Scolopendra subspinipes

The investigation carried out on some Chinese animals used for CNS symptoms similar to those seen in AD resulted in the isolation of long chain fatty acids from the centipede Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans which had weak AChEl activity.A series of fatty acids was tested to discern any structure-activity relationships and it was found that only free acids, not esters, had AChEl activity. The presence of unsaturated bonds and a chain length of not less than 16 C were was necessary for activity. The most active compound tested was linolenic acid (71) with IC50 of 59.9 xM against AChE. 

Sample Sophora japonica Artemisia capiiteris Plantago asiatica m Ephedra sinica Aconitum carmichaeli Scolopendra subspinipes U... 

The venom gland is found at the base of the forcipules. Venom passes through the ducts of the forcipules and is injected into the bite site. The components of centipede venom have not been completely identified. Known components include 5-hy-droxytryptamine, histamine, lipids, polysaccharides, and enzymes including proteinases and esterases. Toxin S, which is a cardiotoxic protein, has been isolated from the species Scolopendra subspinipes. Cytolysin is found in the North American giant centipede, Scolopendra heros. 

Envenomation producing death has not been reported in the United States. In the Philippines, a 7-year-old girl is reported to have died following the bite from Scolopendra subspinipes, a tropical centipede. 

Centipedes contain a lot of alkaloids, such as plant-derived alkaloids. From Scolopendra subspinipes, quinoline alkaloids (3,8-dihydroxyquinoline, and, 2,8-dihydroxy-3,4-dimethoxyquinoline) have been isolated. This centipede... 

Moon SS, Cho NS, Shin J, Seo Y, Lee CO, Choi SU. Jineol, a cytotoxic alkaloid from the centipede Scolopendra subspinipes. / Nat Prod 1996 59(8) 777-9. 

Noda N, Yashiki Y, Nakatani T, Miyahara K, Du XM. A novel quinoline alkaloid possessing a 7-benzyl group from the centipede, Scolopendra subspinipes. Cliem Pharmaceut Bull 2001 49(7) 930-1. 

Jineol 3.8-diOH Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans (centipede) [31]... 

Scolopendrine 2-OH, 3-OMe, T-CHjfS -OMe, 4 -OH)Ph, 8-OSO3 Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans (centipede) [36]... 

Yoon M-A, Jeong T-S, Park D-S, Xu M-Z, Oh H-W, Song K-B, Lee WS, Park H-Y (2006) Antioxidant effects of quinoline alkaloids and 2,4-Di-rert-butylphenol isolated from Scolopendra subspinipes. Biol Pharm Bull 29 735-739... 

Related in structure is 8-hydroxyisocoumarin, also called centipedin (Figure 4.15). It is an antibiotic substance isolated from the centipede Scolopendra subspinipes multilans (Plate 5). Although centipede bites can... 

Simple phenols are found occasionally in the defensive secretion of millipedes and more commonly in opiUonids. Three species of millipede have been shown to produce phenol and 2-methoxyphenol from tyrosine, but phenylalanine is not incorporated, which is an indication they are unable to hydroxylate phenylalanine. Other alkylphenols e.g. 2,3-dimethylphenol, guaiacol or O-methylcatechol, and 5-ethyl-2-methylphenol, of rmknown origin) are present in some opilionids. The centipede Scolopendra subspinipes multilans (Plate 5) secretes 8-hydroxyisocoumarin or centipedin (Figure 8.10), which has an antibiotic effect. In biosynthetic studies [ C]acetic acid was efficiently incorporated, indicating it is probably produced through a polyketide Uke mellein. 

Plate 5 The centipede Scolopendra subspinipes multilans which produces the antibiotic centipedin. It also has an extremely painful bite of unknown composition (Photo Tom Larsen)... 

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