Alkaloids from millipedes: a re-evaluation of defensive exudates from Polyzonium germanicum

Millipedes are known to produce various sets of chemical compounds in exocrine defensive glands to protect themselves against predators and microorganisms. Here, we reanalyzed the gland secretion of Polyzonium germanicum, a millipede of the order Polyzoniida, by using a combination of analytical techniques such as GC-MS, LC-HRMS and high field 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy. Previously only one compound (polyzonimine, 1) had been described, but our approach allowed us to add six compounds to the defensive chemistry of this species. Besides polyzonimine (1), we found nitropolyzonamine (2) and five new compounds: 3 (2,3-dimethyl-7’-nitro-2’,3’,5’,6’,7’,7a’-hexahydrospiro[cyclopent-2-ene-1,1’-pyrrolizine]), 4 (2,3-dimethyl-7’-nitro-2’,3’,5’,6’,7’,7a’-hexahydrospiro[cyclopentane-1,1’-pyrrolizin]-2-ene), 5 ((1Z)-8,9-dimethyl-1-(nitromethylidene)-2-azaspiro[4.4]non-8-en-7-one), and not fully identified compounds A, B. For compounds 3–5 we were able to determine the molecular constitution, for two of them (4, 5) we were able to give relative configurations. Overall, the combination of advanced analytical techniques applied herein allowed detailed insights into the defensive chemistry of P. germanicum with a low number of individuals needed for analysis and without prior compound isolation

Does a Graphical Abstract Bring More Visibility to Your Paper?

A graphical abstract (GA) represents a piece of artwork that is intended to summarize the main findings of an article for readers at a single glance. Many publishers currently encourage authors to supplement their articles with GAs, in the hope that such a convenient visual summary will facilitate readers with a clearer outline of papers that are of interest and will result in improved overall visibility of the respective publication. To test this assumption, we statistically compared publications with or without GA published in Molecules between March 2014 and March 2015 with regard to several output parameters reflecting visibility. Contrary to our expectations, manuscripts published without GA performed significantly better in terms of PDF downloads, abstract views, and total citations than manuscripts with GA. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first empirical study on the effectiveness of GA for attracting attention to scientific publications

Medicinal Plants and Their Impact on the Gut Microbiome in Mental Health: A Systematic Review

Background: Various neurocognitive and mental health-related conditions have been associated with the gut microbiome, implicating a microbiome–gut–brain axis (MGBA). The aim of this systematic review was to identify, categorize, and review clinical evidence supporting medicinal plants for the treatment of mental disorders and studies on their interactions with the gut microbiota. Methods: This review included medicinal plants for which clinical studies on depression, sleeping disorders, anxiety, or cognitive dysfunction as well as scientific evidence of interaction with the gut microbiome were available. The studies were reported using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. Results: Eighty-five studies met the inclusion criteria and covered thirty mental health-related medicinal plants with data on interaction with the gut microbiome. Conclusion: Only a few studies have been specifically designed to assess how herbal preparations affect MGBA-related targets or pathways. However, many studies provide hints of a possible interaction with the MGBA, such as an increased abundance of health-beneficial microorganisms, anti-inflammatory effects, or MGBA-related pathway effects by gut microbial metabolites. Data for Panax ginseng, Schisandra chinensis, and Salvia rosmarinus indicate that the interaction of their constituents with the gut microbiota could mediate mental health benefits. Studies specifically assessing the effects on MGBA-related pathways are still required for most medicinal plants

Erratum: Pferschy-Wenzig, E.-M.; et al. Does a Graphical Abstract Bring More Visibility to Your Paper? Molecules 2016, 21, 1247

The authors wish to make the following change to their paper [1].[...

Characterization of Three Novel 4-Methylaminorex Derivatives Applied as Designer Drugs

The ongoing development of more and more new psychoactive substances continues to be a huge problem in 2022 affecting the European and international drug market. Through slight alterations in the structure of illicit drugs, a way to circumvent the law is created, as the created derivatives serve as legal alternatives with similar effects. A common way of structure modification is the induction of a halogen residue. Recently, halogenated derivatives of the well-known designer drug 4-methylaminorex appeared on the market and are available in various online shops. In this study, three novel halogenated 4-methylaminorex derivatives, namely 4′-fluoro-4-methylaminorex, 4′-chloro-4-methylaminorex, and 4′-bromo-4-methylaminorex, were purchased online and characterized using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS), and chiral high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection (HPLC-UV). These derivatives possess two stereogenic centers, and analyses revealed that all of them were present as a racemic mixture of the trans diastereomeric form

Phytochemical profile and antigenotoxic potential of Bergenia crassifolia (L.) Fritsch methanolic extracts

Bergenia crassifolia (L.) Fritsch (Saxifragaceae) is in use for over a century as a medicinal plant in the treatment of various ailments, such as gastritis, enterocolitis, cold, fever, headache, and diarrhea. The root, rhizome, and dried leaves of B. crassifolia are most frequently used for medicinal purposes as they showed significant antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties, with adaptogenic effects as well [1, 2]. B. crassifolia has some characteristic constituents: bergenin, arbutin, and various tannins [1, 3]. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the chemical composition of methanolic extracts of B. crassifolia flowers (BCF), leaves (BCL), and roots (BCR) and to show their antigenotoxic effect towards free radical-induced DNA disruption in vitro. The extracts were obtained using accelerated solvent extraction (ASE). Their composition was analyzed using LC-HRMS analysis. Bergenin and arbutin were detected in all three extracts. Other phenolic compounds, such as quinic acid, ellagic acid, quercitrin, and (epi)catechin gallate were also detected in all Bergenia extracts. Besides, there were tentatively annotated some compounds from classes like mono- and sesquiterpene glycosides, phenolamides, and glycolipids that have never been detected in Bergenia species before. B. crassifolia extracts, particularly BCF and BCL, efficiently protected DNA against oxidative damage caused by hydroxyl and peroxyl radicals in all applied concentrations (50, 100, and 200 μg/mL). The obtained data showed significant antioxidant and genoprotective potential of B. crassifolia that will be studied in detail, as well as the presence of some new compounds that have never been reported in Bergenia species so far.Publishe

Characterization of potentially health-promoting constituents in sea fennel (Crithmum maritimum) cultivated in the Conero Natural Park (Marche region, Central Italy)

AbstractContext Sea fennel (Crithmum maritimum L. [Apiaceae]) is an aromatic herb rich in bioactive molecules, such as polyphenols, with potential positive effects on human health.Objective This study aimed at the characterization of sea fennel secondary metabolites, focusing on the phenolic fraction.Materials and methods Samples of whole sprouts, sole leaves and sole stems were subjected to accelerated solvent extraction with methanol, and the resulting extracts were analyzed by high‑performance thin‑layer chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography, and liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detection and high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-DAD-HRMS).Results HPTLC and HPLC analyses of sea fennel extracts showed similar chromatographic profiles among the tested samples, and the prevalence of chlorogenic acid within the phenolic fraction was verified. Ten hydroxycinnamic acids, including neochlorogenic acid, chlorogenic acid, cryptochlorogenic acid, isochlorogenic acid B, isochlorogenic acid A and isochlorogenic acid C, 11 flavonoid glycosides, e.g., rutin, hyperoside, isoquercitrin, two triterpene saponins and two hydroxylated fatty acids, were detected and annotated via liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detection and high-resolution mass spectrometry.Discussion and conclusions The use of accelerated solvent extraction and LC-DAD-HRMS for the characterization of sea fennel secondary metabolites allowed the annotation of seven compounds newly detected in sea fennel, including triterpene saponins and hydroxylated fatty acids