Upendranath Brahmachari Scientist

Rai Bahadur Sir Upendranath Brahmachari (Bengali: উপেন্দ্রনাথ ব্রহ্মচারী) (19 December 1873 – 6 February 1946) was an Indian scientist and a leading medical practitioner of his time. He synthesised Urea Stibamine (carbostibamide) in 1922 and determined that it was an effective substitute for the other antimony-containing compounds in the treatment of Kala-azar (Visceral leishmaniasis) which is caused by a protozoon, Leishmania donovani.His discovery led to the saving of millions of lives in India, particularly in the erstwhile province of Assam, where several villages were completely depopulated by the devastating disease. The achievement of Brahmachari was a milestone in successful application of science in medical treatment in the years before arrival of antibiotics, when there were few specific drugs, except quinine for malaria, iron for anaemia, digitalis for heart diseases and arsenic for syphilis. All other ailments were treated symptomatically by palliative methods. Urea Stibamine was thus a significant addition to the arsenal of specific medicines.

Personal facts

Upendranath Brahmachari
Birth dateDecember 19, 1873
Birth place
Bihar , West Bengal , Presidencies and provinces of British India , Bardhaman , Bengal Presidency , Jamalpur (India)
Nationality
Presidencies and provinces of British India
Date of deathFebruary 06, 1946
Residence
Kolkata , Presidencies and provinces of British India , Bengal Presidency
Education
University of Calcutta

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