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in: Studies in Natural Products Chemistry, Atta-Ur-Rahman, Editor, Elsevier Science, Oxford/Amsterdam , Amsterdam, pp.339-365, 2024
Herniarin (7-methoxycoumarin) and skimmin (7-hydroxycoumarin glucoside) are members of the simple coumarins, which are a group of common secondary metabolites in plants. Most of the species belonging to the Umbelliferae (or Apiaceae) family attract attention with their use as spices and edible plants, such as carrot, coriander, wild celery, and golden apple. Herniarin and skimmin are the characteristic and common coumarins for the species belonging to the Umbelliferae (or Apiaceae) family. These compounds are also pharmacologically active, exhibiting antiinflammatory, antinociceptive, antidiabetic, antioxidant, and antifibrotic properties.
This book chapter discusses foods (spices and edible plants) that include herniarin and skimmin, methods for extracting these compounds from plant samples, as well as their in vitro and in vivo bioactivity. The chemical structure and biosynthesis pathways of herniarin and skimmin are disclosed. The molecular characteristics of coumarins, their actions against human diseases, and their clinical trials are reviewed in relation to the coumarin structures of these compounds. Simple coumarin structures were addressed in terms of the link between structure and activity, particularly in the investigations of anticancer efficacy.
Simple coumarins like herniarin and skimmin, which have pharmacological qualities that may benefit human health in a number of disorders, should be supported by experimental models and clinical trials. Therefore, additional research will clarify in greater detail the molecular characteristics of herniarin and skimmin as well as the molecular mechanisms they affect.