Gloria Montenegro


Gloria del Carmen Montenegro Rizzardini is a Chilean botanist, biologist, academic and scientist. She is Professor of Botany at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.

Career

Montenegro has been a member of academic staff in Biology and Natural Sciences at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile since 1964. She has undertaken pioneering work in botany and conservation of native flora, especially plants that are attractive to bees. She has developed criteria to authenticate honey from different plants and regions of Chile in collaboration with beekeepers and farmers. Her research has also indicated that honey derived from specific plants can be used to control some plant pathogens. Her research into ecosystems has also been used to inform environmental rehabilitation programmes in Chile.
Montenegro has had sabbaticals at several institutions. From 1965 – 1969 she spent time at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods-Hole USA and developed skills in histological techniques. During 1970 – 1974 she devoted time to developing the plant ultrastructure and molecular biology skills of her research, including spending time herself at University of Houston, Texas.

Awards

She was awarded the L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science International Award for the Latin America and Caribbean regions in 1998 for her efforts to apply modern science to the protection of plant ecosystem.

Publications

Montenegro is the author or co-author of over 240 scientific publications, as well as books, book chapters, and patents. These include:
  • Paula Núñez-Pizarro, Gloria Montenegro, Gabriel Núñez, Marcelo E. Andia, Christian Espinosa-Bustos, Adriano Costa de Camargo, JuanEsteban Oyarzún and Raquel Bridi Plants 13 3187.
  • Bairon Jorquera and 9 other authors including Gloria Montenegro. Phenolics from Chilean Bee Bread Exhibit Antioxidant and Antibacterial Properties: The First Prospective Study. Chemistry & Biodiversity 20 e202301015.
  • Raquel Bridi, Elias Atala, Paula Núñez Pizarro and Gloria Montenegro Honeybee Pollen Load: Phenolic Composition and Antimicrobial Activity and Antioxidant Capacity. Journal of Natural Products 83 pp 559–565.
  • Susanne Valcic, Gloria Montenegro and Barbara N. Timmermann Lignans from Chilean Propolis. Journal of Natural Products 61 pp 771–775.
  • James D Mauseth, Gloria Montenegro and Alan M Walckowiak Host infection and flower formation by the parasite Tristerix aphyllus. Canadian Journal of Botany 63 pp 567–581.