Nair Aiswarya Hemachandran’s scientific contributions

Insects, among the most diverse groups of organisms, provide as a significant source of bioactive chemicals with therapeutic potential, historically utilized in medicine via honeybee products such as propolis and Apitoxin. Progress in molecular biology has unveiled their antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and neuroprotective properties. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) such as defensins and cecropins demonstrate effectiveness against drug-resistant bacteria, whereas bee venom, royal jelly, and propolis possess antioxidant and immunomodulatory characteristics. Challenges encompass sustainability, chemical variability, and scalability for pharmaceutical applications. Synthetic biology and biotechnology provide solutions; yet, ethical, regulatory, and quality concerns remain. This domain emphasizes the necessity of safeguarding insects and tackling global health issues such as antibiotic resistance and cancer, which could revolutionize pharmacological methodologies.