Prof. Dr. Begum Rokeya

Prof. Dr. Begum Rokeya
Dean, Faculty of Basic Sciences
Head, Department of Pharmacology & Research Coordinator

PhD – in Pharmacology

  • Professor Department of Pharmacology, Bangladesh University of Health Sciences (BUHS)
  • Professor Department of Pharmacology, Bangladesh Institute of Research and Rehabilitation in Diabetes, Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders (BIRDEM)
  • Associate Professor Department of Pharmacology, Bangladesh Institute of Research and Rehabilitation in Diabetes, Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders (BIRDEM)
  • Principal Research Officer Department of Pharmacology, Bangladesh Institute of Research and Rehabilitation in Diabetes, Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders (BIRDEM)
  • Senior Research Officer Department of Pharmacology, Bangladesh Institute of Research and Rehabilitation in Diabetes, Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders (BIRDEM)

Administrative activities:

  • Dean Faculty of Basic Sciences, Bangladesh University of Health Sciences (BUHS)
  • Research Coordinator Bangladesh University of Health Sciences (BUHS)
  • Director Institutional Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC), Bangladesh University of Health Sciences (BUHS)

Fellowship/ Research Grant/ Travel Grant awarded
Fellowship:

  • 3 months fellowship to Medical Cell Biology Department, Uppsala University, Sweden. Fellow of the International Program in the Chemical Sciences (IPICS), Sweden from 1st April to 30th June 1993.
  • Two years Senior Fellowship by the Ministry of Science & Technology, Govt of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh (1995-1997).
  • Senior Fellowship by the Ministry of Science & Technology, Govt of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh (Dec 1999 to November 2001).

Research Grant:

  • Effect of Zingiber officinale ethanolic extract on insulin receptor in nSTZ induced diabetic model rats, from Bangladesh Medical & Research Council, 2023
    Modulatory effect of Rhus chinensis and Cinnamomum tamala on GLUT4 gene expression and screening of antioxidant activity in nSTZ induced diabetic rats, from Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), 2022.
  • Effect of Zingiber officinale (Ginger) on the glycemic level through antioxidant and GLUT-4 gene expression on n-STZ induced type-2 diabetic model rats, from Bangladesh Medical & Research Council, 2021.
  • Anti-diabetic and anti-obesity effects of Dillenia indica (elephant apple) fruit extracts and polyphenol in diabetic type 2 rats fed high-fat diet, from Ministry and Science and Technology (MOST), 2020
  • Effect of Metformin and Atorvastatin combination vs Metformin alone on inflammatory biomarkers and insulin resistance in patients with Type 2 diabetes, from Bangladesh Medical & Research Council, 2011.
  • Evaluation of Safety and Efficacy of some antidiabetic herbal products from Ministry of Science & Technology, Bangladesh, 2012.
  • Determination of vitamin D status among Bangladeshi prediabetic (IFG or IGTor IGT-IFG) subjects and its relation to type 2 diabetes risks”, 2011.
  • Isolation, Chemical characterization and elucidation of mechanism of action of antidiabetic activity of different extracts and fractions of Psidium guajava on nSTZ-induced T2DM rats, 2017.
  • Received Research Grant from International Science Progranne, Uppsala University, Sweden for the period 2019-2021 for ANRAP (Asian Network of Research on Antidiabetic Plants).
  • Received Research Grant from International Science Progranne, Uppsala University, Sweden for the period 2022-2024 for ANRAP (Asian Network of Research on Antidiabetic Plants).

Travel Grant:

  • Awarded travel and accommodation grants from Bangladesh & beyond to attend seminars, workshops in the various countries of the world starting from 1992 till date.

Major Research Projects

  • Plant materials as a source of new antidiabetic drugs
  • Effect of Insulin sensitizers and statins combination on inflammatory biomarkers and insulin resistance in patients with type diabetes.
  • Determination of efficacy and safety of some antidiabetic herbal preparations available in Bangladesh on rat models and type 2 diabetic subjects.
  • Evaluation of safety of some herbal formulations used against liver diseases on paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

Current Research work is related with;

  • Antidiabetic medicinal plants: i) Screening of plant materials from Bangladesh and neighboring countries like (India, Pakistan, Nepal, SriLanka, china etc) for their hypoglycemic/ antihyperglycemic properties in normal and diabetic model rats and also on isolated rat islets to monitor insulin secretion in vitro.
  • Simulation of different diabetic rat models ( Streptozotocin is induced to adult rats for Type 1 or to neonates for Type 2, sucrose or high fat is fed to rats to get insulin resistant diabetic rat models).
  • Dynamics of insulin secretion in diabetic model rats in response to plant derived fractions or compounds using pancreatic perfusion technique.
  • Gastrointestinal dysfunction in diabetic rats and effects of natural products on GI functions using Gut perfusion technique
  • Study of the mechanism underlying antidiabetic effect of different plant extracts using different segments of gastrointestinal tract.
  • Modulation of insulin secretion (HOMA B) and insulin sensitivity (HOMA S) in Bangladeshi type 2 subjects by different insulin sensitizers.
  • Determination of efficacy and safety of some antidiabetic herbal medicine available in Bangladesh on rat models and type 2 diabetic subjects.
  • Acute toxicity studies of different antidiabetic herbal medicine available in Bangladesh on Swiss-Albino mice.
  • Network Leader Asian Network of Research on Antidiabetic Plants (ANRAP), A Network Supported by International Science Programme (ISP), Uppsala University, Sweden.
  • General Secretary Asian Network of Research on Antidiabetic Plants (ANRAP), A Network Supported by International Science Programme (ISP), Uppsala University, Sweden.
  • Deputy Network Leader Network of Instrument Technical personnel and User scientists of Bangladesh (NITUB). A Network Supported by International Science Programme (ISP),Uppsala
    University, Sweden
  • Joint Secretary Network of Instrument Technical personnel and User scientists of Bangladesh (NITUB). A Network Supported by International Science Programme (ISP), Uppsala University, Sweden
  • Head Department of Pharmacology, Bangladesh University of Health Sciences (BUHS)
  • Chief Research Officer Department of Pharmacology, Bangladesh Institute of Research and Rehabilitation in Diabetes, Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders
  • Member Animal Experimental Ethical Committee, Atomic Energy Commission, Dhaka
  • Member Ethical Review Committee, Bangladesh University of Health Sciences
  • Member Ethical Review Committee, Hamdard University Bangladesh
  • Editorial Board member Journal of Pharmaceutical Research International
  • Member International Advisory Committee of International Journal of Biological and Chemical Science