Senior Sangamithra Vardhan’s work may finally be seen on a national platform. Two of Vardhan’s papers have been published in journals: her work on  “Antioxidant Activity of Ocimum Genus Against H2O2 Induced Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis in Human Lung Fibroblasts” was published in the January 2013 issue of The Journal of Experimental Secondary Science. “Inhibition of Myeloperoxidase (MPO)-Mediated Oxidation of Low-density Lipoprotein (LDL) and High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) by Extracts of Ocimum tenuiflorum (Holy Basil) and its Chemical Component, Eugenol: Potential Mechanism for Anti-Atherosclerotic Effects” is being published in ATVB (Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology) of the American Heart Association.

Vardhan feels fulfilled after her works were published.

“I’m so excited and surprised. I was happy that I published some articles before going into college,” she said. “Actually, I thank [science research teacher Mary Anderson] for guidance on the project and my lab mentors whom I did the project with.”

Vardhan said she had to go through a long submission process.

“[It took] a couple of months to publish the first [work] and a month for the other one,” she said. “I had to compile the papers according to submission rules and wait until the board replied to me. Sometimes I had to correct my paper based on their suggestions.”

Anderson credits Vardhan’s dedication for this success.

“She is really, really dedicated and has spent countless hours trying to make it perfect,” she said. “I’m really happy she’s been published at such a young age. Lots of people spend their entire lives trying to make it. This will open a lot of doors for her.”

Link to Vardhan’s article in The Journal of Experimental Secondary Science:
http://www.jes2s.com/pdfs/January2013/holy%20basil.pdf