orge Cadena Iñíguez, Ph.D., is a botanist and plant genetic resources specialist whose work has shaped modern understanding of Sechium diversity, phytochemistry, and value chains in Mesoamerica. A Professor–Researcher at the Colegio de Postgraduados (Campus San Luis Potosí), he combines academic leadership with field-driven innovation, from taxonomic and population studies to varietal development, nutraceutical exploration, and technology transfer with smallholder producers. He founded the Interdisciplinary Research Group on Sechium edule in Mexico (GISeM) and led the establishment of the Chayote Germplasm Bank—reported as the only collection of its kind worldwide—consolidating a national platform for conservation, breeding, and bioactive compound discovery.
Academic background and appointments
Dr. Cadena earned his Ph.D. in Botany (2005) and M.Sc. in Botany (2000) from the Colegio de Postgraduados, after his B.Sc. in Agronomy at Universidad Autónoma de Chiapas (1985). He is Professor–Researcher (Associate) at Colegio de Postgraduados, Campus San Luis Potosí, and a Level I member of Mexico’s National System of Researchers (SNI). He also serves as Editor (Editor responsable) of the peer-reviewed journal Agro Productividad (since 2011). His ORCID is 0000-0002-6427-0646.
Research focus
Dr. Cadena’s research integrates plant systematics, population diversity, domestication, and participatory breeding with postharvest biology and phytochemistry of Sechium species. Early landmark work documented infraspecific variation in S. edule across Veracruz, Mexico (Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution, 2008), laying a morphological and anatomical baseline that enabled subsequent breeding and germplasm management.
On the biochemical front, his group has characterized flavonoids, phenolic acids, and cucurbitacins associated with antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory activities. Recent studies evaluate Sechium genotypes and hybrids as sources of bioactive metabolites, including the HD-Victor hybrid, and analyze how processing (e.g., drying) affects metabolite stability—findings germane to nutraceutical development and standardization.
Bridging discovery and delivery, Dr. Cadena co-developed microencapsulation strategies (e.g., chitosan microspheres) to protect and release Sechium extracts with antineoplastic activity, supporting the translation of laboratory evidence to candidate delivery systems. Complementary clinical collaborations have investigated Sechium edule supplementation in older adults with metabolic syndrome, reporting antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects and mechanistic ties to Nrf2 pathways.
Programs and leadership
Beyond the lab, Dr. Cadena has directed multi-institutional initiatives that connect biodiversity with regional development. Highlights include an IICA-supported project to develop “tayota” for export in the Dominican Republic; a Mexico–Japan model for implementing the Nagoya Protocol on access and benefit-sharing; and a national strategy for in situ conservation of agricultural biodiversity. These efforts complement his long-standing role as Editor of Agro Productividad, a venue that disseminates applied agricultural research in Latin America.
Selected publications
- Genotypes of Sechium spp. as a Source of Natural Products with Biological Activity (Life, 2024). Article assessing phytochemical profiles (phenolic acids, flavonoids, cucurbitacins), processing effects, and safety/toxicity signals in Sechium genotypes and hybrids. [Open access] PMC
- Sechium edule (Jacq.) Swartz, a New Cultivar with Antiproliferative Potential in a Human Cervical Cancer HeLa Cell Line (Nutrients, 2017). Cultivar “Perla Negra” methanolic extract shows antiproliferative activity against HeLa cells; includes metabolite identification by HPLC. [PubMed/PMC] PubMed
- Fruit Extract from a Sechium edule Hybrid Induces Apoptosis in Leukaemic Cell Lines but Not in Normal Cells (Nutrition and Cancer, 2015). Demonstrates selective apoptosis induction in tumor lines while sparing normal bone marrow cells. [PubMed] PubMed
- Infraspecific Variation of Sechium edule in the State of Veracruz, Mexico (Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution, 2008). Foundational morpho-anatomical survey underpinning germplasm classification and breeding decisions. [Springer] SpringerLink
- Microencapsulation of an Extract of Sechium edule (Jacq.) Sw., with Antineoplastic Activity (Applied Sciences, 2022). Chitosan microencapsulation enhances handling and delivery of bioactives from Sechium extracts. [MDPI] MDPI
- Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Effect of the Consumption of Powdered Concentrate of Sechium edule var. nigrum spinosum in Mexican Older Adults with Metabolic Syndrome (Antioxidants, 2022). Clinical study co-authored by Cadena linking Sechium intake to improved oxidative/inflammatory markers. [MDPI]
Additional context and earlier synthesis: Production, genetics, postharvest management and pharmacological characteristics of Sechium edule (Fresh Produce, 2007), an influential review anchoring much of the subsequent work on chayote biology, production, and pharmacology.
Technology transfer and innovation
Dr. Cadena’s dossier reflects a sustained emphasis on innovation and impact: 19 granted plant patents, three process patents (plus two pending), nine technological innovations, and 87 rural enterprises formed through extension programs and producer networks—figures documented in institutional records. This pipeline is reinforced by graduate mentorship (32 trained postgraduates) and coursework in Intellectual Property and Territorial Development, which expand the reach of research into policy and rural enterprise. He holds a European IPMA Project Director (Level B) certification (2009–2015–2020), supporting the governance of complex, multi-stakeholder projects.
Recognitions
Dr. Cadena is a Level I SNI investigator and has been listed repeatedly among “Académico 100 Distinguidos” (2008–2020). His work in rural development was recognized through the Miguel Alemán Valdés award in 2019 (rural enterprise category), underscoring the socioeconomic dimension of his research and outreach.
Current priorities
Ongoing efforts concentrate on: (i) expanding the Chayote Germplasm Bank and refining descriptors for underutilized cucurbits; (ii) advancing participatory breeding and varietal release to meet nutritional and market traits; (iii) standardizing extract processing and delivery systems (e.g., microencapsulation) to preserve cucurbitacins/flavonoids; and (iv) collaborating on clinical and preclinical studies that probe antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiproliferative signals in Sechium—from bench analytics to patient-centered outcomes. Together, these strands position Sechium as a model for biodiversity-driven health innovation, linking conservation, agriculture, and human well-being.
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