Sc Pakrashi

Biography

Satyesh Chandra Pakrashi received his MSc (1950) and PhD (1954) from Calcutta University, where he worked on the structure of a Rauwolfia alkaloid that later helped elucidate the stereochemistry of reserpine, the wonder tranquillizing drug of global interest then. He then proceeded to USA for postdoctoral research with Carl Djerassi at Wayne State University (1955). He also collaborated with RB Woodward to establish the structures of two very important Rauwolfia alkaloids, with DS Tarbell at University of Rochester (1956-58) to study the metabolism of C-14 incorporated Benz[a]pyrine, a well-known carcinogen. He worked at the Indian Institute of Chemical Biology (IICB), Kolkata on a US Public Health Research Project (1959-63) prior to joining as Senior Scientist (1963). He was Director, IICB (1985-90), and was reappointed as CSIR Distinguished Fellow till 1995. He was also conferred the DSc (hc) by Kanpur University (1996).

Research Interest

Natural Products & Herbal Drugs