ZÚÑIGA MIRANDA, JOHANA JANINA
Preferred name
ZÚÑIGA MIRANDA, JOHANA JANINA
Main Affiliation
CENBIO - Centro de Investigación Biomédica
Web Site
ORCID
0000-0001-9037-9306
Scopus Author ID
57822779800
22 results
Now showing 1 - 10 of 22
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Item type:Publication, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Antitumor, and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Gleichenella pectinata, a Bioprospecting of Medicinal Ferns(MDPI AG, 2025-11-12); - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Item type:Publication, Bioactivación del quimioterapéutico ciclofosfamida mediada por citocromos P450 con fines de uso en terapia génica de cáncerEsta revisión examina el papel de las enzimas del citocromo P450 en la bioactivación del agente quimioterapéutico ciclofosfamida (CPA) para uso en la terapia génica del cáncer. El estudio explora enzimas específicas del citocromo P450, como CYP2B6, CYP2C9 y CYP3A4, encargadas de metabolizar la CPA en su forma activa, destacando su potencial en la terapia del gen suicida o GDEPT. La revisión también analiza las modificaciones genéticas realizadas para mejorar la eficiencia catalítica de estas enzimas y aborda los desafíos y las direcciones futuras de la integración de GDEPT con otras terapias contra el cáncer para mejorar la especificidad y eficacia del tratamiento. - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Item type:Publication, Designing cytochrome P450 enzymes for use in cancer gene therapy(Frontiers Media SA, 2024-05-24); Cancer is a significant global socioeconomic burden, as millions of new cases and deaths occur annually. In 2020, almost 10 million cancer deaths were recorded worldwide. Advancements in cancer gene therapy have revolutionized the landscape of cancer treatment. An approach with promising potential for cancer gene therapy is introducing genes to cancer cells that encode for chemotherapy prodrug metabolizing enzymes, such as Cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes, which can contribute to the effective elimination of cancer cells. This can be achieved through gene-directed enzyme prodrug therapy (GDEPT). CYP enzymes can be genetically engineered to improve anticancer prodrug conversion to its active metabolites and to minimize chemotherapy side effects by reducing the prodrug dosage. Rational design, directed evolution, and phylogenetic methods are some approaches to developing tailored CYP enzymes for cancer therapy. Here, we provide a compilation of genetic modifications performed on CYP enzymes aiming to build highly efficient therapeutic genes capable of bio-activating different chemotherapeutic prodrugs. Additionally, this review summarizes promising preclinical and clinical trials highlighting engineered CYP enzymes’ potential in GDEPT. Finally, the challenges, limitations, and future directions of using CYP enzymes for GDEPT in cancer gene therapy are discussed. - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Item type:Publication, Exploring the Multifaceted Biological Activities of Anthocyanins Isolated from Two Andean Berries(MDPI AG, 2024-08-21); ; Natural pigments extracted from plant species are used in foods, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. This study evaluates the comprehensive biological activities of anthocyanins isolated from Andean blueberry (Vaccinium floribundum Kunth) and Andean blackberry (Rubus glaucus Benth), focusing on their antimicrobial, antioxidant, antitumoral, anti-inflammatory, and hemolytic properties. Chemical characterization revealed significant anthocyanin content with complex mass spectrometric profiles indicating diverse glycosylation patterns that may influence their bioactivity. The antimicrobial assays showed that the extracts were particularly effective against Gram-positive bacteria, with minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) as low as 1 mg/mL for Rubus glaucus, indicating strong potential for therapeutic use. The antioxidant capacity of the berries was substantial, albeit slightly lower than that of ascorbic acid. The extracts also exhibited notable antitumoral activity in various cancer cell lines, showing promise as adjunctive or preventive treatments. The anti-inflammatory effects were confirmed by inhibiting nitric oxide production in macrophage cells, highlighting their potential in managing inflammatory diseases. In terms of hemolytic activity, Rubus glaucus exhibited dose-dependent effects, potentially attributable to anthocyanins and phenolics, while Vaccinium floribundum demonstrated no significant hemolytic activity, underscoring its safety. These findings suggest that anthocyanins from Andean berries possess potent biological activities, which could be leveraged for health benefits in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications. Further studies are needed to isolate specific bioactive compounds and investigate their synergistic effects in clinical and real-world contexts. - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Item type:Publication, Bioactive Phenolic Compounds from Rambutan - Nephelium lappaceum L. - Shell: Encapsulation, Structural Stability, and Multifunctional Activities(MDPI AG, 2025-11-09); Rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum) shell, an agro-industrial by-product, is a rich source of phenolic acids and minor anthocyanins, but its direct use is limited by instability and low bioavailability. We extracted phenolic-rich fractions and produced maltodextrin microcapsules by spray drying, then confirmed chemical entrapment and amorphization by FTIR, SEM, and XRD. The formulation showed high encapsulation efficiency and high antioxidant capacity (DPPH), selective bactericidal activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Burkholderia cepacia, and strong inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes biofilms, while exhibiting negligible hemolysis (<2%) across tested concentrations. Antitumor effects were moderate with low selectivity in vitro, indicating that phenolic-acid-driven redox modulation may require fractionation or delivery optimization for oncology applications. Overall, spray-dried microcapsules provided structural stability and safety while concentrating multifunctional activities relevant to food and biomedical uses. By valorizing a tropical waste stream into a bioactive, hemocompatible ingredient, this work aligns with societal goals on health and sustainable production (SDG 3 and SDG 12) and offers a scalable route to deploy underutilized phenolic resources.</jats:p> - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Item type:Publication, Green Synthesis of Silver Oxide Nanoparticles from Mauritia flexuosa Fruit Extract: Characterization and Bioactivity Assessment(MDPI AG, 2024-11-22); - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Item type:Publication, Phytochemical Composition and Biological Properties of Macleania rupestris Fruit Extract: Insights into Its Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Activity(MDPI AG, 2025-03-27); ; ; Jéssica Guamán-BautistaMacleania rupestris, a fruit-bearing species of the Ericaceae family, has traditionally been used for its potential medicinal properties. Background/Objectives: This study investigates the phytochemical composition and antimicrobial activity of M. rupestris fruit extract, focusing on its antibacterial, antibiofilm, and antifungal effects. Methods: M. rupestris (Kunth) A.C.Sm. berries (code: 4456, Herbario QUPS-Ecuador) were collected from the cloud forest Montano Alto, Cuenca-Ecuador, and the extract was obtained using an ethanolic-based extraction and chemically characterized. The antibacterial and antifungal activity of the fruit extract was assessed against seven multidrug-resistant bacteria strains and four fungal strains using the microdilution method. The biofilm inhibition potential was evaluated using a microplate assay with the crystal violet staining method. The antioxidant activity was evaluated using DPPH and ABTS assays. Results: The bioactive compounds showed 853.9 mg phenols/100 g DW, 573.2 mg organic acid/100 g DW, and 21.5 mg C-3-gl/100 g DW of anthocyanins. The antibacterial assays demonstrated significant inhibitory activity against Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus epidermidis, with MIC values ranging from 1.25 to 5 mg/mL. Additionally, the biofilm inhibition assays confirmed the potential of M. rupestris extract to disrupt bacterial biofilms, particularly in S. aureus and L. monocytogenes. Nevertheless, no significant antifungal activity was observed against Candida spp., suggesting selective antimicrobial properties. Finally, the antioxidant activity was strong (1.62 mmol TE/100 g DW by DPPH and 3.28 mmol TE/100 g DW by ABTS). Conclusions: These findings indicate that M. rupestris possesses promising antibacterial, antibiofilm, and antioxidant properties, which may be attributed to its phenolic and organic acid composition. Further fractionation and targeted bioassays are required to elucidate the specific bioactive compounds responsible for these effects and explore their potential applications in antimicrobial formulations. - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Item type:Publication, Relationship Between Bioactive Compounds and Biological Activities (Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, Antihaemolytic) of ‘Colcas’ Fruits at Different Stages of Maturity(MDPI AG, 2025-09-10); - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Item type:Publication, Current Landscape of Methods to Evaluate Antimicrobial Activity of Natural Extracts(MDPI AG, 2023-01-20); ; - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Item type:Publication, Evaluation of Biological Activity of Natural Compounds: Current Trends and Methods(MDPI AG, 2022-07-13);
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