Directory Profile

Research Interests

• Google Scholar Link
• Using Plants for Fighting Illness (U of M Driven to Discover)
• Natural Products Laboratory - research focuses on the bioactive secondary metabolites from plants.
• Antibiotic Research (Valley News Live Report - March 31, 2016)
• Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is one of the strains of S. aureus that is resistant to multiple antibiotics. Currently MRSA is susceptible to only a few antibiotics such as the glycopeptides vancomycin. I am interested in discovering chemicals from plants of the Red River Valley that exhibit potent activity against this particular strain.

Awards, Distinctions, and Honors

• 2021 Distinguished Scholar Award
• 2019 Award for Global Engagement
• 2019 Builders of Diversity Award
• 1999: Alexander von Humboldt research fellowship by the Alexander von Humboldt foundation, Bonn , Germany
• 1991: Research fellowship by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi , India
• 1990: Gold medal by Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher learning, Prasanthi Nilayam , India

Selected Publications

• “Isolation and Structure of Cancer Cell Growth Inhibitory Tetracyclic Triterpenoids from the Zimbabwean Monadenium lugardae.” George R. Pettit, Qinghua Ye, Delbert L. Herald, John C. Knight, Fiona Hogan, Noeleen Melody, Venugopal J. R. V. Mukku, Dennis L. Doubek, and Jean-Charles Chapuis. Journal of Natural Products. Publication Date (Web): May 23, 2016.
• Anjaneyulu A.S.R., Rao V.L., Sastry, V.G., Venugopal M.J.R.V ., Schmitz, F.J. (2003). Juncins I-M, five new briarane diterpenoids from the Indian Ocean gorgonian Junceella juncea Pallas. J. Nat. Prod ., 66:507-510.
• George R. Pettit, Jiang Du, Robin K. Pettit, Linda A. Richert, Fiona Hogan, Venugopal J. R. V. Mukku, Michael S. Hoard (2006). Antineoplastic Agents. 554. The Manitoba bacterium Streptomyces sp . J. Nat. Prod. , 69:804-806.
• George R. Pettit, Venugopal J. R. V. Mukku, Gordon Cragg, Delbert L. Herald, John C. Knight, Cherry L. Herald, Jean-Charles Chapuis (2008). Antineoplastic agents. 558. Ampelocissus sp. cancer cell growth inhibitory constituents. J. Nat. Prod. , 71:130-133

Educational Background

• B. Sc (1988) Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher learning, Prasanthi Nilayam, India
• M.Sc. (1990) Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher learning, Prasanthi Nilayam, India
• Ph.D. (1995) Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, India

Professional Memberships

• Member, American Chemical Society
• Member, Counsel on Undergraduate Research
• Member, American Society of Pharmacognosy

Local Community Memberships

• Member, Indo-American Association of Great Plains
• Member, Rotary