Manish Kumar

Research Interests

Phytochemist with a Ph.D (Pursuing) in Natural Products Chemistry and extensive expertise in targeted/untargeted plant metabolomics using UPLC and LC-MS platforms. Proven track record in the analysis, isolation, and characterization of plant secondary metabolites. Skilled in chemometric data processing and interpretation. Author of 11 peerreviewed publications, including multiple papers in high-impact international journals. 

Technical Expertise 

• Phytochemical Analysis: Proficient in extraction, isolation, and characterization of bioactive compounds using advanced chromatographic (TLC, CC, HPTLC) and spectroscopic techniques (UV-Vis, FTIR, NMR, MS). 

• Mass Spectrometry & Metabolomics: Skilled in untargeted and targeted metabolomics using UHPLC-QTOF-MS and MS/MS data interpretation; experience with metabolite annotation, compound identification, and database searches (e.g., GNPS, METLIN, HMDB). 

• Chromatographic Techniques: Hands-on experience with UPLC-PDA, HPLC, and GC-MS for qualitative and quantitative analysis of plant metabolites. 

• Method Validation: Adept in developing and validating analytical methods according to ICH guidelines (specificity, linearity, LOD, LOQ, precision, accuracy, robustness). 

• Bioassays: Expertise in performing In-Vitro Biological activities. 

• Chemometrics & Data Analysis: Competent in multivariate statistical analysis including PCA, HCA, and heatmaps using MetaboAnalyst, Mass Hunter, Past and GraphPad Prism 

• Software Proficiency: Skilled in MS Office Suite, ChemDraw, MestReNova, MassLynx, Origin, and EndNote 

• Standardization and Quality Control: Strong understanding of Indian Pharmacopeial standards and current regulatory guidelines for medicinal plant research. 

Professional experience

• Senior Project Associate at CSIR-IHBT, Palampur (May 2024 to March 2026)

• Project Associate-I (April 2021 to March 2023) 

• Project Assistant-II (April 2019 to March 2020)

• Project Assistant-I (Feb 2018 to April 2019) 

Publications

1. Manish Kumar, Rishabh Bhardwaj, Anil Kumar, and Dinesh Kumar. "New Insights into the Quality Control Strategies of Inula racemosa Hook. F. (Pushkarmula) and Saussurea lappa Decne. (Kuth): Medicinal Crops of Alpine Himalaya." Journal of Chromatographic Science 63, no. 2 (2025): bmaf009 (IF 1.6) 

2. Snehlata Kumari, Vandana, Dinesh Kumar, Manish Kumar, and Dinesh Kumar. "Pharmacognostical Traits and GC–MS‐Based Chemical Profiling of Ajuga parviflora Benth as Quality Control Perspectives." Microscopy Research and Technique 88, no. 7 (2025): 2085-2097. (IF 1.6) 

3. Vandana Kumari, Dinesh Kumar, Manish Kumar, and Dinesh Kumar. "Pharmacognostical Traits and GC–MS‐Based Chemical Profiling of Ajuga parviflora Benth as Quality Control Perspectives." Microscopy Research and Technique 88, no. 7 (2025): 2085-2097 (IF 2.5) 

4. Ajay Kumar, Rahul Dev Gautam, Romika Thakur, Sachin Vashisath, Manish Kumar, Ramesh Chauhan, Dinesh Kumar, Ashok Kumar, Satbeer Singh, and Sanatsujat Singh. "Stability studies for higher root biomass and essential oil content in Inula racemosa hook. F. Pushkarmool selections under western Himalayan conditions." Plant Archives (09725210) 24, no. 2 (2024). 

5. Sakshi Vishvamitera, Diksha Dhiman, Sidharth Baghla, Satbeer Singh, Manish Kumar, Ashok Kumar, Dinesh Kumar, Sanatsujat Singh, and Ramesh Chauhan. "Sustainable production of Saussurea costus under different levels of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers in cold desert region of Western Himalaya." Frontiers in Plant Science 14 (2023): 1179183 (IF 6.6) 

6. Ajay Kumar, Rahul Dev Gautam, Satbeer Singh, Ramesh Chauhan, Manish Kumar, Dinesh Kumar, Ashok Kumar, and Sanatsujat Singh. "Phenotyping floral traits and essential oil profiling revealed considerable variations in clonal selections of damask rose (Rosa damascena Mill.)." Scientific Reports 13, no. 1 (2023): 8101 (IF 4.6) 

7. Pooja Shakya, Romika Thakur, Hari Sharan, Niketa Yadav, Manish Kumar, Ramesh Chauhan, Dinesh Kumar, Ashok Kumar, Sanatsujat Singh, and Satbeer Singh. "GGE biplot and regression based multi-environment investigations for higher yield and essential oil content in German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.)." Industrial Crops and Products 193 (2023): 116145 (IF 6.4) 

8. Rishabh Kaundal, Manish Kumar, Subhash Kumar, Dharam Singh, and Dinesh Kumar. "Polyphenolic profiling, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities revealed the quality and adaptive behavior of viola species, a dietary spice in the himalayas." Molecules 27, no. 12 (2022): 3867 (IF 4.9) 

9. Bindu Rawat, Pradeep Bhatia, Manish Kumar, Pawan Kumar, and Dinesh Kumar. "Determination of picrosides, phenolics and cucurbitacins by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection in Picrorhiza kurroa Royle ex Benth." Journal of Analytical Chemistry 77, no. 1 (2022): 87-93 (IF 1.2) 

10. Ajay Kumar, Rahul Dev Gautam, Ravi Kumar, Ramesh Chauhan, Manish Kumar, Satbeer Singh, Dinesh Kumar, Sanatsujat Singh, and Ashok Kumar. "Floral studies of palmarosa [Cymbopogon martinii (Roxb.) W. Watson] and chemical insights during inflorescence development." Industrial Crops and Products 171 (2021): 113960 (IF 6.4) 

11. Rahul Dev Gautam, Ajay Kumar, Ravi Kumar, Ramesh Chauhan, Satbeer Singh, Manish Kumar, Dinesh Kumar, Ashok Kumar, and Sanatsujat Singh. "Clonal propagation of Valeriana jatamansi retains the essential oil profile of mother plants: An approach toward generating homogenous grade of essential oil for industrial use." Frontiers in Plant Science 12 (2021): 738247 (IF 6.6)