CURRICULUM VITAE
NAME
Amala Soumyanath (née Amala Raman)
DATE
Sept 10,
2012
PRESENT POSITION AND ADDRESS
Academic Rank:
Associate Professor
Department/
Division:
Neurology
Professional
Address:
Department of Neurology, Mail Code L226, Oregon Health Sciences
University, 3181 Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland 97239
E-Mail Address:
soumyanath@comcast.net
I. BACKGROUND:
My field of expertise is Pharmacognosy. From January 1987 until October 2002, I was employed at
King’s College London in the Department of Pharmacy, reaching the status of Senior Lecturer in
Pharmacognosy (equivalent to Associate Professor).Over this period, I contributed to the development
and teaching of courses in Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Sciences on undergraduate and Masters
programmes and carried out many administrative functions. I established a successful, internationallyrecognized research program investigating medicinal plants as new treatments for vitiligo, psoriasis and
diabetes. I have raised research grants, filed patents and published papers in scientific journals and at
conferences. In October 2002, my research group consisted of 4 PhD students and 2 post-doctoral
scientists. My work is known internationally and I have served on various national and international
advisory committees and refereed papers for a numerous scientific journals.
In December 2002, I relocated to Portland OR following my marriage. I immediately obtained a position
within the NIH funded ORCCAMIND project at OHSU and was appointed as Associate Professor. This
is my present (part time) position. The focus of my present research is on botanical products of potential
use in neurological conditions, while continuing to work on developing the natural compound piperine as
a treatment for vitiligo.
I also work with Oregon’s Wild Harvest, a grower and manufacturer of botanical dietary supplements
based in Sandy, OR. Having served as Director of Research and Development from December 2002 to
December 2008, I currently work as a consultant for this company. My role is to facilitate scientific
research by the company and collaborators on botanical products of particular significance to Oregon’s
Wild Harvest.
II. EDUCATION
Undergraduate and Graduate (Include Year, Degree, and Institution):
Chelsea College, University of London
1978 - 1981
BPharm - First Class (Hons)
King’s College London, University of London
1982 - 1987
PhD (Drug Metabolism)
Postgraduate (Include Year, Degree, and Institution):
King’s College London, University of London
1987 - 1990
Associate of King’s College
(AKC - Leathes Prize-winner)
Certification (Include Board, Number, Date, and Recertification):
N/A
Licenses (Include State, Date, Status, Number, and Renewal Date):
Member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain from July 1982 – Dec 2004
License number 75044 (Registered pharmacist in United Kingdom during this period)
III. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Academic (Include Year, Position, and Institution):
Jan 2003 – present
Jan 2009 – present
Dec 2002 – Dec 2008
Associate Professor, Department of Neurology, OHSU
Research consultant, Oregon’s Wild Harvest, Sandy, OR.
Director of Research and Development, Oregon’s Wild Harvest,
Sandy, OR.
Sep 2001 – October 2002
Senior Lecturer in Pharmacognosy *
Jan 1990 – Aug 2001
Lecturer in Pharmacognosy *
Sep 1989 - Dec 1989
Lecturer in Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University
of London
Oct 1988 - Aug 1989
Maplethorpe Postdoctoral Fellow *
Jan 1987 - Sep 1988
Lecturer in Medicinal Chemistry (fixed term)*
* Department of Pharmacy, King’s College London, University of London
Visiting appointments:
June - Sep 1996
Aug – Sep 2000
April 2001
Visiting Associate Professor, University of Illinois, Chicago, USA
Carried our a 3 month research project on anti-diabetic components of
Gymnema sylvestre; gave research seminars.
Visiting Scientist, Merck Research Laboratories, Rahway, USA
In 6 weeks, learnt bioassays relevant to the search for anti-diabetic
agents, carried out isolation work in the natural products
department and gave two research seminars.
Visiting Professor, Pharmacy Dept, Chinese University of
Hong Kong. Gave 10 lectures in pharmacognosy to Pharmacy
undergraduates and gave research seminars.
Administrative positions:
I do not currently hold any administrative positions at OHSU. However, I performed numerous
administrative functions from 1990 – 2002 at King’s College London, conducting my duties in a proactive, efficient and constructive manner. I have considerable organizational and managerial skills in
which I combine a friendly manner with clear direction and guidance to those working under my
supervision.
Administrative roles at King’s College London:
Mentor and Appraiser for Assistant Professors.
Senior Postgraduate Tutor, responsible for admission and pastoral care of Departmental Graduate
students:
Schools liaison committee member
Summer vacation studentships co-ordinator
Timetabling
Undergraduate committee member
Postgraduate foundation course co-ordinator
Pastoral care of undergraduates (10 per year)
IV. TEACHING
Overview of my Role as an Educator; Scholarship of Teaching:
While at King’s College London, I was engaged extensively in course development and teaching of
undergraduates and postgraduates in the Department of Pharmacy. My expertise in botanical medicines
and associated analytical methodology also led to invitations to give lectures in other departments and
universities. Details are given under the “Educational Activities” section.
My present role at OHSU does not require any regular teaching activities, as it is primarily a research
appointment. However I am occasionally called upon to give lectures based on my expertise. For
example, I gave a presentation on Botanical medicines in a course on Complementary Medicines for
Neurological Disorders, at the American Academy of Neurology Meeting in Hawaii (April 2003). For
the last 2 years (2010, 2011), I have given a lecture on herbal medicines to students on the Behavioral
neurosciences course at OHSU.
Every summer, I have mentored 1 or 2 undergraduate students from other universities or schools working
in my phytochemical laboratory. I also trained a naturopath, Paul Kalnins of NCNM in some
chromatographic techniques during 2004. In 2010, I spent a day training 2 students from NCNM in the
performance of thin layer chromatography.
Curriculum Development (at King’s College London)
Pharmacognosy is the scientific study of medicinal plants, and is a subject that has traditionally been
given importance in the curriculum of the Pharmacy department at King’s College London, unlike many
other schools of Pharmacy both in the UK and abroad.
My goal was to teach pharmacognosy in a way that was interesting to the students and clearly
demonstrated its role within current pharmaceutical practice and scientific research. During my 10
years at King’s College London, I worked to revise an modernize the pharmacognosy course. The
Pharmacognosy courses offered at King’s were recognized nationally and internationally as innovative
and highly relevant to modern pharmacy. A number of University departments in the UK and abroad, and
other agencies connected with medicinal plants have requested and utilized our course material.
Other course development activities I have successfully undertaken are given below:
 Designed the first ever “Topic Week” as part of the new integrated BPharm programme introduced
in 1992. This Topic Week served as a template for subsequent ones organised by others. I have
published a refereed paper describing the Department’s experiences with Topic Weeks (Raman,
Lansley and Greene, Pharmaceutical Journal, 259, 563-565, 1997)
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Completely restructured the Postgraduate Foundation Course (a conversion course for certain students
wishing to enrol on our MSc programme) in 1993.
Contributed to the development of the new 4 year MPharm course, as a member of the departmental
Undergraduate Committee.
Member of a working group revising the MPharm course for the year 2002/2003, now implemented.
Chair of the group designing the 2-week induction programme (including a drug discovery to patient
course) for the new MPharm intake in Sept 2002.
Educational Publications
 A refereed paper describing the Department’s experiences with Topic Weeks (Raman, Lansley and
Greene, Pharmaceutical Journal, 259, 563-565, 1997)
 The following co-authored book , which will be a useful text for undergraduate and postgraduate
students working in the field of Pharmacognosy: Laboratory Handbook for the Fractionation of
Natural Extracts by Peter J Houghton and Amala Raman. Publ. Chapman and Hall, London,
1998. ISBN 0 412749106. This 200 page book recently received a very favourable review from the
renowned Phytochemist Professor J. Harborne (Phytochemistry, 49, page 1835) : “Any newcomer
starting a project involving the extraction and isolation of secondary metabolites from plants would
do well to get hold of this excellent treatise.......supervisors should make sure this book is available in
every phytochemical laboratory”.
 Detailed practical schedules giving theory and practical instructions for pharmacognosy based
experiments. These serve as useful reference texts to undergraduate and research students.
Educational Conference Presentations
Teaching pharmacy students about complementary medicine.
Houghton PJ and Raman A
Presented by PJ Houghton at the 4th Annual Symposium on Complementary Healthcare, Exeter,
December 10-12, 1997.
Education Grants and Contracts:
British Council Grant in 1990 for a visit to the Pharmacy department in Oslo to discuss pharmacognosy
course curriculum.
Educational Activity:
The courses on which I taught were the MPharm and MSc in Pharmaceutical Sciences programmes.
Subjects taught were pharmacognosy (phytochemistry, pharmacology of natural products, analytical
methods for botanicals including microscopy), chromatography and pharmaceutical analysis. This was
done through a variety of teaching methods – lectures, small group discussions and practical courses.
Typical annual teaching loads are given in the table below.
MPharm
MSc
Interdepartmental
Approx Totals
Lectures
(hours)
40
10
4
55
Lab class1
(hours)
57
12
6
75
S/T/W2 Projects
(hours)
(number)
29
3
10
2
0
2
40
7
1 - Undergrad lab sessions have 20-40 students. MSc labs about 12; 2- seminars, tutorials and workshops
In the United Kingdom, laboratory classes involve the active participation of the staff member in
supervising and running the class as well as grading the reports. Teaching assistants (or demonstrators)
are used only to provide additional supervision during the class.
Research project supervision
I have supervised a large number of research projects in the field of Pharmacognosy, undertaken by
BPharm, MPharm, MSc, and Summer Vacation students as well as over 30 dissertations (written
literature surveys) by undergraduate and MSc students. This is in addition to the PhD projects described
in Section V.
The projects have covered the following areas:
 literature surveys on the pharmacognosy of particular plants
 literature surveys on plants used for particular disease areas
 commercial, legislative and analytical aspects of botanical medicines
 development of monographs for botanical medicines
 phytochemical analysis and isolation
 bioassays on medicinal plants
 questionnaire based surveys on pharmaceutical care of vitiligo patients.
Teaching activities outside formal departmental commitments:
 One-day workshop on HPLC and GLC for students of the MSc in Biomedical Research.
 One-day postgraduate training workshop for PhD students on natural product isolation.
 “Separation methods” lectures to Intercalated BSc medical students at St Thomas’ Hospital
 Lectures on “What is pharmacognosy?” to students of Traditional Chinese Medicine at the Middlesex
University, Enfield
 Supervision of projects on medicinal plants for non-King’s university students (several)
 A one- week course, for external students from the herbal industry, on “Evaluation of medicinal
plants” (1994).
 Talks on botanical medicines to local branches of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain.
Effectiveness of Educational Activity:
The quality of my teaching and impression on students has been evaluated and proved excellent by:
 Success of final year elective courses in Pharmacognosy: These courses changed dramatically
from being unpopular units in 1990 to oversubscribed electives in the last few years. The
numbers of students enlisting for these two courses (“Plants and Pharmacy” and “Drug Discovery
from Natural Sources”) increased from about 2 or 3 to over 20 students in each elective course.
This also reflects the success of the compulsory penultimate-year pharmacognosy course which
has clearly stimulated the students to pursue the subject as a specialisation in their final year.
 Formal questionaires issued at the end of courses: From student responses, my lectures are
rated as interesting, well organized, easy to follow and clear. Average scores of over 75-90%
were obtained for these parameters. Students also reported a high level of satisfaction with the
course content. Teaching evaluations from the Behavioral Neuroscience course at OHSU have
been similarly complimentary.
 Coursework reports: The good quality of the coursework reports is an indication of the
effectiveness of the teaching during practical classes. The improvement of the weaker students’
performance over the year is a marker of the constructive feedback given when grading the
reports.
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Examinations: A large number of students attempt my questions in examinations. As the marks
are generally well distributed over a normal range, I am confident that this is because they find
my lectures clear, and tempting to revise, rather than because they find the questions easy. (In the
UK each examination paper contains questions based on lectures given by a number of different
faculty members who all contribute to a particular course rather than each faculty member setting
their own course and paper).
Enthusiasm of students: The high standard of coursework reports so far, and the general level of
interest and enthusiasm of the students has been a positive indication of the success of the
pharmacognosy courses.
Relationship with students: Students report that they find me approachable and willing to help
them with difficulties during and outside formal classes.
Service and Membership of Educational Committees:
The committees on which I have served that had a role in designing courses or general educational
structure are:
 Topic Week Co-ordinator (1992- 1996)
 Member of the Departmental Undergraduate Committee (1992-1997)
 Member of a working group revising the MPharm syllabus (2001-2002)
 Chair of the group designing the induction course for the new MPharm course (2002)
Collaborative Skills:
UK courses involve a group of faculty members working together to teach a course which has been put
together by a course organizer. I have successfully organized a special course known as a Topic Week. In
this course, faculty from all departments teach, in turn, on their field regarding a particular topic e.g.
analgesics are covered from their discovery all the way to patient counseling. I was involved in coordinating the discussions and setting up of the induction program and coursework for the new Pharmacy
undergraduate intake. My most extensive, successful and on-going collaboration in the educational area
has been the development of the Pharmacognosy curriculum at King’s College London in collaboration
with Professor Houghton, Professor of Pharmacognosy (now Emeritus).
V. SCHOLARSHIP
Area(s) of Research/Scholarly Interest:
V/1 Summary of Main Research Interests
Since 1990, I have built up an active research programme and a growing international reputation in the
field of botanicals with therapeutic potential, focused mainly on the disease targets diabetes, vitiligo and
psoriasis. My present role at OHSU involves the scientific evaluation of botanicals and botanically
derived products in neurological disorders. This work has expanded to projects involving both preclinical and clinical studies on botanical products.
My core expertise is in the “bioassay-guided fractionation” of plants used in traditional medicine as well
as development of methods for their quality control. The isolation and structure elucidation of
phytochemicals, as well as many biological assays are within my field of expertise. However, the work is
necessarily multidisciplinary and I have developed and utilised an extensive range of national and
international collaborations in both academia and industry to obtain advice on and training in the
biological assays. Details are given under the various subsections describing my research.
My research project on natural products for vitiligo is a unique line of research worldwide and my
expertise in traditional anti-diabetic plants is also acknowledged at an international level. I was
approached by the drug company, Stiefel, to advise them on the investigation of natural products for
psoriasis, and obtained funding for contract work, one postodoctoral scientist and one PhD student from
this company. The work has resulted in the filing of national and international patents. OHSU acquired
these patents in 2006 from King’s College London and in January 2008, we licensed the patents to a small
business, AdPharma. We are on the verge of initiating clinical studies on piperine in vitiligo.
While at King’s College London, I recruited at least one PhD student annually in addition to a number of
Masters, Undergraduate, Exchange Scheme and Summer Vacation students each year. I contributed
significantly to the development of the Pharmacognosy Research Group at King’s College London. This
consisted of only one PhD student in 1990, but in 2002 was the largest Pharmacognosy group in any UK
university, and rapidly obtained an international reputation. I have supervised four completed PhD
doctoral research projects. In 2002, when I left King’s College I was supervising 4 further PhD students,
two postdoctoral researchers, one research assistant and several MSc, MPharm and BSc projects. At
OHSU, I have mentored several research assistants, summer students and visiting workers in techniques
associated with pharmacognosy.
V/2 Detailed description of research and achievements in the main disease areas
Diabetes
Summary: My team developed a range of simple, mechanism-based in vitro bioassays to test large
numbers of plant extracts, fractions and isolated compounds for specific activities useful in treating
diabetes e.g. inhibition of intestinal enzymes, inhibition of intestinal glucose uptake and stimulation of
pancreatic insulin secretion. The protective role of some natural products against the development of
glucose induced diabetic retinopathy is also being examined using models available in the laboratories of
Prof Eva Kohner and Dr Rakesh Chibber, St Thomas’s Hospital. A number of interesting compounds
showing activity in these in vitro bioassays have been isolated. A 3-year collaboration with the French
pharmaceutical company, Lipha led to the isolation of 3 compounds with in vivo anti-diabetic activity
from the fruit of Momordica charantia. In 2000, I spent 6 weeks at Merck Research Laboratories in
Rahway, NJ learning about more bioassays. Two seminars that I gave on anti-diabetic plants were
extremely well received, and the visit resulted in the award of a 3-year collaborative PhD studentship by
Merck ($60, 000), beginning January 2001. I also had a joint project on anti-diabetic plant extracts with
the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and am an author and editor for a volume on “Anti-diabetic plants” for
Harwood publishers (completion due 2004).
Collaborations established: Prof J Timbrell, Dr MJ Lawrence, Dr C Waterfield (Pharmacy, KCL); Dr S
Persaud and Dr P Jones (Physiology, KCL); Professor Eva Kohner and Dr Rakesh Chibber (St Thomas’s
Hospital, KCL); Dr Paul Skett (Pharmacology, Glasgow); Professor Monique Simmonds (Royal Botanic
Gardens, Kew); Prof AD Kinghorn (Pharmacy, Chicago USA); Prof WJ Keller (formerly Pharmacy,
Samford, Alabama); Lipha (France) and Merck Research Laboratories (NJ, USA).
Funding: Lipha, EPSRC, The British Council, The Wellcome Trust, Nagai Foundation Japan, American
Society of Pharmacognosy, Nuffield Foundation, Merck Research Laboratories.
Outcomes:
 Publications (see end list):
 Conference presentations (national and international).
 Two senior overseas academics spent their sabbatical leave in my laboratory learning and applying
the diabetes bioassays we have set up: Dr Molham Al-Habori (Head of Clinical Biochemistry,
University of Sana’a, Yemen) and Dr Robin J Marles (Associate Professor of Botany, University of
Brandon, Canada).
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Anti-diabetic plants were selected as an important focus area to attract funding into the Kew-King’s
Centre for Bioactivity Screening - a joint venture between King’s College London and the Royal
Botanic Gardens Kew.
Funding from two major pharmaceutical companies: Lipha and Merck (> £50, 000)
Many journals (J. Ethnopharmacol., Phytotherapy Research, Int. J. Pharmacognosy, J. Pharm.
Pharmacol.) use my expertise as a referee on papers relating to anti-diabetic plants.
Invited editor for a volume on Anti-Diabetic Plants (Harwood Academic Publishers)
Award of a European Commision Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship (ca £70, 000) to study plants
for diabetic retinopathy. Unfortunately the named candidate was unable to accept the award for
family reasons and the award lapsed.
Editorship of a book volume on Anti-diabetic plants used worldwide (published 2005).
Psoriasis
Summary: A range of traditional plant remedies for psoriasis, chiefly derived from the Ayurvedic (Indian)
and Chinese traditions, have been examined for the ability to inhibit epidermal keratinocyte proliferation
in culture or inhibit pro-inflammatory enzymes. Again, my laboratory developed a rapid-throughput
assay using keratinocytes supplied by collaborators (Prof. Irene Leigh). The assays were carried out in
our department. Dr JRS Hoult carried out tests on our samples using mammalian pro-inflammatory
enzymes, while a soya-bean lipoxygenase model is available in house. The initial screening work
attracted major funding (about £70, 000) from the company Phytopharm plc, to study in depth the antipsoriatic potential of a particular plant, Vernonia anthelmintica. An active compound with both antiproliferant and anti-inflammatory activity was identified. This work received considerable media attention
when presented at the British Pharmaceutical Conference in September 2002. Other activities include a
link established with Dr Chun-Tao Che in Hong Kong to supply us with samples of authentic Chinese
Herbs used for psoriasis. This work was funded by the British Council, which supported a visit by myself
to Hong Kong in December 1998, a visit to King’s College by Dr Che in March 1999, and a study visit
by a PhD student from my group to Hong Kong in February 1999. Stiefel laboratories (UK) have funded
contract work, one PhD student and one postdoctoral researcher to study natural products with potential to
treat psoriasis. A USA/India based herbal company (Sabinsa/SAMI labs) also sponsored contract work in
our laboratories during 2002.
Collaborations established: Professor Irene Leigh’s group (London Hospital Medical School); Dr JRS
Hoult, Pharmacology, KCL; Dr Chun-Tao Che (Chinese University of Hong Kong), Dr CJ Waterfield and
Prof J Timbrell (Pharmacy), Phytopharm plc.
Funding: Phytopharm plc, The British Council HK-UK Joint Research Scheme, Stiefel Laboratories, UK,
Sabinsa (USA/India).
Outcomes:
 Publications (see end list).
 Conference presentations (national and international)
 Major grants from pharmaceutical companies (>£200, 000)
 Possible patentable discovery from the Phytopharm sponsored project
 International collaboration and exchange visits with a Hong Kong based academic
 Media attention for our successful Vernonia project (access by typing “Raman vernonia psoriasis”
into an internet search engine).
Vitiligo
Summary: My group was the only one in the Western world studying traditional plant remedies as a
source of novel chemical entities to treat the skin disease vitiligo. The disease, for which no satisfactory
treatment exists, is characterised by the absence of pigment cells (melanocytes) in the afflicted patches.
My group has developed (and published) a novel rapid-throughput in vitro bioassay to test plants for
melanocyte proliferative activity, using pigment cells provided through a collaboration with Professor
DC Bennett and Dr P Donatien (St George’s Hospital, London). This work led to the identification of a
potent, novel, alkaloidal stimulant for in vitro melanocyte proliferation. National and International
patents have been filed (A Raman, Zhixiu Lin, RC Hider and R Venkatasamy as inventors) in cooperation with the British Technology Group. From 2001 – 2003 I was principal investigator for a
research group synthesizing analogues of this compound in collaboration with Professor RC Hider (Dept
of Pharmacy, KCL) and have received £225,000 from BTG for in vivo studies and further biochemical
characterisation of this novel activity in collaboration with Prof. Antony Young (Department of
Photobiology, KCL). The results of these studies have been highly successful and have led to the filing
of more patents. The work is now ready to enter the clinical stage and will now be overseen by BTG, to
whom the patents have been assigned. The scope of the project has expanded considerably beyond the
natural products arena; new collaborations have been formed to address these exciting developments.
The work has also led to a broadening of my own research expertise and understanding of the drug
discovery, patenting and development process.
The patents relating to this project are now owned by OHSU and have been licensed to Adpharma Inc, a
US based pharmaceutical company. Along with Adpharma, we will soon be conducting Phase I clinical
studies both in India, and here at OHSU along with collaborating dermatologists.
Collaborations established: Professor DC Bennett and Dr P Donatien (St George’s Hospital Medical
School, London), Professor Antony Young (St Thomas’s Hospital), Professor RC Hider (Pharmacy,
KCL), Adpharma Inc., IL USA, Drs Andrew Blauvelt, Ben Ehst, Theresa Devere and Eric Simpson
(Dermatology, OHSU).
Funding: Glaxo, The Vitiligo Society, Institute of Chinese Medicine, British Technology Group;
AdPharma Inc.
Outcomes:
 Publications (see end list)
 Conference presentations (national and international)
 Development of a unique and promising line of research
 A patent for a potential new treatment for vitiligo
 Investment and support from the British Technology Group (BTG) for commercialisation and for a
postdoctoral scientist and research assistant (> £250,000)
 On-going project possibilities.
 Membership of the Medical and Research Subcommittee of the Vitiligo Society
 Consultant to the Vitiligo Society on pharmaceutical matters and those relating to complementary
and herbal medicines.
 Invited speaker at the Vitiligo Symposium, London UK, May 2003.
 Licensing agreement for OHSU.
 Significant media and internet attention for this project.
Piperine
Summary:In addition to its effects on pigment cells, piperine is of interest as a chemopreventive agent.
We have been performing studies here at OHSU which show that it has opposing effects to TPA, a
phorbol ester known to have cancer preventive effects. These studies have been performed using
microarray technology, RT-PCR and in vivo in mice.
Collaborations established: Dr Philippe Thuillier (Public Health and Preventive Medicine, OHSU), Dr
Steven Jacques (Dermatology and Biomedical Engineering, OHSU).
Funding: Internal funds to date. NIH applications pending.
Outcomes: Collaborations, planned publications
Neurology
Summary: My research in the Neurology Dept began with a career development award within the NIHfunded ORCCAMIND project, PI Professor Barry Oken, Department of Neurology. My project centered
on the extraction, evaluation and bioassay-guided fractionation of plants relevant to neurological
disorders. I initially screened six herbs (Bacopa monniera, Ginkgo biloba, Uncaria tomentosa, Centella
asiatica, Scutellaria laterifolia, Hypericum performatum) used in herbal medicine for neurological
conditions. These were tested for effects in neurite elongation and in in vitro screens relevant to
Alzheimer’s Disease.
From this pilot study, Centella asiatica has emerged as a plant of significant interest both for Alzheimer’s
disease (in collaboration with Dr Joseph Quinn) and for nerve regeneration (in collaboration with Dr
Bruce Gold). Preliminary fractionation indicates that a number of active compounds are present which
can stimulate neurite elongation in vitro, while whole extracts show promising effects in a sciatic nerve
crush model in vivo. This work formed the basis of a successful grant application to NCCAM to study
Centella asiatica triterpenes for the treatment of diabetic neuropathy (in collaboration with Dr Jau-Shin
Lou). The trial is underway.
I also received two pilot grants to study the role of Centella asiatica in Alzheimer’s disease. Centella
asiatica extracts showed benefical activities in in vitro screens relating to amyloid toxicity and in vivo
models of Alzheimer’s disease, and this has formed the basis of grant applications to the NIH. These
earlier studies were conducted primarily in collaboration with Dr Joseph Quinn and Bruce Gold.
However, a recent collaboration has been established with Dr Hemachandra Reddy with a view to study
the protective effects of Centella asiatica on mitochondrial function in neurons.
The chemistry and effects (on epilepsy and anxiety) of extracts of Passiflora incarnata in vitro, in vivo
and in humans have been examined in collaboration with Dr Siegward Elsas, Dr Jacob Raber and Dr
David Rossi (OHSU). I oversaw the development of TLC and HPLC methods to look for Passiflora
components both in plant extracts and plasma samples. This data was used to support a successful grant
application for a NIH funded K-Award by Dr Siegward Elsas for clinical evaluation of Passiflora in
epileptic patients.
I have also been working with Dr Carlo Calabrese (formerly of National College of Natural Medicine) to
develop a grant application to the NIH for the investigation of Bacopa monnieri extracts in subjects with
mild cognitive impairment. My role in this study will be to characterize the product, conduct stability
studies and measure Bacopa components in plasma samples from study participants.
In smaller studies, I have prepared and analysed grape seed extract fractions for use in studies relating to
multiple sclerosis and stroke. These preliminary data have also been used in grant applications for further
funding. In other studies, I provided independent analysis of a Ginseng product used in a clinical trial in
MS patients. The trial was conducted by Drs Laura Schaben, Ruth Whittam and Dennis Bourdette. In
collaboration with Dr Peter Spencer, Dr Valerie Palmer, Dr Desire Tshala and Dr Glen Kisby of CROET,
I have been studying Cycad and Encephalartos species which are known to have neurotoxic effects in
humans. Extracts have been prepared and tested in guinea pigs with a view to investigating purported
high molecular weight toxins which have not hitherto been characterized.
Collaborations established: Numerous collaborations have been developed within the OHSU to develop
projects based on the neurological effects of botanical medicines. Specific collaborators are listed in the
section above.
Funding:
The above projects have been funded by a career development award within the
NIH/NCCAM-supported (NIH P50 AT00066) ORCCAMIND project, bridge funding from the
Department of Neurology, the Oregon Partnership for Alzheimer’s Research, the Oregon Alzheimer’s
Disease Center and an NIH/NCCAM supported clinical trial (NIH 1 R21 AT003668-01). I have also been
provided with office and, previously, laboratory space in the Center for Research on Occupational and
Environmental Toxicology (CROET).
Outcomes:
 A patent application has been filed for the use of Centella asiatica in nerve regeneration,
 Publication on nerve regeneration by Centella asiatica in the journal of pharmacy and
pharmacology
 Regular poster presentations and neurology and pharmacognosy conferences.
 Book chapter on “Botanicals: preparations, uses, quality issues and interactions” in a volume
focusing on complementary medicines for neurological diseases.
 Funding from Integria (Mediherb) to study Bacopa saponins in human plasma.
 Continuing education lecture at American Association of Neurology conference, Hawaii, 2003.
 Lecture to students on Behavioral Neuroscience course, OHSU, 2009
Research at Oregon’s Wild Harvest (OWH)
Summary: In my former role as Director of Research and Development, and presently as consultant at
OWH, I have performed numerous research related activities. In 2004, I successfully raised a USDA
small business grant to study the effects of drying methods on microbial load in organically farmed herbs.
I also facilitated a collaborative project between the National College of Natural Medicine (NCNM) and
OWH in which the immunological effects of herbs grown or processed at OWH were examined in
humans. This led to a number of grant applications. I have also facilitated the establishment of a research
agreement between OHSU and OWH for OWH to provide extracts of passionflower for a clinical trial to
be conducted in epilepsy patients at OHSU. The development of research projects at OWH is an on-going
activity.
Collaborations established: Collaborations between NCNM, OHSU and OWH have been established.
Funding: USDA, Helfgott Research institute
Outcomes:
 Collaborations established with NCNM and OHSU
 Two publications on immunological effects of herbs
 Poster presentation at the American Society of Pharmacognosy (Corvallis, 2005)
 Development of templates for non-disclosure and research collaboration agreements.
V/3 Other research related activities
My research and general expertise in therapeutic use of botanical medicines has led to:
 Publications (see end list).
 Invited contribution at 3 conferences in the USA in 1996 (sponsored by the Drug Information
Association, the United States Pharmacopoeia and American Academy of Neurology respectively)
dealing with quality control and standardisation of botanical medicines (phytopharmaceuticals)
 Collaborative work with Dr Ed Croom, Co-ordinator of the Phytomedicines Project at the University
of Mississippi in 1996 resulting in a joint publication on microscopical analysis of Ginkgo biloba
leaf. The information has also been utilised in a United States Pharmacopoeial monograph on Ginkgo
biloba leaf.
 Consultancy work for the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia. I co-authored the therapeutic section for
monographs of 3 important herbs (Vitex, Ginkgo, Garlic).
 Membership of United States Pharmacopoeia Advisory Panel on Standards for Dietary Supplements
and Natural Products.
V/4
Supervision of research
I have supervised many research projects at all levels (undergraduate, Masters, PhD, postdoctoral and
sabbatical) since 1990. Approximate numbers are below:
Postdoctoral scientists, research assistants and overseas academics
PhD projects
MSc laboratory project
BPharm/MPharm final year laboratory/field project
European students (Norway, Austria, Germany) laboratory projects
Summer Vacation students’ laboratory projects
Non Pharmacy BSc projects at KCL (collaborative)
BPharm and MSc literature surveys
Final year projects from other institution (Non-KCL)
Mentoring interns at OHSU
Research assistants at OHSU
5
9
20
12
8
10
4
30
2
5
4
Details of PhD projects:
Nine PhD projects have been supervised since 1992. Two (Lau, Lin) both obtained the “Departmental
Prize for the best PhD thesis” in their respective academic years. All students who have completed have
obtained excellent career positions.
Investigation of plants used to treat vitiligo. PhD student: Miss Dania Kowalska, started October 1992.
Withdrew after one year due to ill-health. Funding: Self + Glaxo
Pharmacological and phytochemical studies on the anti-diabetic properties of Momordica charantia
PhD student: Clara Lau, started October 1994, submitted September 1998, degree awarded Dec 1998.
Funding: EPSRC CASE (Lipha). Employed as a Lecturer in Pharmacognosy first at Bradford University
and now Assistant Professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Screening and bioassay guided fractionation of selected plants used in the treatment of vitiligo.
PhD student: Zhixiu Lin, started October 1994, part-time PhD; degree awarded November 1999. Funding:
Vitiligo Society and Institute of Chinese Medicine. Employed as a Lecturer in Traditional Chinese
Medicine, first at the Middlesex University, UK and now Assistant Professor in Macau.
Biological and phytochemical studies on some traditional anti-diabetic plants.
PhD student: Sairavee Srijayanta, started November 1996, degree awarded July 2000.
Funding: Self + KCL bursary for Thai students awarded in 1998. First employed as a postdoctoral
scientist with Oxford Natural Products, UK, now working for Johnson and Johnson, Thailand.
Studies on the mode of action and active components of Vernonia anthelmintica. PhD student: Miss
Melanie Pires; started October 1997; degree awarded November 2001. Funding: Phytopharm plc. First
employed as a postdoctoral scientist at King’s College (funded by Stiefel UK), now working with the
Medicines and Healthcare Products Registration Authority, UK.
Structure-activity relationships of an alkaloidal simulant for melanocyte proliferation. PhD student:
Mr Radhakrishnan Venkatasamy; started April 1999. Funding: Self + ORS award + BTG International.
Degree awarded Jan 2004. Employed as a Posdoctoral scientist at King’s College London.
Investigation of some Malaysian plants used in the treatment of diabetes. PhD student: Mrs Hasenah
Ali; started Sept 2001. Funding: The Malaysian Government. Degree awarded 2005.
Investigation of anti-diabetic plants using in vitro bioassays. PhD student: Miss Katie Bawden; started
March 2001. Funding Merck Research Labs, USA. Degree awarded 2006.
Studies on Chinese and Ayurvedic anti-psoriatic plants using in vitro bioassays. . PhD student: Miss
Catherine Chronnell; started Sept 2001. Stiefel UK. Anticipated completion date: 2007
1V/5 Grants and Contracts:
Patents
Treatment of Skin Disorders. (relating to vitiligo) – several patents filed in UK, PCT countries, USA,
China, Canada. Some have been granted, others are pending. OHSU has now acquired this patent family.
Compositions for Nerve Regeneration (based on Centella asiatica). Filed June/July 2005.
PCT/US2005/021150. Pending.
Grants
Successful grant applications since 2004 are listed in the Table below.
Funder*
Project
Date
submitted
Sep 04
USDA
$60,000 Small business grant awarded to Oregons Wild harvest to
compare drying methods in herbs.
Dec 04
OADC
$30, 000 to identify active constituents of Centella asiatica with respect
Pilot project on to its role in Alzheimers disease
an NCCAM
A Soumyanath PI; 20% effort
grant
B Gold Co-Investigator
Jan 05
OPAR
$25, 000 to identify active constituents of Centella asiatica with respect
to its role in Alzheimers disease
A Soumyanath PI; 20% effort
B Gold Co-Investigator
October
NIH/NCCAM
$ 400,000 R21 GCRC supported clinical study on Centella asiatica
05
triterpene extract in diabetic neuropathy.
Jau-Shin Lou PI, A Soumyanath, Co-I; 15% effort. I was the main
author of this grant application.
Jan 2010
AdPharma
$20,000 to study the effect of piperine in models of human
reconstructed skin
Feb 2010
OCTRI
$50,000 to study the effect of piperine in a mouse model of melanoma
Sept 2010 Mediherb
$20,000 to develop methods to analyze bacopa saponins in human
biological fluids*
*the samples were collected at NCNM
August
NIH/NIA
$275, 863 over 2 years. Re-entry into biomedical research careers
2012
supplement for A. Soumyanath (60% effort) awarded to the OADC.
August
NIH/NCCAM
5 year R01 ($1,620,913) to study “Mechanisms and active compounds
2014
in the cognitive effects of Centella asiatica”. A Soumyanath PI.
*Funder abbreviations
NIA – National Institute on Aging; NIH – National Institutes of Health; NCCAM – National Center for
Complementary and Alternative Medicine; NCNM – National College of Naturopathic Medicine; OADC – Oregon
Alzheimers Disease Center (OHSU internal funding); OPAR – Oregon Partnership for Alzheimer’s Research;
OCTRI – Oregon clinical translational research institute
Grants awarded since 1990 while at King’s College London are listed in the Table below. As the
award system is different in the United Kingdom, i.e. there is no requirement to include a salary element
for the applicant, or state a percent involvement, I have not given these figures. In each case, I was the
principal investigator who was responsible for obtaining the grant and supervision of the project.
Date
Source and purpose
Jan 1990
Central Research Fund (London University)
To cover staff costs for a summer student
Mar 1990
Nuffield Summer Vacation Studentship
1 100
P
Nov 1991
Ayurvedic Company of Great Britain
Analysis of herbal medicines
CASE funding from Glaxo
Vitiligo project, Dania Kowalska
Royal Society Travel award
3 500
C
13 500
C
212
T
400
T
750
P
EPSRC studentship (CASE with Lipha)
Diabetes project – Clara Lau
Lipha support for EPSRC CASE studentship
Diabetes project – Clara Lau
Institute of Chinese Medicine stipend to PhD
student; vitiligo project Zhixiu Lin
Vitiligo Society, support for a PhD student
bench fees; vitiligo project Zhixiu Lin
British Council, bench fees for visiting
academic, Dr Molham Al-Habori
Nagai Found’n Tokyo, travel grant for
sabbatical to USA ( A Raman)
Wellcome Travel Fellowship for sabbatical
In Chicago USA and research costs
Vitiligo Society - supplementary grant for
project
Noon plc - funds to support vitiligo project
30 000
P
16 500
P
40 000
P
4 000
P
1 500
P
950
T
Phytopharm plc, support for conference travel
British Council, Yemen funding for
retinopathy project, Dr Molham Al-Habori
Royal Society, Conference Travel Grant
Phytopharm plc. - pilot study on
plants/psoriasis
Phytopharm plc - 3 year PhD studentship on
Vernonia and psoriasis – Melanie Pires
Jan 1991
Mar 1992
May 1992
Mar 1994
Oct 1994
Oct 1994
Oct 1994
Jan 1995
Oct 1995
Dec 1995
Dec 1995
Oct 1996
Nov 1996
Dec 1996
Jun 1997
Jul 1997
Jul 1997
Sep 1997
The Vitiligo Society - travel grant,
MSc student
Wellcome Summer Vacation Studentship
Amount (£)
500
Project P,
Contract C,
Or Travel T
P
4 000
P, T
2 000
P
250
P
1 000
1 500
T
P
425
6 785
T
C
59 602
P
Sep 1997
British Council Hong Kong, joint research
scheme
Nuffield Summer Vacation Studentship
7 000
P, T
1 600
T
Mar 1998
American Soc. of Pharmacognosy Studentship
for anti-diabetic plants
$ 2500
P
Mar 1998
Wellcome Trust Vacation Studentship
720
P
Jul 1999
Oct 1999
25 000
21 000
P
P
1 762
C
July 2000
British Technology Group - support for patent
ORS award to support PhD student for 3 years
– R. Venkatasamy
Phytocorp Limited (contract research work)
Investigating anti-diabetic plants
British Technology Group - research grant
225 000
P
Mar 2001
Merck Research Labs, USA
P
Apr 2001
Stiefel International - contract work
anti-psoriatic natural products
Wellcome Trust Summer studentship
$60 000
(39,132)
3 315
1 240
P
57, 416
P
65, 422
P
 114,072
(£71, 300)
17 000
2 500
729, 547
P
Feb 1998
Apr 2000
May 2001
Oct 2001
Stiefel International - postdoctoral fellowship
anti-psoriatic natural products (M. Pires)
Oct 2001
Stiefel International - PhD studentship
Anti-psoriatic plants ( Catherine Chronnell)
Oct 2001
European Commission Marie Curie Fellowship
for Regine Donaux; Diabetic retinopathy
July 2002
Stiefel International – equipment grant.
Sept 2002 Sabinsa/Sami Corporation contract work
Total grants raised (GB £)
V/6
C
P, equipment
C
Publications/Creative Work:
Peer-reviewed full papers
(* indicates main author and/or PI of project)
1. Gray NE, Morré J, Kelley J, Maier C, Stevens JF, Quinn JF, Soumyanath A. Caffeoylquinic
acids in Centella asiatica protect against β-amyloid toxicity (2014). J.Alzheimer’s Dis . 40, 359–
373.
2. Soumyanath A*, Zhong YP, Henson E, Wadsworth T, Bishop J, Gold B and Quinn JF (2012).
Centella asiatica extract improves behavioral deficits in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease:
investigation of a possible mechanism of action. International Journal of Alzheimer's Disease,
Article ID 381974, 9 pages; doi:10.1155/2012/381974
3. Elsas S-M*, Rossi DJ, Raber J, White G, Seeley C-A, Gregory WL, Mohr C, Pfankuch T,
Soumyanath A (2010). Passiflora incarnata L. (Passionflower) extracts elicit GABA currents in
hippocampal neurons in vitro, and show anxiogenic and anticonvulsant effects in vivo, varying
with extraction method. Phytomedicine, published online April 10, 2010.
4. Faas L, Venkatasamy, R, Hider RC, Young AR and Soumyanath A* (2008). In vivo evaluation
of piperine and synthetic analogs as potential treatments for vitiligo using a sparsely pigmented
mouse model, British Journal of Dermatology, 158, 941-950.
5. Zwickey H*, Brush J, Iacullo CM, Connelly E, Gregory WL, Soumyanath A, Buresh R (2007).
The effect of Echinacea purpurea, Astragalus membranaceus, and Glycyrrhiza glabra on CD25
expression in humans: a pilot study Phytotherapy Research, 21(11), 1109-1112.
6. Lin ZX, Liao Y, Venkatasamy R, Hider RC and Soumyanath A* (2007). Amides from Piper
nigrum L. with dissimilar effects on melanocyte proliferation in vitro. Journal of Pharmacy and
Pharmacology, 59, 529-536.
7. Soumyanath A*, Venkatasamy R, Joshi M, Faas L, Adejuyigbe B, Drake A, Hider RC , Young
AR (2006). UV Irradiation Affects Melanocyte Stimulatory Activity and Protein Binding of
Piperine. Photochemistry and Photobiology, 82, 1541-1548.
8. Ali H, Houghton PJ*, Soumyanath A* (2006). -Amylase inhibitory activity of some
Malaysian plants used to treat diabetes; with particular reference to Phyllanthus amarus. Journal
of Ethnopharmacology, 107, 449-455.
9. Brush J, Mendenhall E, Guggenheim A, Chan T, Connelly E, Buresh R, Soumyanath A,
Zwickey H* (2006). The effect of Echinacea purpurea, Astragalus membranaceus and
Glycyrrhiza glabra on CD69 expression and immune cell activation in humans. Phytother. Res.,
20(8), 687-695.
10. Soumyanath A, Zhong Y-P, Gold S, Yu X, Koop DR, Bourdette, D, Gold BG* (2005). Centella
asiatica accelerates nerve regeneration upon oral administration and contains multiple active
fractions increasing neurite elongation in vitro. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 57,
1221-1229.
11. Itharat A, Houghton PJ*, Eno-Amooquaye E, Burke PJ, Sampson JH, Raman A (2004). In vitro
cytotoxic activity of Thai medicinal plants used traditionally to treat cancer. Journal of
Ethnopharmacology 90 (1), 33-38.
12. Venkatasamy R, Faas L, Young AR, Raman A*, Hider RC (2004). Effects of piperine and
analogues on stimulation of melanocyte proliferation and melanocyte differentiation. Bioorganic
and Medicinal Chemistry, 12(8), 1905-1920.
13. Goel RK*, Sairam K, Babu MD, Tavares IA, Raman A (2003). In vitro evaluation of Bacopa
monniera on anti-Helicobacter pylori activity and accumulation of prostaglandins.
Phytomedicine, 10 (6-7): 523-527.
14. Al-Habori M, Raman A*, Lawrence MJ and Skett P* (2001). Effect of fenugreek extracts on
intestinal sodium dependent glucose uptake and hepatic glycogen metabolism in vitro.
International Journal of Experimental Diabetes Research, 2, 91-99.
15. Sampson JH, Karlsen G, Navsaria H, Leigh IM and Raman A* (2001). In vitro keratinocyte
antiproliferant effect of Centella asiatica extract and triterpenoid saponins. Phytomedicine, 8(3),
230-235.
16. Forte JS and Raman A* (2000) Regulatory issues relating to herbal products. Part 1: Legislation
in the European Union, North America and Australia. Journal of Medicinal Food, 3(1), 23–40.
17. Forte JS and Raman A* (2000) Regulatory issues relating to herbal products. Part 2: Safety and
Toxicity. . Journal of Medicinal Food, 3(1), 41–58.
18. Forte JS and Raman A* (2000) Regulatory issues relating to herbal products Part 3: Quality and
its determination. . Journal of Medicinal Food, 3(1), 59-70
19. Srijayanta S, Raman A* and Goodwin BL (1999). A comparative study of the constituents of
Aesculus hippocastanum and Aesculus indica. Journal of Medicinal Food, 2(2), 45–50.
20. Odukoya OA, Houghton PJ* and Raman A (1999). Lipoxygenase inhibitors in the seeds of
Aframomum danielli K. Schum (Zingiberaceae). Phytomedicine, 6(4), 251-256.
21. Persaud SJ*, Al-Majed H, Raman A* and Jones PM (1999). Gymnema sylvestre stimulates
insulin release in vitro by increased membrane permeability. Journal of Endocrinology, 163 (2)
207-212.
22. Vedavanam K, Srijayanta S, O’Reilly J, Raman A* and Wiseman H* (1999). Anti-oxidant action
and potential anti-diabetic properties of an isoflavonoid-containing soyabean phytochemical
extract (SPE). Phytotherapy Research, 13, 601-608.
23. Lin ZX, Hoult JRS, Bennett DC and Raman A* (1999). Stimulation of mouse melanocyte
proliferation by Piper nigrum L. fruit extract and its main alkaloid piperine. Planta Medica, 65
(7), 600-603.
24. Mat Ali R, Houghton PJ*, Raman A and Hoult JRS (1999). Lipoxygenase inhibitors from
Bignoniaceae plants in Malaysia. Journal of Tropical Forest Products, 5(1), 71-79.
25. Lin ZX, Hoult JRS and Raman A* (1999). Sulphorhodamine B for measuring proliferation of a
pigmented melanocyte cell line and its application to the evaluation of herbs used in the treatment
of vitiligo. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 66 (2), 141-150.
26. AL-Habori M and Raman A* (1998). Review: Antidiabetic and hypocholesterolaemic effects of
fenugreek. Phytotherapy Research 12 233-242.
27. Raman A* and Croom EM Jr. (1998). The anatomical features of Ginkgo biloba L. leaf as
observed by light microscopy. Journal of Medicinal Food 1(2) 89-95.
28. Mat Ali R, Houghton PJ*, Raman A and Hoult JRS (1998). Antimicrobial and antiinflammatory activities of extracts and constituents of Oroxylum indicum (L.) Vent.
Phytomedicine 5(5) 375-381.
29. Raman A* and Jamal JA (1997). "Herbal hayfever remedy found to contain conventional drugs".
The Pharmaceutical Journal 258 105-106.
30. Raman A*, Lansley AB and Greene RJ (1997). Topic Weeks - Delivery of integrated pharmacy
teaching to undergraduates. The Pharmaceutical Journal 259 563-565.
31. Raman A* and Lau C (1996). Anti-diabetic properties and phytochemistry of Momordica
charantia L.(Cucurbitaceae). Phytomedicine 2(4) 349-362.
32. Lau C, Raman A*, Noel M, Kergoat M, Lawrence MJ and Dodoo ANO (1996). Evidence for
glucose transport inhibitors in Momordica charantia L. Diabetologia, 39 (S1) A171.
33. Raman A*, Lin ZX, Sviderskaya E and Kowalska D (1996). Investigation of the effect of
Angelica sinensis root extract on the proliferation of melanocytes in culture. Journal of
Ethnopharmacology 54 165-170.
34. Raman A*, Weir U and Bloomfield SF (1995). Antimicrobial effects of tea-tree oil and its
major components on Staphylococcus aureus, Staph. epidermidis and Propionibacterium
acnes. Letters in Applied Microbiology 21 242-245.
35. Anjum F, Raman A*, Shakoori AR and Gorrod JW (1993). Effects of sublethal doses of
cadmium chloride on native and phenobarbitone induced drug metabolising enzymes in male
rabbits. Pharmaceutical Science Communications 4 45-49.
36. Anjum F, Raman A*, Shakoori AR and Gorrod JW (1992). An assessment of cadmium toxicity
on cytochrome P-450 and flavin
monooxygenase-mediated metabolic pathways of
dimethylaniline in male rabbits. Journal of Environmental Pathology, Toxicology and Oncology
11 (4) 191-195.
37. Akunyili DN, Houghton PJ* and Raman A (1991). Antimicrobial activities of the stembark of
Kigelia pinnata. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 35 173-177.
38. Raman A* and Gorrod JW (1991). The metabolic interconversion of O-methylbenzophenone
oxime isomers. Progress in Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology 8(3) 203-217.
39. Gorrod JW and Raman A* (1989). Imines as intermediates in oxidative aralkylamine metabolism.
Drug Metabolism Reviews 20 307-339.
40. Raman A*, Christou M and Gorrod JW (1987). Primary aliphatic amine metabolism: the
formation of a stable imine metabolite. European Journal of Drug Metabolism and
Pharmacokinetics 12(4) 279-283.
Published research abstracts – these were all peer-reviewed prior to acceptance
(* indicates main author and/or supervisor of project)
1. Samatham,R.; Phillips,K.G.; Sonka,J.; Yelma,A.; Reddy,N.; Vanka,M.; Thuillier,P.;
Soumyanath,A.; Jacques,S. Monitoring human melanocytic cell responses to piperine
using multispectral imaging. Progr. Biomed. Opt. Imaging Proc. SPIE, 2011, 7883, San
Francisco, CA
2. Soumyanath A, Zhong Y-P, Gold S, Yu X, Koop DR, Bourdette, D, Gold BG* (2005). Centella
asiatica accelerates nerve regeneration in rat sciatic nerve upon oral administration and increases
neurite elongation via ERK activation. Journal of the Peripheral Nervous System, 10, 27-28.
3. Soumyanath A, Zhong Y-P, Gold S, Yu X, Koop DR, Bourdette, D, Gold BG* (2005). Centella
asiatica (Gotu kola) increases neurite elongation via ERK activation and is orally active in
speeding nerve regeneration in the rat sciatic nerve crush model. Neurology, 64(6): A407-A407.
Suppl 1.
4. Ali H, Raman A* and Houghton PJ* (2003). -Amylase inhibition in Malayasian local plants.
Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 55(Supplement): S28.
5. Chronnell CMT, Raman A*, Forbes B and Houghton PJ* (2003). Medicinal plants as potential
new treatments for psoriasis. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 55(Supplement): S30.
6. Bawden K, Quant J, Ali F, Raman A* and Houghton PJ* (2003). Fractionation and
characterization of compounds inhibiting -amylase and their potential as anti-diabetic remedies.
Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 55(Supplement): S31.
7. Ali H, Raman A* and Houghton PJ* (2003). α-Amylase inhibition in Malaysian local plants.
Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 55(Supplement): S31.
8. Bawden K, Quant J, Ali F and Raman A* and Houghton PJ* (2003). Fractionation and
characterization of compounds inhibiting α-amylase and their potential as anti-diabetic remedies.
Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 55(Supplement): S34.
9. Chronnell CMT, Raman A*, Forbes B and Houghton PJ* (2003). Medicinal plants as potential
new treatments for psoriasis. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 55(Supplement): S33.
10. Pires M, and Raman A* (2002). Isolation of a keratinocyte proliferation inhibitor from Vernonia
anthelmintica (Willd.) seeds traditionally used for psoriasis. Journal of Pharmacy and
Pharmacology, 54 (Suppl.): S6.
11. Pires M, Hoult JRS and Raman A* (2002). Anti-inflammatory activity of Vernonia
anthelmintica (L) Willd seed extracts. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 54 (Suppl.), S80.
12. Bawden K, Quant J, Raman A* (2002). An Investigation of the inhibitory effects of plant
extracts on a starch-alpha-amylase assay. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 54 (Suppl).:
S80.
13. Pires M, Schlosser S, Waterfield CJ, Sampson J, Che CT and Raman A* (1999). Development
and application of an in vitro bioassay for plant derived antipsoriatic agents using SVK-14
keratinocytes. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 51(S), 96.
14. Srijayanta S, Jones PM, Persaud S, Hoult JRS and Raman A* (1999). Mangiferin, and
antidiabetic compound from Anemarrhena asphodeloides. Journal of Pharmacy and
Pharmacology, 51(S), 98.
15. Lau C, Raman A*, Noel M, Kergoat M and Autier V (1998). Phytochemicals isolated from the
anti-hyperglycaemic extract of the unripe fruit of Momordica charantia L. Journal of Pharmacy
and Pharmacology 50 (S) 84.
16. Lin Z, Donatien P, Raman A* and Bennett DC (1998). A naturally occurring growth promoter for
human melanoblasts in culture. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology 50 (S) 218.
17. Raman A*, Lin Z and Hoult JRS (1998). Identification of a phytochemical stimulant for the
proliferation of mouse melanocytes in culture. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology 50 (S)
247.
18. Srijayanta S, Jones PM, Persaud S, Lawrence MJ and Raman A* (1998). In-vitro screening of
medicinal plants for potential anti-diabetic effects. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology 50 (S)
219.
19. Lin Z, Raman A*, Kim DSHL (1997). Betulinic acid and betulin at up to 10mM concentration
have no inhibitory effects on melan-a cell line. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology 49 (S4)
35.
20. Raman A*, Donaux NM, Herpin M and Jayan A (1997). Comparison of Phytosol extraction with
conventional methods of extracting the volatile oil from Clove (Syzygium aromaticum) and Wild
oregano (Coleus aromaticus). Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology 49 (S4) 112.
21. Srijayanta S, Raman A* and Goodwin B (1997). A comparative study of Aesculus
hippocastanum and Aesculus indica. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology 49 (S4) 111, 1997.
22. Persaud SJ*, Redmond EMT, Raman A*, Bone AJ and Jones PM (1996). Stimulation of insulin
secretion by Gymnema sylvestre: investigation of mode of action. Diabetic Medicine 13 S22.
23. Raman A* and Mallam V (1994). Enhanced in vitro activity of glucokinase enzyme in the
presence of extracts of Hunteria umbellata seeds, a traditional Nigerian treatment for
diabetes. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology 46 1046.
24. Raman A*, Baptist OT, Hunt G and Thody A (1993). Effect of Psoralea corylifolia L,
Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. and Ligustrum lucidum Ait. on melanin production and cell
number in B16 F1 mouse melanoma cell cultures. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology 45
1101.
25. Mutambo F, Raman A* and Theobald AE (1991). Isolation and purification of trypsin inhibitors
from Pumpkin seeds (Cucurbita maxima). Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology 43 (S) 124P.
Non-peer-reviewed articles
Raman A and Houghton PJ (1995). Herbal products: 8.Ginseng. Pharmaceutical Journal 254 150152.
Books
Peter J Houghton and Amala Raman. Laboratory Handbook for the Fractionation of Natural Extracts,
1998. Publ. Chapman and Hall, London, pp. vi +199. ISBN 0 412749106
Amala Soumyanath (Editor). Traditional Herbal Medicines for Modern Times – Anti-diabetic plants.
Publishers Taylor and Francis (CRC Press). In press, publication date October 2005.
Book Chapters
1. Soumyanath A* (2003). “Botanicals: preparations, uses, quality issues and interactions” in
Complementary and Alternative Therapies in Neurological Disorders. Ed. B. Oken. Publ. Taylor
and Francis, UK, pp 7-22.
2. Al-Habori M and Raman A (2002). “Pharmacological properties of fenugreek” in Trigonella Industrial profiles of medicinal and aromatic plants. Ed G. Petropoulos. Publ. Harwood
Academic Publishers, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
3. Raman A* (1998). “The Cannabis Plant: botany, cultivation and processing for use” in Cannabis
- Industrial profiles of medicinal and aromatic plants. Ed David Brown. Publ. Harwood
Academic Publishers, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, pp. 29-54.
4. Raman A* and Joshi AN (1998). “The Chemistry of Cannabis” in Cannabis - Industrial profiles
of medicinal and aromatic plants. Ed David Brown. Publ. Harwood Academic Publishers,
Amsterdam, The Netherlands, pp. 55-70.
5. Raman A* and Lin ZX (1996). “Screening plant extracts for the treatment of vitiligo” in
Conference Proceedings. Active Ingredients, Palais De Congres de Paris, Nov 13-14, 1996. Ed.
H. Ziolkowsky. Publ. Verlag für chemische Industrie, Augsburg, GmBH, pp. 203-211. (ISBN 387846-183-6).
6. Raman A* and Skett P (1998). “Traditional remedies and diabetes treatment” in Plants for food
and medicine. Eds. HDV Prendergast, NL Elkin, DR Harris and PJ Houghton. Publ. Royal
Botanic Gardens, Kew, UK, pp. 361-372.
7. Akunyili DN, Houghton PJ and Raman A (1991). "Chemical basis for the traditional uses of
Kigelia pinnata in Ethnopharmacology: sources, methods, objectives. Eds. J Fleurentin, P
Cabalion, G Mazars, J dos Santos and C Younos. Publ. ORSTOM, Paris, pp 339 - 340.
8. Gorrod JW and Raman A* (1989). "The role of drug metabolism in initiating drug toxicity" in
Molecular aspects of human disease. Eds JW Gorrod, O Albano and S Papa. Publ. Ellis
Horwood, pp 47-67.
Reviews
1. Raman A* and Wisneski A* (2001). Chaste Tree Fruit, Vitex agnus-castus - Therapeutics (pg
13-31). Section in the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia monograph on Chaste Tree Fruit, Vitex
agnus-castus. Ed Roy Upton. Publ. American Herbal Pharmacopoeia, Santa Cruz, California.
VI. SERVICE
Membership of Professional Bodies:
MRPharmS - Member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (1982 - 2004)
Membership of Societies:
Phytochemical Society of Europe (to 2002)
American Society of Pharmacognosy (current)
UK Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists ( to 2002)
Pharmaceutical Sciences Group of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain ( to 2002)
Granting Agency Review Work:
Have reviewed grants for
The Wellcome Trust, United Kingdom
The International Science Federation
Editorial and Ad Hoc Review Activities:
Reviews Editor for Phytotherapy Research (1998 – 2002), handling 8 review articles per year.
Successfully achieved the target of 1 review/issue. Reviewer of scientific research papers for Journal of
Ethnopharmacology, International Journal of Pharmacognosy, Journal of Natural Products, Journal of
Herbs, Spices and Medicinal Plants, Phytotherapy Research, Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology.
Committees:
OHSU Conflict of Interest in Research Committee (February 2014 – present)
International/National
Membership of United States Pharmacopiea Advisory Panel on Standards for Dietary Supplements and
Natural Products ( to 2004)
Member of the scientific advisory panel for the Medical Cannabis Research Foundation (UK) (to 2002)
Regional
Member of the Traditional Medicines Evaluation Committee (London) (to October 2002)
Institutional
Member of the School of Health and Life Sciences Postgraduate Research Training Committee (1997 –
2000).
Community Service:
Trustee of the Vitiligo Society, United Kingdom (1997 – 2002). The Vitiligo Society is a charity (not for
profit organization) whose mission is to help those affected by the skin disease vitiligo.
Volunteer at Rieke Elementary School (2010 – 2011)
VII. REFEREES:
1)
Professor Peter J Houghton,
Emeritus Professor of Pharmacognosy,
Department of Pharmacy
King’s College London
The Franklin-Wilkins Building
150 Stamford Street
London SE1 9NN
United Kingdom
Telephone: +44-20-7848-4775
Departmental non-confidential FAX:+44-20-7848-4800
Email: peter.houghton@kcl.ac.uk
2)
Roy Thomas Upton, RH, DAyu
Executive Director, American Herbal Pharmacopoeia
General Manager, Planetary Formulas
3051 Brown's Lane
Soquel, CA 95073 US
Telephone: 831-461-6317
Fax: 831-475-6219
Email: upton@herbal-ahp.org
3)
Heather Zwickey, PhD
Dean of Research
National College of Natural Medicine
Director of Research
Helfgott Research Institute
049 SW Porter Street
Portland, OR 97201
Telephone:503-552-1742
Email: hzwickey@ncnm.edu
4)
Professor Dennis Bourdette
Chair
Department of Neurology
Mail Code L226
Oregon Health Sciences University
3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road
Portland 97239
Oregon
USA
Telephone: 503-494-7240
Fax: 503-494-7289
Email: bourdett@ohsu.edu
5)
Professor Robert C. Hider,
Professor of Medicinal Chemistry,
Department of Pharmacy
King’s College London
The Franklin-Wilkins Building
150 Stamford Street
London SE1 9NN
United Kingdom
Telephone: +44-20-7848-4882
Departmental non-confidential FAX:+44-20-7848-4800
Email: robert.hider@kcl.ac.uk
6)
Professor Geoffrey A. Cordell
Emeritus Professor
President, Natural Products Inc.
9447 Hamlin Ave,
Evanston, IL 60203.
Telephone: 847-903-1886.
Email: pharmacog@gmail.com