Madhab Chandra Nath obtained his DSc (1937) from University of Dacca specializing in physiology, biochemistry, pharmacology and nutrition. He was the Founder Professor and Head, Department of Biochemistry, Nagpur University (1946-71) and UGC Retired Professor (1971-73).

Academic and Research Achievements:Nath isolated a steroidal crystalline compound, known as ‘artostenone’, from the latex of jackfruit and determined its structure. He showed that a fat metabolite such as acetoacetate can cause symptoms of diabetes thus accounting for a greater incidence of this disorder in fatty people and in those taking a high-saturated fat diet. He also showed that acetoacetate causes symptoms of atherosclerosis with the thickening of arteries, increase in blood platelets and lowering of blood clotting time. Glucose cycle, acetoacetate and its hydrolysate, he found, could bring about relief both in experimental diabetes and atherosclerosis.

Other Contributions:Nath took great interest in Bengali Education Society of which he was Vice-President and later President for over a decade (1947-57). He wrote a book Science and Philosophy of Life (1981).

Awards and Honours:Nath received the Elliot Prize (Asiatic Society) (1942); GJ Watumull Foundation Research Award (1946). He was a Fellow, Royal Institute of Chemistry (London) and Indian Institution of Chemists; Member, Society of Biological Chemists (India), Society for Experimental Biology & Medicine (USA), American Association for the Advancement of Science. He was the President, Physiology Section,