Research Project: Health-Promoting Bioactives and Biobased Pesticides from Medicinal and Herbal Crops

Location: Natural Products Utilization Research

Publications (Clicking on the reprint icon will take you to the publication reprint.)

Pantoea ananatis, a plant growth stimulating bacterium, and its metabolites isolated from Hydrocotyle umbellata (dollarweed) - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Meepagala, K.M., Anderson, C.M., Techen, N., Duke, S.O. 2024. Pantoea ananatis, a plant growth stimulating bacterium, and its metabolites isolated from Hydrocotyle umbellata (dollarweed). Plant Signaling and Behavior. 19:1. https://doi.org/10.1080/15592324.2024.2331894.

Furanocoumarin with Phytotoxic Activity from the Leaves of Amyris elemifera (Rutaceae) - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Meepagala, K.M., Bracken, A.K., Fronczek, F.R., Johnson, R.D., Wedge, D.E., Duke, S.O. 2020. A novel furanocoumarin with phytotoxic activity from the leaves of Amyris elemifera (Rutaceae). Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. https://www.doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.0c04778.

Bioactive compounds produced by Neotropical endophytic fungi applied to agriculture - (Book / Chapter)
Barreto, D.L., Nogueira De Azevedo, R., Carvalho, C., Ferreira, M.C., Cantrell, C.L., Duke, S.O., Rosa, L.H. 2021. Bioactive compounds produced by Neotropical endophytic fungi applied to agriculture. In: Rosa L.H. editors. Neotropical Endophytic Fungi. Springer, Cham: Springer International Publishing. p. 257-295.

Sesquiterpenoids from culture of the fungus Stereum complicatum (Steraceae): Structural diversity, antifungal, and phytotoxic activities - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Perera, W.H., Meepagala, K.M., Wedge, D.E., Duke, S.O. 2020. Sesquiterpenoids from culture of the fungus Stereum complicatum (Steraceae): Structural diversity, antifungal, and phytotoxic activities. Phytochemistry Letters. 37:51-58. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phytol.2020.03.012.

Utilization of nutmeg (Myristica fragrans Houtt.) seed hydrodistillation time to produce essential oil fractions with varied compositions and pharmacological effects - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Ibrahim, M.A., Cantrell, C.L., Jeliazkova, E.A., Astatkie, T., Zheljazkov, V.D. 2020. Utilization of nutmeg (Myristica fragrans Houtt.) seed hydrodistillation time to produce essential oil fractions with varied compositions and pharmacological effects. Molecules. 25(3):565. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25030565.

A phytotoxic and antifungal metabolite (Pyrichalasin H) from a fungus infecting Brachiaria eruciformis (Signal Grass) - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Meepagala, K.M., Clausen, B., Johnson, R.D., Wedge, D.E., Duke, S.O. 2019. A phytotoxic and antifungal metabolite (Pyrichalasin H) from a fungus infecting Brachiaria eruciformis (Signal Grass). Journal of Agricultural Chemistry and Environment. 8(3):115-128. https://doi.org/10.4236/jacen.2019.83010.

Synthesis and biological activity of novel 1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives containing a pyrazole moiety - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Yu, W., Zhai, Z., Min, L., Wedge, D.E., Duke, S.O., Wu, H., Weng, J., Tan, C., Zhang, Y., Liu, X. 2019. Synthesis and biological activity of novel 1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives containing a pyrazole moiety. Research on Chemical Intermediates. 45:5989-6001. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11164-019-04015-8.

Fungi in Antarctica: diversity, ecology, effect of climate changes, and bioprospection for bioactive compounds - (Book / Chapter)
Rosa, L.H., Zani, C.L., Cantrell, C.L., Duke, S.O., Dijck, P.V., Desideri, A., Rosa, C.A. 2019. Fungi in Antarctica: diversity, ecology, effect of climate changes, and bioprospection for bioactive compounds. Book Chapter. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-18367-7_1.

Novel 4-pyrazole carboxamide derivatives containing flexible chain motif: Design, synthesis, and antifungal activity - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Liu, X., Qiao, L., Zhai, Z., Cai, P., Cantrell, C.L., Tan, C., Weng, J., Han, L., Wu, H. 2019. Novel 4-pyrazole carboxamide derivatives containing flexible chain motif: Design, synthesis, and antifungal activity. Pest Management Science. https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.5463.

Discovery of novel bioactive constituents from actinomycetes toward various agricultural pathogens - (Abstract Only)

Hydrodistillation extraction kinetics regression models for essential oil yield and composition in Juniperus virginiana, J. excelsa, and J. sabina - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Semerdjieva, I.B., Shiwakoti, S., Cantrell, C.L., Zheljazkov, V.D., Astatkie, T., Schlegel, V., Radoukova, T. 2019. Hydrodistillation extraction kinetics regression models for essential oil yield and composition in Juniperus virginiana, J. excelsa, and J. sabina. Molecules. 24:1-17. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24050986.

Bioassay-guided isolation and structure elucidation of fungicidal and herbicidal compounds from Ambrosia salsola (Asteraceae) - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Perera, W.H., Meepagala, K.M., Fronczek, F.R., Cook, D., Wedge, D.E., Duke, S.O. 2019. Bioassay-guided isolation and structure elucidation of fungicidal and herbicidal compounds from Ambrosia salsola (Asteraceae). Molecules. 24:1-12. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24050835.

New phytotoxic Cassane-like diterpenoids from Eragrostis plana (Nees) - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Favaretto, A., Cantrell, C.L., Fronczek, F.R., Duke, S.O., Wedge, D.E., Abbas, A., Scheffer-Basso, S.M. 2019. New phytotoxic Cassane-like diterpenoids from Eragrostis plana (Nees). Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.8b06832.

Bioactive metabolites of the stem bark of Strychnos aff. darienensis and evaluation of their antioxidant and UV protection activity in Human Skin Cell Cultures - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Travasarou, A., Vougogiannopoulou, K., Aligiannis, A., Cantrell, C.L., Fokialakis, N., Pratsinis, H. 2019. Bioactive metabolites of the stem bark of Strychnos aff. darienensis and evaluation of their antioxidant and UV protection activity in Human Skin Cell Cultures. Cosmetics. 6(7):1-10.

Dual Utilization of Medicinal and Aromatic Crops as Bioenergy Feedstocks - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Zheljazkov, V.D., Stewart Jr., N., Joyce, B., Baxter, H., Cantrell, C.L., Astatkie, T. 2018. Dual Utilization of Medicinal and Aromatic Crops as Bioenergy Feedstocks. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.7b04594.

Antifungal activities of cytochalasins produced by Diaporthe miriciae, an endophytic fungus associated with tropical medicinal plants - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Carvalho, C.R., D'Silva, A.F., Wedge, D.E., Cantrell, C.L., Rosa, L.H. 2018. Antifungal activities of cytochalasins produced by Diaporthe miriciae, an endophytic fungus associated with tropical medicinal plants. Canadian Journal of Microbiology. 64:835-843. https://doi.org/10.1139/cjm-2018-0131.

Antibacterial activity of constituents from Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana) fruit pericarp against several channel catfish pathogens - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Meepagala, K.M., Schrader, K.K. Antibacterial activity of constituents from Mangosteen Garcinia mangostana fruit pericarp against several channel catfish pathogens. Journal of Aquatic Animal Health. 2018;30:179-184. https://doi.org/10.1002/aah.10021.

AMPK activation by pterostilbene contributes to suppression of hepatic gluconeogenic gene expression and glucose production in H4IIE cells - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Ren, G., Rimando, A.M., Mathews, S.T. 2018. AMPK activation by pterostilbene contributes to suppression of hepatic gluconeogenic gene expression and glucose production in H4IIE cells. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. 498:640-645.

Antifungal and repellent activities of the essential oils from three aromatic herbs from western Himalaya - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Stappen, I., Tabanca, N., Ali, A., Wanner, J., Lal, B., Jaitak, V., Wedge, D.E., Kaul, V.K., Schmidt, E., Jirovetz, L. 2018. Antifungal and repellent activities of the essential oils from three aromatic herbs from western Himalaya. Open Chemistry. 16:306-316. https://doi.org/10.1515/chem-2018-0028.

Synthesis and mosquiticidal activity of novel hydrazone containing pyrimidine derivatives against Aedes aegypti - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Shen, Z., Sun, Z., Becnel, J.J., Estep, A.S., Wedge, D.E., Tan, C., Weng, J., Liu, X. 2018. Synthesis and mosquiticidal activity of novel hydrazone containing pyrimidine derivatives against Aedes aegypti. Letters in Drug Design & Discovery. 15(9):951-956. doi:10.2174/1570180815666180102141640.

Resveratrol and pinostilbene confer neuroprotection against aging-related deficits through an ERK1/2 dependent-mechanism - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Allen, E.N., Potdar, S., Tapias, V., Parmar, M., Mizuno, C.S., Rimando, A.M., Cavanaugh, J.E. 2017. Resveratrol and pinostilbene confer neuroprotection against aging-related deficits through an ERK1/2 dependent-mechanism. Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry. 54:77-86.

Antimalarial and antileishmanial activities of phytophenolics and their synthetic analogues - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Morimoto, M., Cantrell, C.L., Khan, S., Tekwani, B.L., Duke, S.O. 2017. Antimalarial and antileishmanial activities of phytophenolics and their synthetic analogues. Chemistry and Biodiversity. DOI: 10.1002/cbdv.201700324.

Targeting MTA1/HIF-1a signaling by pterostilbene in combination with histone deacetylase inhibitor attenuates prostate cancer progression - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Butt, N.A., Kumar, A., Dhar, S., Rimando, A.M., Akhtar, I., Hancock, J.C., Lage, J.M., Pound, C.R., Lewin, J.R., Gomez, C.R., Levenson, A.S. 2017. Targeting MTA1/HIF-1a signaling by pterostilbene in combination with histone deacetylase inhibitor attenuates prostate cancer progression. Cancer Medicine. 6(11):2673-2685.

Phytochemical characterization and biological activity of secondary metabolites from three Limonium species - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Gadetskaya, A.V., Mohamed, S.M., Tarawneh, A.H., Mohamed, N.M., Ma, G., Ponomarev, B.N., Zhusupova, G.E., Cantrell, C.L., Cutler, S.J., Ross, S.A. 2017. Phytochemical characterization and biological activity of secondary metabolites from three Limonium species. Medicinal Chemistry Research. 26:2743-2750. 10.1007/s00044-017-1973-z.

Resveratrol and pterostilbene as a microRNA-mediated chemopreventive and therapeutic strategy in prostate cancer - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Kumar, A., Rimando, A.M., Levenson, A.S. 2017. Resveratrol and pterostilbene as a microRNA-mediated chemopreventive and therapeutic strategy in prostate cancer. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. 1403(1):15-26.

Biological activity of Bunium persicum essential oil from western Himalaya - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Stappen, I., Tabanca, N., Ali, A., Wedge, D.E., Wanner, J., Gochev, V., Jaitak, V., Lal, B., Kaul, V.K., Schmidt, E., Jirovetz, L. 2017. Biological activity of Bunium persicum essential oil from western Himalaya. Planta Medica International Open. e52-e58. https://dx.doi.org/10.1055/s-0043-106857.

Effects of pterostilbene in brown adipose tissue from obese rats - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Aguirre, L., Milton-Laskibar, I., Hijona, E., Bujanda, L., Rimando, A.M., Poetillo, M.P. 2017. Effects of pterostilbene in brown adipose tissue from obese rats. Journal of Physiology and Biochemistry. 73(3):457-464. doi:10.1007/s13105-017-0556-2.

Diversity of the endophytic fungi associated with the ancient and narrowly endemic neotropical plant Vellozia gigantea from the endangered Brazilian rupestrian grasslands - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Ferreira, M.C., Cantrell, C.L., Wedge, D.E., Goncalves, V.N., Jacob, M., Khan, S., Rosa, C.A., Rosa, L.H. 2017. Diversity of the endophytic fungi associated with the ancient and narrowly endemic neotropical plant Vellozia gigantea from the endangered Brazilian rupestrian grasslands. Biochemical Systematics and Ecology. 71:163-169.

Growing spearmint, thyme, oregano, and rosemary in Northern Wyoming using plastic tunnels - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Shiwakoti, S., Zheljazkov, V.D., Schlegel, V., Cantrell, C.L. 2016. Growing spearmint, thyme, oregano, and rosemary in Northern Wyoming using plastic tunnels. Industrial Crops and Products. 94:251-258.

Synthesis and insecticidal activity of novel pyrimidine derivatives containing urea pharmacophore against Aedes aegypti - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Liu, X., Qiao, W., Sun, Z., Wedge, D.E., Becnel, J.J., Estep, A.S., Tan, C., Weng, J. 2017. Synthesis and insecticidal activity of novel pyrimidine derivatives containing urea pharmacophore against Aedes aegypti. Pest Management Science. 73:953–959. doi:10.1002/ps.4370.

Pterostilbene-induced changes in gut microbiota compositon in relation to obesity - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Etxeberria, U., Hijona, E., Aguirre, L., Milagro, F.I., Martínez, J.A., Bujanda, L., Rimando, A.M., and Portillo, M.P. Pterostilbene-induced changes in gut microbiota composition in relation to obesity. In Espin, J.C. (Guest Ed.) Molecular Nutrition and Food Research. Special Issue: Gut Microbiota, Diet and Health. 1(1):1500906 (12 pp). 2017. DOI 10.1002/mnfr.201500906

Chemistry without Borders: Careers, Research, and Entrepreneurship - (Book / Chapter)
Cheng, H. N., Rimando, A.M.; Miller, B.D.; Schmidt, D.G. (Eds). Chemistry Without Borders: Careers, Research, and Entrepreneurship. ACS Symposium Series 1219, American Chemical Society, Washington, DC. 177 pp. 2016.

Molecular insight into the differential anti-androgenic activity of resveratrol and its natural analogs: In Silico approach to understand biological actions - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Chakraborty, S., Kumar, A., Butt, N.A., Zhang, L., Williams, R., Rimando, A.M., Biswas, P.K., Levenson, A.S. 2016. Molecular insight into the differential anti-androgenic activity of resveratrol and its natural analogs: In Silico approach to understand biological actions. Molecular Biosystems. 12:1702-1709. DOI: 10.1039/C6MB00186F

Synthesis and biological evaluation of 3,5-dimethoxystilbene analogs - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Weng, J., Ali, A., Estep, A., Becnel, J.J., Meyer, S.L., Wedge, D.E., Jacob, M., Rimando, A.M. 2016. Synthesis and biological evaluation of 3,5-dimethoxystilbene analogs. Chemistry and Biodiversity. 13(9):1165-1177.

Curvularin and dehydrocurvularin as phytotoxic constituents from curvularia intermedia infecting pandanus amaryllifolius - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Meepagala, K.M., Johnson, R.D., Duke, S.O. 2016. Curvularin and dehydrocurvularin as phytotoxic constituents from curvularia intermedia infecting pandanus amaryllifolius. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 5:12-22.

Identification and characterization of biopesticides from Acorus Tatarinowii and A. Calamus - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Chen, Y., Li, J., Li, S., Zhao, J., Bernier, U.R., Becnel, J.J., Agramonte, N.M., Duke, S.O., Cantrell, C.L., Wedge, D.E. 2016. Identification and characterization of biopesticides from Acorus Tatarinowii and A. Calamus. American Chemical Society Symposium Series. 1218:121-143.

Molecular phylogeny, diversity and bioprospecting of endophytic fungi associated with wild ethnomedicinal North American plant Echinacea purpurea (Asteraceae) - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Carvalho, C.R., Wedge, D.E., Cantrell, C.L., Silva-Hughes, A.F., Pan, Z., Moraes, R.M., Madoxx, V.L., Rosa, L.H. 2016. Molecular phylogeny, diversity and bioprospecting of endophytic fungi associated with wild ethnomedicinal North American plant Echinacea purpurea (Asteraceae). Chemistry and Biodiversity. 13:918-930 DOI: 10.1002/cbdv.201500299.

Dietary Pterostilbene is a novel MTA1-targeted chemopreventive and therapeutic agent in prostate cancer - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Dhar, S., Kumar, A., Zhang, L., Rimando, A.M., Lage, J.M., Lewin, J.R., Atfi, A., Zhang, X., Levenson, A.S. 2016. Dietary Pterostilbene is a novel MTA1-targeted chemopreventive and therapeutic agent in prostate cancer. Oncotarget. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.7841.

8-0-Acetyl-7-0-Methylgossypetin from Atraphaxis laetevirens - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Nakano, H., Seiji, K., Mamonov, L.K., Cantrell, C.L. 2016. 8-0-Acetyl-7-0-Methylgossypetin from Atraphaxis laetevirens. Chemistry of Natural Compounds. 52(1):127-129. doi: 10.1007/s10600-016-1567-x.

Distillation time as tool for improved antimalarial activity and differential oil composition of cumin seed oil - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Zheljazkov, V.D., Gawde, A., Cantrell, C.L., Astatkie, T., Schlegel, V. 2015. Distillation time as tool for improved antimalarial activity and differential oil composition of cumin seed oil. PLoS One. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0144120.

Effects of produced water on soil characteristics, plant biomass, and secondary metabolites - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Burkhardt, A., Gawde, A., Cantrell, C.L., Baxter, H.L., Joyce, B.L., Stewart, Jr., C.N., Zheljazkov, V.D. 2015. Effects of produced water on soil characteristics, plant biomass, and secondary metabolites. Journal of Environmental Quality. 44:1938-1947.

Ethanol and high-value terpene co-production from lignocellulosic biomass of Cymbopogon flexuosus and Cymbopogon martinii - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Joyce, B.L., Zheljazkov, V.D., Sykes, R., Cantrell, C.L., Hamilton, C., Mann, D.G., Rodriquez, M., Mielenz, J., Astatkie, T., Stewart, Jr., C. 2015. Ethanol and high-value terpene co-production from lignocellulosic biomass of Cymbopogon flexuosus and Cymbopogon martinii. PLoS One. 10(10):1-17. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0139195

Method for attaining fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) seed oil fractions with different composition and antioxidant capacity - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Burkhardt, A., Sintim, H., Gawde, A., Cantrell, C.L., Astatkie, T., Zheljazkov, V.D., Schlegel, V. 2015. Method for attaining fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) seed oil fractions with different composition and antioxidant capacity. Journal of Applied Research on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants. 2:87-91.