Mangaluru: The research students and faculty of Alva’s College and Alva’s Institute of Engineering and Technology managed by Alva’s Education Foundation, Moodbidri is inching towards a permanent cure for cancer. The research team has synthesized many organic molecules, in which two novel methyl-substituted chalcones i.e.,(2Z) 1-(5-methyl furan-2-yl)-3-(4-nitrophenyl) prop-2-en-1-one(MFNP) and (2Z) 1-(2, 5-dimethylthiophen-3-yl)-3-(2, 4, 6-trimethoxyphenyl)prop-2-en-1-one (DMTTP) molecules have shown excellent cancer inhibition property. In particular, this invention showed that MFNP and DMTTP molecules have high anticancer activity against breast, prostate cancer, and leukemia. The research team includes a UG student Namratha W.N, Ph.D. research students Sarveshwara H.P and Sruthi, faculty Dr. Shashidhara Bhat of Alva’s College and Faculty Dr. Jayarama A, Dr. Shashikumar and Dr. Richard Pinto from Alva’s Institute of Engineering and Technology with a collaborator Dr. SriganeshPrabhu from Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Mumbai.

The anti-cancerous property of these molecules was tested at TATA Cancer Institute Mumbai and has shown good anticancer properties for both breast cancer hand blood cancer. Further technical tests are going-on for the use of these molecules on humans who are suffering from breast and blood cancer. The research team headed by Dr. Richard Pinto says that these molecules will be potential medicines to cure cancer in the near future. Alva’s Education Foundation filed a patent application (Application No. 201941046359 dated 14-11-2019) for the process of synthesis of these two molecules. This research was funded by Alva’s Education Foundation. The team is looking forward to making much more progress in these drugs ensuring to wipe out the grief due to life-threatening cancer