Mónica Alicia Calderón Oropeza

Plants from the genus Salvia are used in traditional medicine worldwide and are considered a source of biologically active compounds due to the isolation of a diverse array of molecular skeletons, including terpenoids and polyphenols. Salvia melissodora is endemic to Mexico, occurring across the states of Aguascalientes, Durango, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Michoacán, Oaxaca, Puebla, and Querétaro, and is included in several ethnopharmacopeas from Mexico, highlighting its medicinal potential for treating respiratory and digestive affections, among others. The literature reports the presence of highly oxidized neoclerodane diterpenoids in S. melissodora as non-volatile metabolites, whereas caryophyllene, muurolene, spathulenol, caryophyllene oxide, and germacrene are described as the main constituents of the essential oil from the aerial parts. Given these antecedents, increasing knowledge about the chemical constituents of this useful plant becomes pertinent. In the present work, the phytochemical study of the aerial parts of S. melissodora was conducted by preparative chromatography to isolate oleanolic acid, 3β-acetoxyoleanolic acid, lupeol, 3β,20,25-trihydroxylupane, 3β,20-dihydroxylupane, kerlinic acid, spathulenol, and 5,3′-dihydroxy-6,7,4′-trimethoxyflavone. All compounds were characterized by their physical and spectroscopic data. Based on the herein-isolated metabolites and the literature on their biological potential, a partial association between the ethnopharmacological use of S. melissodora in Mexico and its chemical constituents could be suggested, thereby complementing previously reported accounts of this plant.

Strategic scaffolds in molecules increase the possibility of obtaining derivatives with potential uses in scientific and industrial areas. The regio- and stereoselective reactions can be considered to gain these tactical motifs. Natural diterpenes are key molecules for reaching such aims. Among this class of compounds, neo-clerodanes are highlighted by the presence of a furan moiety in their chemical structure. This work describes a regio- and stereoselective strategy to gain beta-lactone and oxirane derivatives from kerlinic acid (1) when the β,γ-unsaturated carboxylic acid system is oxidized, preserving the furan moiety. Oxidation of 1 yielded salviaolide (2), suggesting regio- and stereoselective means. A reaction mechanism was proposed when oxidation of the acetate (1a), benzoate (1b), and methyl ester (1c) derivatives from 1 were gained. The obtention of the epoxide derivative 3, kernolide (4), and kernolide epoxide (5) also supported the reaction mechanism. X-ray diffraction analysis of 3, Karplus-type analyses, and DFT calculations from hypothetical intermediates revealed conformational preferences that guide the regioselectivity. The stereoselectivity was attributed to the natural origin of 1. All compounds were characterized by their physical and spectroscopical data. These results suggest the feasibility of promoting regioselective oxidation on neo-clerodane compounds, preserving the furan moiety.

Entre la población oaxaqueña se identifican factores de tipo ideológico-cultural que tienden a relegar a las mujeres dentro de los entornos familiar y laboral. Al elegir carreras científicas, varias estudiantes de la Universidad del Mar enfrentaron cuestionamientos sobre las oportunidades laborales bien remuneradas. De las 19 generaciones de egresados de la licenciatura en Biología, solo tres mujeres son investigadoras en instituciones educativas mexicanas. La implementación de un programa de mentorías en la UMAR responde al interés de las estudiantes para formarse como investigadoras y ser parte del gremio científico. El programa de mentorías busca beneficiar a estudiantes de posgrado y del último semestre de las licenciaturas, al desarrollar y fortalecer habilidades necesarias para su formación. El 27 de octubre de 2023 se realizó el lanzamiento del programa. Actualmente contamos con seis mentoras certificadas y cuatro mentees, quienes realizaron sesiones de mentoría de marzo a julio de 2024. Del 21 al 23 de febrero de 2024 se celebró el Primer Congreso Nacional “Entre mentoras y mentees”, en esta edición participaron 19 instituciones educativas nacionales, 29 ponentes, 25 asistentes y tres organizadoras. Se presentaron cinco conferencias magistrales, dos talleres y 22 ponencias en un espacio en el que se compartieron experiencias y se reafirmó la importancia de la mentoría para el avance profesional e inclusión de más mujeres en áreas STEM. Con el fin de darle continuidad a este esfuerzo, se acordó realizar la segunda edición en la Universidad Autónoma del Carmen en 2025. Aunque el estado actual de la mentoría en México varía según el sector y la región, se aprecia un creciente interés y esfuerzo por parte de diversas instituciones y organizaciones para implementar y fortalecer los programas. Este es el caso de la UMAR, una institución comprometida con la equidad de género y el empoderamiento de todas las personas.

Several applications of natural products around the world arise from traditional knowledge or evident organoleptic properties, and essential oils from Salvia species are a current example. The genus is integrated by native and endemic species from Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Europe. In the present work, essential oil compositions of Salvia dugesii and S. gesneriiflora were experimentally determined and statistically correlated with ten described Salvia species from four continents by using multivariate methods complemented with univariate analysis and PCA protocols, to establish metabolic approaches. Essential oils data from S. angulata, S. miltiorrhiza, S. plebeia, S. sclarea, S. argentea, S. viridis, S. lavandulifolia, S. africana-lutea, S. chamelaeagnea, and S. officinalis were included in the study. By the above, 146 essential oil components, classified into 29 structural skeletons, according to its biogenesis, were analyzed. The results provided metabolic similarities between American and Asian Salvia species due to a higher active sesquiterpene metabolism; and African and European species revealed chemical similarities, since monoterpene pathways dominate. Such correlations are in concordance with genetic knowledge about genus, thereby, approaches on metabolism of Salvia can be easily visualized using statistical tools, consequently, practical method to analyze Salvias for scientific proposes.