Dr. Ruby joined as an honorary scientist at IAV after superannuating from RGCB Cancer Research Division as Scientist G. She is Chief Scientist at Centre of Excellence in Nutraceuticals, Government of Kerala. Dr. Ruby took her PhD from Amala Cancer Research Centre and was visiting scientist at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston. She is a recipient of National Woman Bio-Scientist Award, from DBT, Govt. of India and Keystone Symposia Global Health award by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. She is a Fellow of National Academy of Sciences, India and Kerala Academy of Sciences. She has 7200 citations and H-index 40. Her invention on the therapeutic efficacy of uttroside-B, which received ‘Orphan drug’ designation against HCC by the US FDA, is granted patent by the US, Canada, South Korea, Japan and Europe and is transferred to the multinational company, Q Biomed. At IAV, she works on the viral aetiology of cancers
Centre of Excellence in Nutraceutical, KSCSTE, Government of Kerala, Thonnakkal, Thiruvananthapuram.
Institute of Advanced Virology, Thonnakkal, Thiruvananthapuram.
Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram.
Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram.
Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram.
Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram.
Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram.
Department of Bio-immunotherapy, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA.
Amala Cancer Research Centre, Thrissur, Mahatma Gandhi University
Govt. Training College, Thrissur, University of Calicut
Govt. Training College, Thrissur, University of Calicut
Govt College, Madappally, University of Calicut
Viral Etiology of Cancers
2022
Selected for the TRIALECT-sponsored “Clinical Trials Traineeship Program” at INSERM, Paris, France and successfully completed the training from August 22 to September 16, 2022.
2019
Global Health travel award by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to attend Keystone Symposia meeting at São Paulo, Brazil.
2017
Elected as Fellow of Kerala Academy of Sciences, India.
2016
Elected as Fellow of National Academy of Sciences, India.
2015
Excellence award for outstanding performance, RGCB, Promotion assessment committee.
2005
Young National Women Bio-Scientist 2004 Award, Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India.
1995
Fr. Gabriel Golden Jubilee Award for best paper, Amala Cancer Research Centre, Thrissur.
Our lab is mainly focusing on deciphering the viral aetiology of various cancers and evaluating the effect of natural products on regulating it. We have initiated studies on evaluating the efficacy of Uttroside B, an anti-HCC molecule isolated and patented in my previous lab at RGCB, in regulating the viral aetiology of liver cancer and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). We are also exploring the efficacy of tryptanthrin, another molecule identified in our lab from the medicinal plant, Wrightia tinctoria and tryptanthrin analogues in regulating the viral aetiology of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. Moreover, as an intramurally supported program, we are elucidating the regulatory role of kaempferide, a potent anti-cancer flavonoid we isolated from Chromolaena odorata, on the viral aetiology of cervical cancer. We observed that kaempferide down-regulates the expression of the E6 and E7 oncoproteins of HPV 18 and HPV 16 and up-regulates the tumor suppressor genes, p53and pRb. This is the first report depicting kaempferide as an inhibitor of HPV oncoproteins and hence as a candidate drug molecule against cervical cancer. The findings of the present study will aid in developing an effective, safe and affordable treatment option for cervical cancer that can benefit patients in developing countries.
2022 – 2025
Evaluation of uttroside B, a furanosyl saponin from Solanum nigrum Linn as a candidate drug molecule against Aflatoxin-induced liver carcinogenesis and Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). [ DST-SERB]
2021 – 2024
Evaluation and in vivo validation of tryptanthrin analogues as potent lead molecules for malignant melanoma chemotherapy . [CSIR]
2021 – 2024
Pre-clinical evaluation of the mechanistic and immunological pharmacodynamics of a novel saponin, Uttroside-B against HCC. (Mentor). [DBT MK Bhan Fellowship]
2021 – 2024
In vitro and in vivo validation of the efficacy of the synergistic combination of curcumin and 5-FU in exterminating breast cancer stem-cell like population using orthotopic breast xenograft model in NOD-SCID, gamma mice. [The spices Board of India]
2017 – 2020
Mechanistic evaluation and in vivo validation of the anticancer potential of Uttroside B against hepatocellular carcinoma.(PI).[DST-SERB]
2016 – 2019
Investigating the mechanism behind the protective effect of the anticancer compounds isolated from Woodfordia fruticosa(L.)Kurz flowers against hepatocellular carcinoma (Co-PI). [KSCSTE]
2016 – 2019
Isolation, identification and characterization of anticancer principle from the medicinal plant Corallocarpus epigaeus (Co-PI)[KSCSTE].
2015 – 2019
Mechanistic evaluation and in vivo validation of the anticancer principle isolated from Chromolaena odorata against cervical cancer(PI)[KSCSTE].
2015 – 2016
In vivo evaluation of the anticarcinogenic effect and toxicity of the active principle of Wrightia tinctoria.(PI).[ICMR,Govt. ofIndia]
2012 – 2015
Isolation and identification of anticancer principle from the mistletoe growing on Chrsophyllumspp.(PI).[CSIR].
2013 – 2016
Comparison of the chemopreventive efficacy of free curcumin and biodegradable polymer based nano curcumin in Benzo[a] pyrene–induced lung carcinogenesis.(PI). [ DST, Govt. of India].
2008 – 2011
Novel polymer nanoparticle based drug releasing systems for improving the efficacy of drug administration in cancer chemotherapy ( Co-PI). [DBT, Govt. of India]
2007 – 2010
Antineoplastic molecules associated with bacteria from entomopathogenic nematodes (Co-PI). [STEC, Govt. of Kerala].
2006 – 2009
Isolation and identification of anticancer principle from the indigenous medicinal plant, Wrightia tinctoria(PI). [CSIR, Govt. of India].
2006 – 2009
Development of High Specific and High Affinity monoclonal antibody against human IgM. (PI). [TreeLand Biotech]
2006 – 2009
Isolation and identification of anticancer principle from Mistletoes(Viscum album) growing on various host trees (PI). [ICMR, Govt. of India]
2005 – 2008
Potential Role of curcumin in regulating the effects induced by the major carcinogens in cigarette smoke, such as nicotine, NNK and B(a)P in normal and cancerous lung cells. (PI). [DST, Govt of India STNo:SR/SO/HS-49/2002]
2003 – 2008
Sensitization of conventional chemotherapeutic drugs using non-toxic chemopreventives (PI). [DBT, Govt of India].
2003 – 2006
Synergistic effect of Taxol and curcumin in inducing apoptosis of cancer cells (PI). [STEC, Govt. of Kerala].
Sadiq SC, Joy MP, Aiswarya SU, Ajmani A, Keerthana CK, Rayginia TP, Isakov N, Ruby John Anto (2024). Unlocking nature’s pharmacy: an in-depth exploration of phytochemicals as potential sources of anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory molecules. Exploration of Drug Science. 30;2(6):744-84.
Keerthana CK, Aiswarya US, Rayginia TP, Yadu V, Shirley J, Shifana CS, Sankar S, D.K. Induja, Ravi SL, K B Harikumar and Ruby John Anto*. (2024). A novel combinatorial regimen using sorafenib and uttroside B, a US FDA-designated ‘Orphan drug’, for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry, doi: 10.2174/0118715206316190240527160242
Mohan Shankar G, Aiswarya US, Keerthana CK, Rayginia TP, and Ruby John Anto (2023) Targeting receptor tyrosine kinase signaling: Avenues in the management of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, iScience 2023.106816. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.
Keerthana CK, Rayginia TP, Shifana SC, Anto NP, Kalimuthu K, Isakov N and Ruby John Anto* (2023) The role of AMPK in cancer metabolism and its impact on the immunomodulation of the tumor microenvironment. Frontiers in Immunology. 14:1114582. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1114582
A Shabna, Jayesh A, Vinod V, Minakshi S, V B Liju, Archana PR, NA Amrutha, Vijai A, M Swetha, Aiswarya US, S Jannet, Uma SU, Sankar S, D R Sherin, NP Anto, Smitha V Bava, Sadasivan C, S Ran, and Ruby John Anto* (2022), Pharmacological attenuation of melanoma by tryptanthrin pertains to the suppression of MITF-M through MEK/ERK signaling axis, Cellular and Molecular Life Science, 79:478 doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-022-04476-y;
M Swetha, CK Keerthana, TP Rayginia, Lekshmi RN, Haritha H Nair, A Shabna, K Kalimuthu, Arun Kumar T, Aiswarya US, S Jannet, Sreekumar P, KB Harikumar, Sankar S, NP Anto, Dee H Wu, Ravi SL, R Towner, Isakov N, SS. Deepa and Ruby John Anto*(2022), Augmented efficacy of uttroside B over sorafenib in a murine model of human hepatocellular carcinoma, Pharmaceuticals,15, 636.doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/ph15050636
Lekshmi RN, M Swetha, Vinod V, Arun Kumar T, Haritha HN, Shabna A, Aiswarya US, Tennyson PR, C K Keerthana, Kalishwaralal K, Sankar S, Ravi SL, Sreekumar P, R Towner, Isakov N and *Ruby John Anto (2022), Blockade of uttroside B-induced autophagic pro- survival signals augments its chemotherapeutic efficacy against hepatocellular carcinoma, Frontiers in Oncology, 2022, 12:812598.doi: 10.3389/fonc.2022.812598
Haritha H Nair, Akbar N, Vinod V, N P Anto, VB Liju, Vijai V A, Amrutha NA, Aiswarya US, Swetha M, BS Vinod, Sankar S, Maria V G, Thomas H, Nesteena K N, Smitha VB, Sadasivan C, Maria ZK and *Ruby John Anto (2021), Targeting thymidylate synthase enhances the chemosensitivity of triple-negative breast cancer towards 5-FU- based combinatorial therapy, Frontiers in Oncology, doi:10.3389/fonc.2021.656804
Mohan SG , Vijai VA , Amrutha Nisthul A , Smitha V Bava , Sankar S, Archana PR, Sadasivan C and *Ruby John Anto (2020) Pre clinical evidences for the efficacy of Tryptanthrin as a potent suppressor of skin cancer, Cell proliferation 53(1):e12710. DOI: 10.1111/cpr.12710
Lekshmi RN, Jaggaiah N. G, Arun Kumar TT, Vinod V, Shabna S, Shabna A, Sophia MJ, Jayesh A, K S Veena, Sankar S, Udaya KM, *Ravi SL & *Ruby John Anto* (2016), Evaluation of uttroside B, a saponin from Solanum nigrum Linn, as a promising chemotherapeutic agent against hepatocellular carcinoma. Scientific Reports 6:36318 doi: 10.1038/srep36318, 2016
Jayesh A, Minakshi S, Vinod.V, Lekshmi. R. Nath, Mohana Rao K, M.S.R. Murty, Anju P, Shabna A, Harsha C, Sophia M J, Nishanth KS, Elizabeth J P, Sriramya IV, Sridivya IV, Sophia R, Sankar S, Easwary R and Ruby John Anto (2015). DW-F5: A novel formulation against malignant melanoma from Wrightia tinctoria, Scientific Reports, 5:11107. DOI: 10.1038/srep11107
Vinod BS, Haritha HN, Vijayakurup V, Shabna A, Shah S, Krishna A, Pillai KS, Thankachan S, Anto RJ (2015). Resveratrol chemosensitizes HER-2-overexpressing breast cancer cells to docetaxel chemoresistance by inhibiting docetaxel-mediated activation of HER-2-Akt axis. Cell Death Discovery. 2015; 1:15061. doi: 10.1038/cddiscovery.2015.61.
BS Vinod, J Antony, HH Nair, VT Puliyappadamba, M Saikia, Sai SN, A Bevin and *Ruby John Anto (2013). Mechanistic evaluation of the signaling events regulating curcumin-mediated chemosensitization of breast cancer cells to 5-fluorouracil. Cell Death and Disease 4, e 505; doi:10.1038/cddis.2013.26.
BS Vinod, Tessy T Maliekal and *Ruby John Anto (2013), Phytochemical As Chemosensitizers: From Molecular Mechanism to Clinical Significance. Comprehensive Invited Review. Antioxidants & Redox Signaling. 18, 1307–1348, 2013.
Sreekanth CN, Smitha V B, E Sreekumar and *Ruby John Anto (2011). Molecular evidences for the chemosensitizing efficacy of liposomal curcumin in paclitaxel chemotherapy in mouse models of cervical cancer. Oncogene. 30, 3139-3152.
Project Associate
Project Associate
Position :Junior Research Fellow (2023 – 2024)
Research Area: DST-SERB Project, “Evaluation of uttroside B, a furanosyl saponin from Solanum nigrum Linn as a candidate drug molecule against Aflatoxin-induced liver carcinogenesis and Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)”
Position : Research associate (2023 – 2024)
Research Area:CSIR Project, “Evaluation and in vivo validation of Tryptanthrin analogues as potent lead molecules for malignant melanoma chemotherapy”