The Department of Plant Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics, CPMB&B, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, inaugurated a three-day Hands-on Training Program on "Mining of Bioactive Metabolites" on 26.06.2025 at Seminar Hall, Centre for Plant Molecular Biology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, aimed at equipping young researchers and scholars with advanced techniques and practical exposure in the field of natural product research and bioactive compounds identification.
The inaugural ceremony commenced with a welcome address by Dr. L. Arul, Professor and Head, Department of Plant Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics. He welcomed the particpants and highlighted about the need for the metabolomic approach in plant research. Dr. N. Senthil, Director, Centre for Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, TNAU, Coimbatore , highlighted the significance of exploring natural sources such as plants, microbes and other organisms for potential bioactive compounds with pharmaceutical and agricultural relevance. He also emphasized the importance of bioactive metabolites in food, dairy, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and animal nutrition.
Dr.R. Umarani, Director, Seed Centre, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore was the chief guest formally inaugurated the training and delivered the keynote address. In her speech, Dr. R. Umarani, emphasized the significance of identifying key metabolites involved in seed dormancy, longevity and storage to address problems related to seed.
Participants from various academic institutions and research centers across Tamil Nadu enrolled in the program. The training includes modules on sample collection, extraction methods, quantification of secondary metabolites, Liquid Chromatography - Mass Spectrometry (LCMS) techniques, and data interpretation using modern computational tools.
The inaugural session concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Dr. K. Chandrakumar, Associate Professor, DPMB&B, thanking all dignitaries, organizing members, and participants for their valuable contribution. The event promises to provide a collaborative platform for knowledge sharing and innovation in bioactive metabolite mining.