Person:
Cazar Ramírez, María Elena

Birth Date

1968-10-15

ORCID

0000-0001-5228-3514

Scopus Author ID

56692853200

Afiliación

Universidad de Cuenca, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Cuenca, Ecuador

País

Ecuador

Organizational Units

Organizational Unit

Facultad de Ciencias Químicas

Fundada en 1955 como la Escuela de Química Industrial, la facultad ha sido un pilar fundamental en la formación de profesionales altamente capacitados, comprometidos con el desarrollo de la ciencia, la educación y el bienestar social. La Facultad de Ciencias Químicas pone a consideración su trabajo académico, investigativo y de vinculación con la sociedad, desarrollado a través de la práctica de una docencia de calidad, investigación e innovación en su área de estudio. Desde su oficio de conocimiento se permite contribuir a la sociedad con cuatro carreras: Bioquímica y Farmacia, Ingeniería Química, Ingeniería Ambiental e Ingeniería Industrial. Su carta de presentación en la Academia, la coloca como una dependencia dinámica, donde confluye la solidez de una trayectoria de más de sesenta años. Aquí se trabaja en una continua formación de pregrado y posgrado de la más alta calidad, mediante la mejora continua con la innovación y a la vanguardia de las ciencias químicas.

Job Title

Profesor (T)

Last Name

Cazar Ramírez

First Name

María Elena

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Now showing 1 - 10 of 12

The micorryzal fungi ceratobasidium sp. and sebacina vermifera promote seed germination and seedling development of the terrestrial orchid epidendrum secundum jacq
(2019) Durán López, María Elisa; Cazar Ramírez, María Elena; Ansaloni, Raffaella; Narváez Vera, Mónica Alexandra; Jahreis, Kunt; Caroca Cáceres, Rodrigo Sebastián
The interaction between seeds and mycorrhizal fungi in germination and developmental processes is complex and far from being understood. The efficiency assessment of mycorrhizal fungi at “in vitro” seed germination of orchids will improve protocols for conservation and horticultural purposes. Applying a culture-dependent approach, we isolated 45 endophytic fungi, from roots of 12 orchid species, growing at two altitudinal levels in the Ecuadorian mountains. From them, 26 Rhizoctonia-like axenical isolates were studied by nuclear ribosomal rDNA sequences analysis, searching for mycorrhizal fungi . Ceratobasidium sp. and Sebacina vermifera were identified and tested for promoting germination and seedling development of Epidendrum secundum Jacq., an endangered medicinal orchid. Symbiotic cultures were stablished in Oat Meal Agar (OMA), and seeds development was compared between Murashige & …
Assessment of antioxidant activities of Epidendrum secundum Jacq, a terrestrial orchid from southern Ecuadorian highlands
(2023) Barrera Parra, Diana Alexandra; Idrovo Encalada, Alondra Mariela; Abad Polo, Diego Hernan; Cazar Ramírez, María Elena
A comparison of antioxidant and antibacterial activities among in vitro cultured seedlings and Orchidarium plant specimens of Epidendrum secundum Jacq, a terrestrial orchid from southern Ecuadorian highlands, was performed. The aim of this work was to evaluate the enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant compounds production from in vitro cultured seedlings and Orchidarium plants from the orchid species under study. For this purpose, a group of spectrophotometric assays was set up, comparing the free radical scavenging capacity, phenolic and flavonoids content from seedling leaves and plant leaves organic extracts, as non-enzymatic antioxidant indicators. In addition, the antibacterial activity of the organic plant extracts was evaluated versus Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Catalase and ascorbate peroxidase activities were assessed as enzymatic antioxidant systems in aqueous extracts. The results showed higher non-enzymatic antioxidant activity for leaves from Epidendrum secundum Orchidarium plants compared with leaves from in vitro seedling cultures. The organic extracts from the orchid under study displayed moderate antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. In the enzymatic antioxidant evaluation, catalase activity was significantly higher at in vitro conditions. The results from this work allow us to highlight the potential of Epidendrum secundum Jacq as a source of bioactive metabolites with promising antioxidant and antibacterial activities.
Ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry and biological activities of native chilean plants
(2021) Salehi, Bahar; Martorell, Miquel; Cazar Ramírez, María Elena
he native flora of Chile has unique characteristics due to the geographical situation of the country, with the vast desert in the North, Patagonia in the South, the Andean Mountains on the east and the Pacific Ocean on the west. This exclusivity is reflected in high concentrations of phytochemicals in the fruits and leaves of its native plants. Some examples are Aristotelia chilensis (Molina), Stuntz (maqui), Berberis micro-phylla G. Forst. (calafate), Peumus boldus Molina (boldo), Ribes magellanicum Poir. (Magellan currant), Ugni molinae Turcz. (murtilla), Rubus geoides Sm. (miñe miñe), Drimys winteri J.R.Forst. & G.Forst. (canelo), Luma apiculata (DC.) Burret (arrayán) distributed throughout the entire Chilean territory. Some of these Chile-an plants have been used for centuries in the country's traditional medicine. The most recent studies of phyto-chemical characterization of parts of Chilean plants show a wide spectrum of antioxidant compounds, phenolic components, terpenoids and alkaloids, which have shown biological activity in both in vitro and in vivo studies. This manuscript covers the entire Chilean territory characterizing the phytochemical profile and reporting some of its biological properties, focusing mainly on antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, chemopreventive and cytotoxic activity, and potential against diabetes, metabolic syndrome and gastrointestinal disorders.
Phytochemistry and bioactivity from huperzias, used by healers from Saraguro community, in the Southern Ecuadorian Andes
(CRC Pres, 2023) Cazar Ramírez, María Elena
Several members from the genus Huperzia (Lycopodiaceae) form part of the millenary traditions from the Saraguros, an ethnic group located in the southern Ecuadorian highlands. In their culture, plants play a key role for maintaining physical and spiritual health. The “yachaks” or visionaries treat specific health disorders associated with supernatural causes. Huperzias are collected in the paramos that surround the community and used as ingredients for preparations used in healing rituals. In the present chapter, we present a revision of the current knowledge of the ethnobotany and phytochemistry from Huperzias used in traditional medicine by the Saraguro community, highlighting its potential as a source of bioactive metabolites.
Eficacia de extracto etanólico de eucalipto (Eucaliptus globulus) en el control de alternaria sp. en cultivos de col y patata
(2014) Cazar Ramírez, María Elena; Caldas Molina, Claudia Adriana; Larriva Wilson, Giovanny; Espinoza Vasquez, Virgilio Ernesto; Parra Alvarracin, Juan Miguel; Villena Ochoa, Paulina Germania
The inhibitory effect of ethanolic extracts against Alternaria sp.in greenhouse cabbage cultivation (Oleracea brassica) and in-situ potato growing (Solanum tuberosum) was tested. Ethanolic extracts were prepared from Eucalyptus leaves (Eucalyptus globulus) with a Soxhlet extractor. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of considerable amounts of quinones, lactones and coumaranes, and small amounts of triterpenes and steroids. The experimental layout in the greenhouse cabbage cultivation consisted of three ethanol levels, one classical chemical treatment (Trizimand) and one control, ten cabbages per treatment, three repetitions, arranged in a randomized complete block design. The effect of three concentration levels of ethanol, one time sprayed on the leaves of the potato crop, was tested. The treatment plots, including a control plot, were randomized, each block 4 times repeated. In the greenhouse trial, the treatments with the effective dose increased by 50 and 25% displayed a comparable activity with the chemical treatment. Those treatments showed anincreased effectiveness, compared with the effective dose at lab conditions. In the potato field essay, based on the incidence of pustules measured in the period of 65 to 85 days after planting, all treatments had an equal effect. It is believed that the observed overall minor and equal impact of the ethanol treatments on the potato crop is due to the high plot-to-plot variability and the more than normal wet conditions during the growing season
Study of a selected series of 3- and 4-arylcoumarins as antifungal agents against dermatophytic fungi: T. rubrum and T. mentagrophytes
(2021) Lopez Cisneros, Carmen Lucia; Cazar Ramírez, María Elena; Bailon Moscoso, Natalia; Guardado, Estela; Borges, Fernanda; Uriarte, Eugenio; Matos, Maria JoAo
The main etiological agents in dermatophytosis of human skin and nails are Trichophyton, in particular Trichophyton rubrum (T. rubrum) and Trichophyton mentagrophytes (T. mentagro- phytes). A new series of twenty-three 3- and 4-arylcoumarins was synthesized and the antifungal activities against clinical isolates of T. rubrum and T. mentagrophytes were evaluated. Sixteen out of twenty-three molecules exhibited antifungal activity against one or both fungi strains. In some cases, the activity against T. rubrum has been comparable to fluconazole, one of the standards, being 8-methoxy-3-(4’-nitrophenyl) coumarin (16) the best compound within this series (minimum inhibitory concentration, MIC=6.25 μg/mL). The preliminary structure-activity relationship study showed that the antifungal activity depends on the position and nature of the substitution patterns. The cytotoxicity of eleven compounds on D-384 (astrocytoma), A-549 (lung cancer) and RKO (colorectal cancer) cell lines was also performed. With the aim of deeply under- stand the potential of these molecules as hits to develop new drugs, the theoretical absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME) properties of the active compounds were calculated
Ethno-pharmacological relevance/features of some latin american wild medicinal plants, in ethnopharmacology of wild plants
(Taylor & Francis Ltd, 2021) Flores, Ninoska; Polo Barrios, Alma; Cervantes Díaz, Martha; Albuquerque, Ricardo D.D.G. de; Gimenez Turba, Alberto; Malagón Avilés, Omar; Armijos, Chabaco; Cazar Ramírez, María Elena; Ramón Farías, Feliza; Cano Asseleih, Leticia Margarita; Rengifo Salgado, Elsa; Vargas Arana, Gabriel; Muñoz Acevedo, Amner; González, María C.
The traditional herbal healers, along with wild medicinal plants and the knowledge they have about them, in certain regions of Latin America, are the prevalent alternatives for some people/communities to cover any primary health care requirements (e.g., treatment to prevent/improve/release pain/symptoms/disorders/diseases). traditional (plant-based) medicine has gained worldwide acceptance because the plants used for this purpose have been apparently efficacious and safe for a long time (decades/centuries), these being some reasons why the WHO created the traditional, complementary and integrative unit. (WHO 2019). Despite this, it is important to remember (i) what “ethnopharmacology” studies are about, which are, shortly, the uses, possible action modes, and bioproperties of plant-based preparations; and (ii) the contribution made by phytochemistry and pharmacology along with other related sciences (botany, pharmacy, microbiology, virology, parasitology, etc.) to find/check any biologically active drugs (molecules/fractions/extracts). In that sense, traditional medicine systems need more evidence-based studies that allow establishing the pharmacological potential together with the validation of therapeutic uses of medicinal plants and its chemical constituents [isolated or mixtures (fractions/extracts)] in such a way that safety and effectiveness are verified, as well as to reveal/understand their preventive and/or therapeutic mechanisms (Mukherjee et al. 2010, Schmidt and Klaser-Cheng 2017).
Molecules from nature: reconciling biodiversity conservation and global healthcare imperatives for sustainable use of medicinal plants and fungi
(2020) Lughadha, Eimear Nic; Howes, Melanie Jayne; Cazar Ramírez, María Elena
Societal Impact Statement Plants and fungi have provided, or inspired, key pharmaceuticals for global health challenges, including cancer, heart disease, dementia, and malaria, and are valued as traditional medicines worldwide. Global demand for medicinal plants and fungi has threatened certain species, contributing to biodiversity loss and depletion of natural resources that are important for the health of humanity. We consider the evolving role of plants and fungi in global healthcare as new challenges to human health and to biodiversity arise. We present current and emerging scientific approaches, to uncover and preserve nature-based health solutions for the future, through harmonization with biodiversity conservation strategies. Summary Non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes, are the main causes of deaths globally, and communicable diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis affect billions of people. Plants and fungi have provided key pharmaceuticals in our armory against these global health challenges, while in some regions of the world, they continue to have a central role in healthcare systems as traditional medicines. Consequently, global demand for plants and fungi in healthcare has threatened certain medicinal species, and is a driving factor in biodiversity loss. Yet the future of therapeutics from nature is evolving. Scientific advances are enabling the untapped potential of the world's plants and fungi to be explored for their medicinal value, and to reveal other roles they may have for improving health and well-being; this demonstrates the value of natural capital as an incentive for biodiversity conservation. Emerging technologies also offer new hope for safeguarding essential medicines for the future, by revealing more sustainable solutions for sourcing key natural products. This review discusses recent developments and future approaches for the discovery of natural products as medicines, for health and well-being, and strategies to harmonize the therapeutic use of biodiversity with its proactive conservation through nature-based solutions.
Ecuadorian children’s willingness to protect endangered species – identifying behavioral predictors in a biodiversity hotspot
(2023) Stein, Lea; Büscher, Milan; Hillebrand, Philip; Fiebelkorn, Florian; Schlünder, Susanne; Cazar Ramírez, María Elena; Durán López, María Elisa
Antioxidant and oxidative stress modulation properties of azorella pedunculata methanolic extract on A549 cancel cells
(2019) Cazar Ramírez, María Elena; Castillo Elsitdié, Luis Gerardo; Jara Bermeo, Adriana Paola; Grijalva, Marcelo; Gómez, Nayara; Salazar Anchundia, Lizeth Andrea; Vallejo Lopez, Maria Jose
Species of the genus Azorella have been widely studied for the presence of secondary metabolites with biological activities. Azorella pedunculata is the most common species of Azorella genus in Ecuadorian moors.The present study evaluated the oxidative stress-protective and antioxidant effects of methanolic extract from A. pedunculata on A549 cells treated with hydrogen peroxide (for induction of oxidative stress). The DPPH assay (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) was used to assess the antioxidant activity of the extract. Cell viability for extract-treated cells was assessed by the 3-(4, 5- dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The protective activity against oxidative stress in A549 cells pretreated with the extract and then exposed to H2O2 was evaluated by flow cytometry. In addition, gene expression analysis for oxidative stress related genes superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD-2), and catalase (CAT) was performed with real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR). The extract was cytotoxic at concentrations above 500μg/mL. Pretreatment with methanolic extract at concentrations of 100 and 250µg/mL significantly decreased ROS (+) cell population, in comparison with the H2O2 treatment control. The mRNA levels of assessed genes were also modulated when cells were pretreated with the extract. In comparison with the H2O2 control, SOD-2 was upregulated when cells were pre-treated with the methanolic extract at 100 µg/mL, and CAT was down-regulated when cells were pre-treated with 100 and 250 µg/mL of extract. The methanolic extract of A. pedunculata might exert a protective effect against oxidative stress. Further studies are required to elucidate the molecular mechanisms involved. The findings of this study might be, however, of value for potential biological and medical applications