Luz Maria Calvo Irabien

@cicy.mx

Invetigadora de tiempo completo Unidad de Recursos Naturales
Centro de Investigacion Cientifica de Yucatan

Luz Maria Calvo Irabien


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https://researchid.co/luzmariacalvo

RESEARCH, TEACHING, or OTHER INTERESTS

Agricultural and Biological Sciences, Plant Science, Agricultural and Biological Sciences, Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
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Scopus Publications

Scopus Publications

  • Antifungal Potential of Essential Oils From Native Mexican Species: Chemical Composition and In Vitro Vapor-Phase Analyses
    María José Martínez‐Laborda, Daisy Pérez‐Brito, Rosa Grijalva‐Arango, Mariana Chávez‐Pesqueira, Teresita de Jesús Valencia‐Yah, et al.
    Chemistry and Biodiversity, 2026
    Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and Rhizopus stolonifer are fungal pathogens that cause significant postharvest fruit losses. The continued use of synthetic fungicides raises concerns about toxicity, environmental impacts, and resistance development, leading to increased interest in alternatives such as essential oils (EOs). This study assessed the antifungal activity of 10 EOs extracted from native aromatic plants of the Yucatán Peninsula using vapor‐phase assays. EOs from Lippia origanoides, Bursera simaruba , and Piper auritum showed activity against both fungi. Their chemical compositions were dominated by monoterpenes and monoterpenoids, including carvacrol (60%), α‐pinene (65.2%), and safrole (55.7%), respectively. L. origanoides EO exhibited minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of 0.01 and 0.006 µL/mL air against the mycelial growth of C. gloeosporioides and R. stolonifer , respectively, and a 0.4 µL/mL air for spore germination in C. gloeosporioides . Furthermore, this research offers deeper insights into the link between EO chemical composition and antifungal activity through multivariate statistical methods, including hierarchical cluster analysis, heat map visualization, and correlation analysis. Scanning electron microscopy revealed notable ultrastructural changes, such as hyphal shrinkage, deformation, and spore collapse, suggesting membrane disruption. These findings, obtained under in vitro conditions, provide additional evidence of antifungal efficacy in vapor‐phase systems and encourage additional investigation of L. origanoides EO. Additional studies, including in vivo experiments and assessments under postharvest conditions, are necessary to determine its practical applicability.
  • Antimicrobial activity of oregano essential oils against Pseudomonas aeruginosa: review of potential applications
    Herly A. Medina-Chuc, Luz M. Calvo-Irabien, Adrián A. Ruiz-Sierra, Arturo A. Alvarado-Segura
    Revista Chapingo Serie Ciencias Forestales Y Del Ambiente, 2026
    Introducción Las especies de orégano constituyen un recurso forestal no maderable con alta importancia económica. Sus aceites esenciales son utilizados ampliamente debido a sus compuestos bioactivos que se asocian con propiedades antimicrobianas. Objetivo Comparar y sintetizar la evidencia sobre la actividad antimicrobiana de los aceites esenciales de Origanum vulgare L. y Lippia origanoides Kunth, con el fin de valorar su aplicación potencial para el control de Pseudomonas aeruginosa en la industria alimentaria y en contextos relacionados con los servicios de salud pública. Materiales y métodos Se revisaron artículos mayoritariamente publicados entre 2015 y 2025 que evalúan la actividad antimicrobiana de los aceites esenciales de O. vulgare y L. origanoides contra P. aeruginosa. Resultados Los aceites esenciales de orégano contienen principalmente timol y carvacrol, compuestos responsables de su actividad antimicrobiana. La concentración de estos depende de factores genéticos y ambientales, lo que influye en su eficacia. La literatura indica que el timol y el carvacrol están asociados con la inhibición de la formación de biopelículas, lo que resalta su potencial como alternativas para el control microbiano en superficies de la industria alimentaria y de servicios de salud pública. Conclusiones Los aceites esenciales de L. origanoides y O. vulgare, ricos en timol y carvacrol, inhiben la adhesión y formación de biopelículas de P. aeruginosa; sin embargo, es necesario evaluar su citotoxicidad y determinar concentraciones óptimas aceptables para su uso.
  • Essential Oil Variability of Ocimum campechianum Mill. in Southeastern Mexico: A Chemometric Approach
    Luz María Calvo‐Irabien
    Chemistry and Biodiversity, 2025
    Ocimum campechianum Mill. is an aromatic herb widely distributed in North America, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. It has been used in traditional medicine since pre‐Columbian times. The essential oil of O. campechianum is known for its diverse chemical composition, which influences its biological activity. This study evaluated the chemical variability of 39 samples from wild populations under different ecological conditions. Essential oil samples were isolated from aerial parts by hydrodistillation. Comprehensive qualitative and quantitative chemical profiling was performed using gas chromatography (GC)–mass spectra (MS) and GC‐FID analyses. Thirty‐eight chemical compounds were detected in the essential oil samples. Unsupervised and supervised multivariate techniques were employed to elucidate the underlying chemical patterns. The relative percentage area data of the metabolites were modeled using principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis. For chemotype identification, a supervised model was generated using partial least squares‐discriminant analysis. The eugenol chemotype was most abundant, representing 38.5% of the samples. Three new chemotypes are described: chemotype eucalyptol, with this metabolite representing 34.1%–44.4% of the relative profile area; chemotype β‐caryophyllene (23.0%–35.3%); and chemotype β‐elemene (24.6%–33.2%). This assessment offers a robust framework for chemotype differentiation, providing deeper insights into the chemical diversity and potential applications of the essential oil of this species.
  • Plant Diversity in a Volcanic Crater Interior: Laguna De Apoyo Nature Reserve, Nicaragua
    Jeffrey K. McCrary, Alain Kheim Meyrat, Ricardo M. Rueda, Luz Maria Calvo-Irabien
    Conservation, 2025
    Volcanic crater interiors in Nicaragua’s Pacific region are a valuable, understudied, and threatened native plant resource. Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve encompasses a crater and lake formed following a Quaternary volcanic explosion in Pacific Nicaragua. The flora of the tropical dry forest in the crater’s interior surrounding the lake has not been extensively assessed. We identified 403 native and 72 introduced plant species and their uses through a combination of survey plots, unstructured interviews, expert consultations, and targeted searches for plant species coordinated with key informants in the Reserve. Fabaceae, Euphorbiaceae, and Asteraceae were the most represented native species, whereas the most significant numbers of introduced species were found in Poaceae, Euphorbiaceae, and Fabaceae. Forty-one species have conservation priority status. Documented uses were found for 70% of the native species and 88% of the introduced species. The most significant numbers of plant species with reported use types were ornamentals and fuelwood. This study constitutes the most comprehensive plant species inventory in a protected area of Nicaragua’s tropical dry forest biome. These findings indicate native plant diversity is high, introduced species pose considerable risks, and most species are integrated into local uses. Consequently, management decisions should explicitly promote native diversity, protect threatened species, better control introduced species, and encourage sustainable use.
  • Mechanistic Insights Into the Effect of the Essential Oil of Ambrosia hispida Pursh. Against Multidrug-Resistant Clinical Isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii
    Haziel Eleazar Dzib‐Baak, Gloria María Molina‐Salinas, Andrés Humberto Uc‐Cachón, Sergio Nemorio Hidalgo‐Figueroa, Ángel Dzul‐Beh, et al.
    Chemistry and Biodiversity, 2025
    The emergence of antimicrobial‐resistant bacteria has significantly compromised global public health. The World Health Organization has identified priority pathogens for research and new therapeutic strategies, highlighting carbapenem‐resistant Acinetobacter baumannii as a critical priority. Ambrosia hispida essential oil (EO) from the Yucatan Peninsula was investigated for its anti‐ A. baumannii properties. GC–MS analysis identified 27 metabolites, predominantly sesquiterpenes and oxygenated sesquiterpenes, with spathulenol, caryophyllene oxide, and α‐pinene as major compounds. This EO exhibited antibacterial activity against A. baumannii strains, strong inhibition of biofilm formation, and anti‐quorum‐sensing activity. Moreover, the EO also decreased bacterial survival in response to H 2 O 2 , indicating anti‐catalase activity. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis confirmed the EO's ability to inhibit biofilm formation and cause morphological alterations in bacterial cells. Molecular docking studies revealed that kaurene, a diterpene in the EO, had the strongest interaction with bacterial targets involved in biofilm formation. The study highlights the potential of A. hispida EO as a promising candidate for developing agents to combat carbapenem‐resistant A . baumannii .
  • Potential Anti-Infectious Activity of Essential Oil Chemotypes of Lippia origanoides Kunth on Antibiotic-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Strains
    Andrés Humberto Uc-Cachón, Luz María Calvo-Irabien, Angel de Jesús Dzul-Beh, Haziel Eleazar Dzib-Baak, Rosa Grijalva-Arango, et al.
    Plants, 2024
    Staphylococcus aureus infections are prevalent in healthcare and community environments. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus is catalogued as a superbug of high priority among the pathogens. This Gram-positive coccus can form biofilms and produce toxins, leading to persistent infection and antibiotic resistance. Limited effective antibiotics have encouraged the development of innovative strategies, with a particular emphasis on resistance mechanisms and/or virulence factors. Medicinal aromatic plants have emerged as promising alternative sources. This study investigated the antimicrobial, antibiofilm, and antihemolysis properties of three different chemotypes of Lippia origanoides essential oil (EO) against susceptible and drug-resistant S. aureus strains. The chemical composition of the EO was analyzed using GC-MS, revealing high monoterpene concentrations, with carvacrol and thymol as the major components in two of the chemotypes. The third chemotype consisted mainly of the sesquiterpene β-caryophyllene. The MIC values for the two monoterpene chemotypes ranged from 62.5 to 500 µg/mL for all strains, whereas the sesquiterpene chemotype showed activity against seven strains at concentrations of 125–500 µg/mL, which is the first report of its anti-S. aureus activity. The phenolic chemotypes inhibited biofilm formation in seven S. aureus strains, whereas the sesquiterpene chemotype only inhibited biofilm formation in four strains. In addition, phenolic chemotypes displayed antihemolysis activity, with IC50 values ranging from 58.9 ± 3.8 to 128.3 ± 9.2 µg/mL. Our study highlights the importance of L. origanoides EO from the Yucatan Peninsula, which has the potential for the development of anti-S. aureus agents.
  • [EFFECT OF THE ESSENTIAL OIL OF Lippia origanoides Kunth AND TWO OF ITS VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS ON Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) AND Bemisia tabaci Genn (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) IN GREENHOUSE]
    Ángel M. Herrera-Gorocica, Emanuel Hernández-Núñez, Luz M. Calvo-Irabien, Ángeles Sánchez-Contreras, Ana L. Ruiz-Jiménez, et al.
    Tropical and Subtropical Agroecosystems, 2023
    <p><strong>Background.</strong> The use of plant-derived products is an environmentally friendly option to reduce the use of chemical pesticides for pest management. <strong>Objective.</strong> To evaluate the lethal toxic and repellent effect of the essential oil (EO) of the Mexican oregano (<em>Lippia origanoides</em>) and two of its main components, carvacrol and thymol, on the mortality and repellency of immature <em>B. tabaci</em> and <em>T. urticae</em> in the greenhouse. <strong>Methodology.</strong> The EO of <em>L. origanoides</em>, carvacrol and thymol at 0.2% and 0.01% were sprayed on eggplant leaves infested with the pests. The mortality of individuals was evaluated at 24 and 48 h and the repellency at 2 and 5 days after application in <em>T. urticae</em> and <em>B. tabaci</em>. <strong>Results</strong>. The EO and carvacrol at 0.2 % v/v caused 80-99 % mortality in <em>T. urticae</em> and <em>B. tabaci</em>, and EO was the one that caused more than 50 % repellency. The analysis of the <em>L. origanoides</em> EO by gas chromatography – mass spectrometry showed that the major compounds were thymol (41.14 %), p-cymene (14.06 %) and carvacrol (9.25 %). <strong>Implication.</strong> The essential oil of <em>L. origanoides</em> and of its main components, thymol and carvacrol, represent a viable alternative to manage <em>B. tabaci</em> and <em>T. urticae</em>. <strong>Conclusion.</strong> The EO of <em>L. origanoides</em> and carvacrol at 0.2 % v/v produce more that 80 % mortality and more that 50 % repellency in <em>T. urticae</em> and <em>B. tabaci</em></p>
  • Bee Species, Botanical Sources and the Chemical Composition of Propolis from Yucatan, Mexico
    Mercedes Guadalupe Herrera-López, Pascal Richomme, Luis Manuel Peña-Rodríguez, Luz María Calvo-Irabien
    Journal of Chemical Ecology, 2023
  • Effect of yeast and essential oil-enriched diets on critical determinants of health and immune function in Africanized Apis mellifera
    César Canché-Collí, Humberto Estrella-Maldonado, Luis A. Medina-Medina, Humberto Moo-Valle, Luz Maria Calvo-Irabien, et al.
    Peerj, 2021
    Nutrition is vital for health and immune function in honey bees ( Apis mellifera ). The effect of diets enriched with bee-associated yeasts and essential oils of Mexican oregano ( Lippia graveolens ) was tested on survival, food intake, accumulated fat body tissue, and gene expression of vitellogenin ( Vg ), prophenoloxidase ( proPO ) and glucose oxidase ( GOx ) in newly emerged worker bees. The enriched diets were provided to bees under the premise that supplementation with yeasts or essential oils can enhance health variables and the expression of genes related to immune function in worker bees. Based on a standard pollen substitute, used as a control diet, enriched diets were formulated, five with added bee-associated yeasts ( Starmerella bombicola , Starmerella etchellsii , Starmerella bombicola 2 , Zygosaccharomyces mellis, and the brewers’ yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae ) and three with added essential oils from L. graveolens (carvacrol, thymol, and sesquiterpenes). Groups of bees were fed one of the diets for 9 or 12 days. Survival probability was similar in the yeast and essential oils treatments in relation to the control, but median survival was lower in the carvacrol and sesquiterpenes treatments. Food intake was higher in all the yeast treatments than in the control. Fat body percentage in individual bees was slightly lower in all treatments than in the control, with significant decreases in the thymol and carvacrol treatments. Expression of the genes Vg , proPO , and GOx was minimally affected by the yeast treatments but was adversely affected by the carvacrol and thymol treatments.
  • IMPACT OF THE IN SITU-EX SITU MANAGEMENT OF MEXICAN OREGANO (LIPPIA ORIGANOIDES KUNTH) IN NORTHWESTERN YUCATAN
    Irina Llamas-Torres, Rosa Grijalva-Arango, Luciana Porter-Bolland, Luz Maria Calvo-Irabien
    Botanical Sciences, 2020
    Antecedentes: El impacto del manejo de plantas en un gradiente in situ - ex situ varía dependiendo de factores culturales, socioeconómicos, ecológicos y tecnológicos. Dicho impacto resulta en la divergencia entre poblaciones silvestres y cultivadas, sugiriendo una domesticación incipiente.Hipótesis: Se espera encontrar mayor producción foliar y diferencias en las características del aceite esencial en los sistemas con manejo más intensivo.Especies de estudio: Lippia origanoides Sitio y años de estudio: vegetación natural, huertos y parcelas del noroeste de Yucatán. 2018-2019.Métodos: En cuatro localidades se documentaron las prácticas de manejo en los sistemas monte, huerto y parcela. Se seleccionaron, por comunidad, cuatro sitios de cada sistema de manejo y se marcaron ocho individuos. Usando ANOVAs se evaluó el efecto principal e interacción de los factores sistema de manejo y localidad, sobre la producción de hoja, intensidad de manejo, cantidad y calidad del aceite esencial.Resultados: El 23 % de los hogares manejan el orégano, preferentemente combinan dos o tres sistemas de manejo. La producción foliar fue mayor en la parcela, seguida de los huertos y por último el monte. No existió un efecto significativo del sistema de manejo sobre el rendimiento del aceite esencial, ni la concentración de carvacrol. La mayoría de los entrevistados no percibe variabilidad intraespecífica en el aroma del orégano.Conclusiones: La selección de individuos in situ para su trasplante, y el riego, son prácticas de manejo que, sumadas a otras prácticas, podrían explicar las diferencias en la producción foliar, sugiriendo un proceso de domesticación incipiente.Translatestop Translatestop
  • Resorcinolic lipids from Yucatecan propolis
    Mercedes Herrera-López, Evelyn Rubio-Hernández, Pascal Richomme, Andreas Schinkovitz, Luz Calvo-Irabién, et al.
    Journal of the Brazilian Chemical Society, 2020
  • Seasonal and successional dynamics of size-dependent plant demographic rates in a tropical dry forest
    Irving Saenz-Pedroza, Richard Feldman, Casandra Reyes-García, Jorge A. Meave, Luz Maria Calvo-Irabien, et al.
    Peerj, 2020
  • Integrating ecological and socioeconomic criteria in a GIS-based multicriteria-multiobjective analysis to develop sustainable harvesting strategies for Mexican oregano Lippia graveolens Kunth, a non-timber forest product
    Llamas-Torres Irina, Bello-Pineda Javier, Castillo-Burguete María Teresa, Leyequien-Abarca Eurídice, Calvo-Irabien Luz María del Carmen
    Land Use Policy, 2019
  • Botanical origin of triterpenoids from Yucatecan propolis
    Mercedes G. Herrera-López, Evelyn I. Rubio-Hernández, Martha A. Leyte-Lugo, Andreas Schinkovitz, Pascal Richomme, et al.
    Phytochemistry Letters, 2019
  • Effect of cyclodextrins and Mexican oregano (Lippia graveolens Kunth) chemotypes on the microencapsulation of essential oil
    Natalia Barbieri, Angeles Sanchez-Contreras, Azucena Canto, Juan Valerio Cauich-Rodriguez, Rossana Vargas-Coronado, et al.
    Industrial Crops and Products, 2018
  • Native Mexican aromatic flora and essential oils: Current research status, gaps in knowledge and agro-industrial potential
    Luz María Calvo-Irabien
    Industrial Crops and Products, 2018
  • Herb-chronology as a tool for determining the age of perennial forbs in tropical climates
    Mickel Randolph Hiebert-Giesbrecht, Candelaria Yuseth Novelo-Rodríguez, Gabriel Rolando Dzib, Luz María Calvo-Irabién, Georg von Arx, et al.
    Botany, 2018
  • Spatio-Temporal Variation of Terpenoids in Wild Plants of Pentalinon andrieuxii
    Mickel R. Hiebert‐Giesbrecht, Fabiola Escalante‐Erosa, Karlina García‐Sosa, Gabriel R. Dzib, Luz M. Calvo‐Irabien, et al.
    Chemistry and Biodiversity, 2016
  • Natural selection under contrasting ecological conditions in the aromatic plant Lippia graveolens (H.B.K., Verbenaceae)
    Carlos F. Vargas-Mendoza, Ilka G. Ortegón-Campos, Luz M. Calvo-Irabién
    Plant Systematics and Evolution, 2016
  • Genetic diversity and genetic structure in wild populations of Mexican oregano (Lippia graveolens H.B.K.) and its relationship with the chemical composition of the essential oil
    Daniela A. Martínez-Natarén, Víctor Parra-Tabla, Miriam M. Ferrer-Ortega, Luz María Calvo-Irabién
    Plant Systematics and Evolution, 2014
  • Photosynthetic capacity and terpene production in populations of Lippia graveolens (Mexican oregano) growing wild and in a common garden in the Yucatán peninsula
    Wilmer Tezara, Ilsa Coronel, Ana Hererra, Gabriel Dzib, Karina Canul-Puc, et al.
    Industrial Crops and Products, 2014
  • Phytochemical diversity of the essential oils of Mexican oregano (Lippia graveolens Kunth) populations along an edapho-climatic gradient
    Luz María Calvo‐Irabién, Victor Parra‐Tabla, Violeta Acosta‐Arriola, Fabiola Escalante‐Erosa, Luciana Díaz‐Vera, et al.
    Chemistry and Biodiversity, 2014
  • The biogeographical regions and relationship of the Yucatán Peninsula based on distribution patterns of the Leguminosae family
    Revista Mexicana De Biodiversidad, 2012
  • Palm species richness, abundance and diversity in the Yucatan Peninsula, in a neotropical context
    Arturo A. Alvarado‐Segura, Luz María Calvo‐Irabién, Rodrigo Duno de Stefano, Henrik Balslev
    Nordic Journal of Botany, 2012
  • Essential oil yield variation within and among wild populations of mexican oregano (lippia graveolens h.b.k.-verbenaceae), and its relation to climatic and edaphic conditions
    Daniela A. Martínez-Natarén, Víctor Parra-Tabla, Gabriel Dzib, Violeta Acosta-Arriola, Karina A. Canul-Puc, et al.
    Journal of Essential Oil Bearing Plants, 2012
  • Population status and reproductive success of an endangered epiphytic orchid in a fragmented landscape
    Victor Parra-Tabla, Carlos F. Vargas, Celina Naval, Luz M. Calvo, Jeff Ollerton
    Biotropica, 2011
  • Morphology and density of glandular trichomes in populations of Mexican oregano (Lippia graveolens H.B.K., Verbenaceae), and the relationship between trichome density and climate
    Daniela A. Martínez-Natarén, Víctor Parra-Tabla, Gabriel Dzib, Luz María Calvo-Irabién
    Journal of the Torrey Botanical Society, 2011
  • Contrasting palm species and use diversity in the Yucatan Peninsula and the Ecuadorian Amazon
    Lucía de la Torre, Luz María Calvo-Irabién, Carmen Salazar, Henrik Balslev, Finn Borchsenius
    Biodiversity and Conservation, 2009
  • Effect of postharvest drying on the composition of Mexican oregano (Lippia graveolens) essential oil
    L. M. Calvo-Irabien, J. A. Yam-Puc, G. Dzib, F. Escalante-Erosa, L. M. Peña-Rodriguez
    Journal of Herbs Spices and Medicinal Plants, 2009
  • Effects of leaf harvest on thrinax radiata palm: Implications for management and conservation
    Journal of Tropical Forest Science, 2009
  • Land-use and land-cover changes (1979-2000) in two rural communities in NW Quintana Roo, Mexico
    Investigaciones Geograficas, 2007
  • Seed dispersal and germination of the epiphyte Tillandsia brachycaulos (bromeliaceae) in a tropical dry forest, Mexico
    Demetria Mondragon, L. Maria Calvo-Irabien
    Southwestern Naturalist, 2006
  • The basis for obligate epiphytism in Tillandsia brachycaulos (Bromeliaceae) in a Mexican tropical dry forest
    Demetria Mondragón, Luz Maria Calvo-Irabien, David H. Benzing
    Journal of Tropical Ecology, 2004
  • Animal dispersal of two secondary-vegetation herbs into the evergreen rain forest of south-eastern Mexico
    Aida A. Castillo-Flores, Luz Maria Calvo-Irabién
    Journal of Tropical Ecology, 2003
  • Predispersal predation of an understory rainforest herb Aphelandra aurantiaca (Acanthaceae) in gaps and mature forest
    Luz Mari´a Calvo‐Irabie´n, Angeles Islas‐Luna
    American Journal of Botany, 1999