Pharma News

Cinnamaldehyde, chemical constituent of  cinnamon has distinctive flavor and smell. Associate Professor Georg Wondrak, and Professor Donna Zhang, at the University of Arizona recently completed a study in which they proved that adding cinnamaldehyde, the compound that gives cinnamon its distinctive flavor and smell, to the diet of mice protected the mice against colorectal cancer. In response to cinnamaldehyde, the mice's cells had acquired the ability to protect themselves against exposure to a carcinogen through detoxification and repair.

Researchers have successfully engineered E coli bacteria to produce new forms of antibiotics — including three that show promise in fighting drug-resistant bacteria. Blaine A Pfeifer, an associate professor of chemical and biological engineering in the University at Buffalo School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, has been studying how to engineer Escherichia coli (E coli) to generate new varieties of erythromycin, a popular antibiotic.

Memories that are 'lost' as a result of traumatic injury, stress or diseases such as Alzheimer's can be recalled by activating brain cells with light, MIT scientists, including one of Indian-origin, have found. Researchers were able to reactivate memories that could not otherwise be retrieved, using a technology known as optogenetics.

Arogya Finance, a social healthcare venture, has launched the Arogya Card in Mumbai. The Arogya Card is a a pre-approved medical loan of upto Rs.2 lakh for the cardholders and their family members.

On the occasion of the visit of Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte to India, the two countries have decided to expand their existing cooperation in the area of large scale cohort studies with a Joint Cohort study on HIV patients in India.