Personal profile
Research Interests
The collection of publications presents a cohesive program around biodiversity-driven natural products, ethnobotany, and environmental microbiology with applications to health, nutrition, and sustainability. Across diverse tropical species, the work characterizes bioactive compounds (vitamin C, organic acids, carotenoids, phenolics, chlorophylls), minerals, and antioxidant/antimicrobial activities in fruits, leaves, seeds, shells, and mucilage at multiple maturity stages and environmental conditions. Several studies highlight the potential of non-traditional and Amazonian fruits (e.g., Miconia crocea, Salacca zalacca, Lacmellea edulis, Miconia crenata, Grias neuberthii, Pourouma cecropiifolia, Annona edulis, Theobroma subincanum, Artocarpus heterophyllus, Phytelephas tenuicalis, Mauritia flexuosa, Euterpe oleracea) as sources of nutraceuticals, functional foods, and pharmaceutical leads, with emphasis on optimizing extraction, evaluating antimicrobial and antiproliferative activities, and understanding how parts of plants (pulp, peel, seeds, leaves, mucilage, shell) contribute to bioactivity. The work also includes a methodological thread on advanced phytochemical analysis (RRLC, LC, microextraction, ABTS/DPPH assays) and an environmental microbiology strand addressing antimicrobial resistance and emerging contaminants, including blaCTX-M transmission markers and estrone degradation by river bacteria (e.g., Pseudomonas putida). The integrated message is that tropical biodiversity, when studied comprehensively from chemistry to bioactivity to ecology, holds significant potential for health-promoting products and environmental biotechnologies, with a consistent call for in vivo validation and ecological awareness.
Key Topics:
- Biodiversity, Ethnobotany & Natural Products
- Agriculture, Precision Farming, Food Systems & Agroecology
- Environmental Science, Water, Waste & Circular Economy
- Antimicrobial Activity & Antioxidant Compounds
- Bioactive Compound Profiling (LC/RRLC, microextraction)
- Emerging Contaminants and Environmental Microbiology
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
-
SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being -
SDG 14 Life Below Water
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
-
Characterization of secondary metabolites in Bacillus spp. strains using qualitative and quantitative assays
Acurio Vasconez, R. D. (Col), Mendez Silva, G. I. (PI), Montenegro Cadena, M. J. (Student), Valarezo Gomez, N. M. (Student), Flores Moreta, G. D. (Student) & Suarez Naranjo, J. E. (Student)
1/12/25 → …
Project: Research and Development
-
Integrated Characterization of Soil Microbiome and Physico-Edaphic Properties Using Metataxonomy and Applied Geophysics in Diversified Agricultural Systems
Chiluisa Utreras, V. P. (Col), Vaca Suquillo, I. D. L. A. (Col), Acurio Vasconez, R. D. (PI), Meneses Morillo, J. G. (Col), Mendez Silva, G. I. (Col), Cevallos Amagua, D. A. (Student), Garofalo Cepeda, M. S. (Student), Guerrero Vasquez, E. N. (Student), Betancourt Mediavilla, C. B. (Student), Rivera Paredes, E. I. (Student), Paredes Chiquiza, X. A. (Student), Masaquiza Chango, C. E. (Student), Naranjo Lopez, C. M. (Student), Jacome Intriago, K. O. (Student), Roman Luzuriaga, L. A. (Student), Santana Vargas, V. M. (Student) & Robles Recalde, M. A. (Student)
28/10/25 → …
Project: Research and Development
-
Bioinformatic Study of Microbial Genes and Genomes Associated with Exposure to Environmental Drugs
Coyago Cruz, E. D. R. (Col), Mendez Silva, G. I. (PI), Cachipuendo Vega, D. L. (Student), Torres Calderon, E. A. (Student), Aguilar Llanos, E. D. (Student), Rodriguez Carapaz, K. L. (Student), Tulcanaz Montesdoca, J. K. (Student), Amores Sandoval, S. C. (Student), Romero Tiglla, G. E. (Student), Ortega Mazón, D. R. (Student), Criollo Apolo, M. J. (Student) & Usinia Carranza, J. M. (Student)
1/08/25 → …
Project: Research and Development
-
Metabolomic, Antioxidant, and Antimicrobial Profile of Edible Species and Their Derivatives at Different Stages of Maturity for the Development of New Products
Cerna Cevallos, M. F. (Col), Coyago Cruz, E. D. R. (PI), Mendez Silva, G. I. (Col), Velez Vite, S. G. (Student), Moya Coyago, M. X. (Student), Tinajero Cedeño, E. G. (Assistant), Tufiño Tufiño, G. E. (Student), Rodriguez Muñoz, F. J. (Student), Diaz Cadena, T. C. (Student), Alomoto Quinaucho, M. A. (Student), Torres Caceres, K. A. (Student), Cumbal Pulupa, F. E. (Student), Gonzalez Palacios, D. C. (Student), Jaramillo Martinez, P. C. (Student), Yanque Chuchuca, L. S. (Student), Altamirano Freire, K. E. (Student), Ochoa Ocampo, M. A. (Student), Arcentales Valladares, S. D. (Student), Saltos Estrella, C. V. (Student), Arcos Davila, J. M. (Student), Regalado Velasquez, P. I. (Student), Peralvo Raza, B. A. (Student), Hidalgo Davila, A. M. (Student), Recillo Dicado, M. S. (Student), Zambrano Ordoñez, J. I. (Student), Alpusig Guanoluisa, L. S. (Student), Parra Calva, L. M. (Student), Soledispa Chorlango, J. L. (Student), Masabanda Ochoa, M. G. (Student), Tigasi Toapanta, D. C. (Student), Viracucha Guzman, N. C. (Student), Heredia Moya, J. H. (External), Segovia Salcedo, M. C. (External), Miño Castro, G. M. (External), Proaño Tuma, K. I. (External), Vilcacnundo Chamorro, R. D. (External) & Albaracin Serrano, M. J. (Student)
27/06/25 → …
Project: Research and Development
-
Evaluation of the growth kinetics of microorganisms exposed to carbamazepine for the determination of microbial susceptibility or tolerance
Mendez Silva, G. I. (PI), Cachipuendo Vega, D. L. (Student), Guamangallo Suarez, M. S. (Student), Buyancela Quezada, S. R. (Student) & Torres Calderon, E. A. (Student)
12/04/24 → …
Project: Research and Development
-
Functional Evaluation, Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, Antibiofilm, and Haemolytic Capacity of Calathea lutea (Bijao) and Calathea inocephala (Shutupipanga) Leaves
Coyago Cruz, E., Mayorga Ramos, A., Méndez, G., Alpusig Guanoluisa, L., Rivera Rueda, F., Zúñiga Miranda, J., Barba Ostria, C. & Heredia Moya, J., Mar 2026, In: Antioxidants. 15, 3, 274.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Antitumor, and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Gleichenella pectinata, a Bioprospecting of Medicinal Ferns
Coyago-Cruz, E., Gonzalez-Pastor, R., Méndez, G., Moya-Coyago, M., Puente-Pineda, J. A., Zúñiga-Miranda, J., Cerna, M. & Heredia-Moya, J., Nov 2025, In: Antioxidants. 14, 11, 1354.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Bioactive Compounds, Antioxidant, and Antimicrobial Activity of Seeds and Mucilage of Non-Traditional Cocoas
Coyago-Cruz, E., Salazar, I., Guachamin, A., Alomoto, M., Cerna, M., Mendez, G., Heredia-Moya, J. & Vera, E., 28 Feb 2025, In: Antioxidants. 14, 3, 299.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access10 Link opens in a new tab Scopus citations -
Bioactive Compounds, Antioxidant, Antimicrobial and Anticancerogenic Activity in Lacmellea edulis H. Karst., at Different Stages of Maturity
Coyago-Cruz, E., Zúñiga-Miranda, J., Méndez, G., Alomoto, M., Vélez-Vite, S., Barba-Ostria, C., Gonzalez-Pastor, R. & Heredia-Moya, J., Oct 2025, In: Antioxidants. 14, 10, 1232.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Dimerocostus strobilaceus (Caña Agria) as an Emerging Reservoir of Bioactive Metabolites with Potential Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, Anticancer and Anti-Inflammatory Health Benefits
Coyago-Cruz, E., Gonzalez-Pastor, R., Méndez, G., Usinia-Carranza, J., Puente-Pineda, J. A., Zúñiga-Miranda, J., Cerna, M. & Heredia-Moya, J., Nov 2025, In: Antioxidants. 14, 11, 1298.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access2 Link opens in a new tab Scopus citations
Press/Media
-
Research on Food Research Detailed by Researchers at Polytechnic University (Dynamics of Bioactive Compounds and Their Relationship with Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activity in the Pulp, Peel, and Seeds of 'Salak' During Ripening)
12/11/25
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media
-
Polytechnic University Researchers Publish New Study Findings on Biological Factors (Functional, Antioxidant, and Antimicrobial Profile of Medicinal Leaves from the Amazon)
Cerna Cevallos, M. F. & Mendez Silva, G. I.
9/09/25
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media
-
Polytechnic University Researchers Reveal New Findings on Diet and Nutrition (Bioactive Compounds, Antioxidant, and Antimicrobial Activity of Seeds and Mucilage of Non-Traditional Cocoas)
Cerna Cevallos, M. F. & Mendez Silva, G. I.
9/04/25
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media
-
Researchers at Polytechnic University Release New Study Findings on Biological Factors (Functional, Antioxidant, Antibacterial, and Antifungal Activity of Edible Flowers)
9/12/24
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media
-
Universidad Politecnica Salesiana Researcher Broadens Understanding of Antioxidants (Evaluation of Bioactive Compounds and Antioxidant Activity in 51 Minor Tropical Fruits of Ecuador)
21/12/23
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media