Camelia Maier, Ph.D.

Professor and Herbarium Director

Office Location: SRC 304D
Office Phone: 940-898-2358
Fax: 940-898-2382
Email: cmaier@twu.edu 

Teaching Areas: Botany, Plant Biology, Plant Biochemistry and Physiology, Plant Ecophysiology, Plant Ecology, General Ecology, and Environmental Biology
Research Areas: Plant secondary compounds and their roles in plant development, stress responses, plant reproduction, and health benefits

Education

Major Academic/Research Interests

Phytoestrogens, reproductive ecology of dioecious plants, epicuticular waxes, mineral deposits, plant-animal interactions, native plants, secondary metabolites and their anticancer (mechanism of action), antioxidant, and antipain properties

Current projects

Medicinal properties of plant secondary metabolites, specifically:

• Identification of Novel Non-Opioid Analgesics of Euphorbia bicolor, a native plant, in collaboration with Dr. Dayna Averitt (TWU). E. bicolor phytochemicals have the potential to treat pain, analgesia occurring through at least three mechanisms, and that they do not target opioid receptors.
• Antiproliferative Activity of Secondary Metabolites in E. bicolor, E. maculata, E. dentata, and dioecious Maclura pomifera and their mechanisms of action in ER-positive and triple-negative breast cancer cell lines

Other research interests:

Estrogen compounds in plants (phytoestrogens) biochemistry and functions; plant epicuticular wax biochemistry, deposition and functions; plant mineral depositions and functions; plant-pollinator interactions; native plants.

Select Publications

1. Basu P., Maier C., Averitt D.L., and Basu A., 2023, NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasomes and neuropathic pain – Emphasis on microRNAs (miRNAs) as important regulators. European Journal of Pharmacology 955, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejphar.2023.175901
2. Basu P., Averitt D.L., Maier C., and Basu A., 2022, The effects of nuclear factor erythroid 2 (NFE2)-related factor 2 (Nrf2) activation in preclinical models of peripheral neuropathic pain, Antioxidants, Health Outcomes of Antioxidants and Oxidative Stress section, Antioxidants in Chronic Pain II special issue 11(2), 430,https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox11020430
3. Basu, P., Averitt, D.L., and Maier, C. (2022) Euphorbia bicolor(Euphorbiaceae) Latex Phytochemicals and Applications to Analgesia, In V.R. Preedy (Ed.) The Neuroscience of Anesthetics and Analgesics: Treatment, Mechanisms of Action, and Adverse Reactions, Elsevier
4. Basu P., Maier C., and Basu A., 2021, Effects of curcumin and its different formulations in preclinical and clinical studies of peripheral neuropathic and postoperative pain: A comprehensive review. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 22 (9), 4666,https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22094666
5. Basu P., Thallapareddy C., and Maier C., 2021, In vitro antidiabetic and antioxidant properties of dioecious Morus alba (Moraceae) extracts. Pharmacognosy Research, doi: 10.4103/pr.pr_103_20
6. Basu P., Meza E., Bergel M., and Maier C., 2020, Estrogenic, antiestrogenic and antiproliferative activities of Euphorbia bicolor (Euphorbiaceae) latex extract and its phytochemicals. Nutrients’ special issue "Flavonoids and Cancer Prevention", 12 (1). doi:10.3390/nu12010059
7. Basu, P., Hornung, R.S., Averitt, D.L., and Maier, C. (2019). Euphorbia bicolor (Euphorbiaceae) latex extract reduces inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress in a rat model of orofacial pain. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity., doi: 10.1155/2019/8594375.
8. Basu, P., Tongkhuya, S.A., Harris, T.L., Riley, A. R., Maier, C., Granger J., Wojtaszek J., and D.L. Averitt (2019). Euphorbia bicolor (Euphorbiaceae) latex phytochemicals induce long-lasting non-opioid peripheral analgesia in a rat inflammatory pain model. Frontiers in Pharmacology., doi: 10.3389/fphar.2019.00958.
9. Basu, P., and Maier, C. (2018). Phytoestrogens and breast cancer: In vitro anticancer activities of isoflavones, lignans, coumestans, stilbenes, and their analogs and derivatives. Biomedicine & Pharmacognosy, 107., doi: 1648-1666.
10. Basu, P., Dixon D., Varghese, D., and Maier, C. (2018). Detection of estrogenic, antiestrogenic, and drug synergistic activities of seven commercially available fruits by in vitro reporter assays. Pharmacognosy Research, 10 (2)., doi: 10.4103/pr.pr_111_17.
11. Basu, P., Sunny, S., and Maier, C. (2016). Estrogenic and antiestrogenic activities of commercially dietary supplements containing herbal ingredients and International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 8 (11)., doi: 10.22159/ijpps.2016v8i11.4687.
12. Upadhyay, P., and Maier, C. (2016). Alleviation of drought stress in Arabidopsis thaliana by 17-beta estradiol application. American Journal of Plant Sciences, 7 (14)., doi: 10.4236/ajps.2016.714186.
13. Basu P., Sunny S., and Maier C., 2016, Estrogenic and antiestrogenic activities of commercially dietary supplements containing herbal ingredients and isoflavones, International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences 8(11): 307-312, DOI: 10.22159/ijpps.2016v8i11.4687
14. Basu P., Maier C. and Averitt D.L., 2016, Novel effects of Euphorbia bicolor (Euphorbiaceae) latex extract on nociceptors. The Journal of Pain, 17(4): S81
15. Upadhyay P., and Maier C., 2016, Effect of 17β-estradiol on growth, primary metabolism, phenylpropanoid pathway and pathogen resistance in Arabidopsis thaliana, American Journal of Plant Sciences 7:1693-1710, DOI: 10.4236/ajps.2016.713160
16. Basu P., and Maier C., 2016, In vitro antioxidant activities and polyphenol contents of seven commercially available fruits. Pharmacognosy Research 8(4): 258-264, DOI: 10.4103/0974-8490.188875
17. Basu P., and Maier C., 2016, In vitro antioxidant activities of black and red raspberry fruits after sequential solvent extraction. The FASEB Journal, 30(1S): 1174.13
18. Basu P., Maier C., and Basu A., 2016, Dietary Soy Phytoestrogens and Biomarkers of Osteoporosis, in V. R. Preedy (Ed.) Biomarkers in Disease: Methods, Discoveries and Applications, Springer (Online first; doi: 10.1007/978-94-007-7745-3_36-1)
19. Maier C., 2014, Microscopy as a tool for student engagement in experiential learning, in A. Mendez-Vilas (Ed.) Microscopy: Advances in Scientific Research and Education, Microscopy Book Series #6, Formatex Research Center, ISBN 978-84-942134-4-1, pp. 1181-1187
20. Wojtaszek J., and Maier C., 2014, A microscopic review of the sunflower and honeybee mutualistic relationship, International Journal of AgriScience 4(5): 272-282
21. Maier C., and Bierschank E., 2013, Plant Biology Lab Manual (Second edition), Fountainhead Press, ISBN 978-1-59871-707-5
22. Wojtaszek J., Rivera F., and Maier C., 2009, Sign-mediated communication between sunflowers and honeybees, Proceedings of the 33^rd Annual Meeting of the Semiotic Society of America, Semiotics 2008 (J. Deely and L. Sbrocchi, eds.). Legas Pub., Ottawa, Canada, pp. 233-239
23. Whaley W.L., Rummel J.D., Zemenu E., Li W., Yang P., Rodgers B.C., Bailey J., Moody C.L., Huhman D.V., Maier C., Sumner L.W., Starnes S.D., 2007, Isolation and characterization of osajin and pomiferin: Discovery laboratory exercises for organic chemistry, The Chemical Educator 12(3): 179-184
24. Arnott H.J., and Maier C., 2006, Cystolith and nebencystolithen (secondary cystoliths) in white mulberry (Morus alba, Moraceae), Texas Journal of Microscopy 37(2): 58-59
25. Maier C., and Arnott H.J., 2002, An interdisciplinary inquiry laboratory on calcium biomineralization in plants, Texas Journal of Microscopy 33(2): 51-54
26. Maier C., 2001, Introducing science students to plant waxes, Texas Journal of Microscopy 32 (2): 45-49
27. Maier C., and Post-Beittenmiller D., 1998, Epicuticular wax on leek in vitro developmental stages and seedlings under varied growth conditions, Plant Science 134: 53-67
28. Lee S.-J., Chung H.-Y., Maier C., Wood A.R., Dixon R.A., and Mabry T.J., 1998, Identification and estrogenic activity of flavonoids from Artemisia vulgaris, Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 46(8): 3325-3329
29. Lee S.-J., Wood A.R., Maier C., Dixon R.A. and Mabry T.J., 1998, Prenylated flavonoids from Maclura pomifera, Phytochemistry 49(8): 2573-2577
30. Hemphill J.K., Maier C., and Chapman K.D., 1998, Rapid in vitro regeneration of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum), Plant Cell Reports 17: 273-278
31. Maier C., Chapman K.D., and Smith D.W., 1997, Phytoestrogens and floral development in dioecious Maclura pomifera (Raf.) Schneid. and Morus rubra (Moraceae), Plant Science 130: 27-40
32. Maier C., Chapman K.D., and Smith D.W., 1995, Differential estrogenic activities of male and female extracts from two dioecious species, Plant Science 109: 31-43

Courses and Teaching Responsibilities

Plant Biology, Ecology, Undergraduate Biology Seminar, Undergraduate and Graduate Research

Undergraduate Courses:

• BIOL. 2113, Plant Biology; BIOL. 4223, Ecology

Graduate Courses:

• BIOC. 6650, Plant Biochemistry and Physiology, Federation of North Texas Universities, team-taught at UNT
• BIOL. 5903, Plant Environmental Biology (developed the course)
• BIOL. 5903, Plant Physiological Ecology (developed the course)
• BIOL. 6903, Plant Ecophysiology (developed the course)