potential on Saccharomyces cerevisiae by Aqueous Extract of Apium graveolens (Celery)”. Int J Pharma Res Health Sci. 6 (1), 2234-38. IF-5.9
• Harish, R and Jyoti Bala Chauhan. 2018. “Oxidative stress induced radical scavenging, antimicrobial and cytoprotective potential on Saccharomyces cerevisiae by ethanolic extract of Melia dubia fruit pulp”.  Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, 7(3), 1571-1575.
• Harish, R and Jyoti Bala Chauhan. 2019. “Antioxidant, antimicrobial and cytoprotective action of ethanolic extract of Glycyrrhiza glabra root against ccl4 induced damage on Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry”. 8(3): 247-253
• Harish, R and Shivanandappa T. 2020. “Hepatoprotective potential of methanolic extract of Decalepis hamiltonii (Wight & Arn) against ethanol-induced hepatic damage in rats”. British Journal of Pharmaceutical and Medical Research. 5, 2793-2805. IF-5.8 No. of Papers presented in National/International symposia/conferences: 05
• Harish.R. 2003. Isolation of bioactive molecules from the roots of Decalepis hamiltonii. International Food Convention (IFCON) held at CFTRI, Mysore.
• Harish. R. 2004. Hepatoprotective action of the roots of Decalepis hamiltonii. 73rd Annual meeting of Society of Biological Chemist (INDIA). Pantnagar, Uttaranchal, India.
• Harish. R. Antioxidant properties of methanolic exrtract of Clerodendrum colebrookianum at UGC sponsored National conference Phytochemical and functional foods current situatuion, JSS college of arts commerece and Science, Mysuru
• Harish. R. Inhibiton of free radical by Apium graveolens and cytoprotection action on yeast cells at National conference “Biology of Microbes: Evolution along technology”, JSS University, Mysuru
• Harish. R. Antioxidant properties and cytoprotection of Glycrrhiza Glabra at National conference on Advance in Biotechnology, Tumkuru University, Dept of Biotechnology, Tumkuru