Tinsukia College, Assam — Department of Zoology

Dr.
Kaushal
Sood

Ph.D. CSIR-UGC NET

Zoologist  ·  Biochemist  ·  Researcher  ·  Educator

Assistant Professor
Department of Zoology · Tinsukia College, Assam

Researching natural products, microbial diversity, traditional knowledge systems, and biodiversity through interdisciplinary life sciences.

18+
Publications
5
GenBank Records
7+
International
Collaborations
Dr. Kaushal Sood — naturalist and researcher in the field
Research Vision

Science rooted in nature,
driven by purpose.

The most compelling questions in life sciences lie at the intersection of traditional knowledge and modern biochemistry. Dr. Sood’s research is guided by the conviction that nature — particularly the rich biodiversity of North-East India — holds answers to contemporary challenges in antimicrobial resistance, glycemic control, gut health, and sustainable food systems.

At the heart of this work is a systematic inquiry into ethnomedicinal plants, fermented foods, and microbial ecosystems. By applying rigorous bioactivity-guided approaches to the study of traditional remedies, this research translates ecological knowledge into reproducible scientific understanding.

“The biodiversity of North-East India is not merely an ecological asset — it is an underexplored pharmacopoeia, a living library of biochemical solutions shaped by millennia of co-evolution.”

Recent work has expanded into phytochemical characterisation of spice plants with antidiabetic potential, collaborative bioremediation research, and the plant humanities — connecting laboratory evidence with cultural and ecological contexts.

01

Ethnopharmacology

Validating traditional plant knowledge through bioactivity screening, phytochemical characterisation, and antioxidant, enzyme inhibitory, and anti-inflammatory assays.

02

Microbial Exploration

Cataloguing novel microbial diversity in indigenous fermented foods and soil ecosystems; identifying probiotic and bioremediation-capable strains.

03

Translational Science

Bridging ecological observation and laboratory evidence to inform natural product development, health innovation, and environmental remediation.

04

Plant Humanities

Situating plants at the intersection of myth, medicine, and ecology — presenting ethnobotanical knowledge as both scientific data and living cultural heritage.

Research Themes

Areas of Inquiry

Each theme represents an active strand of investigation. Select any theme to explore associated publications.

01

Ethnomedicine & Natural Products

Bioactivity-guided isolation of antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antidiabetic principles from medicinal plants of North-East India.

8 Publications
02

Microbial Diversity & Probiotics

DBT-funded exploration of novel probiotic bacteria in fermented foods and soils; NCBI GenBank submissions of Enterococcus strains.

3 Publications
03

Fermented Foods & Foodomics

Nutritional, biochemical, and microbiological analysis of indigenous fermented beverages of tribal communities in Assam.

3 Publications
04

Biodiversity & Traditional Knowledge

Documentation and validation of traditional knowledge systems — bridging ethnobiology with contemporary molecular tools.

5 Publications
05

Bioremediation & Environmental Biotech

Collaborative research on microbial herbicide degradation, genotoxicity assessment, and remediation optimisation.

2 Publications
06

Biochemistry & Phytochemistry

HPLC-based profiling, enzyme inhibition assays (α-amylase, α-glucosidase), docking studies, and bioactive compound analysis.

5 Publications

Selected Publications

Research Output

Featured Research
2025 · Solo
Phytochemical composition and bioactive potential of Zanthoxylum nitidum, Piper nigrum, and Cinnamomum tamala
Science and Culture, 91(9–10): 510–517
Comprehensive in vitro evaluation of antioxidant, enzyme inhibitory (α-amylase, α-glucosidase), and anti-inflammatory properties — establishing natural antidiabetic potential.
View Publication ↗
2025 · Collaborative
Integrated optimization and environmental application of chlorohydrolase-positive bacterial isolates for enhanced atrazine degradation and genotoxicity assessment
Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 13: 119234
Multi-institutional collaboration (IISc Bengaluru, IIT Roorkee, Global Institute for Water Environment & Health Geneva) on novel atrazine-degrading bacterial strains.
View Publication ↗
2021
Bioactivity guided isolation and characterisation of antimicrobial principle from Hydrocotyle javanica Thunb.
Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge, 20(4)
Systematic bioactivity-guided isolation identifying the active antimicrobial compound from a traditional medicinal plant of North-East India.
View Publication ↗
2017
Isolation and identification of potential probiotic bacteria from cattle farm soil in Dibrugarh District
Advances in Microbiology, 7: 265–279
First systematic characterisation of novel probiotic strains from soil microbiomes in North-East India, informing the DBT-funded microbial diversity programme.
View Publication ↗
Complete Publications
01
Phytochemical composition and bioactive potential of Zanthoxylum nitidum, Piper nigrum, and Cinnamomum tamala
Science and Culture, 91(9–10): 510–517, 2025 View ↗
02
Integrated optimization and environmental application of chlorohydrolase-positive bacterial isolates for enhanced atrazine degradation and genotoxicity assessment
Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 13: 119234, 2025 View ↗
03
Bioactivity guided isolation and characterisation of antimicrobial principle from Hydrocotyle javanica Thunb.
Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge, 20(4), 2021 View ↗
04
Characterisation and FPLC analysis of garbage enzyme: biocatalytic and antimicrobial activity
Waste and Biomass Valorization, 12(1): 293–302, 2021 View ↗
05
Disentanglement of the secrets of aluminium in acidophilic tea plant (Camellia sinensis L.) influenced by organic and inorganic amendments
Food Research International, 120: 851–864, 2019 View ↗
06
Role of microbes in solid waste management: an insight view
Zero Waste: Management Practices for Environmental Sustainability, CRC Press, 2019
07
In Vitro anti-diabetic activities and phytochemical analysis of bioactive fractions in Meriandra dianthera, Aloe camperi and a polyherb
American Journal of Plant Sciences, 8(3): 533–548, 2017 View ↗
08
Isolation and identification of potential probiotic bacteria from cattle farm soil in Dibrugarh District
Advances in Microbiology, 7: 265–279, 2017 View ↗
09
In vitro antibacterial activity of peptides isolated from Areca catechu Linn.
Der Pharmacia Lettre, 7(1): 1–7, 2015
10
Phytochemical screening and antimicrobial activity of four members of family Apiaceae
International Journal of Phytomedicine, 6(2), 2014
11
Effect of solvent on the extraction of antioxidant and antimicrobial components from Eryngium foetidum L.
IJMPS, 4(5): 31–40, 2014
12
Capsaicinoid: a potential antioxidant with close interactions against human iNOS in docking study
South Asian Journal of Experimental Biology, 4(4): 207–214, 2014
13
Antibacterial, antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of Cinnamomum tamala Nees. leaves
IJMPS, 4(6): 55–62, 2014
14
Effect of hormones (JH-III and 20E) on biochemical and ultrastructure aspects of Muga silk worm Antheraea assamensis
International Journal of Recent Biotechnology, 2(1): 11–23, 2014
15
Evaluation of nutritional and biochemical aspects of Po:ro apong (Saimaod) — a homemade alcoholic rice beverage of Mising tribe of Assam
Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge, 11(3): 499–504, 2012 View ↗
16
Amylolytic activity of mold isolated from epop used by Mising tribe of Assam in preparation of alcoholic rice beer
Bulletin of Life Sciences, XVII: 92–101, 2011
17
Antibacterial activity and phytochemical analysis of two folklore medicinal plants of North-East India
Bulletin of Life Sciences, XVII: 73–80, 2011
18
Endosulfan induced behavioral and biochemical changes in air-breathing fresh water Teleost (C. orientalis) in tea garden localities of Upper Assam
Bulletin of Life Sciences, XV: 83–93, 2009
View on Google Scholar ↗
Academic Engagements

Conferences, Seminars &
Professional Development

Active participation in national and international academic forums and professional development programmes.

May 2026 · International · Paper Presented

The Liminal Herbarium: Medicinal Plants, Myths, and Ethnobotanical Knowledge in North East India

3rd Global Plant Humanities Conference on Botanical Life in Art, Science, and Imagination
NEHU & EFLU, Shillong · Univ. Notre Dame (AU) & NOVA Lisbon (PT)
2025 · Solo Authored

Phytochemical Composition and Bioactive Potential of Zanthoxylum nitidum, Piper nigrum, and Cinnamomum tamala

Antioxidant, enzyme inhibitory, and anti-inflammatory evaluation for antidiabetic potential
Science and Culture, Vol. 91(9–10) · 2025
2025 · Multi-Institutional

Atrazine Biodegradation & Genotoxicity — Enzyme Studies & Staining

Collaboration with IISc Bengaluru, IIT Roorkee, King Khalid University, and Global Institute for Water Environment and Health, Geneva
Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering · Elsevier · 2025
2026 · International
The Liminal Herbarium: Medicinal Plants, Myths, and Ethnobotanical Knowledge in North East India
3rd Global Plant Humanities Conference, NEHU & EFLU, Shillong — in collaboration with University of Notre Dame (Australia) and NOVA University of Lisbon (Portugal)
Fellowship Seminar
Research Presentation at CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata
IASc-INSA-NASI Summer Research Fellowship — Natural products research, June–August 2017
Academic Instruction
Graduate-Level Teaching: Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Zoology
Dept. of Zoology, Tinsukia College · Centre for Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Dibrugarh University (2010–2020)
Dissertation Supervision
Research Presentations by 20+ Supervised M.Sc. Students
M.Sc. Biotechnology and Bioinformatics dissertation defence at Dibrugarh University
June–August 2017 · Fellowship

IASc-INSA-NASI Summer Research Fellowship

Intensive two-month residential research training at CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology — one of India’s premier institutions for natural products and chemical biology research
CSIR-IICB, Kolkata · Awarded by Indian Academy of Sciences, INSA & NASI
Digital Initiatives

Building Scientific Resources
Beyond the Laboratory

Developing digital platforms that support biodiversity documentation, scientific communication, and public engagement with natural history.

Biodiversity Atlas of Tinsukia
Independent Scientific Initiative

Biodiversity Atlas

1,279+
Species Recorded
465+
Genera
157+
Families

An independent biodiversity documentation platform focused on species records, photography, ecological observations, and scientific outreach. Designed to make biodiversity knowledge more accessible to researchers, students, and nature enthusiasts across North-East India.

Explore Platform →
Professional Highlights

Contributions & Impact

Research
18+
Peer-Reviewed Publications
Research spanning ethnopharmacology, microbiology, food science, biochemistry, environmental biotechnology, and the plant humanities.
Data
5
GenBank Contributions
Novel Enterococcus strains isolated from North-East India’s fermented food ecosystem, deposited in NCBI GenBank.
Network
7+
International Collaborations
Co-authored with institutions across India, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, and Switzerland — including IISc, IIT Roorkee, and Geneva.
Mentorship
20+
Students Mentored
Supervised M.Sc. dissertation research across Biotechnology and Bioinformatics at Dibrugarh University.
Fellowship
IASc-INSA-NASI
Research Fellowship
Nationally competitive fellowship at CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata.
Conference
2026
Global Plant Humanities
Presented at the 3rd Global Plant Humanities Conference (NEHU & EFLU, Shillong), with Notre Dame (AU) and NOVA Lisbon (PT).
Digital
Live
Biodiversity Atlas
Founder of an independent biodiversity documentation and scientific outreach platform for North-East India.
Let’s Connect

Open to Collaboration

Open to collaborations in research, teaching, science communication, biodiversity, microbial diversity, ethnomedicine, plant humanities, and interdisciplinary initiatives. Particularly interested in connecting with researchers in natural product chemistry, fermented food science, traditional knowledge documentation, and environmental biotechnology.

Assistant Professor
Department of Zoology · Tinsukia College
Assam — 786125, India

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