AMÉRICO JORGE CASTRO LUNA

Dr. AMÉRICO JORGE CASTRO LUNA

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Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

7Years (2020-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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20 July 2020 in Molecules
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JRJuan Pedro Rojas-Armas
Juan Pedro Rojas-Armas
JAJorge Luis Arroyo Acevedo
Jorge Luis Arroyo Acevedo
MPMiriam Palomino-Pacheco
Miriam Palomino-Pacheco
Oscar Herrera-CalderonOscar Herrera-Calderon
Oscar Herrera-Calderon
JOJosé Manuel Ortiz-Sánchez
José Manuel Ortiz-Sánchez
JHJulio Hilario-Vargas
Julio Hilario-Vargas
C. citratus essential oil and carvacrol have shown an antitumor effect on breast tumor cell lines; the main objective of this research was to evaluate the antitumor effect of the essential oil of Cymbopogon citratus (EOCc) and carvacrol on 7,12-dimethylbenz [a] anthracene (DMBA)-induced breast cancer in female rats. Cancer was induced by a single administration of DMBA at dose of 80 mg/kg body weight (BW). A total of 54 female Holtzman rats were randomly assigned into 9 groups (n = 6). Group I: PS (Physiological saline); Group II: DMBA; Groups III, IV, and V: DMBA + EOCc at doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg/day BW, respectively; Groups VI, VII, and VIII: DMBA + carvacrol at doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg/day BW, respectively; and group IX: DMBA + EOCc + carvacrol at doses of 100 mg/kg/day BW. The treatment lasted 14 weeks. As results, EOCc showed a reduction in tumors as well as necrosis and mitosis. Animals treated with carvacrol did not show necrosis, mitosis, or infiltration. Carvacrol at dose of 100 mg/kg/day BW revealed a significant decrease in the cumulative tumor volume down to 0.11 ± 0.05 cm3 compared to 0.38 ± 0.04 cm3 of the DMBA group (p < 0.01). It is concluded that EOCc and carvacrol had an antitumor effect on DMBA-induced breast cancer in female rats.

10 March 2022 in Molecules
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Journal Article
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JRJuan Pedro Rojas-Armas
Juan Pedro Rojas-Armas
JAJorge Luis Arroyo Acevedo
Jorge Luis Arroyo Acevedo
MPMiriam Palomino-Pacheco
Miriam Palomino-Pacheco
JOJosé Manuel Ortiz-Sánchez
José Manuel Ortiz-Sánchez
James CalvaJames Calva
James Calva
Oscar Herrera-CalderonOscar Herrera-Calderon
Oscar Herrera-Calderon
Annona muricata leaves are traditionally used as an anticancer plant in the world. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ameliorative effect of the essential oil from Annona muricata leaves (EOAm) in an experimental model of breast cancer and to determine the volatile constituents with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Thirty female rats were assigned to five groups: the control group; the DMBA (7,12-dimethylbenz[α]anthracene) group; and three groups received daily EOAm doses of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg/day, plus DMBA, respectively. After 13 weeks of treatment, tumors were analyzed pathologically and biochemical markers in serum were noted. As a result, in GC-MS analysis, 40 compounds were identified and 4 of them were abundant: Z-caryophyllene (40.22%), followed by α-selinene (9.94%), β-pinene (8.92%), and β-elemene (7.48%). Furthermore, EOAm in a dose-dependent form produced a reduction in tumor frequency and the accumulated tumor volume was reduced by 50% and 71% with doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg, respectively. Serum levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) increased and malondialdehyde (MDA) decreased significantly compared to the DMBA group. Serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) decreased significantly from 70.75 ± 7.15 pg/mL in the DMBA group to 46.50 ± 9.00 and 34.13 ± 11.50 pg/mL in groups treated with doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg, respectively. This study concludes that the EOAm leaves showed an ameliorative effect in a murine model of breast cancer.

20 March 2024 in Molecules
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Journal Article
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JRJuan Pedro Rojas-Armas
Juan Pedro Rojas-Armas
MPMiriam Palomino-Pacheco
Miriam Palomino-Pacheco
JAJorge Luis Arroyo Acevedo
Jorge Luis Arroyo Acevedo
JOJosé Manuel Ortiz-Sánchez
José Manuel Ortiz-Sánchez
Hugo Jesús Justil-GuerreroHugo Jesús Justil-Guerrero
Hugo Jesús Justil-Guerrero
ALDO JAVIER GUZMAN DUXTANALDO JAVIER GUZMAN DUXTAN
ALDO JAVIER GUZMAN DUXTAN
Moringa oleifera Lam, commonly known as moringa, is a plant widely used both as a human food and for medicinal purposes around the world. This research aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera leaves (MoAE) and benzyl isothiocyanate (BIT) in rats with induced breast cancer. Cancer was induced with 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) at a dose of 60 mg/kg by orogastric gavage once only. Forty-eight rats were randomly assigned to eight groups, each consisting of six individuals. The control group (healthy) was called Group I. Group II received DMBA plus saline. In addition to DMBA, Groups III, IV, and V received MoAE at 100, 250, and 500 mg/kg/day, respectively, while Groups VI, VII, and VIII received BIT at 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg/day, respectively. Treatment was carried out for 13 weeks. Secondary metabolite analysis results identified predominantly quercetin, caffeoylquinic acid, neochlorogenic acid, vitexin, and kaempferol, as well as tropone, betaine, loliolide, and vitexin. The administration of MoAE at a dose of 500 mg/kg and BIT at 20 mg/kg exhibited a notable decrease in both the total tumor count and the cumulative tumor weight, along with a delay in their onset. Furthermore, they improved the histological grade. A significant decrease in serum levels of VEGF and IL-1β levels was observed (p < 0.001) with a better effect demonstrated with MoAE at 500 mg/kg and BIT at 20 mg/kg. In conclusion, this study suggests that both the aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera leaves and the benzyl isothiocyanate possess antitumor properties against mammary carcinogenesis, and this effect could be due, at least in part, to the flavonoids and isothiocyanates present in the extract.

2 October 2022 in Molecules
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RMRaquel Mateos
Raquel Mateos
NRNorma Ramos-Cevallos
Norma Ramos-Cevallos
ALAMÉRICO JORGE CASTRO LUNA
AMÉRICO JORGE CASTRO LUNA
MRMariella Ramos-Gonzalez
Mariella Ramos-Gonzalez
ZCZOYLA CLAVO
ZOYLA CLAVO
JGJOSE LUIS RODRIGUEZ GUTIERREZ
JOSE LUIS RODRIGUEZ GUTIERREZ
Brunfelsia grandiflora is an ancient plant widely used for its promising medicinal properties, although little explored scientifically. Despite being a rich source of phenolic compounds responsible in part for the proven anti-inflammatory activity, its characterization has not been carried out to date. The present work deals with the exhaustive identification and quantification of its phenolic fraction, along with its antioxidant activity. Decoction resulting from the bark as fine powder was filtered and lyophilized, and polyphenols were extracted from the resulting product by aqueous-organic solvents. Seventy-nine polyphenols were identified using LC-MSn. Hydroxycinnamates was the most abundant group of compounds (up to 66.8%), followed by hydroxycoumarins (15.5%), lignans (6.1%), flavonols (5.7%), phenolic simples (3.1), gallates (2.3%), flavanols (0.3%), and flavanones (0.2%). About 64% of the characterized phenols were in their glycosylated forms. The quantification of these phytochemicals by LC-QToF showed that this medicinal plant contained 2014.71 mg of phenolic compounds in 100 g dry matter, which evidences a great antioxidant potency determined by ABTS and DPPH assays. Therefore, Brunfelsia grandiflora represents an important source of polyphenols which supports its therapeutic properties scientifically proven.

20 April 2024 in Molecules
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Journal Article
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MHMiguel Angel Vasquez Huaman
Miguel Angel Vasquez Huaman
ALAMÉRICO JORGE CASTRO LUNA
AMÉRICO JORGE CASTRO LUNA
NRNorma Ramos-Cevallos
Norma Ramos-Cevallos
DRDonald Ramos-Perfecto
Donald Ramos-Perfecto
MAMario Alcarraz-Curi
Mario Alcarraz-Curi
DCDanny Gustavo Cáceres
Danny Gustavo Cáceres
The goal of this study was to apply the principles of analytical quality by design (AQbD) to the analytical method for determining the radiochemical purity (PQR) of the radiopharmaceutical sodium iodide 131I oral solution, utilizing thin-layer chromatography (TLC) with a radio–TLC scanner, which also enables the evaluation of product quality. For AQbD, the analytical target profile (ATP), critical quality attributes (CQA), risk management, and the method operable design region (MODR) were defined through response surface methodology to optimize the method using MINITAB® 19 software. This study encompassed the establishment of a control strategy and the validation of the method, including the assessment of selectivity, linearity, precision, robustness, detection limit, quantification limit, range, and the stability of the sample solution. Under the experimental conditions, the method parameters of the TLC scanner were experimentally demonstrated and optimized with an injection volume of 3 µL, a radioactive concentration of 10 mCi/mL, and a carrier volume of 40 µL. Statistical analysis confirmed the method’s selectivity for the 131I iodide band Rf of 0.8, a radiochemical impurity IO3− Rf of 0.6, a linearity from 6.0 to 22.0 mCi/mL, and an intermediate precision with a global relative standard deviation (RSD) of 0.624%. The method also exhibited robustness, with a global RSD of 0.101%, a detection limit of 0.09 mCi/mL, and a quantification limit of 0.53 Ci/mL, meeting the prescribed range and displaying stability over time (at 0, 2, and 20 h) with a global RSD of 0.362%, resulting in consistent outcomes. The development of a method based on AQbD facilitated the creation of a design space and an operational space, with comprehensive knowledge of the method’s characteristics and limitations. Additionally, throughout all operations, compliance with the acceptance criteria was verified. The method’s validity was confirmed under the established conditions, making it suitable for use in the manufacturing process of sodium iodide 131I and application in nuclear medicine services.

30 December 2023 in Ciencia e Investigación
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ERElder M. Reyes
Elder M. Reyes
LILuis A. Inostroza
Luis A. Inostroza
ALAMÉRICO JORGE CASTRO LUNA
AMÉRICO JORGE CASTRO LUNA
MLMilagros M. Llacza
Milagros M. Llacza
MCMax H. De la Cruz
Max H. De la Cruz
La alcoholemia es una de las pruebas químicas realizadas con mayor frecuencia en los laboratorios forenses por lo que es imprescindible disponer de métodos analíticos exactos, precisos y adecuados para el propósito. El objetivo del presente estudio fue desarrollar y validar un método para determinar alcoholemia por cromatografía de gases/espectrometría de masas. Se desarrolló el método por inyección de espacio de cabeza estático empleando propan-1-ol como estándar interno, el cromatógrafo de gases se configuró a 40 ºC, la adquisición de datos del espectrómetro de masas fue en modo full scan (28 - 65 uma), los analitos se identificaron por comparación de los espectros de masas con las bibliotecas del espectrómetro de masas, el etanol se cuantificó considerando el fragmento iónico 31. El método desarrollado resultó selectivo (separó eficientemente el etanol del metanol, etanal, propanona, propan-1-ol y propan-2-ol con resolución superior a 3), sensible (los límites de detección y cuantificación fueron de 0,00213 g/L y 0,00710 g/L respectivamente), lineal (R2 = 0,9994, en el rango de trabajo de 0,1 g/L hasta 4,0 g/L), preciso (los coeficientes de variación fueron inferiores a 1,36 % y 1,97 % en la repetibilidad y precisión intermedia respectivamente), exacto (la recuperación obtenida fue del 98,4 % al 101,7 %) y robusto (estadísticamente se obtuvieron los mismos resultados al hacer variaciones mínimas en el método). Se concluye que el método desarrollado y validado para la determinación de alcoholemia por cromatografía de gases/espectrometría de masas es selectivo, sensible, lineal, preciso, exacto y robusto.