Psychoactive Plant Database - Neuroactive Phytochemical Collection

1. Molecules. 2024 Sep 18;29(18):4421. doi: 10.3390/molecules29184421.

Optimization and Synthesis of Nano-Niosomes for Encapsulation of Triacontanol by 
Box-Behnken Design.

Solano AAB(1), Dávila-Ortiz G(2), de Jesús Perea-Flores M(3), Martínez-Ayala 
AL(1).

Author information:
(1)Departamento de Biotecnología, Centro de Desarrollo de Productos Bióticos, 
Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN), Carretera Yautepec-Jojutla s/n-Km 85, San 
Isidro, Yautepec 62739, Morelos, Mexico.
(2)Departamento de Ingeniería Bioquímica, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias 
Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN), Av. Wilfrido Massieu Esq. 
Miguel Stampa s/n, Zacatenco, Alcaldía Gustavo A. Madero, Ciudad de Mexico 
07728, Mexico.
(3)Centro de Nanociencias y Micro y Nanotecnologías, Instituto Politécnico 
Nacional (IPN), Av. Luis Enrique Erro s/n, Unidad Profesional Adolfo López 
Mateos, Zacatenco, Alcaldía Gustavo A. Madero, Ciudad de Mexico 07738, Mexico.

Triacontanol is a long-chain primary alcohol derived from policosanol, known for 
its diverse biological activities, including functioning as a plant growth 
regulator and exhibiting anti-inflammatory and antitumoral effects. However, its 
application is limited due to its high hydrophobicity, resulting in poor 
absorption and reduced therapeutic effectiveness. A potential solution to this 
problem is the use of niosomes. Niosomes are carriers composed of non-ionic 
surfactants, cholesterol, charge-inducing agents, and a hydration medium. They 
are effective in encapsulating drugs, improving their solubility and 
bioavailability. The objective of this study was to optimize and synthesize 
nano-niosomes for the encapsulation of triacontanol. Niosomes were synthesized 
using a thin-film hydration method combined with ultrasonication, following a 
Box-Behnken design. Niosomes were characterized using various techniques 
including dynamic light scattering, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy 
(FTIR), confocal microscopy, high-resolution scanning electron microscopy, and 
transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Formulation 14 of niosomes achieved the 
desired size, polydispersity index (0.198 ± 0.008), and zeta potential (-31.28 ± 
1.21). FTIR analysis revealed a characteristic signal in the 3400-300 cm-1 
range, indicating intermolecular interactions due to a bifurcated hydrogen bond 
between cholesterol and S60. Confocal microscopy confirmed the presence of 
triacontanol through Nile Red fluorescence. TEM revealed the spherical structure 
of niosomes.

DOI: 10.3390/molecules29184421
PMCID: PMC11433997
PMID: 39339416 [Indexed for MEDLINE]

Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.


2. BMC Complement Med Ther. 2024 Jul 15;24(1):269. doi:
10.1186/s12906-024-04570-7.

Kalanchoe pinnata (Lam.) Pers. Leaf ethanolic extract exerts selective 
anticancer activity through ROS-induced apoptotic cell death in human cancer 
cell lines.

Faundes-Gandolfo N(#)(1), Jara-Gutiérrez C(#)(2), Párraga M(1), Montenegro 
I(3)(4), Vera W(4), Escobar M(4), Madrid A(5), Valenzuela-Valderrama M(6), 
Villena J(7).

Author information:
(1)Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigación Biomédica e Ingeniería para la 
Salud (MEDING), Escuela de Medicina, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de 
Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile.
(2)Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigación Biomédica e Ingeniería para la 
Salud (MEDING), Escuela de Kinesiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de 
Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile.
(3)Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigación Biomédica e Ingeniería para la 
Salud (MEDING), Escuela de Obstetricia, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de 
Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile.
(4)Laboratorio de Química de Metabolitos Bioactivos, Escuela de Química y 
Farmacia, Facultad de Farmacia, Centro de Investigación Farmacopea Chilena, 
Universidad de Valparaíso, Escuela de Química y Farmacia, Universidad de 
Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile.
(5)Laboratorio de Productos Naturales y Síntesis Orgánica, Departamento de 
Química, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Exactas, Universidad de Playa Ancha, 
Valparaíso, Chile.
(6)Laboratorio de Microbiología Celular, Facultad de Medicina y Ciencias de la 
Salud, Universidad Central de Chile, Santiago, Chile. 
manuel.valenzuela@ucentral.cl.
(7)Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigación Biomédica e Ingeniería para la 
Salud (MEDING), Escuela de Medicina, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de 
Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile. juan.villena@uv.cl.
(#)Contributed equally

BACKGROUND: The leaves of Kalanchoe pinnata (Lam.) Pers. (K. pinnata), a 
succulent plant native to tropical regions, are used as a medicinal alternative 
against cancer in several countries worldwide; however, its therapeutic 
potential to fight cancer has been little addressed. In this study, we analyzed 
the phytochemical content, antioxidant capacity, and selectivity of K. pinnata 
leaf ethanolic extract against different human cancer cell lines in vitro.
METHODOLOGY: This study subjected the ethanolic extract to enzymatic assays to 
quantify the phytochemical content (phenolics, flavonoids, and anthraquinones) 
and its radical scavenging and iron-reducing capacities. Also, the 
phytoconstituents and major phenolic compounds present in the extract's 
subfractions were identified by GC-MS, HPLC, and NMR. Human cancer (MCF-7, PC-3, 
HT-29) and normal colon (CoN) cell lines were treated with different 
concentrations of K. pinnata leaf ethanolic extract, and the changes in cell 
proliferation (sulforhodamine B assay), caspases activity (FITC-VAD-FMK 
reporter), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP, rhodamine 123 assay), 
chromatin condensation/fragmentation (Hoechst 33342 stain), and ROS generation 
(DCFH2 probe assay) were assessed.
RESULTS: The results showed that the K. pinnata leaf ethanolic extract is rich 
in phytoconstituents with therapeutic potential, including phenols (quercetin 
and kaempferol), flavonoids, fatty acid esters (34.6% of the total composition), 
1- triacontanol and sterols (ergosterol and stigmasterol, 15.4% of the total 
composition); however, it presents a poor content of antioxidant molecules 
(IC50 = 27.6 mg/mL for H2O2 scavenging activity vs. 2.86 mg/mL in the case of 
Trolox). Notably, the extract inhibited cell proliferation and reduced MMP in 
all human cell lines tested but showed selectivity for HT-29 colon cancer cells 
compared to CoN normal cells (SI = 8.4). Furthermore, ROS generation, caspase 
activity, and chromatin condensation/fragmentation were augmented significantly 
in cancer-derived cell lines, indicating a selective cytotoxic effect.
CONCLUSION: These findings reveal that the K. pinnata leaf ethanolic extract 
contains several bioactive molecules with therapeutic potential, capable of 
displaying selective cytotoxicity in different human cancer cell lines.

© 2024. The Author(s).

DOI: 10.1186/s12906-024-04570-7
PMCID: PMC11247786
PMID: 39010075 [Indexed for MEDLINE]

Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare no competing interests. The 
authors declare no conflict of interest.


3. Plant Physiol Biochem. 2024 Aug;213:108815. doi: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2024.108815.
 Epub 2024 Jun 8.

Triacontanol delivery by nano star shaped polymer promoted growth in maize.

Jiang B(1), Yang J(1), Zhong X(1), Yan S(2), Yin M(3), Shen J(2), Lei B(4), Li 
Z(1), Zhou Y(5), Duan L(6).

Author information:
(1)State Key Laboratory of Plant Environmental Resilience, Engineering Research 
Center of Plant Growth Regulator, Ministry of Education & College of Agronomy 
and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, No. 2 Yuanmingyuan West Road, 
Haidian District, Beijing, 100193, China.
(2)Department of Plant Biosecurity and MOA Key Laboratory for Monitoring and 
Green Management, China Agricultural University, No. 2 Yuanmingyuan West Road, 
Haidian District, Beijing, 100193, China.
(3)State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing Laboratory of 
Biomedical Materials, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, No. 15 North 
Third Ring East Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100029, China.
(4)Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Urumqi, 830091, China.
(5)State Key Laboratory of Plant Environmental Resilience, Engineering Research 
Center of Plant Growth Regulator, Ministry of Education & College of Agronomy 
and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, No. 2 Yuanmingyuan West Road, 
Haidian District, Beijing, 100193, China. Electronic address: 
zhouyuyi@cau.edu.cn.
(6)State Key Laboratory of Plant Environmental Resilience, Engineering Research 
Center of Plant Growth Regulator, Ministry of Education & College of Agronomy 
and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, No. 2 Yuanmingyuan West Road, 
Haidian District, Beijing, 100193, China; College of Plant Science and 
Technology, Beijing University of Agriculture, Beijing, 102206, China. 
Electronic address: duanlsh@cau.edu.cn.

Plant Growth Regulators (PGRs) are functional compounds known for enhancing 
plant growth and development. However, their environmental impact is a concern 
due to poor water solubility and the need for substantial organic solvents. 
Recently, nano-delivery systems have emerged as a solution, offering a broad 
range of applications for small molecule compounds. This study introduces a 
nano-delivery system for Triacontanol (TA), utilizing a star polymer (SPc), 
aimed at promoting maize growth and improving physiological indicators. The 
system forms nearly spherical nanoparticles through TA's hydroxyl group and 
SPc's tertiary amine group. The TA/SPc nano-complex notably outperforms separate 
TA or SPc treatments in maize, increasing biomass, chlorophyll content, and 
nutrient absorption. It elevates chlorophyll content by 16.4%, 10.0%, and 6.2% 
over water, TA, and SPc treatments, respectively, and boosts potassium and 
nitrate ion uptake by up to 2 and 1.6 times compared to TA alone, leading to 
enhanced plant height and leaf growth. qRT-PCR analysis further demonstrated 
that the nano-complex enhanced cellular uptake through the endocytosis pathway 
by up-regulating endocytosis-related gene expression. The employment of TEM to 
observe vesicle formation during the internalization of maize leaves furnishes 
corroborative evidence for the participation of the endocytosis pathway in this 
process. This research confirms that SPc is an effective carrier for TA, 
significantly enhancing biological activity and reducing TA dosage requirements.

Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2024.108815
PMID: 38861820 [Indexed for MEDLINE]

Conflict of interest statement: Declaration of competing interest The authors 
declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal 
relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this 
paper.


4. Sci Rep. 2024 May 27;14(1):12096. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-62398-0.

Phenotypical and biochemical characterization of tomato plants treated with 
triacontanol.

Manai M(#)(1)(2), Fiorillo A(#)(1), Matuozzo M(#)(3), Li M(4)(5), D'Ambrosio 
C(3), Franco L(6), Scaloni A(3), Fogliano V(4), Camoni L(7), Marra M(8).

Author information:
(1)Department of Biology, Tor Vergata University of Rome, 00133, Rome, Italy.
(2)Ph.D. Program in Cellular and Molecular Biology, Department of Biology, Tor 
Vergata University of Rome, 00133, Rome, Italy.
(3)Proteomics, Metabolomics & Mass Spectrometry Laboratory ISPAAM, National 
Research Council, 80055, Portici, Italy.
(4)Quality and Design Group, Wageningen University & Research, 6700AA, 
Wageningen, The Netherlands.
(5)College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 
712100, China.
(6)IRRITEC SpA, 98070, Capo D'Orlando, Messina, Italy.
(7)Department of Biology, Tor Vergata University of Rome, 00133, Rome, Italy. 
camoni@uniroma2.it.
(8)Department of Biology, Tor Vergata University of Rome, 00133, Rome, Italy. 
marra@uniroma2.it.
(#)Contributed equally

Biostimulants are heterogeneous products designed to support plant development 
and to improve the yield and quality of crops. Here, we focused on the effects 
of triacontanol, a promising biostimulant found in cuticle waxes, on tomato 
growth and productivity. We examined various phenological traits related to 
vegetative growth, flowering and fruit yield, the metabolic profile of fruits, 
and the response of triacontanol-treated plants to salt stress. Additionally, a 
proteomic analysis was conducted to clarify the molecular mechanisms underlying 
triacontanol action. Triacontanol application induced advanced and increased 
blooming without affecting plant growth. Biochemical analyses of fruits showed 
minimal changes in nutritional properties. The treatment also increased the 
germination rate of seeds by altering hormone homeostasis and reduced salt 
stress-induced damage. Proteomics analysis of leaves revealed that triacontanol 
increased the abundance of proteins related to development and abiotic stress, 
while down-regulating proteins involved in biotic stress resistance. The 
proteome of the fruits was not significantly affected by triacontanol, 
confirming that biostimulation did not alter the nutritional properties of 
fruits. Overall, our findings provide evidence of the effects of triacontanol on 
growth, development, and stress tolerance, shedding light on its mechanism of 
action and providing new insights into its potential in agricultural practices.

© 2024. The Author(s).

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-62398-0
PMCID: PMC11130248
PMID: 38802434 [Indexed for MEDLINE]

Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare no competing interests.


5. Foods. 2023 Apr 20;12(8):1717. doi: 10.3390/foods12081717.

The Relationships between Waxes and Storage Quality Indexes of Fruits of Three 
Plum Cultivars.

Zhu S(1), Huang S(2)(3), Lin X(2), Wan X(2), Zhang Q(2), Peng J(2), Luo D(2), 
Zhang Y(2), Dong X(2).

Author information:
(1)Guizhou Workstation for Fruit and Vegetables, Guiyang 550025, China.
(2)Fruit Crops Center of Guizhou Engineering Research, College of Agricultural, 
Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China.
(3)Guiyang Agricultural Reclamation Investment Development Group Co., Ltd., 
Guiyang 550001, China.

In the present study, the cuticular wax morphology, composition and the 
relationship with storage quality in three plum cultivars of Prunus salicina 
'Kongxin' (KXL), Prunus salicina 'Fengtang' (FTL) and Prunus salicina 'Cuihong' 
(CHL) were investigated during storage at room temperature of 25 ± 1 °C. The 
results illustrated that the highest cuticular wax concentration was discovered 
in KXL, followed by FTL and the lowest in CHL. The fruit wax composition of the 
three plum cultivars was similar and principally composed of alkanes, alcohols, 
fatty acids, ketones, aldehydes, esters, triterpenes and olefins. Alcohols, 
alkanes and triterpenes were the dominant fruit wax compounds of the three plum 
cultivars. After storage for 20 d at room temperature, the variation of 
cuticular wax crystal structure and composition showed significant 
cultivar-associated differences. The total wax content decreased for FTL and CHL 
and increased for KXL, and the wax crystal degraded and melted together over 
time. The higher contents of the main components in the three plum cultivars 
were nonacosane, 1-triacontanol, 1-heneicosanol, nonacosan-10-one, octacosanal, 
ursolic aldehyde and oleic acid. Alcohols, triterpenes, fatty acids and 
aldehydes were most dramatically correlated with the softening of fruit and 
storage quality, and alkanes, esters and olefins were most significantly 
correlated with the water loss. Nonacosane and ursolic aldehyde can enhance the 
water retention of fruit. Overall, this study will provide a theoretical 
reference for the further precise development of edible plum fruit wax.

DOI: 10.3390/foods12081717
PMCID: PMC10137498
PMID: 37107512

Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare no conflict of interest.