Camelia Maier, Ph.D.

Professor and Herbarium Director

Office Location: GRB 328
Office Phone: 940-898-2358
Lab Phone: 940-898-2442
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

Education

Major Academic/Research Interests

Phytoestrogens, reproductive ecology of dioecious plants, epicuticular waxes, mineral deposits, plant-animal interactions, native plants

Main research interest: Estrogen compounds in plants (phytoestrogens)

The search for phytoestrogens and their possible functions in plant development and reproduction was approached by choosing a specific molecular screening technique, the estrogen-responsive transcriptional system in yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). A variety of cellular, biochemical, physiological, molecular and genetic approaches are further employed, at the microscopic and organism levels to understand the role of these compounds in plant development and reproduction. Research topics include: the isolation and characterization of phytoestrogens from different plant species; the involvement of phytoestrogens in plant development and sexual reproduction and/or reproductive ecology; search for plant endogenous receptors responsive to phytoestrogens; estrogens in dietary plants and food products; medical applications of phytoestrogens for the prevention and therapy of cancer; sexual dimorphism and reproductive ecology of dioecious plants of the mulberry family.

Other research interests:

Plant epicuticular wax biochemistry, deposition and functions; plant mineral depositions and functions; plant-animal interactions; native plants.

Project List

Current projects in our lab:

• Effects of estrogens on Arabidopsis thaliana stress responses
• Isolation and characterization of phytoestrogens from Maclura pomifera and Morus sp. (Moraceae), dietary plants, and medicinal plants
• Sex determination mechanism in Morus sp. and Maclura pomifera (Moraceae)
• Sexual dimorphism in Moraceae
• Effect of mulberry mineral deposits on silkworm feeding and performance
• Morpho-anatomical characteristics and reproductive ecology of Trout lily, Erythronium sp. (Liliaceae) in North Texas

Select Publications

1. Upadhyay P. and Maier C., 2016, Alleviation of drought stress in Arabidopsis thaliana by 17β-estradiol application, American Journal of Plant Sciences, Special Issue on Abiotic Stress in Plants 7(14): 2072-2086, DOI: 4236/ajps.2016.714186
2. 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
3. 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
4. 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
5. 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
6. 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
7. 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)
8. 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
9. Wojtaszek J., and Maier C., 2014, A microscopic review of the sunflower and honeybee mutualistic relationship, International Journal of AgriScience 4(5): 272-282
10. Maier C. and Bierschank E., 2013, Plant Biology Lab Manual (Second edition), Fountainhead Press, ISBN 978-1-59871-707-5
11. 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
12. 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
13. 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
14. Maier C. and Arnott H. J., 2002, An interdisciplinary inquiry laboratory on calcium biomineralization in plants, Texas Journal of Microscopy 33(2): 51-54
15. Maier C., 2001, Introducing science students to plant waxes, Texas Journal of Microscopy 32 (2): 45-49
16. 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
17. 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
18. 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
19. Hemphill J. K., Maier C., and Chapman K. D., 1998, Rapid in vitro regeneration of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum), Plant Cell Reports 17: 273-278
20. 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
21. 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, Environmental Biology, Plant Environmental Biology and Plant Ecophysiology

Undergraduate Courses:

• Bot. 2113, Plant Biology; Biol. 4223, Ecology; Biol. 1022, Environmental Biology

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