The main thrust of work of Dr Govindachari has been on elucidation of the structure of plant constituents like carpaine, gentianine, tylophorine, tylophorinine, tiliacorine, tylocrebrine, echitamine, kopsine, wedelolactone, cedrelone, polyalthic acid, valeranone, veprisone, etc. He has also carried out extensive research on the synthesis of isoquinolines and phenanthridines.