Born on August 16th, 1987 Xalapa,Ver. Mexico. Currently living in Mexico City. I'm a nutritionist who decided to dedicate to the area of molecular research. I studied a bachelor's degree in nutrition at the Universidad Veracruzana and later studied a master's degree and PhD in the area of biochemical sciences at UNAM. I'm interested in metabolic and molecular processes related to nutrition and disease, as well as the mechanisms and profiles involved in the regulation of metabolic diseases.
EDUCATION
Bachelor's degree in nutrition at the Universidad Veracruzana a
Master's degree at the area of biochemical sciences at UNAM.
PhD degree at the area of biochemical sciences at UNAM.
RESEARCH, TEACHING, or OTHER INTERESTS
General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Physiology (medical)
9
Scopus Publications
151
Scholar Citations
6
Scholar h-index
4
Scholar i10-index
Scopus Publications
A mixture of ginger phenolic compounds enhances mitochondrial function, activates AMPK, and reduces lipid accumulation in adipocytes María Elizabeth Preciado-Ortiz, Berenice Pérez-Jiménez, Paulina Barrera-Gómez, Juan José Rivera-Valdés, Joshua Ayork Acevedo-Carabantes, Sarai Vásquez-Reyes, Armando R. Tovar, Nimbe Torres, Ivan Torre-Villalvazo, Erika Martínez-López Plos One, 2025 Mitochondrial abundance and activity in adipocytes are critical for adequate adipose tissue function and whole-body energy homeostasis. Mitochondrial dysfunction in adipocytes impairs lipid metabolism, insulin sensitivity, and thermogenesis, leading to metabolic diseases. Enhancing mitochondrial function and density in adipose tissue may provide a promising therapeutic approach for metabolic diseases. This study evaluates the effects of a ginger phenol mixture on mitochondrial density and function, AMPK activation, lipid droplet content, and lipolysis markers in adipocytes differentiated in vitro. Pre-adipocytes isolated from the inguinal adipose tissue of Wistar rats were differentiated and assigned to three experimental groups: vehicle (0.2% DMSO), gingerol mixture (6 μg/mL), and positive control (1 mmol/m3 AMPK activator 5-Aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleoside). Mitochondrial density and lipid content were assessed by MitoTracker and Bodipy staining respectively, while mitochondrial respiration was evaluated in an Extracellular Flux Analyzer. Protein abundance and basal lipolysis were evaluated by Western blotting and free fatty acids determination in supernatant, respectively. The gingerol mixture significantly enhanced mitochondrial density and respiration, including both maximal and ATP-linked capacities. Additionally, it activated AMPK, upregulated the expression of mitochondrial complexes, enhanced lipolysis markers, and reduced lipid droplet content. These findings suggest that the gingerol mixture enhances mitochondrial function, stimulates lipolysis, and reduces lipid accumulation in adipocytes, contributing to metabolic homeostasis in adipose tissue. This highlights its potential use as a complementary therapeutic agent for the management of obesity.
The Effects of Novel Co-Amorphous Naringenin and Fisetin Compounds on a Diet-Induced Obesity Murine Model Sarai Vásquez-Reyes, Miranda Bernal-Gámez, Jorge Domínguez-Chávez, Karina Mondragón-Vásquez, Mónica Sánchez-Tapia, Guillermo Ordaz, Omar Granados-Portillo, Diana Coutiño-Hernández, Paulina Barrera-Gómez, Nimbe Torres, Armando R. Tovar Nutrients, 2024 Background/Objective: In recent studies, it has been shown that dietary bioactive compounds can produce health benefits; however, it is not known whether an improvement in solubility can enhance their biological effects. Thus, the aim of this work was to study whether co-amorphous (CoA) naringenin or fisetin with enhanced solubility modify glucose and lipid metabolism, thermogenic capacity and gut microbiota in mice fed a high-fat, high-sucrose (HFSD) diet. Methods: Mice were fed with an HFSD with or without CoA-naringenin or CoA-fisetin for 3 months. Body weight, food intake, body composition, glucose tolerance, hepatic lipid composition and gut microbiota were assessed. Results: CoA-naringenin demonstrated significant reductions in fat-mass gain, improved cholesterol metabolism, and enhanced glucose tolerance. Mice treated with CoA-naringenin gained 45% less fat mass and exhibited improved hepatic lipid profiles, with significant reductions seen in liver triglycerides and cholesterol. Additionally, both CoA-flavonoids increased oxygen consumption (VO2), contributing to enhanced energy expenditure and improved metabolic flexibility. Thermogenic activation, indicated by increased UCP1 and PGC-1α levels, was observed with CoA-fisetin, supporting its role in fat oxidation and adipocyte size reduction. Further, both CoA-flavonoids modulated gut microbiota, restoring diversity and promoting beneficial bacteria, such as Akkermansia muciniphila, which has been linked to improved metabolic health. Conclusions: These findings suggest that co-amorphous naringenin or fisetin offers promising applications in improving solubility, metabolic health, and thermogenesis, highlighting the potential of both as therapeutic agents against obesity and related disorders.
Genistein-mediated thermogenesis and white-to-beige adipocyte differentiation involve transcriptional activation of cAMP response elements in the Ucp1 promoter Rebeca Fuentes‐Romero, Laura A. Velázquez‐Villegas, Sarai Vasquez‐Reyes, Berenice Pérez‐Jiménez, Zuleima N. Domínguez Velázquez, Mónica Sánchez‐Tapia, Ariana Vargas‐Castillo, Sandra Tobón‐Cornejo, Adriana M. López‐Barradas, Valentín Mendoza, Nimbe Torres, Fernando López‐Casillas, Armando R. Tovar FASEB Journal, 2023 Genistein is an isoflavone present in soybeans and is considered a bioactive compound due to its widely reported biological activity. We have previously shown that intraperitoneal genistein administration and diet supplementation activates the thermogenic program in rats and mice subcutaneous white adipose tissue (scWAT) under multiple environmental cues, including cold exposure and high‐fat diet feeding. However, the mechanistic insights of this process were not previously unveiled. Uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), a mitochondrial membrane polypeptide responsible for dissipating energy into heat, is considered the most relevant thermogenic marker; thus, we aimed to evaluate whether genistein regulates UCP1 transcription. Here we show that genistein administration to thermoneutral‐housed mice leads to the appearance of beige adipocyte markers, including a sharp upregulation of UCP1 expression and protein abundance in scWAT. Reporter assays showed an increase in UCP1 promoter activity after genistein stimulation, and in silico analysis revealed the presence of estrogen (ERE) and cAMP (CRE) response elements as putative candidates of genistein activation. Mutation of the CRE but not the ERE reduced genistein‐induced promoter activity by 51%. Additionally, in vitro and in vivo ChIP assays demonstrated the binding of CREB to the UCP1 promoter after acute genistein administration. Taken together, these data elucidate the mechanism of genistein‐mediated UCP1 induction and confirm its potential applications in managing metabolic disorders.
Vachellia farnesiana Pods or a Polyphenolic Extract Derived from Them Exert Immunomodulatory, Metabolic, Renoprotective, and Prebiotic Effects in Mice Fed a High-Fat Diet Claudia Delgadillo-Puga, Dulce R. Sánchez-Castillo, Yonatan Y. Cariño-Cervantes, Ivan Torre-Villalvazo, Claudia Tovar-Palacio, Sarai Vásquez-Reyes, Janette Furuzawa-Carballeda, Joshua Ayork Acevedo-Carabantes, María del Rayo Camacho-Corona, Jorge Luis Guzmán-Mar, Luis Cisneros-Zevallos, Armando R. Tovar, Rosa Rebollar-Vega, Georgina Hernández-Montes, Alfredo Ulloa-Aguirre, Berenice Palacios-Gonzalez, Lilia G. Noriega International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2023 Obesity causes systemic inflammation, hepatic and renal damage, as well as gut microbiota dysbiosis. Alternative vegetable sources rich in polyphenols are known to prevent or delay the progression of metabolic abnormalities during obesity. Vachellia farnesiana (VF) is a potent source of polyphenols with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities with potential anti-obesity effects. We performed an in vivo preventive or an interventional experimental study in mice and in vitro experiments with different cell types. In the preventive study, male C57BL/6 mice were fed with a Control diet, a high-fat diet, or a high-fat diet containing either 0.1% methyl gallate, 10% powdered VFP, or 0.5%, 1%, or 2% of a polyphenolic extract (PE) derived from VFP (Vachellia farnesiana pods) for 14 weeks. In the intervention study, two groups of mice were fed for 14 weeks with a high-fat diet and then one switched to a high-fat diet with 10% powdered VFP for ten additional weeks. In the in vitro studies, we evaluated the effect of a VFPE (Vachellia farnesiana polyphenolic extract) on glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in INS-1E cells or of naringenin or methyl gallate on mitochondrial activity in primary hepatocytes and C2C12 myotubes. VFP or a VFPE increased whole-body energy expenditure and mitochondrial activity in skeletal muscle; prevented insulin resistance, hepatic steatosis, and kidney damage; exerted immunomodulatory effects; and reshaped fecal gut microbiota composition in mice fed a high-fat diet. VFPE decreased insulin secretion in INS-1E cells, and its isolated compounds naringenin and methyl gallate increased mitochondrial activity in primary hepatocytes and C2C12 myotubes. In conclusion VFP or a VFPE prevented systemic inflammation, insulin resistance, and hepatic and renal damage in mice fed a high-fat diet associated with increased energy expenditure, improved mitochondrial function, and reduction in insulin secretion.
Genistein Stimulation of White Adipose Tissue Thermogenesis Is Partially Dependent on GPR30 in Mice Saraí Vásquez‐Reyes, Ariana Vargas‐Castillo, Lilia G. Noriega, Laura A. Velázquez‐Villegas, Berenice Pérez, Mónica Sánchez‐Tapia, Guillermo Ordaz, Renato Suárez‐Monroy, Alfredo Ulloa‐Aguirre, Halina Offner, Nimbe Torres, Armando R. Tovar Molecular Nutrition and Food Research, 2022 ScopeGenistein increases whole body energy expenditure by stimulating white adipose tissue (WAT) browning and thermogenesis. G‐Coupled receptor GPR30 can mediate some actions of genistein, however, it is not known whether it is involved in the activation of WAT‐thermogenesis. Thus, the aim of the study is to determine whether genistein activates thermogenesis coupled to an increase in WAT browning and mitochondrial activity, in GPR30+/+ and GPR30−/− mice.Methods and ResultsGPR30+/+ and GPR30−/− mice are fed control or high fat sucrose diets containing or not genistein for 8 weeks. Body weight and composition, energy expenditure, glucose tolerance, and browning markers in WAT, and oxygen consumption rate, 3’, 5’‐cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) concentration and browning markers in adipocytes are evaluated. Genistein consumption reduces body weight and fat mass gain in a different extent in both genotypes, however, energy expenditure is lower in GPR30−/− compared to GPR30+/+ mice, accompanied by a reduction in browning markers, maximal mitochondrial respiration, cAMP concentration, and browning markers in cultured adipocytes from GPR30−/− mice. Genistein improves glucose tolerance in GPR30+/+, but this is partially observed in GPR30−/− mice.ConclusionThe results show that GPR30 partially mediates genistein stimulation of WAT thermogenesis and the improvement of glucose tolerance.
Genistein increases the thermogenic program of subcutaneous WAT and increases energy expenditure in mice Berenice Palacios-González, Ariana Vargas-Castillo, Laura Alejandra Velázquez-Villegas, Sarai Vasquez-Reyes, Patricia López, Lilia G. Noriega, Gabriela Aleman, Claudia Tovar-Palacio, Iván Torre-Villalvazo, Li-Jun Yang, Angel Zarain-Herzberg, Nimbe Torres, Armando R. Tovar Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, 2019
RECENT SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
A mixture of ginger phenolic compounds enhances mitochondrial function, activates AMPK, and reduces lipid accumulation in adipocytes ME Preciado-Ortiz, B Pérez-Jiménez, P Barrera-Gómez, JJ Rivera-Valdés, ... PLoS One 20 (6), e0326690 , 2025 2025 Citations: 5
The effects of novel co-amorphous naringenin and fisetin compounds on a diet-induced obesity murine model S Vásquez-Reyes, M Bernal-Gámez, J Domínguez-Chávez, ... Nutrients 16 (24), 4425 , 2024 2024 Citations: 7
Genistein‐mediated thermogenesis and white‐to‐beige adipocyte differentiation involve transcriptional activation of cAMP response elements in the Ucp1 promoter R Fuentes‐Romero, LA Velázquez‐Villegas, S Vasquez‐Reyes, ... The FASEB Journal 37 (8), e23079 , 2023 2023 Citations: 6
Vachellia farnesiana Pods or a Polyphenolic Extract Derived from Them Exert Immunomodulatory, Metabolic, Renoprotective, and Prebiotic Effects in Mice Fed a … C Delgadillo-Puga, DR Sánchez-Castillo, YY Cariño-Cervantes, ... International Journal of Molecular Sciences 24 (9), 7984 , 2023 2023 Citations: 13
Genistein stimulation of white adipose tissue thermogenesis is partially dependent on GPR30 in mice S Vásquez‐Reyes, A Vargas‐Castillo, LG Noriega, ... Molecular nutrition & food research 66 (8), 2100838 , 2022 2022 Citations: 9
Efecto de la genisteína sobre la termogénesis y la tolerancia a la glucosa: el papel de GPR30 en el tejido adiposo y músculo S Vásquez Reyes 2022
The capacity of differentiation of stromal vascular fraction cells into beige adipocytes is markedly reduced in subjects with overweight/obesity and insulin resistance: effect … LA Rodriguez-López, I Torre-Villalvazo, G Aleman-Escondrillas, ... International Journal of Obesity 45 (11), 2471-2481 , 2021 2021 Citations: 15
Dietary bioactive compounds as modulators of mitochondrial function S Vásquez-Reyes, LA Velázquez-Villegas, A Vargas-Castillo, LG Noriega, ... The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry 96, 108768 , 2021 2021 Citations: 45
Genistein increases the thermogenic program of subcutaneous WAT and increases energy expenditure in mice B Palacios-González, A Vargas-Castillo, LA Velázquez-Villegas, ... The Journal of nutritional biochemistry 68, 59-68 , 2019 2019 Citations: 51
Activación de la ruta de señalización de AMPK mediada por AMPc por genisteína S Vásquez Reyes 2017
MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
Genistein increases the thermogenic program of subcutaneous WAT and increases energy expenditure in mice B Palacios-González, A Vargas-Castillo, LA Velázquez-Villegas, ... The Journal of nutritional biochemistry 68, 59-68 , 2019 2019 Citations: 51
Dietary bioactive compounds as modulators of mitochondrial function S Vásquez-Reyes, LA Velázquez-Villegas, A Vargas-Castillo, LG Noriega, ... The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry 96, 108768 , 2021 2021 Citations: 45
The capacity of differentiation of stromal vascular fraction cells into beige adipocytes is markedly reduced in subjects with overweight/obesity and insulin resistance: effect … LA Rodriguez-López, I Torre-Villalvazo, G Aleman-Escondrillas, ... International Journal of Obesity 45 (11), 2471-2481 , 2021 2021 Citations: 15
Vachellia farnesiana Pods or a Polyphenolic Extract Derived from Them Exert Immunomodulatory, Metabolic, Renoprotective, and Prebiotic Effects in Mice Fed a … C Delgadillo-Puga, DR Sánchez-Castillo, YY Cariño-Cervantes, ... International Journal of Molecular Sciences 24 (9), 7984 , 2023 2023 Citations: 13
Genistein stimulation of white adipose tissue thermogenesis is partially dependent on GPR30 in mice S Vásquez‐Reyes, A Vargas‐Castillo, LG Noriega, ... Molecular nutrition & food research 66 (8), 2100838 , 2022 2022 Citations: 9
The effects of novel co-amorphous naringenin and fisetin compounds on a diet-induced obesity murine model S Vásquez-Reyes, M Bernal-Gámez, J Domínguez-Chávez, ... Nutrients 16 (24), 4425 , 2024 2024 Citations: 7
Genistein‐mediated thermogenesis and white‐to‐beige adipocyte differentiation involve transcriptional activation of cAMP response elements in the Ucp1 promoter R Fuentes‐Romero, LA Velázquez‐Villegas, S Vasquez‐Reyes, ... The FASEB Journal 37 (8), e23079 , 2023 2023 Citations: 6
A mixture of ginger phenolic compounds enhances mitochondrial function, activates AMPK, and reduces lipid accumulation in adipocytes ME Preciado-Ortiz, B Pérez-Jiménez, P Barrera-Gómez, JJ Rivera-Valdés, ... PLoS One 20 (6), e0326690 , 2025 2025 Citations: 5
Efecto de la genisteína sobre la termogénesis y la tolerancia a la glucosa: el papel de GPR30 en el tejido adiposo y músculo S Vásquez Reyes 2022
Activación de la ruta de señalización de AMPK mediada por AMPc por genisteína S Vásquez Reyes 2017
