Dr. K. C. Chitra
Professor

Department of Zoology, University of Calicut,
Calicut University PO, Malappuram District, Kerala 673635 India
Phone: Office: 0494-2407419
Mobile: +91-9495135330
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 Biography

Dr. K. C. Chitra, Professor in the Department of Zoology, University of Calicut joined as Lecturer on 7 April 2006. She handles various subjects like Biostatistics, Cytogenetics, Molecular Biology, Insect Physiology and Biochemistry for M.Sc classes. She bagged the First rank during her Graduation from the University of Madras, Tamil Nadu. She also secured First Rank for Post-graduation from Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu, and also received a Gold medal at the university level for the best performance. She received several merits and awards during her graduation and post-graduation periods. She holds her Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy from the Pondicherry University, Pondicherry with Reproductive Endocrinology as specialization, and owned 14 research publications to her credit in peer-reviewed and highly reputed journals during the tenure. Currently, her research was more focused on the area of Endocrinology and Toxicology. She has published more than 100 articles in peer-reviewed journals and trained a few Ph. D., M. Phil and Post-graduate students to the field.

 Endocrinology and Toxicology

The current research covers the toxicological response of organisms towards the environmental stressors, mediated through an endocrine or hormonal mechanism. Toxicology is also known as the 'Science of safety' as it measures the adverse effects of chemicals or toxicants on living organisms. It is an exciting field that explores the interactions between chemicals and biological systems. In our laboratory, the studies were conducted to quantitatively analyze the fate and metabolism of toxicants, organ and cellular toxicity, endocrine disruption, developmental defects, hematological and histological changes, oxidative stress, genetic damage, and reproductive dysfunction. The research also spans a certain array of topics including dose-response analysis, characterization of the toxicant, exposure assessment and reversibility of adverse effects, mode of biotransformation of xenobiotics, and so on. The impacts of some of the environmental stressors such as pesticides, nanomaterials, plasticizers, pharmaceuticals, and personal care products, microplastics, and other organic pollutants on the aquatic organism, particularly on various fish species were documented in our laboratory. The primary goal of our research team is to promote awareness of the environmental quality and health. 

Links:

ORCID   iD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5090-8709

GOOGLE SCHOLAR: https://scholar.google.com/citationshl=en&user=HpXn3eYAAAAJ

SCOPUS: https://www2.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57213134732

RESEARCH GATE: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Chitra_Kc

Web of Science: https://publons.com/researcher/ABE-8808-2020/

 Research Guidance

Ph. D.: Completed: 7;      Ongoing:  8

M. Phil.: Completed: 7

M. Sc. Dissertations: 39;  Ongoing: 2

Administrative positions

• Presiding Officer, Internal Committee (IC), University of Calicut (2024 onwards)
• Member, Monitoring Committee for IT and Infrastructure, University of Calicut (2024 onwards)
• Chairperson, Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBSC)-DBT, University of Calicut (2026 onwards)
• University Nodal Officer, National Scholarship Portal (NSP), University of Calicut (2026 onwards)
• University Nodal Officer, Unnat Bahart Abhiyan (UBA), University of Calicut (2026 onwards)
• Co-ordinator, PM-USHA, University of Calicut (2023 - 2024)

Professional contributions

• Subject Expert, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Projects (2023 – 2025)
• Subject Expert, Research Advisory Committee (RAC), Mahatma Gandhi University (2023 onwards)
• Member, PG Board of Studies, Kannur University (2021 onwards)
• Member, PG Board of Studies, St. Joseph's College (Autonomous), Devagiri, Kozhikode (2021 onwards)
• Member, Board of Studies, Carmel College, Mala, Thrissur (2023 onwards) 

Recent publications

John Nikhil and Kumari Chidambaran Chitra (2026). Disruption of gonadal steroidogenesis and reproductive function in Gambusia affinis after chronic exposure to environmentally relevant and sublethal concentrations of carbamazepine. Fish Physiology and Biochemistry (Springer), IF: 3.0; 52:157 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-026-01781-2

Amrutha, K., and Chitra, K.C. (2026). Assessment of p-phenylenediamine toxicity in subcellular compartments of hepatic and ocular tissues in Oreochromis mossambicus (Peters, 1852). Free Radical Biology and Medicine (Elsevier), IF: 8.2; 246: 725-741. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2026.01.048.

Maneesha, P., and Chitra, K.C. (2026). Galaxolide, a synthetic musk, disrupts hepatic mitochondrial redox balance in Mozambique tilapia. Journal of Applied Toxicology (Wiley) IF: 2.8; https://doi.org/10.1002/jat.70128

Reeha Mashirin and Chitra K.C. (2025). Endocrine disruption and reproductive toxicity of polystyrene microplastics at environmentally relevant concentrations in Anabas testudineus. Ecotoxicology (Springer) IF: 2.7. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-025-02982-w.

Reeha Mashirin and Chitra K.C. (2025). Hepatic biotransformation in climbing perch Anabas testudineus exposed to polystyrene microplastics at environmentally relevant concentrations. Journal of Applied Toxicology (Wiley). IF: 2.7; 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1002/jat.4772.

Arya M, Jithila K, Reeha Mashirin, Chitra KC (2025). Influence of polystyrene microplastics on mitochondrial oxidative damage in renal and muscular tissues of the freshwater fish. Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology (Springer) IF: 3.1; https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-025-05236-x.

Shehma MM, Maneesha K, Reeha Mashirin, Chitra K.C. (2025). Assessment of the environmental impact of acrylamide on liver and reproductive health in freshwater fish Anabas testudineus International Journal of Zoological Investigations, IF: 2.984; 11(2).

Reeha Mashirin and Chitra K.C. (2024). Assessment of microplastic pollution across the Malabar coast, India. Environmental Quality Management (Wiley). 34: e22273.  IF: 1.56 doi:10.1002/tqem.22273.

Vidya PV, Gajski G, and Chitra K.C. (2024). The effects of iron oxide nanoparticles on antioxidant capacity and response to oxidative stress in Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus, Peters 1852). Archives of Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology. 75: 125-136. IF: 2.1, doi: 10.2478/aiht-2024-75-3826

Nikhil John, Pootheri Maneesha, and Chitra K.C. (2024). Neurotoxic effects of carbamazepine in the mosquitofish Gambusia affinis. Drug and Chemical Toxicology (Taylor and Francis), doi: 10.1080/01480545.2024.2356048. IF: 3.36.

Priyatha C.V, Jeena N.S, Sajeela K.A, Sivaprasad M.S., and Chitra K.C. (2024). Triclosan, an antimicrobial drug, induced reproductive impairment in the freshwater fish, Anabas testudineus (Bloch, 1792). Toxicology and Industrial Health (Sage Journal). 40(5):254-271. IF: 1.9. doi: 10.1177/07482337241242510.

Ebrahim Nahla, Pankajakshan Arya, Pootheri Maneesha, and Chitra KC (2024). Exposure to the plasticizer dibutyl phthalate causes oxidative stress and neurotoxicity in brain tissue. Environmental Science and Pollution Research (Springer). IF-5.8;  https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-024-32604-7

Ganga KR, Safna F, Maneesha P and Chitra KC (2023). Sublethal malathion  exposure  disrupts  neurotransmitter homeostasis and redox  status  in  the  freshwater  fish, Oreochromis mossambicus (Peters, 1852). International Journal of Zoological Investigations, IF: 2.994; 9(1): 800-817. https://doi.org/10.33745/ijzi.2023.v09i01.090

Ramesh Neetha, John Nikhil and Chitra  K.C. (2022). A comparative study on the sensitivity of selected freshwater fishes against triclosan exposure. Drug and Chemical Toxicology (Taylor & Francis). IF: 2.597. doi: 10.1080/01480545.2022.2131813.

Ligina, V., Ranjana Martin., Aiswarya, M. V.,  Reeha Mashirin K., and Chitra K. C. (2022). Acute and sublethal effects of acrylamide on the freshwater fish, Anabas testudineus (Bloch, 1792). Environmental Science and Pollution Research (Springer). ISSN: 0944-1344 (P); ISSN: 1614-7499 (E). IF-5.19; doi:10.1007/s11356-022-22155-0.

K. Reeha Mashirin and K. C. Chitra (2022). Microplastics – An emerging threat in the Indian waterbodies. Marine Biology Research (Taylor and Francis). IF 1.25; Print ISSN: 1745-1000 Online ISSN: 1745-1019.  doi:10.1080/17451000.2022.2096905.

C.V. Priyatha and K. C. Chitra (2022). Triclosan, an antimicrobial agent, influences the reproductive physiology of the climbing perch, Anabas testudineus (Bloch 1792) in the spawning phase. Croatian Journal of Fisheries.  ISSN 1330-061X (print), 1848-0586 (online); IF:0.8; 80(2): 47-66. doi: 10.2478/cjf-2022-0006.

Sanoopa C. P, Nikhil John and K. C. Chitra (2022). Sublethal hepatotoxic effects and biotransformation response in the freshwater fish, Oreochromis mossambicus (Peters, 1852) exposed to silicon dioxide nanoparticles. Biologia (Springer Nature) ISSN: 1336- 9563 (E); 0006-3088 (P) IF: 1.350; doi: 10.1007/s11756-022-01122-7.

Conferences (International/ National - Recent)

Amrutha K and Chitra K C (2025). Effect of p-phenylenediamine on oxidative/nitrative stress in hepatic cells of Oreochromis mossambicus (Peters, 1852). Second International conference on “Environmental Conservation and Sustainability - A biological perspective (ECS-B)” organized by the Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Monitoring (LEEM), PG and Research, Department of Zoology, C Abdul Hakeem College (Autonomous), Melvisharam, Ranipet District, Tamil Nadu held from 17 to 19 December, 2025.

Ninu Firsana K. C. and Chitra K. C. (2025). Acute toxicity assessment of oxybenzone in the freshwater fish Anabas testudineus and its environmental occurrence. Second International conference on “Environmental Conservation and Sustainability - A biological perspective (ECS-B)” organized by the Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Monitoring (LEEM), PG and Research, Department of Zoology, C Abdul Hakeem College (Autonomous), Melvisharam, Ranipet District, Tamil Nadu held from 17 to 19 December, 2025.

Aswathi P. S. and Chitra K. C. (2025). Environmental detection of tamoxifen by LC–MS/MS analysis and its acute toxicity assessment in the freshwater fish Anabas testudineus (Bloch, 1792). Second International conference on “Environmental Conservation and Sustainability - A biological perspective (ECS-B)” organized by the Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Monitoring (LEEM), PG and Research, Department of Zoology, C Abdul Hakeem College (Autonomous), Melvisharam, Ranipet District, Tamil Nadu held from 17 to 19 December, 2025.

Amrutha K and K.C. Chitra (2024). Toxicity and environmental impact of paraphenylenediamine (PPD) in Oreochromis mossambicus (Peters, 1852), organized by East Point College of Engineering and Technology from 7-9 November, 2024

Reeha Mashirin and K.C. Chitra (2024). Hepatic biotransformation in climbing perch (Anabas testudineus) under environmental exposure to polystyrene microplastics. International conference on pesticides and related emerging organic pollutants impact on the environment and human health and its remediation strategies, organized by East Point College of Engineering and Technology, Bidarhalli, Bangalore, Karnataka from 7 to 9 November 2024.

Reeha Mashirin and K.C. Chitra (2022). A survey of microplastics across the Malabar coast, Northwest Kerala. International Conference on Research Methodology organized by Dr. Shakuntala Misra National Rehabilitation University and Science Tech Institute, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh from Oct 28- 30, 2022.

P. Maneesha and K. C. Chitra (2022). Malathion, an organophosphate insecticide, altered neurotransmitters in the brain of the freshwater fish, Oreochromis mossambicus (Peters, 1852). International Conference on Research Methodology organized by Dr. Shakuntala Misra National Rehabilitation University and Science Tech Institute, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh from Oct 28- 30, 2022.

John Nikhil and K.C. Chitra (2022). Acute toxicity of carbamazepine and associated behavioral modifications in the mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis. International Conference on Research Methodology organized by Dr. Shakuntala Misra National Rehabilitation University and Science Tech Institute, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh from Oct 28- 30, 2022.