Organic Chemistry and Natural Products Division (OCNPD)

Biochemistry and Agricultural Chemistry Division (BACD)

Faculty Room: PS A-108
Email: [email protected]
Links: Google Scholar / Researchgate

Educational Background

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Biochemistry (ongoing)
University of the Philippines Los Baños

Master of Science in Biochemistry
University of the Philippines Los Baños

Bachelor of Science in Chemistry
Polytechnic University of the Philippines

Research Interests

• Cereal chemistry, grain quality, and nutrition (rice and corn)
• Starch chemistry and digestibility
• Germplasm characterization and enhancement (food crops)
• Biochemical studies in support to crop breeding, seed purity assessment, and crop/seed production
• Biochemical properties of potential alternative staples and underutilized food crops
• Chromium in Philippine foods

Selected Publications

Pabellon, J. M. L.; Gonzaga, N. R.; Silverio, B. G. S.; Gonzaga, A. B., Jr.; Vergara, J. R. M.; Tuaño, A. P. P. Productivity of Open-Pollinated White Corn (Zea mays L.) Applied with Calcitic Lime and Zinc. Int. J. Agric. Technol. 2025, 21 (1), 141–152.

Angeles, G. T.; Tuaño, A. P. P.; Angeles, A. A.; Lagrada, V. J. G.; Merca, F. E.; Navasero, J. M. P. Evaluation of Cellulolytic Activity of Black Soldier Fly [Hermetia illucens (Linnaeus)] Larvae Fed Different Combinations of Rice Bran and Market Vegetable Waste from Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines. Philipp. J. Vet. Anim. Sci. 2024, 50 (1), 45–56.

Ong, G. V. P.; Juanico, C. B.; Santiago, D. M. O.; Bayna-Mariano, R. I.; Tuaño, A. P. P. Comparison of the Nutritional Properties of Roasted Nixtamalized and Non-Nixtamalized IPB Var 6 Corn as Coffee Substitute. Carpathian J. Food Sci. Technol. 2024, 16 (1), 162–177. 

Flandez, L. E. L.; Castillo-Israel, K. C.; Rivadeneira, J. P.; Tuaño, A. P. P.; Hizon-Fradejas, A. B. Development and Validation of an HPLC-DAD Method for the Simultaneous Analysis of Phenolic Compounds. Malays. J. Fundam. Appl. Sci. 2023, 19, 855–864. 

Castillo-Israel, K. C.; Flandez, L. E. L.; Tuaño, A. P. P.; Sartagoda, K. J. D.; Compendio, M. C. M. Vitamin C Levels of Selected Philippine Indigenous Berries as Affected by Fruit Maturity and Processing Treatment. Food Prod. Process. Nutr. 2023, 5, 33. 

Tuaño, A. P. P.; Tan, L. A. G.; Hernandez, M. B. S.; Lu, R. E., Jr. In Vitro α-Amylase Inhibitory and Antioxidant Properties of Soluble Proteins and Their Peptic Hydrolysates from Raw and Cooked Commercially Available Oatmeal. Cereal Chem. 2022, 99 (1), 111–118.

Tapaoan, S. M. D.; Barrion, A. S. A.; Tuaño, A. P. P. Phytochemical Content and Antioxidant Activity of Boiled and Fresh Ayo (Tetrastigma harmandii Planch) Fruits and Leaves. Asian J. Diet. 2022, 4 (2–3), 69–74. 

Ramos, P. I. K.; Tuaño, A. P. P.; Juanico, C. B. Microbial Quality, Safety, Sensory Acceptability, and Proximate Composition of a Fermented Nixtamalized Maize (Zea mays L.) Beverage. J. Cereal Sci. 2022, 107, 103521. 

De Leon, D. C. A.; Bonto, A. P.; Tuaño, A. P. P.; Juanico, C. B. Nutrient Composition, Starch Microstructure and Thermal Properties, and In Vitro Availability of Selected Minerals of Nixtamalized Philippine Quality Protein Maize Variety IPB Var 6 and the Production of Healthy Loaf Bread Using Nixtamalized Corn-Wheat Flour Blends. J. Food Process. Preserv. 2022, 46 (9), e16665. 

Hernandez, J. A.; Tuaño, A. P. P.; Juanico, C. B. Development and Characterization of the Nutritional Profile and Microbial Safety of Rice-Nixtamalized Corn Grits Blends as Potential Alternative Staple for Household Consumption. Future Foods 2022, 5, 100127. 

Tuaño, A. P. P.; Castrillo, G. A.; Viola, G. A. V. Analysis of Apparent Amylose Content of Market Milled Rice via Digital Image Photometry Using a Smartphone Camera. Curr. Res. Food Sci. 2021, 4, 852–861.

Tuaño, A. P. P.; Barcellano, E. C. G.; Rodriguez, M. S. R. Resistant Starch Levels and In Vitro Starch Digestibility of Selected Cooked Philippine Brown and Milled Rices Varying in Apparent Amylose Content and Glycemic Index. Food Chem.: Mol. Sci. 2021, 2, 100010.

Delmo, N. V.; Tuaño, A. P. P.; del Rosario, E. J. Grain Sizing Using Flat-Bed Scanning and Digital Image Analysis. Trans. Natl. Acad. Sci. Technol. Philipp. 2021, 43, 7–16. 

Crieta, B. R. A.; Tuaño, A. P. P.; Torio, M. A. O.; Villanueva, J. C.; Gaban, P. J. V.; Castillo-Israel, K. A. T. In VitroLipid-Lowering Properties of the Fruits of Two Bignay [Antidesma bunius (L.) Spreng] Cultivars as Affected by Maturity Stage and Thermal Processing. Food Chem.: Mol. Sci. 2021, 2, 100020. 

Libron, J. A. M. A.; Cardona, D. E. M.; Mateo, J. M. C.; Beltran, A. K. M.; Tuaño, A. P. P.; Laude, T. P. Nutritional Properties and Phenolic Acid Profile of Selected Philippine Pigmented Maize with High Antioxidant Activity. J. Food Compos. Anal. 2021, 101, 103954. 

Barcena, M. S. K.; Orillo, A. T. O.; Juanico, C. B.; Tuaño, A. P. P. Acculturation-Related Factors of Dietary Pattern Changes among Indigenous Adolescents in Mt. Arayat, Philippines. J. Nutr. Food 2021, 16, 21–30. 

Sunico, D. J. A.; Rodriguez, F. M.; Tuaño, A. P. P.; Mopera, L. E.; Atienza, L. M.; Juanico, C. B. Physicochemical and Nutritional Properties of Nixtamalized Quality Protein Maize Flour and Its Potential as Substitute in Philippine Salt Bread. Chiang Mai Univ. J. Nat. Sci. 2021, 20 (2), e2021035. 

Tuaño, A. P. P.; Lasam, K. T. M.; Vicente, C. J. M. Grain Quality of Milled Rice in Various Supermarkets in Dasmariñas City, Cavite. J. Hum. Ecol. 2020, 9, 71–92. 

Tuaño, A. P. P.; Ricafort, C. H.; del Rosario, E. J. Estimation of Alkali Spreading Value and Gelatinization Temperature of Some Philippine Rice Varieties Using Digital Photometry. Philipp. Agric. Sci. 2018, 101, 354–362.

 

Awards

Best Graduate Student in Chemistry Award  (2024)
Awarded by the Kapisanang Kimika ng Pilipinas, Inc. during the 2024 Chemistry Graduate Student Conference last February 2024 at DLSU, Taft Ave., Manila

Best Poster Paper Award (2024)
Awarded by the Kapisanang Kimika ng Pilipinas – Southern Tagalog, Inc. during its 4th International Scientific Conference and 53rd Annual Convention last December 2024 at CEAT, UPLB, Los Baños, Laguna
Poster title: Variation in seed mineral contents of selected foxtail millet (Setaria italica) accessions collected from the Philippines and Taiwan
Authors: LGC Geronimo, VJG Lagrada, JAO Reyes, MV Purificacion, APP Tuaño, and NC Ereful

Outstanding Published Paper in Agriculture - Dr. Elvira O. Tan Award (2023)
Awarded by the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD) during its 2023 S&T Awards and Recognition and 51st Founding Anniversary last November 2023 at DOST-PCAARRD, Los Baños, Laguna
Paper title: Nutritional properties and phenolic acid profile of selected Philippine pigmented maize with high antioxidant activity
Authors: JAMA Libron, DEM Cardona, JMC Mateo, AKM Beltran, APP Tuaño, and TP Laude
Journal title, volume and page nos.: Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, 101, 103954

Best Paper Award (Undergraduate Thesis Category) (2023)
Awarded by the Philippine Society of Animal Science (PSAS) during its 7th International Livestock Biotechnology Symposium and 60th Scientific Meeting and Annual Convention last October 2023 at Tagbilaran City, Bohol
Paper title: Evaluation of cellulolytic activity of black soldier fly [Hermetia illucens (Linnaeus)] larvae fed with different combinations of rice bran and municipal organic waste from Los Baños, Laguna
Authors: GT Angeles, APP Tuaño, AA Angeles, FE Merca, VJG Lagrada, and JR Navasero

Best Poster Award (2021)

Awarded by the Federation of Plant Science Associations of the Philippines [FPSAP] during its 2nd National Scientific Conference last September 2021 via Zoom
Poster title: Native pigmented corn: Potential source of zinc for supplementation to address micronutrient deficiency in the Philippines
Authors: JMC Mateo, DEM Cardona, JAMA Libron, AKM Beltran, APP Tuaño, and TP Laude

Best Oral Paper Award (2020)
Awarded during the 1st IPB International Conference on Nutrition and Food [ICNF] last November 2020 at IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia
Paper title: Acculturation-related changes factors of dietary patterns of indigenous adolescents in Mt. Arayat, Philippines
Authors: MSK Barcena, ATO Orillo, CB Juanico, and APP Tuaño

Best Digital Scientific Poster Award (2nd Place) (2020)
Awarded by the Kapisanang Kimika ng Pilipinas – Southern Tagalog, Inc. during its 49th Annual Convention last November 2019 via Zoom
Poster title: Levels of macronutrients and selected minerals of pulverized nixtamalized quality protein maize (Zea mays L. cv. IPB Var 6) for use in baked products
Authors: DCA de Leon, APP Tuaño, and CB Juanico

Best Oral Paper Award (2018)
Awarded by the College of Humanities and Sciences (CHS), De La Salle Health Sciences Institute (DLSHSI) during the 1st CHS Student Research Colloquium, last August 2018 at CHS, DLSHSI, Dasmariñas City, Cavite
Paper title: α-Amylase inhibitory activity and antioxidant capacity of soluble proteins and their peptic hydrolysates from raw and cooked commercially available oatmeal
Authors: LAG Tan, MBS Hernandez, RE Lu, Jr., and APP Tuaño

Outstanding Scientific Paper Award (2017)
Awarded by the National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines (NAST-PHL) during its 39th Annual Scientific Meeting of NAST-PH last July 2017 at The Manila Hotel, Manila
Paper titled: Grain and starch properties of waxy and low-apparent amylose Philippine rices and of NSIC Rc222
Authors: APP Tuaño, N Aoki, N Fujita, NT Oitome, FE Merca, and BO Juliano
Journal title, volume and page nos.: Philippine Agricultural Scientist, 97, 329-339

Extension Work

Reviewer of scientific papers/articles submitted for publication in some journals (2013 to present)

Reviewer of research proposals submitted to local funding agencies and state universities and colleges (SUCs) (2013 to present)

Resource person/speaker/judge in scientific conferences and in scientific paper/poster competitions (2013 to present)