Dr Verena Spiegler habilitated in Pharmaceutical Biology and Phytochemistry
On 14 May 2025, Dr rer. nat. Verena Spiegler habilitated at the Institute of Pharmaceutical Biology and Phytochemistry at the University of Münster. Faculty 12 - Chemistry and Pharmacy awarded her the venia legendi for the subject of Pharmaceutical Biology and Phytochemistry and with it the title ‘Privatdozentin’. please read more
In March, Professor Dr. Andreas Hensel visited the State University of Maringá to participate in a series of academic and research activities for the Postgraduate Programme in Pharmaceutical Sciences (PCF). The invitation was extended by Professor João Carlos Palazzo de Mello with the aim of consolidating the existing partnership between the two institutions. Please read on...
Pharmacy and integrative medicine - interfaculty teaching
The PharmSchool group ‘Gastrointestinal Diseases and Pharmacotherapy’ travelled to Bamberg for an exchange at the Bamberg Hospital, Clinic for Integrative Medicine and Naturopathy, which is linked to the University of Duisberg-Essen via Prof. Dr Jost Langhorst and the Endowed Chair for Integrative Medicine.
The institute wishes to express its sincere gratitude to Dr. Frank Petereit, who is now entering retirement. Over the years, he has made invaluable contributions to the administration of the institute, as well as to research and teaching, through his dedication, expertise, and passion. His insights and commitment will be missed. We wish him all the best, good health, and many fulfilling moments in his retirement.
On 23 January 2025, PD Dr Fabian Herrmann officially introduced himself to the university public after completing his habilitation procedure as part of his inaugural lecture on the topic ‘Of bacteria, worms and viruses - How atomic force microscopy provides unique insights into the effects of bioactive natural substances. ’
Continue reading here: Successful habilitation of Dr Fabian Herrmann
The medicinal plant of the year is traditionally chosen by the "Studienkreis der Entwicklungsgeschichte der Arzneipflanzenkunde" in Würzburg. For 2025, this is common yarrow, a plant that has been anchored in the European pharmacopoeia for centuries.
We congratulate Dr. Nica Classen and Dr. Daniel Amiteye on obtaining the doctoral degree! The dissertation projects deal with "Natural Products as Antiviral Agents against HSV-1 and SARS-CoV-2" (N.C.) und "In silico identification and Atomic Force Microscopy-based in vitro evaluation of new inhibitors of bacterial cell wall synthesis" (D.A.).
On October 15, 2024, Dr. Frank Petereit (Academic Director) led the practical exercise course “Pharmaceutical Biology II - Herbal Drugs” for the last time.
On 29.05.2024 Dr. rer. nat. Fabian Christopher Herrmann habilitated at the IPBP. The Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy awarded him the venia legendi for Pharmaceutical Biology and Phytochemistry and with it the title “Privatdozent” [please continue reading]
The Institute of Pharmaceutical Biology and Phytochemistry at the University of Münster is looking for healthy men and women between the ages of 18 and 40 for a scientific biomedical study. [please continue reading]
We warmly congratulate Dr. Katharina Possart on obtaining her doctorate! Title of her doctoral thesis: "In silico-Identifizierung und in vitro-Evaluation neuer Inhibitoren von Enzymen des Folatstoffwechsels trypanosomatider Infektionserreger". Please click on the photo to enlarge it.
With the (common) tormentil, the "Studienkreis der Entwicklungsgeschichte der Arzneipflanzenkunde in Würzburg" has chosen a plant as Medicinal Plant of the Year 2024 that does not necessarily immediately catch the eye of the observer. If you want to discover it, you have to look a little closer... [please continue reading]
As every year, the medicinal plant garden at the "PharmaCampus" of Münster University invites you to public Sunday tours. They take place monthly from April to September. Due to the limited number of participants, online registration is required. Further information and links to book can be found on the garden's website.
Dr Rolf Engelshowe celebrated his 80th birthday on 16 December 2023. We congratulate the former academic director of our institute. Press comments: Apothekerkammer, Westf. Nachrichten
In the "Doc Fischer" show of the SWR from 13.12.2023 our institute was interviewed on the subject of saffron. The link to the report can be found in the ARD media centre. Please also take a look at our Food Supplement project page on this topic.
Prof. Dr Thomas J. Schmidt celebrates his 60th birthday on 13 December 2023. The University of Münster, the Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, the institute ("his institute") and of course all his colleagues congratulate him warmly. Please read on...
Autumn has now clearly arrived in the medicinal plant garden. Most of the beds have been cleared and the non-hardy plants have been moved into the cold house. please read on...
We warmly congratulate Dr Luise Greiffer on obtaining her doctorate!
Title of her doctoral thesis: "Molekulare und ultrastrukturelle Effekte oligomerer Procyanidine aus Combretum mucronatum Schumach. & Thonn. in Caenorhabditis elegans."
The remarkable hummingbird hawk-moth (Macroglossum stellatarum) has been observed in our medicinal plant garden for several years now. Similar to a hummingbird, this small moth seems to hover in the air in front of the flower. Please continue reading...
07 July 2023
We congratulate Dr. Vanessa Kreling and Dr. Boris Mo on obtaining the doctoral degree!
The dissertation projects submitted to the Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy deal with anti-adhesive natural products against Campylobacter jejuni (Dr. Kreling) and "New strategies for the treatment of unirinary tract infections" (Dr. Mo).
On 28.04.2023, Mr Joshua Jacobtorweihen was awarded a doctorate for his dissertation entitled "Bromophenols from Vertebrata lanosa (L.) T.A. Christensen with antimicrobial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa". Within the scope of the thesis, a number of new bromophenols of the red alga V. lanosa were identified and the mechanism of action of an antimicrobially active representative of this substance class was investigated in more detail. We warmly congratulate Dr Jacobtorweihen on this outstanding dissertation!
Due to "its rich use in history and the present and the great potential for further research", the interdisciplinary study group on the history of development of medicinal plant science at the University of Würzburg has chosen the sage. of Medicinal Plant Science at the University of Würzburg has chosen sage (Salvia officinalis L.) as the medicinal plant of the year 2023.
Almost 5 years ago, the 57-year era of the IPBP medicinal plant garden on Hittorfstraße came to an end. Even though there were still users for some areas afterwards, a large part of the garden fell into a Sleeping Beauty slumber.
What does it actually look like today? We visited the old medicinal plant garden.
On 28.10.2022, Ms Franziska Jürgens (MSc Food Chemistry) was awarded her Dr. rer. nat. for her excellent dissertation "Investigation of pharmacokinetic properties of antileishmanial sesquiterpene lactones from Arnica montana L.". In the research project, which is financially supported by the Wilhelm Doerenkamp Foundation within the framework of the NATVANTAGE grants, Dr Jürgens has laid important foundations for the application of arnica tincture against cutaneous leishmaniasis. We extend our warmest congratulations to Dr Jürgens!
The "Gesellschaft für Phytotherapie e.V." (GPT, Society for Phytotherapy) will award one scholarship each for students in the fields of human medicine and pharmacy over a period of 24 months starting in 2023. Please read on...
Symposium on the 60th birthday of Prof. Dr Andreas Hensel
On the occasion of his 60th birthday, Prof. Dr. Andreas Hensel invited the public to a scientific symposium with the theme "Changes in Science in the Last Decades" in the large lecture hall of the PharmaCampus of Münster University.
After the successful disputation on 25.03.2022, the ceremonial doctorate of pharmacist Lara U. Szabó took place at the IPBP (AK Prof. Schmidt) on 29.04.22. The research project on antiprotozoal aminosteroids from common box (Buxus sempervirens L.) was supported by the Apothekerstiftung Westfalen Lippe with a doctoral scholarship. Both the doctoral thesis and the disputation were assessed with the grade "summa cum laude".
We extend our warmest congratulations to Dr Szabó!
At the PharmaCampus, on a still fallow area of the eastern inner courtyard, some pale green formations are growing that could easily be mistaken for fungi. In fact, a rather conspicuous lichen of the genus Cladonia has settled on this nutrient-poor substrate, presumably Cladonia fimbriata. Please read on here.
