Insects use chemicals for the purpose of communication. Such chemicals are called as Pheromones. The amount of pheromones isolable from any insect is always very small. Such chemicals, therefore, are normally synthesised for the biological evaluation.

The work was concentrated on the study of pheromones of honeybees for various purposes. Nasonov glands in the bodies of honeybees produce a pheromone responsible for giving a message of aggregation. Isolation of this pheromone from Indian honeybees Apis cerana indica was carried out The structure of the major chemical constituent was established and based on this study a ‘lure’ to attract these honeybees was developed . Similar type of study was carried for other variety of Indian honeybees Apis florea and the lure for attracting them was evolved. Various applications of these lures are being investigated.

The study of mandibular gland pheromone of honeybees was, then, carried out . The compounds were identified and then, repellent formulations were evolved. These formulations have applications in keeping the bees away when toxic insecticides are sprayed in the fields.

This work was carried out in collaboration with the Central Bee Research and Training Institute, Pune. Also this happens to be the first exploration of the pheromones of Indian honeybees

While this work was in progress, total syntheses of a few commercially important pheromones were completed . These include, 9-oxo-2-decenoic acid, popularly known as honeybee ‘Queen’s substance’, Sitophilate, a pheromone of the granary weevil and Brevicomin , the pheromone of dendroctonus beetle. Syntheses of optically active isomers of Sitophilate were also completed.

The results generated are published in Scientific journals. Further, an Indian patent has recently been granted (No.185391).

Certain plants are used in traditional system of medicine for treating various diseases. The chemicals present in such plants are responsible for the activities. The isolation of such chemicals, thus, becomes an area of interest.

The chemical constituents of certain important medicinal plants were isolated. The pharmacological activity of the crude extracts were studied using animal models. The purification of the active extracts was carried out and individual chemicals were isolated. The activity of the purified fractions / compounds was determined.

The extract of the fruits of Fagara budrunga, commonly known as mullilam, was found to possess Central Nervous depressant activity in rats. Similarly the extract of the leaves of Sterculia foetida was shown to possess anti- inflammatory activities. On the similar lines the extracts of tubers of Curcuma amada and Curcuma longa were also studied.

A new ester was isolated from Fagara budrunga fruits and was characterised as Z-1’ propylbutyl octadecenoate.

The detailed examination of these plant extract and the extracts of a few more plants from the chemical point of view and also from the pharmacological point of view is being done.