Esperanza Carcache de Blanco, PhD

Associate Professor

Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy

Research Areas: Cancer, Natural Products, Division of Medicinal Chemistry & Pharmacognosy

442 Parks Hall

Professional Interests

Dr. Carcache de Blanco's research interests focus on the discovery of bioactive constituents from natural product sources with potential application in cancer chemoprevention and chemotherapy. She is also interested in the study of botanical dietary supplements and other herbal products used in traditional medicine.

Education

2005, National Cancer Institute Postdoctoral Fellowship, University of Illinois at Chicago, Pharmacognosy
2003, PhD, University of Illinois at Chicago, Pharmacognosy
1997, MS, University of Illinois at Chicago, Pharmacognosy
1986, BS, Outstanding Student (1st Place), National Autonomous University of Nicaragua, Pharmacy

Honors

Travel Research Award, 2008 - 2008
UIC Health Science Auxiliary Award Fellowship, 2003 - 2003
Van Doren Scholar, 2003 - 2003
Student Research Award/The American Society of Pharmacognosy, 2003
UIC Health Science Auxiliary Award Fellowship, University of Illinois at Chicago, 2002
J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board and United States Information Agency Award, Washington, DC, 1994 - 1997
Outstanding Instructor, Asociación Nicaragüense de Educadores de Nicaragua, 1988
Outstanding Undergraduate Student, 1986 - 1986
Outstanding Teaching Assistant, UNAN-León, León, Nicaragua, 1986

Publications

Antiproliferative and Antifungal Activity of Penicillic Acid in Comparison with Its Different Derivatives, ChemistrySelect. 2025 Apr | journal-article. doi: 10.1002/slct.202404274.
A New Rare Halogenated Depside from Lichen and Study of its Anti‐Proliferative Activity, Chemistry & Biodiversity. 2024 Jun | journal-article. doi: 10.1002/cbdv.202301874.
Strategies for the discovery of potential anticancer agents from plants collected from Southeast Asian tropical rainforests as a case study, Natural Product Reports. 2023 Jan | journal-article. doi: 10.1039/D2NP00080F.
Effects of Corchorusoside C on NF-κB and PARP-1 Molecular Targets and Toxicity Profile in Zebrafish, International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2022 Nov | journal-article. doi: 10.3390/ijms232314546.
Secondary metabolites from Garcinia daedalanthera Pierre leaves (Clusiaceae), Natural Product Research. 2022 Jan | journal-article. doi: 10.1080/14786419.2020.1777117.
Activity in MCF-7 estrogen-sensitive breast cancer cells of capsicodendrin from Cinnamosma fragrans, Anticancer Research. 2021 Jan | journal-article. doi: 10.21873/anticanres.15412.
Botanical dietary products, Remington. 2021 Jan | other. doi: 10.1016/b978-0-12-820007-0.00003-9.
Spermidine alkaloid and glycosidic constituents of Vietnamese Homalium cochinchinensis, Phytochemistry Letters. 2021 Jan | journal-article. doi: 10.1016/j.phytol.2021.04.002.
Apoptosis Induced by (+)-Betulin Through NF-κB Inhibition in MDA-MB-231 Breast Cancer Cells., Anticancer research. 2020 Dec | journal-article. doi: 10.21873/anticanres.14688.
Anticancer and antibacterial potential of Rhus punjabensis and CuO nanoparticles, Natural Product Research. 2020 Jan | journal-article. doi: 10.1080/14786419.2018.1495633.
Tumor suppressor p53 independent apoptosis in HT-29 cells by auransterol from Penicillium aurantiacobrunneum, Biomedicine and Pharmacotherapy. 2020 Jan | journal-article. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2020.110124.
Phytochemical, in-vitro biological and chemo-preventive profiling of Arisaema jacquemontii Blume tuber extracts, BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2019 Dec | journal-article. doi: 10.1186/s12906-019-2668-4.
Structurally Modified Cyclopenta[b]benzofuran Analogues Isolated from Aglaia perviridis., Journal of natural products. 2019 Oct | journal-article. doi: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.9b00631.
Novel narrow spectrum benzyl thiophene sulfonamide derivatives to control Campylobacter., The Journal of antibiotics. 2019 Mar | journal-article. doi: 10.1038/s41429-019-0168-x.
Potential Anticancer Agents Characterized from Selected Tropical Plants, Journal of Natural Products. 2019 Mar | journal-article. doi: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.9b00018.
Apoptotic activity of xanthoquinodin JBIR-99, from Parengyodontium album MEXU 30054, in PC-3 human prostate cancer cells, Chemico-Biological Interactions. 2019 Jan | journal-article. doi: 10.1016/j.cbi.2019.108798.
Caspase-Dependent Apoptosis in Prostate Cancer Cells and Zebrafish by Corchorusoside C from Streptocaulon juventas, Journal of Natural Products. 2019 Jan | journal-article. doi: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.9b00140.
Cytotoxic constituents from Penicillium concentricum, an endophytic fungus from Trichocolea tomentella, Anti-Cancer Drugs. 2019 Jan | journal-article. doi: 10.1097/CAD.0000000000000759.
Green synthesis of hematite (α-Fe ₂ O ₃ ) nanoparticles using Rhus punjabensis extract and their biomedical prospect in pathogenic diseases and cancer, Journal of Molecular Structure. 2019 Jan | journal-article. doi: 10.1016/j.molstruc.2019.02.088.
α-Pyrone and Sterol Constituents of Penicillium aurantiacobrunneum, a Fungal Associate of the Lichen Niebla homalea, Journal of Natural Products. 2019 Jan | journal-article. doi: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.9b00340.
Cytotoxic and NF-κB and mitochondrial transmembrane potential inhibitory pentacyclic triterpenoids from Syzygium corticosum and their semi-synthetic derivatives, Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry. 2018 Jan | journal-article. doi: 10.1016/j.bmc.2018.07.025.
Hapalindole H induces apoptosis as an inhibitor of NF-ĸB and affects the intrinsic mitochondrial pathway in PC-3 androgen-insensitive prostate cancer cells, Anticancer Research. 2018 Jan | journal-article. doi: 10.21873/anticanres.12595.
Incorporation of Selected Antimicrobial Small Molecule Compounds into Tapioca Starch and the Effects on Thickness, Moisture, and Oxygen Mass Transfer, and Mechanical Properties of the Films, Starch/Staerke. 2018 Jan | journal-article. doi: 10.1002/star.201700060.
Maternal Health in Central America: The Role of Medicinal Plants in the Pregnancy-Related Health and Well-Being of Indigenous Women in Central America, Global Maternal and Child Health. 2018 Jan | book-chapter. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-71538-4_5.
Sarcopenia, Diabetes, and Nutritional Intervention, Nutritional and Therapeutic Interventions for Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome. 2018 Jan | book-chapter. doi: 10.1016/b978-0-12-812019-4.00023-4.
New acyclic bis phenylpropanoid and neolignans, from Myristica fragrans Houtt., exhibiting PARP-1 and NF-κB inhibitory effects, Food Chemistry. 2016 Jul | journal-article. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2016.01.060.
Isolation of Bioactive Rotenoids and Isoflavonoids from the Fruits of Millettia caerulea, Planta Medica. 2016 Jun | journal-article. doi: 10.1055/s-0042-108059.
Influence of Socio-economic Status and Culture in Diet and Nutrition, Nutrition: An Approach to Good Health and Disease Management. 2016 May | other. doi: 10.2174/9781681081083116010011.
A Phyllanthusmin Derivative Exhibiting Intracellular Effects On Reactive Oxygen Species, Planta Medica. 2016 Mar | journal-article. doi: 10.1055/s-0036-1578696.
Bioactive Constituents From Rhus Punjabensis Stewart. (Anacardiaceae), Planta Medica. 2016 Mar | journal-article. doi: 10.1055/s-0036-1578732.
Cytotoxic Triterpenoids From The Leaves And Twigs Of Syzygium Corticosum, Planta Medica. 2016 Mar | journal-article. doi: 10.1055/s-0036-1578772.
A phenylpropanoid and neolignans from Myristica fragrans Houtt with PARP-1 and NF-κB inhibitory activity, Planta Medica. 2015 Jun | journal-article. doi: 10.1055/s-0035-1556459.
Cytotoxic rotenoids and isoflavonoids from the fruits of Millettia caerulea, Planta Medica. 2015 Jun | journal-article. doi: 10.1055/s-0035-1556480.
Bioassay-guided isolation of active compounds and fingerprinting of an edible nut toward the development of a diabetic zebrafish model, Planta Medica. 2014 Jul | journal-article. doi: 10.1055/s-0034-1382476.
Discovery of anticancer lead compounds from plants of Vietnam, Planta Medica. 2014 Jul | journal-article. doi: 10.1055/s-0034-1382475.
Assay development for the discovery of semaphorin 3B inducing agents from natural product sources, Fitoterapia. 2014 Jan | journal-article. doi: 10.1016/j.fitote.2014.07.004.
Bioactive indole alkaloids isolated from Alstonia angustifolia, Phytochemistry Letters. 2014 Jan | journal-article. doi: 10.1016/j.phytol.2014.06.010.
Bioactive Flavaglines and Other Constituents Isolated from Aglaia perviridis, Planta Medica. 2013 Jul | journal-article. doi: 10.1055/s-0033-1348709.
Apoptosis Induction by 13-Acetoxyrolandrolide through the Mitochondrial Intrinsic Pathway, Phytotherapy Research. 2013 Jan | journal-article. doi: 10.1002/ptr.5091.
Bioactive constituents of Sacoglottis gabonensis, a tropical forest tree consumed by monkeys, apes and humans, Planta Medica. 2012 Jul | journal-article. doi: 10.1055/s-0032-1321071.
Isolation, structure elucidation, and biological evaluation of 16,23-epoxycucurbitacin constituents from Eleaocarpus chinensis, Planta Medica. 2012 Jul | journal-article. doi: 10.1055/s-0032-1320924.
Cytotoxic and NF-κB inhibitory sesquiterpene lactones from Piptocoma rufescens, Tetrahedron. 2012 Mar | journal-article. doi: 10.1016/j.tet.2012.01.061.
Bioactivity-guided isolation of cytotoxic sesquiterpenes of Rolandra fruticosa, Phytochemistry. 2010 Apr | journal-article. doi: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2010.01.012.
Investigation of antimicrobial and protease-inhibitory activity from cultured cyanobacteria, Pharmaceutical Biology. 2009 Jan | journal-article. doi: 10.1080/13880200802415483.
Inhibitors of NF-κB derived from thalidomide, Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters. 2007 Nov | journal-article. doi: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2007.01.088.
Ponapensin, a cyclopenta[bc]benzopyran with potent NF-κB inhibitory activity from Aglaia ponapensis, Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry Letters. 2007 Jan | journal-article. doi: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2006.09.084.
Potential cancer chemopreventive agents from Arbutus unedo, Natural Product Research. 2006 Jan | journal-article. doi: 10.1080/14786410500161205.
Activity-guided fractionation of the leaves of Ormosia sumatrana using a proteasome inhibition assay, Journal of Natural Products. 2004 Jan | journal-article. doi: 10.1021/np040134g.
Erratum: Constituents of the Stem Bark of Pongamia pinnata with the Potential to Induce Quinone Reductase (Journal of Natural Products (2003) 66 (1197-1207)), Journal of Natural Products. 2004 Jan | journal-article. doi: 10.1021/np030515e.
Natural inhibitors of carcinogenesis, Planta Medica. 2004 Jan | journal-article. doi: 10.1055/s-2004-827198.
Constituents of the stem bark of Pongamia pinnata with the potential to induce quinone reductase, Journal of Natural Products. 2003 Jan | journal-article. doi: 10.1021/np030207g.
Antioxidant flavonoid glycosides from Daphniphyllum calycinum, Journal of Natural Products. 1998 Jan | journal-article. doi: 10.1021/np9800203.
Evaluation of the antioxidant potential of natural products, Combinatorial Chemistry and High Throughput Screening. 1998 Jan | journal-article. .