Natural Products Chemistry & Research

Biography

I, Miss Saleha Suleman Khan obtained my M. Phil. degree in organic Chemistry from HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry, University of Karachi in January 2011with Prof. Dr Viqar Uddin Ahmad under the project title “Investigations of the Chemical Constituents of Eremurus Persicus and Zygophyllum fabago”. I have 25 publications in the field of Natural Products Chemistry, some other are submitted in international journals of repute with cumulative impact factor of nearly 30 and 41 citations. I have conferred Cash Award of Research Productivity allowance (RPA) by Pakistan council of Science and Technology twice in 2011 and 2012. In 2008 I have been awarded scholarship from Higher Education Commission Pakistan to work abroad with Prof. Dr. James. S. Nowick, University of California Irvine, USA under the project title “Designing and Synthesis of lower bridgehead analogue of Ball Shaped macrobicyclic structure” under the scheme International Research support Initiative program for six months.Furthermore, by the extension of this program University of California Irvine has employed me to complete the project for additional three months in 2008. My major area of interest isIsolation, degradation, and derivatisation of bioactive natural products, Structure elucidation of new and known natural products including 1D and 2D-NMR techniques and Synthesis of biologically active compounds in order to cure various diseases. My technical proficiencies include detailed knowledge of almost all organic laboratory equipments, especially NMR (1D/2D), IR, UV, GC, LCMS, HPLC (analytical and prep), and HPTLC. Currently, I have submitted my PhD thesis under the supervision of Prof. Dr Viqar Uddin Ahmad in HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry. I am also working as an Executive R &D in Herbion Pakistan (Pvt) Ltd.Karachi-Pakistan where my main work is to develop new methods for the quantitative and qualitative determination of active compounds in various drugs of natural product origin. This work is very fruitful in a sense that it can actually lead my work towards patents in the end. Herbion is a vast growing industry and we are very much anxious for a strong collaboration between academic institutes and industry. I have also a work experience of Ahmad food Industries Pvt. Ltd and I do different tests on their products for export, as well I also work with different industries which export spices.

Research Interest

My major area of interest is Isolation, degradation, and derivatisation of bioactive natural products, Structure elucidation of new and known natural products including 1D and 2D-NMR techniques and Synthesis of biologically active compounds in order to cure various diseases.