Asima Chatterjee, DSc, was an Indian organic chemist. In 1944, she became the first woman to receive a doctorate from the University of Calcutta. Chatterjee’s research focused on biologically active compounds found in medicinal plants. She successfully developed the anti-epileptic drug, Ayush-56, which is still used today, from Marsilia minuta. She also developed anti-convulsive, and chemotherapy drugs to treat patients. In 1975 she was the first woman to be elected as the General President of the Indian Science Congress Association. Chatterjee published around 400 papers in national and international journals and more than a score of review articles.
