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Diego Moreno-Fernández Diego A. Moreno-Fernández
Postdoctoral Associate
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Work phone: +34 968 396253

EDUCATION:

  • 2000 Ph. D. Biological Sciences, Deptartment of Plant Biology, University of Granada, Spain.

  • 1995 M.Sc. Biological Sciences (Botany), Dept. Plant Biology, University of Granada, Spain.

  • 1994 B.Sc. Biologial Sciences (Botany), University of Granada, Spain.

RESEARCH AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

  • 2008 - Present C.E.B.A.S. - (C.S.I.C.) - Spanish National Research Council. Staff Scientist. Food Science and Technology Department, Phytochemistry Lab. P. O. Box 164, Espinardo, E-30100 Murcia, Spain. Research Group on Quality, Safety and Bioactivity of Plant-based Foods. Projects on agronomic conditions and bioactive compounds of foods of plant origin and the design of new functional ingredients and foods for health.

  • 2006 - 2008 C.E.B.A.S. - C.S.I.C. Campus Universitario de Espinardo, Murcia, Spain. Post-doctoral Associate. Food Science and Technology Department. Cruciferous (Brassica) foods for health in hydroponics. Post-doctoral Research Contract "Ramon y Cajal" - Human Resources on R & D National Science and Technology Programme (Spanish Ministry of Education, Science and Technology Area) and the National Research Council - C.S.I.C.

  • 2005-2006 C.E.B.A.S. - C.S.I.C (Centro de Edafología y Biología Aplicada del Segura - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, or Spanish National Research Council). Campus Universitario de Espinardo, Murcia, Spain. Post-doctoral Associate. Research work on Plant physiology and Food Technology for the development of New Plant Foods and Products, under the CSIC's I3P-Programme (April 2005 - March 2006).

  • 2003-2004 Biotech Center, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. Post-doctoral Associate Research work on natural products in pharmacology and drug discovery. The ongoing research work focus on the different stages of the Strategy, Management and Health Policy for the Preclinical Development, Toxicology, Formulation, Drug Delivery and Pharmacokinetics of the new Anti-obesity Botanical Therapeutics.

  • 2001-2003 Biotech Center, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. Postdoctoral Fellow Post-doctoral Grant from the Spanish Ministry of Education EX2001-Scholarships of the Spanish Secretariate of the Universities and Research and the Social Funds of the European Comunity. Research work on natural products in pharmacology and drug discovery. The aim of the anti-obesity program is to develop novel, optimized and standardized anti-obesity botanical drugs manufactured with complete "seed-to-pill" and "batch-to-batch" standardization. Direct effects on lipid metabolizing enzymes, such as various human lipases were chosen as the preferred mode of action of those botanical drugs.

  • 1995-2000 Dpto. Biología Vegetal. Facultad de Ciencias. Universidad de Granada. Researcher Research work focuses on thermal effect on phytoremediation of heavy metals and other trace elements using crop plants, as well as on plant nutrition and nutritional diagnosis of plant crops grown under adverse conditions. Ph. D. Thesis in Biological Sciences (Plant Physiology), qualification: highest honours. Research Grant from the "Fundación Empresa - Universidad de Granada", in collaboration between University of Granada and Businesses during 1998. Doctoral courses, completed within the programme: "Physiology of Growth and Develoment of Higher Plants".

  • 1993-1995 Dpto. Biología Vegetal. Facultad de Ciencias. Universidad de Granada. Under- and Post-graduate student Research member in the AGR 0161 research group, working on the nutritional diagnosis of plants grown under adverse conditions, and physiology of plants under extreme conditions, analysis and diagnosis of plant nutrition of crops. Directed by Dr. Luis Romero. Graduated with M. Sc. in Biological Sciences (Botany), qualification: highest honours.

MEMBERSHIP IN INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES:

  • The Oficial Association of Biologists of Andalucia (C.O.B.A.)
  • The Spanish Society of Plant Physiology (S.E.F.V.) within the Federation of European Societies of Plant Biology (F.E.S.P.B.)
  • American Society of Plant Biologists (A.S.P.B.)
  • PHYTONET - Phytoremediation Electronic Newsgroup Network
  • Research Group AGR - 0161 - Junta de Andalucia - Analysis and Nutritional Diagnosis of Plants at the Department of Plant Physiology in the University of Granada, directed by Dr. Luis Romero.

SPECIAL AWARDS:

  • Extraordinary Prize of Doctorate in Biological Sciences for the Academic Period 1999-2000 by the University of Granada. Granted on July 16, 2003.

EDITOR OF SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS:

  • Assistant Editor of Journal of Food, Agriculture and the Environment - JFAE, The WFL Publisher - Science & Technology (Helsinki, Finland); Dr. Ramdane Dris, Ph. D., Director.

REVIEWER OF SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS (Journals listed by ISI - Science Citation Index [SCI] impact factor for 2004):

  • Current Medicinal Chemistry - Bentham Science Publishers - The Netherlands
  • Food Chemistry - Elsevier Science Ltd. - Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  • Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science - A.S.H.S. - Georgia, U.S.A
  • Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture - Wiley InterScience, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., United Kingdom
  • Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture - CSIRO Publishing (Australia)
  • HortScience - A.S.H.S. - Georgia, U.S.A
 

PUBLICATIONS

1. BOOKS

  • Víllora, G., Moreno, Diego A., Romero, L. 2003. "Crop Quality Under Adverse Conditions: Importance of Determining the Nutritional Status." In: Crop Management and Postharvest Handling of Horticultural Crops. Volume III: Crop Fertilization, Nutrition and Growth. ISBN 1-57808-278-1. Editors: R. Dris, R. Niskanen, S. M. Jain. Science Publishers, Inc. New Hampshire USA.; 296 pp.

  • Moreno D. A., Víllora G., Romero, L. 2001. "Thermal effect on the accumulation of elements in Chinese cabbage: new chalenges in phytoremediation". ISBN: 84-89720-89-4 Ed. Luis Romero. Plácido Cuadros S.L. Imp. Granada. Spain. [In Spanish].

  • Baghour M., Moreno D. A., Víllora G., Romero, L. 2001. "Influence of root temperature on phytoaccumulation in potato plants". ISBN: 84-89720-92-4. Ed. Luis Romero. Plácido Cuadros S.L. Imp. Granada. Spain. [In Spanish].

  • Víllora G., Moreno D. A., Romero L. 1997. "Bioremediation using eggplant under excessive N, P and K". ISBN: 84-89720-78-9. Ed. Luis Romero. Plácido Cuadros S.L. Imp. Granada. Spain. [In Spanish].

  • Moreno D. A., Romero L. 1995. "Effect of N and K on micronutrients and biochemical inicators in sweet pepper plants (Capsicum annuum L. cv. Lamuyo)". ISBN: 84-920482-7-1. Ed. Luis Romero. Plácido Cuadros S.L. Imp. Granada. Spain. [In Spanish].

2. RESEARCH ARTICLES

  1. López-Berenguer, C., Martínez-Ballesta, M. C., Moreno, D. A., Carvajal, M., García-Viguera, C. Growing hardier crops for better health: Salinity tolerance and the nutritional value of broccoli. J. Agric. Food Chem., 57: 572-578, 2009.

  2. González-Molina, E., Moreno, D. A., García-Viguera, C. Comparison of lemon juice quality for industry in "Verna" clones. Scientia Hort., in press, 2009.

  3. González-Molina, E., Moreno, D. A., García-Viguera, C. A new drink rich in healthy bioactives of lemon and pomegranate juices. Food Chemistry, in press, 2009.

  4. Moreno, D. A., López-Berenguer, C., M. Carmen Martínez-Ballesta, Carvajal, M., and García-Viguera, C. Basis for the new challenges of growing broccoli for health in hydroponics. J. Sci. Food Agric., 88: 1472-1481, 2008.

  5. González-Molina, E., Moreno, D. A., García-Viguera, C. Genotype and environment influence the phytochemical quality of "Fino" lemon juice (Citrus limon [L.] Burm. F.). J. Agric. Food Chem., 56: 1669-1675, 2008.

  6. González-Molina, E., Moreno, D. A., García-Viguera, C. Aronia-enriched lemon juice: A new highly antioxidant beverage. J. Agric. Food Chem., 56: 11327-11333, 2008.

  7. Pérez-Balibrea, S., Moreno, D. A., García-Viguera, C. Influence of light on health-promoting phytonutrients in broccoli sprouts (Brassica oleracea var. italica). J. Sci. Food Agric., 88: 904-910, 2008.

  8. Pérez-Balibrea, S., Moreno, D. A., García-Viguera, C. Saline stress effects on the biochemistry of edible sprouts of broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica). J. Clin. Biochem. & Nutr., Vol. 43, Suppl. 1: 497-501, 2008.

  9. Moreno, D. A., López-Berenguer, C., Carvajal, M., García-Viguera, C. Effects of stir-fry cooking with different edible oils on the phytochemical composition of broccoli. J. Food Sci., Vol. 72, No. 1, S064-S068, 2007.

  10. Moreno, D. A., López-Berenguer, C., Carvajal, M., García-Viguera, C. Health benefits of broccoli. Influence of pre- and post-harvest factors on bioactive compounds. Food, 1: 297-312, 2007.

  11. López-Berenguer, C., Carvajal, M., Moreno, D. A., García-Viguera, C. Effects of microwave cooking conditions on the bioactive compounds present in broccoli inflorescences. J. Agric. Food Chem., 55: 10001-10007, 2007.

  12. Ekanem, A. P., Wang, M., Simon, J. E., Moreno, D. A. Antiobesity properties of two African plants (Aframomum melegueta and Spilanthes acmella) by pancreatic lipase inhibition. Phytotherapy Research, 21: 1253-1255, 2007.

  13. Moreno, D. A., Pérez-Balibrea, S., García-Viguera, C. Phytochemical quality and bioactivity of edible sprouts. Natural Product Commun. (NPC) Vol. 1, No. 11, 1037-1048, 2006.

  14. Moreno, D. A., Carvajal, M., López-Berenguer, C., García-Viguera, C. Chemical and biological characterization of nutraceutical compounds of broccoli. J. Pharmac. Biomed. Anal. 41(5), 1508-1522, 2006.

  15. Moreno, D. A., Ripoll, C., Ilić, N., Poulev, A., Aubin, C., Raskin, I. 2005. Inhibition of lipid metabolic enzymes using Mangifera indica extracts. J. Food Agric. & Environ., Vol. 4(1): 21-26, 2006.

  16. Moreno, D. A., Ilić, N., Poulev, A., Raskin, I. Effects of Arachis hypogaea nutshell extract on lipid metabolic enzymes and obesity parameters. Life Sciences, 78, 2797-2803, 2006.

  17. Moreno, D. A., Ruiz, J. M., Ahammad, L., Romero, L. 2005. Relationship between leaf micronutrient concentrations and fruit yield in new tomato cultivars. J. Hort. Sci. & Biotech. 80(4): 476 - 480.

  18. Moreno, D. A., Víllora, G., Soriano, M.T., Castilla, N., Romero, L. 2005. Sulfur, chromium, and selenium accumulated in Chinese cabbage under direct covers. J. Environmental Management. 74: 89 - 96.

  19. Diego A. Moreno, Nebojša Ilić, Alexander Poulev, Dawn L. Brasaemle, Susan K. Fried, Ilya Raskin. 2003. Inhibitory effects of grape seed extract on lipases. Nutrition, Vol. 19(10): 876 - 879.

  20. Moreno, D. A., Víllora, G., Romero, L. 2003. Variations in fruit micronutrient contents associated with fertilization of cucumber with macronutrients. Scientia Hort. 97(2): 121 - 127.

  21. Moreno, D. A., Ahammad, L., Víllora, G., Romero, L. 2003. Relationship of leaf macronutrient concentration in new tomato varieties to fruit yield. J. Plant Nutr. 26(5): 1035 - 1054.

  22. Moreno, D. A., Víllora, G., Romero, L. 2003. Age - related changes in micronutrients and related enzymes in red pepper. Phyton - Ann. Rei Bot. Austria 43(1): 187 - 195.

  23. Baghour, M., Ragala, L., Moreno, D. A., Víllora, G., Hernández, J., Castilla, N., Romero, L. 2003. Effect of root zone temperature on accumulation of molybdenum and nitrogen metabolism in potato plants. J. Plant Nutr. 26(2): 443 - 461.

  24. Moreno, D. A., Víllora, G., Ruiz, J. M., Romero, L. 2003. Growth conditions, elemental uptake and induced physiological changes in Chinese cabbage. Chemosphere. 52(6): 1031 - 1040.

  25. Ilya Raskin, David M. Ribnicky, Slavko Komarnytsky, Nebojša Ilić, Alexander Poulev, Nikolai Borisjuk, Anita Brinker, Diego A. Moreno, Christophe Ripoll, Nir Yakoby, Joseph M. O'Neal, Teresa Cornwell, Ira Pastor and Bertold Fridlender. Plants and human health in the twenty-first century. Trends in Biotechnology, 2002, 20:12:522-531

  26. Moreno, D. A., Víllora, G., Soriano, M. T., Castilla, N., Romero, L. 2002. Floating row covers affect molybdenum and nitrogen status in Chinese cabbage grown under field conditions. Functional Plant Biology Vol. 29 (5): 585-593.

  27. Moreno, D. A., Víllora, G., Hernández, J., Castilla, N., Romero, L. 2002. Accumulation of Zn, Cd, Cu and Pb in Chinese cabbage as influenced by climatic conditions under protected cultivation. J. Agric. Food Chem. Vol. 50 (7): 1964-1969.

  28. Víllora, G., Moreno, D. A., Romero, L. 2002. Response of eggplant to nitrogen supply: Mo-NO3 relationships. Biologia Plantarum. Vol. 45 (4): 621-623.

  29. Moreno, D. A., Víllora, G., Hernández, J., Castilla, N., Romero, L. 2002. Yield and chemical composition of Chinese cabbage in relation to thermal regime. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. Vol. 127 (3): 343-348.

  30. Baghour, M., Moreno, D. A., Víllora, G., Hernández, J., Castilla, N., Romero, L. 2002. The influence of root zone temperatures on the phytoextraction of B and Al with potato plants growing in the field. J. Environ. Sci. Health - Part A. Vol. 37 (5): 939-953.

  31. Baghour, M., Moreno, D. A., Hernández, J., Castilla, N., Romero, L. 2002. Influence of thermal regime of soil on the sulfur (S) and selenium (Se) in potato plants. J. Environ. Sci. Health - Part A. Vol. 37 (6): 1075-1085.

  32. Víllora, G., Moreno, D. A., Romero, L. 2002. Phosphorus supply influences Molybdenum, nitrate, and nitrate reductase activity in eggplant. J. Hort. Sci. & Biotech. Vol. 77 (3): 305-309.

  33. Baghour, M., Moreno, D. A., Castilla, N., Hernández, J., Castilla, N., Romero, L. 2002. Influence of root temperature on uptake and accumulatin of Ni and Co in potato. J. Plant Physiol. 159(10): 1113 - 1122.

  34. Víllora, G., Moreno, D. A., Romero, L. 2002. Potassium supply influences of molybdenum, nitrate, and nitrate-reductase activity in eggplant. J. Plant Nutr. 26(3): 659 - 669.

  35. Baghour, M., Moreno, D. A., Víllora, G., Hernández, J., Castilla, N., Romero, L. 2002. Distribution of Cu and Zn in potato plant organs as influenced by different root zone temperature. J. Agric. Food Chem. Vol. 50 (1) 140-146

  36. Baghour, M., Moreno, D. A., Víllora, G., Hernández, J., Castilla, N., Romero, L. 2002. Root zone temperature affects the phytoextraction of Ba, Cl, Sn, Pt and Rb using potato plants (Solanum tuberosum var. Spunta) in the field. J. Environ. Sci. Health - Part A Vol. 37 (1): 71-84

  37. Moreno, D. A., López-Lefebre, L. R., Víllora, G., Ruiz, J. M., Romero, L. 2001. Floating row cover affects Pb and Cd accumulation and antioxidant status in Chinese cabbage. Scientia Hort. 89: 85-92

  38. Baghour, M., Moreno, D. A., Hernández, J., Castilla, N,, Romero, L. 2001. Influence of root temperature on phytoaccumulation of As, Ag, Cr, and Sb in potato plants (Solanum tuberosum L. var. Spunta). J. Environ. Sci. Health - Part A. Vol. 36 (7): 1389-1401

  39. Moreno, D. A., Víllora, G., Hernández, J., Castilla, N., Romero, L. 2001. The response of shoot accumulation of trace element in chinese cabbage to microclimate modification. J. Environ. Sci. Health - Part A. 36 (9): 1611-1620.

  40. Baghour, M., Moreno, D. A., Víllora, G., Hernández, J., Castilla, N., Romero, L. 2001. Phytoextraction of Cd and Pb and physiological effects in potato plants (Solanum tuberosum var. Spunta): Importance of root temperature. J. Agric. Food Chemistry Vol. 49 (11): 5356-5363.

  41. Pulgar, G., Moreno, D. A., Víllora, G., Hernández, J., Castilla, N., Romero, L. 2001. Production and composition of Chinese cabbage under plastic rowcovers in southern Spain. J. Hort. Sci. & Biotech. Vol. 76 (6): 608-611.

  42. Víllora, G., Moreno, D. A., Pulgar, G., Romero, L. 2000. Salinity affects phosphorus uptake and partitioning in Zucchini. Commun. Soil Sci. Plant Anal. 31: 501-507

  43. Víllora, G., Moreno, D. A., Pulgar, G., Romero, L. 2000. Yield improvement under salt stress in the zucchini: determining micronutrient balance. Scientia Hort. 86: 175-183

  44. Pulgar, G., Víllora, G., Moreno, D. A., Romero, L. 2000. Improving the mineral nutrition in grafted watermelon plants: nitrogen metabolism. Biologia Plantarum 43: 607-609

  45. Moreno, D. A., Víllora, G., Ruiz, J. M., Olivares, J., López-Lefebre, L., Hernández, J., Romero, L. 2000. The capsicum (Capsicum annuum L. cv. Lamuyo) foliar content of carbohydrates and pigments: response to NK dosage. Commun. Soil Sci. Plant Anal. 31: 2335-43

  46. Moreno, D. A., Víllora, G., Pulgar, G., Romero, L. 2000. Effect of nitrogen and potassium supply on concentration of iron and manganese and activities of catalase, peroxidase and aconitase in pepper plants. J. Plant Nutrition 23: 1787-1795

  47. Ruiz, J. M., Moreno, D. A., Romero, L. 1999. Pyruvate kinase activity as an indicator of the level of K+, Mg2+, and Ca2+ in leaves and fruits of the cucumber: the role of potassium fertilization. J. Agric. Food Chem. 47: 845-849

  48. Víllora, G., Moreno, D. A., Pulgar, G., Romero, L. 1999. Zucchini growth, yield and fruit quality in response to sodium chloride stress. J. Plant Nutrition 22: 855-862

  49. Víllora, G., Pulgar, G., Moreno, D. A., Romero, L. 1998. Plant nitrogen characteristics of a semi-salt-tolerant zucchini variety to sodium chloride treatments. J. Plant Nutrition 21: 2343-2355.

  50. Moreno, D. A., Pulgar, G., Víllora, G., Romero, L. 1998. Nutritional diagnosis of fig tree leaves. J. Plant Nutrition 21: 2579-2588

  51. Víllora, G., Pulgar, G., Moreno, D. A., Romero, L. 1997. Effect of salinity treatments on nutrient concentration in zucchini plants (Cucurbita pepo L. var. Moschata). Aust. J. Exp. Agric. 37: 605-608

  52. Pulgar, G., Belakbir, A., Víllora, G., Moreno, D. A., Romero, L. 1996. Piruvate kinase activity as bioindicator of cations in grafted watermelon plants. Commun. Soil Sci. Plant Anal. 27: 1027-46

3. PATENTS AND PATENT APPLICATIONS

  • Ilić, Nebojša; Moreno-Fernández, Diego A.; Raskin, Ilya. Tyrosinase inhibitor and method for preparation. U.S. Pat. Appl. Publ. # 20060062865, March, 2006.