DEPARTMENT OF BOTANY
ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT
The Department of Botany was started in the year 1957, since the inception of the institution, began as the science department empowering women in teaching, research, and community service in the field of Plant Sciences. Botany includes a wide range of scientific disciplines that study the structure, growth, reproduction, development, diseases, ecology, and evolution of plants. The study of Plants is important because they are a fundamental part of life on Earth, generating food, oxygen, fuel, medicine, and fiber that allow other life forms to exist. Faculty members are well dedicated comprising experts in diverse fields, fostering academic excellence, mentorship, and holistic development. Allied Botany and Optional Allied Botany courses are offered to the Department of Zoology and Chemistry. A comprehensive and dynamic curriculum, promoting holistic education, fostering critical thinking, and preparing students for a competitive global landscape is offered. The department offers skill-based and elective courses in Botany, for other department students to enrich them with horticultural techniques, terrace gardening, beekeeping, herbal therapy, preparation of herbal cosmetics, hands-on training in edible mushroom cultivation, and conservation skills. Value-added courses in Botany encompass entrepreneurial skills and gardening, allowing students to deepen their botanical knowledge, and preparing them for diverse career opportunities. There is a well-equipped laboratory with microscopes to enrich the practical knowledge. The department is enriched with learning resources such as charts, museum specimens, slides, models, a herbarium, and modern facilities like computers, internet, and LCD which help the students in independent learning. The centralized library has references for all the branches of Botany including SBE and NME.
PROGRAMMES OFFERED
FACULTY PROFILE
Dr. Anitha T. serves as the Assistant Professor and Head of the Department of Botany at Auxilium College (Autonomous), Vellore. With 14 years of teaching experience, she is dedicated to fostering academic excellence and nurturing students’ scientific potential. She holds an M.Sc. in Botany from Government Arts College, Coimbatore (2007) and a Ph.D. from Bharathiar University, Coimbatore (2016). She has published 42 research papers in reputed journals, reflecting her strong commitment to academic research. She is an active IQAC Member and serves as the Coordinator of the Enviro Club, playing a key role in promoting environmental awareness and sustainability initiatives. Additionally, she functions as the Ecology Coordinator of the college and contributes as a Green Auditor, ensuring the institution’s commitment to eco- friendly and sustainable campus practices.
Dr Sincy Joseph serves as the Assistant Professor in the Department of Botany at Auxilium College (Autonomous), Vellore. With 10 years of teaching experience, she is dedicated to fostering academic excellence and nurturing students’ scientific potential. She holds B.Sc. in Botany from Providence College (2006) M.Sc. in Botany from Government Arts College, Udhagamandalam (2008) and a Ph.D. from Bharathiar University, Coimbatore (2015). Her areas of specialization include Plant Tissue Culture, Phytochemistry, and Pharmacology and published 32 research papers She has also published books in the fields of Environmental Studies, Bioinformatics, Medicinal Plants, Commercial floriculture and Environmental Conservation. She has guided numerous postgraduate student research projects and completed student research projects funded by the Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology (TNSCST). She is a recipient of the University Research Fellowship(URF) and the Distinguished Alumna Award for her contributions to higher education, research and contributes to academic and institutional activities.
BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS
- Dr.Anitha T., Mineral Profile, Proximate Composition, Anti-Nutritive Activity and Chemical Characterization of Rare and Endemic Medicinal Plant Extracts from Henckelia fischeri (Gamble) A.Weber & B.L.Burtt. Telematique, Vol.24 Issue - 01 (2025), Pg-1061-1074, ISSN-1856-4194.
- Biological evaluation of microalgae (Spirulina platensis) - A sustainable livelihood resource with unexploited value, ACTA BIOMEDICA, February, 2024.
- Documentary Evidences of Selected Indigenous Medicinal Plants Used by the Tribal Peoples of Savarikkadu, Bulletin of Pure and Applied Sciences, June, 2024.
- Dr.Isabella Rosaline S. and Dr.Anitha T.- Published book on “Flora of Auxilium College”, February, 2024.
- Dr.Isabella Rosaline S., “Eco-Nurturers of Tamil Nadu” - Published a book, June, 2025.
- Dr.Isabella Rosaline S., Phytochemical analysis of certain traditional Medicinal Plants, International Journal of Pharma and Biosciences 4(2): 225-230, 2013, ISSN-0975-6299.
- Dr.Isabella Rosaline S., a-Glucosidas inhibitory activity and in vitro free radical scavenging activity of ethyl acetate extracts of endophytes isolated from the root of Chatharanthus roseus, International Journal of Pharma and Biosciences, Second Issue, April 2013, ISSN-0975-6299.
PROGRAMS ORGANIZED
- Mega SeedBall Fiesta 2024, Five Lakhs Seed Balls Prepared and dispersed.
- International Conference on “Youth for Earth: Restore and Protect Our Environment” – Eco Youth 24.
- Organized resource talk on “Water Management” on 2nd August, 2023 addressed by Dr. M. Uma Shankar, Associate Professor and Head, Department of Environmental and Water Resources Engineering, School of Civil Engineering in Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore.
- Organized a Seminar on "Millets, Miracle food for Future" on 24th February, 2023 addressed by Dr. Anitha T, Assistant Professor, Department of Botany, Auxilium College.
- Organized resource talk on "Education from Environment" on 30th September, 2022.
- Organized an “Herbal plant Exhibition and Free Siddha Medical Camp” on 29th July, 2022.
- Organized a workshop on “The Scope for Nature Farming and Agriprenuership for Youth" on 7th May, 2022.
- Organized a virtual webinar on “Protect plants; protect life on Earth” for faculty members and research scholars of Tamil Nadu on 5th June, 2020.
- Organized a virtual webinar on “Computer Aided Drug Discovery” for faculty members and research scholars of Tamil Nadu on 1st June, 2020.
- Organized a Hands-on Training “Edible Mushroom Cultivation” for Enviro Club Members and NME Students of Edible Mushroom Cultivation of Auxilium College on 7th February, 2020.
- Organized an awareness program on “Environmental Sustainability and Swatch Bharat Mission” for Staff and Students of Shift I & II of Auxilium College on 3rd and 4th February, 2020.
- Organized a Seminar on “Challenges in Producing Herbal Health and Cosmetic Products” for UG Final year and Enviro Club Members of Auxilium College on 19th December, 2019.
- Organized a Workshop titled “Organic farming to promote women Agripreneur” in collaboration with Arivu Thottam Organic Farm, Kalambattu, Latteri, Vellore for Enviro Club Members of Auxilium College, on 11th December, 2019.
- Organized a seminar on "Role of youth in Conserving Environment" for students of Enviro Club addressed by Mr. Senthamil Selvan, Arivuthottam, Vellore on 28th August, 2019.
- Organized a National level Workshop on “Biological Diversity Act – 2002” for students of Enviro Club Shift I & II of Auxilium College, Vellore-06 on 18th January, 2019.
RESEARCH
DEPARTMENT MoU
E-CONTENT
| S.No. | Title | Author | Youtube URL Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reproduction in Plants | Dr. Anitha.T | click here |
| 2 | Reproduction in Plants – Androecium | Dr. Anitha.T | click here |
| 3 | Female Reproductive part of the plant - Gynoecium and its development | Dr. Anitha.T | click here |
| 4 | Introduction to Mushrooms | Dr. Anitha.T | click here |
| 5 | Introduction to Herbs - part 5 | Dr. Anitha.T | click here |
| 6 | Life cycle of Mushroom | Dr. Anitha.T | click here |
| 7 | Types of Mushroom | Dr. Anitha.T | click here |
| 8 | Medicinal Plants part 8 | Dr. Anitha.T | click here |
BEST PRACTICES
- Terrace Gardening
- Hands-on training in Edible Mushroom Cultivation
- Bee Keeping Unit
