Research and publications

Present research interests

Bioactivity studies of Sri Lankan medicinal plants, drug induced nephrotoxicity

Special awards and prizes

• S Ramachandran Prize for the best paper in Nephrology at 131st Anniversary International Medical Congress of the Sri Lanka Medical Association (2018)
• Third best oral presentation award at 1 st Research Symposium of Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, University of Ruhuna (Ru FARS 2018)
• Merit award at 3rd conference of College of Biochemists Sri Lanka (2021)

Workshops/training attended

• Participated in the workshop on “Scientific writing and publishing research work” (SLAAS & FOS, Col.)(2018).
• Participated in the workshop on “Basics in Immunohistochemistry” (College of Pathologists of Sri Lanka)(2020).
• Participated in the workshop on “Research Methodology” (Sri Lanka College of Internal Medicine)(2020).
• Attend an awareness workshop on Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) conducted by Sri Lanka Accreditation Board (2021).
• Training course on laboratory animal science (MRI), 2017.
• Training seminar on principles and practices of modern analytical methods for industries (ICHEM, Sri Lanka), 2018.

Research publications(full paper)

• Napagoda, M.T., Sundarapperuma, T., Fonseka, D., Amarasiri, S., Gunaratna, P., 2018. An ethnobotanical study of the medicinal plants used as anti-inflammatory remedies in Gampaha District, Western Province, Sri Lanka. Scientifica, https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/9395052
• Napagoda, M.T., Sundarapperuma, T., Fonseka, D., Amarasiri, S. and Gunaratna, P., 2019. Traditional uses of medicinal plants in Polonnaruwa district in North Central Province of Sri Lanka. Scientifica, https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/9737302
• Amarasiri, S.S., Attanayake, A.P., Arawwawala, L.A.D.M., Jayatilaka, K.A.P.W., Mudduwa, L.K.B., 2020. Protective effects of three selected standardized medicinal plants used in Sri Lankan traditional medicine on adriamycin induced nephrotoxicity in Wistar rats. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2020.112933.
• Amarasiri, S.S., Attanayake, A.P., Arawwawala, L.A.D.M., Jayatilaka, K.A.P.W., Mudduwa, L.K.B., 2020. Acute and 28- day repeated-dose oral toxicity assessment of Abelmoschus moschatus Medik. in healthy Wistar rats. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/1359050.
• Amarasiri, S.S., Attanayake, A.P., Arawwawala, L.A.D.M., Jayatilaka, K.A.P.W., Mudduwa, L.K.B., 2020. Standardized aqueous stem bark extract of Gmelina arborea Roxb. possesses nephroprotection against adriamycin-induced nephrotoxicity in Wistar rats. Drug and Chemical Toxicology. https://doi.org/10.1080/01480545.2020.1811721.
• Amarasiri, S.S., Attanayake, A.P., Arawwawala, L.A.D.M., Jayatilaka, K.A.P.W., Mudduwa, L.K.B. Nephroprotective activity of Vetiveria zizanioides (L.) Nash extract in chemically induced nephrotoxicity model of Wistar rats: A biochemical and histopathological assessment. Journal of Food Biochemistry. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfbc.13901.
• Amarasiri, S.S., Attanayake, A.P., Jayatilaka, K.A.P.W., Mudduwa L.K.B., 2018. Animal models of chronic kidney disease: Screening tool to investigate nephroprotective effects of natural products (Review). International Journal of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Analysis, 5(2), pp.52-58. https://doi.org/10.18231/2394-2797.2018.0009
• Amarasiri, S.S., Attanayake, A.P., Jayatilaka, K.A.P.W., Mudduwa L.K.B., 2020. Nephroprotective South Asian medicinal plants in the treatment of chronic kidney disease: a review. Traditional Medicine Research, 5(5), pp.389-412. https://doi.org/10.12032/TMR20200603189
• Amarasiri, S.S., Attanayake, A.P., Mudduwa, L.K.B., Jayatilaka, K.A.P.W., 2022. Nephroprotective mechanisms of Ambrette (Abelmoschus moschatus Medik.) leaf extracts in adriamycin mediated acute kidney injury model of Wistar rats. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2022.115221.
• Amarasiri, S.S., Attanayake, A.P., Mudduwa, L.K.B., Jayatilaka, K.A.P.W., 2022. Asparagus falcatus L. (Asparagaceae) leaf extracts attenuate doxorubicin-induced renal toxicity via antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic pathways. Drug and Chemical Toxicology. https://doi.org/10.1080/01480545.2022.2080218.

Published abstracts of oral presentations

• Amarasiri, A.M.S.S., Wickramarathna, K.A.C., 2014. Assessing the validity of the threefold conversion between Hemoglobin and Hematocrit for the determination of anemia in pregnancy. General Sir John kotelawala Defence University International research Conference. pp. 24-31.
• Napagoda, M.T., Sundarapperuma, S.M.T.D., Fonseka, N.H.D.P., Amarasiri, A.M.S.S., Gunaratna, K.A.P.D., 2016. Ethnobotanical study on the medicinal plants used as antiinflammatory therapeutics among the inhabitants of Gampaha District, Sri Lanka. The Galle Medical Journal, p.44.
• Amarasiri, A.M.S.S., Attanayake, A.P., Jayatilaka, K.A.P.W., Mudduwa L.K.B., 2018. Adriamycin induced nephropathy in Wistar rats: an in vivo model to screen nephroprotective activity of natural products. 15th Academic Sessions, University of Ruhuna, p.20.
• Amarasiri, A.M.S.S., Attanayake, A.P., Jayatilaka, K.A.P.W., Mudduwa L.K.B., 2018. Protective effect of Barleria prionitis extract (Katukarandu) against doxorubicin induced acute nephrotoxicity in Wistar rats. 131st Anniversary International Medical Congress of the Sri Lanka Medical Association, p.17.
• Amarasiri, A.M.S.S., Attanayake, A.P., Jayatilaka, K.A.P.W., Mudduwa L.K.B., 2018. Nephroprotective effect of aqueous extract of Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) Spreng leaves in adriamycin induced acute renal failure in Wistar rats: A biochemical and histopathological assessment. International Journal of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, p.4.
• Amarasiri, A.M.S.S., Attanayake, A.P., Jayatilaka, K.A.P.W., Mudduwa L.K.B., 2018. Nephroprotective effect of Asparagus falcatus leaf extract on adriamycin induced nephrotoxicity in Wistar rats: A dose response study. International Journal of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, p.3.
• Amarasiri, A.M.S.S., Attanayake, A.P., Jayatilaka, K.A.P.W., Mudduwa L.K.B., 2018. Dose response study of Gmelina arborea Roxb. (Lamiaceae) bark extract against adriamycin induced nephrotoxicity in Wistar rats. Proceedings of 74th Annual Sessions of SLAAS, p.6.
• Amarasiri, A.M.S.S., Attanayake, A.P., Jayatilaka, K.A.P.W., Mudduwa L.K.B., 2018. Evaluation of the nephroprotective activity and acute toxic effects of leaf extract of Abelmoschus moschatus in experimental rats. 1 st Research Symposium of Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, University of Ruhuna (Ru FARS 2018), p.11.
• Amarasiri, A.M.S.S., Attanayake, A.P., Jayatilaka, K.A.P.W., Mudduwa L.K.B., Arawwawala, L.D.A.M., 2020. Toxicological assessment of selected extracts of Barleria prionitis whole plant in Wistar rats. 7 th Scientific Sessions of Sri Lanka Association for Laboratory Animal Science, p.30.
• Amarasiri, A.M.S.S., Attanayake, A.P., Jayatilaka, K.A.P.W., Mudduwa L.K.B., Arawwawala, L.D.A.M., 2020. Sub-chronic oral toxicity assessment of the leaf extracts of Asparagus falcatus in Wistar rats. Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Frontiers in Chemical Technology, p.115.
• Amarasiri, A.M.S.S., Attanayake, A.P., Jayatilaka, K.A.P.W., Mudduwa L.K.B., Arawwawala, L.D.A.M. 2020. Protective effect of selected extracts of Barleria prionitis (L.) against adriamycin induced nephrotoxicity in Wistar rats. 9 th YSF Symposium, pp.224-27.
• Amarasiri, A.M.S.S., Attanayake, A.P., Jayatilaka, K.A.P.W., Mudduwa L.K.B., Arawwawala, L.D.A.M., 2020. Antioxidant potential of selected extracts of Barleria prionitis (L.): an in vivo and in vitro study. International Conference on Applied and Pure Sciences (ICAPS-2020), p.19.
• Amarasiri, A.M.S.S., Attanayake, A.P., Jayatilaka, K.A.P.W., Mudduwa L.K.B., 2020. Protective effects of Abelmoschus moschatus Medikus. on adriamycin induced oxidative damage and inflammation in the kidney of Wistar rats. 18th Academic Sessions, University of Ruhuna, p.21.
• Amarasiri, A.M.S.S., Attanayake, A.P., Jayatilaka, K.A.P.W., Mudduwa L.K.B. Nephroprotective effects of Abelmoschus moschatus against Adriamycin-induced nephrotoxicity model in Wistar rats: A biochemical, histopathological and immunohistochemical assessment. 3 rd conference of College of Biochemists Sri Lanka, p.24.
• Amarasiri, A.M.S.S., Attanayake, A.P., Jayatilaka, K.A.P.W., Mudduwa L.K.B., 2022. Toxicity assessment of a novel polyherbal mixture of 28-day repeated dose; A trial using Wistar Rats. 9 th Ruhuna International Science and Technology Conference 2022, p.101.
• Amarasiri, A.M.S.S., Attanayake, A.P., Jayatilaka, K.A.P.W., Mudduwa L.K.B., 2022. Nephroprotective effects of a novel polyherbal combination against the animal model of adriamycin-induced nephrotoxicity. International Research Conference in Health Sciences, p. 42.
• Wanniarachchi, W.A.U., Amarasiri, A.M.S.S., Attanayake, A.P., 2022. Correlation of eGFR estimated by different eqquations based on creatinine and cystatin C in patients on haemodialysis treatment. 4th Research Symposium of Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, University of Ruhuna (Ru FARS), p.11.

Published abstracts of poster presentations

• Amarasiri, A.M.S.S., Attanayake, A.P., Jayatilaka, K.A.P.W., Mudduwa L.K.B., 2017. Totalantioxidant activity and polyphenol content of selected medicinal plant extracts used for the treatment of chronic kidney disease in Sri Lanka. Proceedings of the 130th International Medical Congress,p.143.
• Amarasiri, A.M.S.S., Attanayake, A.P., Jayatilaka, K.A.P.W., Mudduwa L.K.B., 2017. Quantification of in vitro antioxidant activity of Abelmoschus moschatus leaf extract using spectrophotometric methods. Proceedings of the International Symposium on Traditional and Complementary Medicine, pp.156-57.
• Amarasiri, A.M.S.S., Attanayake, A.P., Jayatilaka, K.A.P.W., Mudduwa L.K.B., 20 17. Screening of three selected medicinal plant extracts for in vitro antioxidant activity. SLAAS 73rd Annual Scientific Sessions, p.186.
• Amarasiri, A.M.S.S., Attanayake, A.P., Jayatilaka, K.A.P.W., Mudduwa L.K.B., 2018. Screening of nephroprotective activity of Abelmoschus moschatus (Kapukinissa) leaf extract in rats with adriamycin induced acute renal toxicity. International Conference on Health Sciences, pp.93-94.
• Amarasiri, A.M.S.S., Attanayake, A.P., Arawwawala, L.D.A.M., Jayatilaka, K.A.P.W., Mudduwa L.K.B., 2018. Chemical standardization of the whole plant of Barleria prionitis (L.) (Acanthaceae). Asian Symposium on Medicinal Plants, Spices and other Natural Products XVI, p.165.
• Amarasiri, A.M.S.S., Attanayake, A.P., Arawwawala, L.D.A.M., Jayatilaka, K.A.P.W., Mudduwa L.K.B., 2018. Evaluation of in vivo anti-nephrotoxic activity of the standardized aqueous root extract of Vetiveria zizanioides (L.) Nash of Sri Lankan origin. 1 st Bi-annual conference of College of Biochemists Sri Lanka, p.17.
• Amarasiri, A.M.S.S., Attanayake, A.P., Arawwawala, L.D.A.M., Jayatilaka, K.A.P.W., Mudduwa L.K.B., 2019. Chemical standardization and preliminary phytochemical screening of leaves of Plectranthus amboinicus (Roxb.) of Sri Lankan origin. 16th Academic Sessions, University of Ruhuna, pp.52-53.
• Wickramaratna, H.D.P., Amarasiri, A.M.S.S., Attanayake, A.P., 2020. Nitric oxide radical scavenging potential of selected widely used spices and a mixture of spices. Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Frontiers in Chemical Technology, p.28.

Membership of professional associations

• Life member of the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science (SLAAS)
• Life member of the Young Scientists forum (YSF)