Worldwide, there are plants known as psychoactive plants that naturally contain psychedelic active components. They have a high concentration of neuroprotective substances that can interact with the nervous system to produce psychedelic effects. Despite these plants' hazardous potential, recreational use of them is on the rise because of their psychoactive properties. Early neuroscience studies relied heavily on psychoactive plants and plant natural products (NPs), and both recreational and hazardous NPs have contributed significantly to the understanding of almost all neurotransmitter systems. Worldwide, there are many plants that contain psychoactive properties, and people have been using them for ages. Psychoactive plant compounds may significantly alter how people perceive the world.
1. Plants (Basel). 2024 Jan 5;13(2):150. doi: 10.3390/plants13020150. Furofuranoid-Type Lignans and Related Phenolics from Anisacanthus virgularis (Salisb.) Nees with Promising Anticholinesterase and Anti-Ageing Properties: A Study Supported by Molecular Modelling. Orabi MAA(1), Abdelhamid RA(2), Elimam H(3), Elshaier YAMM(4), Ali AA(5), Aldabaan N(6), Alhasaniah AH(7), Refaey MS(8). Author information: (1)Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, Najran University, Najran 66454, Saudi Arabia. (2)Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Assiut-Branch, Assiut 71524, Egypt. (3)Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sadat City, Sadat City 32958, Egypt. (4)Department of Organic and Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sadat City, Sadat City 32958, Egypt. (5)Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Assiut University, Assiut 71526, Egypt. (6)Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Najran University, Najran 66454, Saudi Arabia. (7)Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Najran University, Najran 66454, Saudi Arabia. (8)Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sadat City, Sadat City 32958, Egypt. Lignan phytomolecules demonstrate promising anti-Alzheimer activity by alleviating dementia and preserving nerve cells. The purpose of this work is to characterize the lignans of Anisacanthus virgularis and explore their potential anti-acetylcholinesterase and anti-ageing effects. Phytochemical investigation of A. virgularis aerial parts afforded a new furofuranoid-type lignan (1), four known structural analogues, namely pinoresinol (2), epipinoresinol (3), phillyrin (4), and pinoresinol 4-O-β-d-glucoside (5), in addition to p-methoxy-trans-methyl cinnamate (6) and 1H-indole-3-carboxaldehyde (7). The structures were established from thorough spectroscopic analyses and comparisons with the literature. Assessment of the anticholinesterase activity of the lignans 1-5 displayed noticeable enzyme inhibition of 1 (IC50 = 85.03 ± 4.26 nM) and 5 (64.47 ± 2.75 nM) but lower activity of compounds 2-4 as compared to the reference drug donepezil. These findings were further emphasized by molecular docking of 1 and 5 with acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Rapid overlay chemical similarity (ROCS) and structure-activity relationships (SAR) analysis highlighted and rationalized the anti-AD capability of these compounds. Telomerase activation testing of the same isolates revealed 1.64-, 1.66-, and 1.72-fold activations in cells treated with compounds 1, 5, and 4, respectively, compared to untreated cells. Our findings may pave the way for further investigations into the development of anti-Alzheimer and/or anti-ageing drugs from furofuranoid-type lignans. DOI: 10.3390/plants13020150 PMCID: PMC10820861 PMID: 38256704 Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare no conflict of interest. 2. J Oleo Sci. 2020 Jul 2;69(7):767-770. doi: 10.5650/jos.ess19262. Epub 2020 Jun 9. Characteristic Odor of the Japanese Liverwort (Leptolejeunea elliptica). Sakurai K(1), Tomiyama K(2), Yaguchi Y(2), Asakawa Y(3). Author information: (1)Region Resources Division, Shizuoka Cancer Center Research Institute. (2)Corporate Research and Development Division, Takasago International Corporation. (3)Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokushima Bunri University. The volatile components produced by Leptolejeunea elliptica (Lejeuneaceae), which is a liverwort grown on the leaves of tea (Camellia sinensis), were collected and analyzed using headspace solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC/MS). 1-Ethyl-4-methoxybenzene (1), 1-ethyl-4-hydroxybenzene (2), and 1-acetoxy-4-ethylbenzene (3) were identified as the major components together with several other phenolic compounds, including 1,2-dimethoxy-4-ethylbenzene, and 4-ethylguaiacol in addition to sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, such as α-selinene, β-selinene, β-elemene, and β-caryophyllene. GC/Olfactometry showed the presence of linalool, acetic acid, isovaleric acid, trans-methyl cinnamate, and trans-4,5-epoxy-(2E)-decenal, as the volatile components produced by L. elliptica. DOI: 10.5650/jos.ess19262 PMID: 32522942 [Indexed for MEDLINE] 3. Nat Prod Commun. 2016 Feb;11(2):265-6. Comparative Study of the Volatile Components of Fresh and Fermented Flowers of Alnus sieboldiana (Betulaceae). Ab Ghani N, Ismail NH, Asakawa Y. Analysis of the volatile components present in the fresh male and female flowers and young leaves shows that 2-phenylethanol is the major component in all these three organs, which play a significant role in the strong resinous aromatic odor. The male flowers contained styrene as a second major compound. The level of styrene does not affect the male flowers odor concentration. The level of β-phenylethyl cinnamate and trans-methyl cinnamate in the fermented male flowers decreased as the fermentation time increased. This was due to the Penicillium enzymatic action on the fermented male flowers. PMID: 27032217 [Indexed for MEDLINE] 4. Nat Prod Commun. 2016 Jan;11(1):103-4. Volatile Components of the Stressed Liverwort Conocephalum conicum. Ab Ghani N, Ludwiczuk A, Ismail NH, Asakawa Y. The Type-II Japanese Conocephalum conicum, which is known to have (+)-bornyl acetate as a marker compound, was put in the stressed condition to start biosynthesis of a phenyl propanoid, trans-methyl cinnamate. Analysis of the HS-SPME GC/MS of stressed C. conicum showed trans-methyl cinnamate as a major component. This phenomenon results in some confusion from the chemotype perspective since trans-methyl cinnamate is only present in type-III Japanese C. conicum. PMID: 26996032 [Indexed for MEDLINE] 5. Planta Med. 1999 Mar;65(2):187-9. doi: 10.1055/s-2006-960465. Composition of the essential oils of Ocimum canum, O. gratissimum and O. minimum. Martins AP, Salgueiro LR, Vila R, Tomi F, Cañigueral S, Casanova J, da Cunha AP, Adzet T. The essential oils of OCIMUM CANUM, O. GRATISSIMUM and O. MINIMUM grown in S. Tomé, where they are used in Traditional Medicine mainly as febrifuge and for the treatment of respiratory diseases, were investigated. The essential oils were obtained from the aerial parts by hydrodistillation and subsequently analysed by GC, GC-MS and (13)C-NMR. (13)C-NMR SPECTROSCOPY proved to be an important tool, which can be very useful in the identification of most of the constituents. Major compounds in the volatile oil of O. GROTISSIMUM were thymol (48.1%) and P-cymene (12.5%). The essential oil of O. CANUM was characterized by its high content of TRANS-METHYL cinnamate (79.7%), whereas the most important oil constituent of O. MINIMUM was linalool (52.7%). DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-960465 PMID: 17260257