Scolopendra subspinipes multilans

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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