STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

Although researches till date have made significant advances in discovery and treatment
of various cancer diseases, the unavoidable truth is that these cancer cells are also
evolving in their new resistant forms. Due to the discovery of various allopathic
medicines and cancer treatment technologies, people are successfully fighting the battle
against cancer. Thanks to the advancement in cancer research and public initiatives to
open up to fight the disease. It seems that the dietary polyphenols such as EGCG &
Cyclopamine have been put forward recently in the potential treatment of several forms
of cancer with less side effects and lower resistance. Despite many successful years of
allopathic technological treatment of cancers, the recently evolved new resistant forms of
cancer have raised the awareness for the importance of increased research of medicinal
plants and their extracts to treat the cancer cells effectively.
My interest in the field of study of antimicrobial, antioxidant, phytochemical and
anticancer activities of various medicinal plants first kindled when I started my
undergraduate research project for the partial fulfillment of Bachelor’s degree. During the
time, I researched upon various plants collected from the high altitude regions of Nepal
above 5000 meters for their effectiveness to treat various cancer cell lines i.e. HeLa
cancer cells. DPPH free radical scavenging assay and MTT assay were performed to
study their effectiveness upon HeLa cell lines. IC50 and IP50 values of the plant extracts
were analyzed to find out the most effective treatment against the cancer cell lines. I
would like to extend this part of my research further in graduate study to find out new
effective and healthy methods of cancer treatment.
As a researcher at Kathmandu University, I ensured the progress and timely completion
of sampling expeditions, laboratory analyses, documentation of the data and findings and
project reporting (thesis) for the study of the antimicrobial, antioxidant, phytochemical
and anticancer activities of medicinal plants found in high Himalayas using K.
pneumoniae and S. aureus as the indicators of antimicrobial activities. I assisted the
baseline study of the sampling plants, preparation of the plant extracts, testing on cancer
cell lines and analyzation of the data.
My research interest which spans across an array of areas related to medicinal plants and
microbes for various therapeutic uses is discernible in three fronts:
 Phytochemical screening of high altitude organisms: The extraction of bioactive
steroidal alkaloids of high altitude plants growing in the rigority of Himalayas,
health and environment friendly extraction procedure and ameliorating the
effectiveness of bioactive compounds in extracts.
  Identification of specific plant extracts like alkaloids and dietary polyphenols
(EGCG) that target biological processes and disease intervention to develop
new potential drugs against cancer and PD.
 Biostatistics and Analysis of effectiveness of various phytochemicals in
different diverse communities leading to the development of potential drug
development for early detection and treatment of cancer.

My research work here connects with your research on understanding the Biostatistics
and Analysis of effectiveness of various phytochemicals & synthetic chemicals in
different diverse communities leading to the development of potential drug
development for early detection and treatment of cancer. The efficacy and lower
toxicity of the high altitude (above 5000m) plant alkaloids (cyclopamine analogues) and
dietary polyphenols like EGCG in interfering cellular biology can be vital in detection
and treatment of various cancers and PD. Medicinal plant extracts can be used to develop
effective anticancer drugs which will be cost-friendly and eco-friendly than present
methods of impregnable allopathic drugs synthesized chemically. Isolation of bioactive
compounds from the aqueous extracts of fresh plant parts of Himalayas possessed less
toxic side effects and using water as solvent than ethanol has proven to be much safer for
the health and environment. Moreover, in my further research I want to work on the high
altitude medicinal plants which can be a milestone for the development of drugs that
interfere futile Hedgehog auto processing to ensure further applications to diagnostic and
anti-tumor properties.

I am committed to furthering research at an interface of these diverse interest areas while

working towards carving a niche in medicinal plant research in the lap of Himalayas. I
propose a comparative study of the contributions to anticancer and antimicrobial-
antioxidant and neuroprotective effects shown by high altitude plants of Nepal on the
basis of their adaptability to the extreme environment, severity of the climate and
harsh soil conditions. I have envisioned a career in research and teaching with a mission
of enriching knowledge on the medicinal plants to treat cancer in the light of changing
severity of the climate and environmental stress, helping to discover new methods for the
sustainability of the humankind. I will also prepare myself for establishing my research
and policymaking roles in Nepal’s scenario of fragmentary scientific knowledge and
increasing urgency of medical challenges.
I hope to continue the research during my graduate studies and further in PhD studies and
to learn more about other scopes of the cancer research and treatments that have less side
effects and create a milestone in the treatment of cancers. With the strong faculty
composition with diverse repertoire of research capability to guide in my interest areas, a
prominent research focus flexibility in the course choices from a rich selection, and an
intellectually stimulating, culturally diverse community of change makers and mentors, I
will acquire a dynamic skillset, well-rounded exposure and hands-on experience that
empower me into a researcher of substance. Through my studies and research, I hope to
refine and sharpen scientific thinking skills and attitudes with superb laboratory
techniques which will prepare me with the ability to carry out a wide variety of studies
through which to contribute in creating a healthy atmosphere for living and sustainability
of the humankind. The knowledge and skill that I will acquire through this program in the
research of effectiveness of medicinal plants for the treatment of cancer cells will enable
me to become an independent researcher with strong scientific acumen, poised to produce
research that can be applied to save the humankind from various forms of cancer.