

Dr. Verena Spiegler
Institute for Pharmaceutical Biology and Phytochemistry, Corrensstraße 48, 48149 Münster
Tel.: +49 251 83 33376
E-Mail: Address Room: BC 120.282

Research
• Bioactivity of plant extracts and natural products
Investigation of bioactivities and mode of action for selected plant extracts and natural products in nematodes, microorganisms and human cell lines using different in vitro assays and methods of molecular and cell biology.
• Isolation and structure elucidation of plant secondary metabolites. Bioassay-guided fractionation.
Preparative phytochemistry, including different chromatographic methods: CC, MPLC, FCPC, HPLC. Analytical methods: UHPLC-PDA / -FLR / -MS, UHPLC-qTOF-MS, GC-MS, DC, Polarimetry, NMR
Current projects
• Anthelmintic activities of proanthocyanidins
• Natural products against virulence factors of Pseudomonas aeruginosa
• Structure elucidation and bioactivity of indole alkaloids isolated from traditionally used plant extracts
Teaching
• Praktikum Pharmazeutische Biologie III (Biologische und Phytochemische Untersuchungen) für Pharmazeuten
Honors
- Phytotherapie-Preis zur Förderung des wissenschaftlichen Nachwuchses – Gesellschaft für Phytotherapie (GPT)
Publications
Articles
Articles in Scientific Journals, Newspapers or Magazines
Research Articles (Journals)
- Grimm, Manuel, Börner, Ramona, Addotey, John N., Schmidt, Thomas J., and Spiegler, Verena. . “Alstoboonine, an Ulean-Type Indole Alkaloid from Alstonia boonei Leaves.” Journal of Natural Products, № 87: 514–519. doi: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.3c00832.
- Jacobtorweihen, Joshua, Obaidi, Ismael, Sherlock, Lee, Sheridan, Helen, and Spiegler, Verena. . “A new lanosyl guanidine from Vertebrata lanosa with anti-inflammatory activity.” Natural Product Research, № 11: 1–7. doi: 10.1080/14786419.2024.2301759.
- Apolinário Chibli, Lucas, Ribeiro de Lima, Bruna, Magalhães Carneiro, Ariadne, et al. . “Toward a More Sustainable Sample Preparation in Phytochemistry: Case Studies in Four Subclasses of Alkaloids.” Journal of Natural Products, № 87: 470–479. doi: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.3c01048.
- Belga, François Ngnodandi, Waindok, Patrick, Raulf, Marie-Kristin, et al. . “Phytochemical analysis and anthelmintic activity of Combretum mucronatum leaf extract against infective larvae of soil-transmitted helminths including ruminant gastrointestinal nematodes.” Parasites and Vectors, № 17 99. doi: 10.1186/s13071-024-06194-9.
- Jacobtorweihen, Joshua, Hartmann, Anja, Hofer, Stefanie, and Spiegler, Verena. . “Antibacterial Activities of the Algal Bromophenol Methylrhodomelol Against Pseudomonas aeruginosa.” Planta Medica, № 90 (06): 469–481. doi: 10.1055/a-2289-2423.
- Jato, Jonathan, Orman, Emmanuel, Boakye, Yaw Duah, et al. . “Influence of fecal fermentation on the anthelmintic activity of proanthocyanidins and ellagitannins against human intestinal nematodes and Caenorhabditis elegans.” Frontiers in Pharmacology, № 15 1390500. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1390500.
- Belga, François Ngnodandi, Marie-Kristin, Raulf, Spiegler, Verena, et al. . “In vivo anthelmintic activity of Combretum mucronatum Schumach & Thonn leaf extract against Haemonchus contortus in goats.” Veterinary Parasitology, № 331 110288.
- Orman, Emmanuel, Bekoe, Samuel Oppong, Asare-Nkansah, Samuel, et al. . “Development of an analytical workflow to support the establishment of monographs in African pharmacopoeias – Combretum mucronatum leaves as example.” Planta Medica, № 89 (09): 860–878. doi: 10.1055/a-2002-2260.
- Jato, Jonathan, Waindok, Patrick, Belga François Ngnodandi, François Ngnodandi, et al. . “Anthelmintic Activities of Extract and Ellagitannins from Phyllanthus urinaria against Caenorhabditis elegans and Zoonotic or Animal Parasitic Nematodes.” Planta Medica, № 89: 1215–1228. doi: 10.1055/a-2117-9426.
- Orman, Emmanuel, Kralisch, Ina, Jato, Jonathan, et al. . “Towards the Development of Analytical Monograph Specifications for the Quality Assessment of the Medicinal Plant Phyllanthus urinaria.” Phytochemistry, № 215 doi: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2023.113854.
- Jacobtorweihen, Joshua, Schmitt, Marthe, and Spiegler, Verena. . “Amino Acid-Coupled Bromophenols and a Sulfated Dimethylsulfonium Lanosol from the Red Alga Vertebrata lanosa.” Marine Drugs, № 20 (7) doi: 10.3390/md20070420.
- Codo Toafode, Nonvignon Murielle, Marquardt, Peter, Ahyi, Virgile, Fester, Karin, Spiegler, Verena, and Vissiennon, Cica. . “Anti-Inflammatory Potential of Phenolic Compounds Isolated From Entada africana Guill. & Perr. Used in the Republic of Benin.” Frontiers in Pharmacology, № 13 doi: 10.3389/fphar.2022.931240.
- Hake, Alexander, Begrow, Frank, Spiegler, Verena, Symma, Nico, Andreas, Hensel, and Düfer, Martina. . “Effects of Extracts and Flavonoids from Drosera rotundifolia L. on Ciliary Beat Frequency and Murine Airway Smooth Muscle.” Molecules, № 27 6622. doi: 10.3390/molecules27196622.
- Greiffer, Luise, Liebau, Eva, Herrmann, Fabian C., and Spiegler, Verena. . “Condensed tannins act as anthelmintics by increasing the rigidity of the nematode cuticle.” Scientific Reports, № 12 18850. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-23566-2.
- Baumeister, A, Gardemann, J, Fobker, M, Spiegler, V, and Fischer, T. . “Short-Term Influence of Caffeine and Medium-Chain Triglycerides on Ketogenesis: A Controlled Double-Blind Intervention Study.” Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism, № 2021 doi: 10.1155/2021/1861567.
- Spiegler, V, Greiffer, L, Jacobtorweihen, J, et al. . “In vitro screening of plant extracts traditionally used as cancer remedies in Ghana - 15-Hydroxyangustilobine A as the active principle in Alstonia boonei leaves.” Journal of Ethnopharmacology, № 265 doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2020.113359.
- Spiegler, V. . “Anthelmintic A-Type Procyanidins and Further Characterization of the Phenolic Composition of a Root Extract from Paullinia pinnata.” Molecules, № 25 (10) doi: 10.3390/molecules25102287.
- Spiegler, V, Gierlikowska, B, Saenger, T, et al. . “Root Extracts From Ononis spinosa Inhibit IL-8 Release via Interactions With Toll-Like Receptor 4 and Lipopolysaccharide.” Frontiers in Pharmacology, № 2020 doi: 10.3389/fphar.2020.00889.
- Hensel, A, Bauer, R, Heinrich, M, et al. . “Challenges at the Time of COVID-19: Opportunities and Innovations in Antivirals From Nature.” Planta Medica, № 86 doi: 10.1055/a-1177-4396.
- Hensel, A, Spiegler, V, and Kraft, K. . “Pflanzliche Extrakte gegen virale Infektionen des oberen Rachenraumes.” Zeitschrift für Phytotherapie, № 41 (02): 52–54. doi: 10.1055/a-1102-1662.
- Lehmann, S, Herrmann, F, Kleemann, K, Spiegler, V, Liebau, E, and Hensel, A. . “Extract and the quassinoid ailanthone from Ailanthus altissima inhibit nematode reproduction by damaging germ cells and rachis in the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans.” Fitoterapia, № 146 doi: 10.1016/j.fitote.2020/104651.
- Herrmann, FC, and Spiegler, V. . “Caenorhabditis elegans revisited by atomic force microscopy - Ultra-structural changes of the cuticle, but not in the intestine after treatment with Combretum mucronatum extract.” Journal of Structural Biology, № 208: 174–181. doi: 10.1016/j.jsb.2019.08.013.
- Grube, K, Spiegler, V, and Hensel, A. . “Antiadhesive phthalides from Apium graveolens fruits against uropathogenic E. coli.” Journal of Ethnopharmacology, № 237: 300–306. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2019.03.024.
- Agyare, C, Spiegler, V, Asase, A, Scholz, M, Hempel, G, and Hensel, A. . “An ethnopharmacological survey of medicinal plants traditionally used for cancer treatment in the Ashanti region, Ghana.” Journal of Ethnopharmacology, № 212: 137–152. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2017.10.019.
- Spiegler, V., Hensel, A., Seggewiß, J., Lubisch, M., and Liebau, E. . “Transcriptome analysis reveals molecular anthelmintic effects of procyanidins in C. elegans.” PloS one, № 12 (9) doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0184656.
- Spiegler, V., Liebau, E., Peppler, C., et al. . “A Hydroalcoholic Extract from Paullinia pinnata LRoots Exerts Anthelmintic Activity against Free-Living and Parasitic Nematodes.” Planta Medica, № 82 (13): 1173–1179. doi: 10.1055/s-0042-108209.
- Spiegler, V, Sendker, J, Petereit, F, Liebau, E, and Hensel, A. . “Bioassay-Guided Fractionation of a Leaf Extract from Combretum mucronatum with Anthelmintic Activity: Oligomeric Procyanidins as the Active Principle.” Molecules, № 20 (8): 14810–14832. doi: 10.3390/molecules200814810.
- C., Agyare, V., Spiegler, H., Sarkodie, et al. . “An ethnopharmacological survey and in vitro confirmation of the ethnopharmacological use of medicinal plants as anthelmintic remedies in the Ashanti region, in the central part of Ghana.” Journal of Ethnopharmacology, № 158 (PA): 263. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2014.10.029.
Review Articles (Journals)
- Jacobtorweihen, Joshua, and Spiegler, Verena. . “Phylogenetic distribution of bromophenols in marine algae and the generation of a comprehensive bromophenol database.” Phytochemistry Reviews, № 22: 505–554. doi: 10.1007/s11101-022-09847-8.
- Orman, Emmanuel, Oppong Bekoe, Samuel, Jato, Jonathan, et al. . “Quality assessment of African herbal medicine: A systematic review and the way forward.” Fitoterapia, № 162 105287. doi: 10.1016/j.fitote.2022.105287.
- Jato, Jonathan, Orman, Emmanuel, Duah Boakye, Yaw, et al. . “Anthelmintic Agents from African Medicinal Plants: Review and Prospects.” Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, № 2022 8023866. doi: 10.1155/2022/8023866.
- Verena, Spiegler, Eva, Liebau, and Andreas, Hensel. . “Medicinal plant extracts and plant-derived polyphenols with anthelmintic activity against intestinal nematodes.” Natural Product Reports, № 34 (6): 627–643. doi: 10.1039/c6np00126b.
Conference Contributions
Abstracts in Journals (Conferences)
- Orman, Emmanuel, Jato, Jonathan, Oppong Bekoe, Emelia, et al. . “Analytical investigations reveal challenges with the collection of Combretum mucronatum (Schumach. & Thonn.) leaves for herbal medicine purposes in Ghana.” contribution to the Annual Meeting of the Society for Medicinal Plant and Natural Product Research 2022, Thessaloniki doi: 10.1055/s-0042-1758901.
- Jacobtorweihen, Joshua, and Spiegler, Verena. . “The establishment of an analytical database of algal bromophenols and phytochemical characterization of the red alga Vertebrata lanosa.” contribution to the Annual Meeting of the Society for Medicinal Plant and Natural Product Research 2022, Thessaloniki doi: 10.1055/s-0042-1758883.
- Spiegler, Verena. . “Anthelminthische Aktivität von Gerbstoffdrogen und tanninreichen Extrakten bei intestinalen Parasiten.” contribution to the Phytokongress 2021, Bonn doi: 10.1055/s-0041-1732835.
- Greiffer, Luise, Herrmann, Fabian, and Spiegler, Verena. . “Ultrastrukturelle Untersuchungen an Caenorhabditis elegans nach Behandlung mit Combretum mucronatum Extrakt.” contribution to the Phytokongress 2021, Bonn doi: 10.1055/s-0041-1731470.
- Spiegler, Verena, Michalak, Barbara, Addotey, John, et al. . “Root extracts from Ononis spinosa exert anti-inflammatory activity in vitro on IL-8 and TNF-α release by inhibition of TLR-4 receptor.” contribution to the Annual Meeting of the Society for Medicinal Plant and Natural Product Research 2019, Innsbruck doi: 10.1055/s-0039-3399691.
- Hensel, Andreas, Sarshar, Shabnam, Gottesmann, Maren, Deipenbrock, Melanie, and Spiegler, Verena. . “New weapons against bacterial adhesion, invasion, quorum sensing, cell damaging facors of pathogens: Natural products as new anti-virulence compounds.” contribution to the . Annual Meeting of the Society for Medicinal Plant and Natural Product Research 2019, Innsbruck doi: 10.1055/s-0039-3399719.
- Spiegler, Verena, Michalak, Barbara, Addotey, John, et al. . “Antiinflammatori-sche Wurzelextrakte aus Ononis spinosa verringern die Freisetzung von IL-8 und TNF-α in vitro durch Antagonismus am TLR4 Rezeptor.” contribution to the Phytokongress 2019, Münster doi: 10.1055/s-0039-1697294.
- Spiegler, Verena, Grube, Kim, Scharf, Birte, Sarshar, Shabnam, and Hensel, Andreas. . “Phthalide aus Apiaceendrogen als antiadhäsive Naturstoffe gegen uropathogene E. coli.” contribution to the Phytokongress 2019, Münster doi: 10.1055/s-0039-1697284.
- Spiegler, Verena, Liebau, Eva, and Hensel, Andreas. . “Anthelmintic activity of procyanidins from West African medicinal plants – Insights into phytochemistry and molecular targets.” contribution to the Annual Meeting of the Society for Medicinal Plant and Natural Product Research 2017, Basel doi: 10.1055/s-0037-1608560.
- Spiegler, Verena, Liebau, Eva, and Hensel, Andreas. . “Molekularbiologische Untersuchung anthelminthischer Effekte von Procyanidinen auf C. elegans.” contribution to the Phytokongress 2017, Münster doi: 10.1055/s-0037-1607134.
- Verena, Spiegler, Raue, Katharina, Strube, Christina, Liebau, Eva, and Hensel, Andreas. . “Anthelmintic effects of tannin-rich plants and oligomeric proanthocyanidin clusters against parasitic and free-living nematodes.” contribution to the Annual Meeting of the Society of Medicinal Plant and Natural Product Research 2015, Budapest doi: 10.1055/s-0035-1565347.
Posters
- Greiffer, Luise, Herrmann, Fabian C., and Spiegler, Verena. . “Anthelmintic activities of procyanidins targeting the cuticle of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans – microscopic observations and the impact of interflavan-linkages.” contributed to the Annual Meeting of the Society for Medicinal Plant and Natural Product Research 2022, Thessaloniki doi: 10.1055/s-0042-1759243.
- Börner, Ramona, Grimm, Manuel, Greiffer, Luise, Jacobtorweihen, Joshua, and Spiegler, Verena. . “Cytotoxic activities of 15-hydroxyangustilobine A, a major indole alkaloid from the leaves of Alstonia boonei.” contributed to the Annual Meeting of the Society for Medicinal Plant and Natural Product Research 2022, Thessaloniki doi: 10.1055/s-0042-1759244.
- Jacobtorweihen, Joshua, Hartmann, Anja, Hofer, Stefanie, and Spiegler, Verena. . “Assessment of the antimicrobial and antivirulent properties of the marine bromophenol methylrhodomelol against Pseudomonas aeruginosa.” contributed to the Annual Meeting of the Society for Medicinal Plant and Natural Product Research 2022, Thessaloniki doi: 10.1055/s-0042-1759004.
- Codo Toafode, Nonvignon Murielle, Marquardt, Peter, Ahyi, Virgile, Fester, Karin, Spiegler, Verena, and Vissiennon, Cica. . “Anti-inflammatory potential of phenolic compounds isolated from Entada africana Guill. & Perr. used in the Republic of Benin.” contributed to the Annual Meeting of the Society for Medicinal Plant and Natural Product Research 2022, Thessaloniki doi: 10.1055/s-0042-1759125.
- Codo, Toafode M, Spiegler, V, Vissiennon, C, Ahyi, V, and Fester, K. . “In vitro anti-inflammatory potential and chemical profiling of Entada africana from the Republic of Benin.” contributed to the Annual Meeting of the Society for Medicinal Plant and Natural Product Research 2021, Virtual Conference, Bonn doi: 10.1055/s-0041-1736987.
- Spiegler, V, Jato, J, Hensel, A, Orman, E, and Liebau, E. . “Anthelmintic potential of Phyllanthus urinaria L. (Phyllanthaceae) in the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans.” contributed to the Annual Meeting of the Society for Medicinal Plant and Natural Product Research 2021, Virtual Conference, Bonn doi: 10.1055/s-0041-1736821.
- Jacobtorweihen, J, and Spiegler, V. . “Die Zinkhomöostase als Target für virulenzmindernde Wirkstoffe? – Ein Proliferationsscreening an Pseudomonas aeruginosa.” contributed to the Phytokongress 2021, Bonn (Online) doi: 10.1055/s-0041-1731474.
- Greiffer, L, Herrmann, F, and Spiegler, V. . “Ultrastructural studies on Caenorhabditis elegans after treatment with Combretum mucronatum extract.” contributed to the Junior Zoonoses Meeting, Online-Symposium
- Greiffer, L, Spiegler, V, Jacobtorweihen, J, and Hensel, A. . “Zytotoxische Effekte eines traditionell verwendeten Extraktes aus Alstonia boonei Blättern.” contributed to the Phytokongress 2019, Münster doi: 10.1055/s-0039-1697300.
- Hensel, A., Grube, K., Scharf, B., and Spiegler, V. . “Antiadhesive activity of the phthalide sedanenolide from Apium graveolens fruits (celery) against uropathogenic E. coli.” contributed to the Annual Meeting of the Society for Medicinal Plant and Natural Product Research 2019, Innsbruck doi: 10.1055/s-0039-3399950.
- Spiegler, V. . “Coumarins and anthelmintic A-type procyanidins from the roots of Paullinia pinnata L.” contributed to the Annual Meeting of the Society for Medicinal Plant and Natural Product Research 2019, Innsbruck doi: 10.1055/s-0039-3400136.
- Spiegler, V, Jacobtorweihen, J, Agyare, C, and Hensel, A. . “In vitro cytotoxic effects of a traditionally used extract from the bark of Kalanchoe integra.” contributed to the Annual Meeting of the Society for Medicinal Plant and Natural Product Research 2018, Shanghai
- Spiegler, V, Lubisch, M, Hensel, A, and Liebau, E. . “The nematode strikes back – C. elegans’ proline-rich response to treatment with oligomeric procyanidins.” contributed to the Annual Meeting of the Society for Medicinal Plant and Natural Product Research 2017, Basel doi: 10.1055/s-0037-1608552.
- Spiegler, V, Peppler, C, Werne, S, et al. . “Anthelmintic activity of a traditionally used root extract from Paullinia pinnata.” contributed to the Annual Meeting of the Society for Medicinal Plant and Natural Product Research 2016, Copenhagen doi: 10.1055/s-0036-1596924.
- Spiegler, V, Peppler, C, Raue, K, et al. . “Anthelminthische Wirkung eines hydroethanolischen Extrakts aus Weißdornblättern.” contributed to the Phytokongress 2016, Bonn doi: 10.1055/s-0036-1584425.
Theses (Doctoral or Postdoctoral)
- Spiegler, Verena. . “Anthelmintic activity of procyanidins from West African plants. From traditional medicine to phytochemistry and molecular investigations.” Dissertation thesis, Universität Münster.