Psychoactive Plant Database - Neuroactive Phytochemical Collection

1. Clin Lab. 2024 Nov 1;70(11). doi: 10.7754/Clin.Lab.2024.240421.

In Vitro Protective Effects of Total Extract and Fractions of Fenugreek 
(Trigonella Foenum-Graecum L.) on Red Blood Cells.

Morshedi I.

BACKGROUND: Erythrocytes are susceptible to oxidative stress throughout their 
lifespan. While compounds like vitamin C can help mitigate oxidative stress, the 
exploration of natural herbal products continues to be a compelling area of 
research. To examine the impact of subfractions derived from acidified 
chloroform fractions of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) on red blood 
cells in the presence of H2O2 as an oxidant, we assessed the factors associated 
with erythrocyte aging and oxidative stress.
METHODS: The maceration technique was employed for extracting fenugreek seeds. 
Through chromatography, a total of 12 subfractions were isolated from the 
acidified chloroform extract of fenugreek seeds. Following an initial 
assessment, four subfractions exhibiting lower erythrocyte toxicity were chosen 
for further investigation. The objective was to evaluate their impact on 
erythrocyte aging by measuring the levels of phosphatidylserine (PS), sialic 
acid, CD47 on the erythrocyte surface, as well as oxidative stress biomarkers. 
The obtained results were presented as mean ± standard deviation (SD), and data 
analysis was performed by using ANOVA.
RESULTS: The results of this study revealed, that among the 12 subfractions 
derived from the acidified chloroform fraction of fenugreek, four subfractions 
demonstrated protective effects against H2O2-induced hemolysis and oxidative 
stress. Furthermore, flow cytometry analysis indicated that treatment with three 
of these subfractions led to elevated levels of CD47 and reduced levels of 
phosphatidylserine on the surface of erythrocytes.
CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the subfractions of fenugreek extract 
which likely contain a higher concentration of flavonoids and a lower content of 
saponins could be responsible for the observed protection against erythrocyte 
aging processes. It appears that fenugreek seeds have the ability to safeguard 
human erythrocytes from oxidative damage by reducing oxidative stress, 
preserving the activity of antioxidative enzymes, and maintaining the integrity 
of erythrocyte structure.

DOI: 10.7754/Clin.Lab.2024.240421
PMID: 39506600 [Indexed for MEDLINE]


2. J Nat Prod. 2024 Nov 6. doi: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.4c00847. Online ahead of 
print.

Combining the Strengths of MS and NMR in Biochemometrics: A Case Study on 
Buddleja officinalis.

Wasilewicz A(1), Areesanan A(2), Kirchweger B(1)(3), Nicolay S(2), Waltenberger 
E(1), Beniddir MA(4), Gründemann C(2), Rollinger JM(1), Grienke U(1).

Author information:
(1)Division of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of 
Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Josef-Holaubek-Platz 2, 1090 Vienna, 
Austria.
(2)Translational Complementary Medicine, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 
University of Basel, Campus Rosental, Mattenstrasse 22, 4058 Basel, Switzerland.
(3)Pharmaceutical Biology, Department of Pharmacy, 
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Butenandtstraße 5-13, 81377 Munich, 
Germany.
(4)Équipe Chimie des Substances Naturelles, BioCIS, CNRS, Université 
Paris-Saclay, 17 Avenue des Sciences, 91400 Orsay, France.

Biochemometrics has emerged as promising strategy for the targeted 
identification of bioactive constituents from natural sources. It is based on 
the correlation of bioactivity data with chemical data to reveal constituents 
contributing to activity. Providing complementary data and structural 
information, MS- and NMR-based biochemometric approaches have both been 
separately applied in the past. The herein presented study is dedicated to the 
evaluation of a combined MS- and NMR-based biochemometric workflow for the 
unambiguous identification of bioactives. As an example, a flower extract of 
Buddleja officinalis Maxim. was selected to unravel bioactive constituents in 
the context of dry eye disease pathology. While NMR-based biochemometrics relies 
on heterocovariance analysis (HetCA) of 1H NMR spectra using the previously 
established ELINA approach, a biochemometric molecular network was generated for 
the MS-based approach. Both analyses were performed in parallel and were 
ultimately combined to increase their power to identify the bioactive 
constituents from the complex mixture. As a result, phenylethanoid glycosides 
and triterpene saponins were discovered as main contributors for the antioxidant 
and cytotoxic effects of the extract. This article illustrates the advantages, 
opportunities, and limitations of MS and NMR in the context of biochemometrics.

DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.4c00847
PMID: 39503999


3. Pest Manag Sci. 2024 Nov 6. doi: 10.1002/ps.8504. Online ahead of print.

Naturally-occurring nematicides of plant origin: two decades of novel 
chemistries.

Ibrahim H(1), Nchiozem-Ngnitedem VA(2), Dandurand LM(3), Popova I(1).

Author information:
(1)Department of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of 
Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
(2)Institut für Chemie, University of Potsdam, Potsdam-Golm, Germany.
(3)Department of Entomology, Plant Pathology, and Nematology, University of 
Idaho, Moscow, USA.

Plant-parasitic nematodes are among the most destructive plant pathogens, 
resulting in a global annual economic loss of about 358 billion dollars. Using 
synthetic nematicides to control plant-parasitic nematodes has resulted in 
broad-spectrum toxicity to the environment. Plant-derived secondary metabolites 
have recently emerged as viable options that provide effective, greener, and 
renewable routes for managing plant-parasitic nematodes in various cropping 
systems. However, limited comprehensive information on plant-derived secondary 
metabolites sources, chemical structures, and nematicidal activities is 
available. This study aims to compile and analyze data on plant-based secondary 
metabolites with nematicidal properties collected over the last two decades. In 
this review, we identified 262 plant-based metabolites with nematicidal 
activities that were isolated from 35 plant families and 65 plant species. 
Alkaloids, terpenoids, saponins, flavonoids, coumarins, thiophenes, and 
annonaceous acetogenins were among the most studied compounds. In addition to 
the structure-activity relation for specific metabolites with nematicidal 
potency, various techniques for their extraction and isolation from plant 
material are discussed. Our findings demonstrate the potential of plants as a 
feedstock for sourcing nematicidal compounds and discovering new chemistries 
that could potentially be used for developing the next generation of 
nematicides. © 2024 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John 
Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

© 2024 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd 
on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

DOI: 10.1002/ps.8504
PMID: 39503300


4. Nat Prod Res. 2024 Nov 5:1-7. doi: 10.1080/14786419.2024.2424390. Online ahead
 of print.

A comprehensive analysis of phytochemicals, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, 
antibacterial, antifungal and phytoestrogenic properties of different parts of 
Tribulus terrestris.

Lal M(1), Sutradhar D(1).

Author information:
(1)School of Advanced Science and Languages, VIT Bhopal University, Madhya 
Pradesh, India.

Tribulus terrestris L., a medicinal plant rich in secondary metabolites, was 
studied for optimising bioactive compound extraction from various parts of the 
plant using ethanol-water (50:50), ethanol, and methanol solvents. Analysis of 
extracts for key phytochemicals like polyphenols, flavonoids, saponins, and 
alkaloids was performed using HPTLC, HPLC and gas chromatography. The 
ethanol-water mixture proved best for extracting saponins and polyphenols, 
ethanol for flavonoids, and methanol for alkaloids. The fruit yielded the 
highest saponin content (59.34% ± 3.87), while leaves were richest in 
polyphenols (18.94% ± 1.39), flavonoids (5.15% ± 1.01), and alkaloids (26.46% ± 
1.71). Leaf extracts showed the highest antibacterial activity against B. 
subtilis and P. aeruginosa, and stem extracts were effective against E. coli. 
Root, stem, and leaf extracts exhibited antifungal activity with leaf extract 
also demonstrating strong phytoestrogenic activity. These findings highlight the 
varied phytochemical profiles and biological activities of T. terrestris, 
suggesting their potential therapeutic uses.

DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2024.2424390
PMID: 39499233


5. Pak J Pharm Sci. 2024 Sep;37(5):1177-1187.

Qualitative and quantitative phytochemical screening and antioxidant potential 
of Bulbine inflata (Asphodelaceae).

Oyerinde RO(1), Risenga IM(1).

Author information:
(1)School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the 
Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Bulbine inflata is one of the species in the genus Bulbine that are yet to be 
documented for potential medicinal uses. Hence, we carried out its preliminary 
phytochemical profiling and investigated its antioxidant potential. The leaves 
were dried using air- and freeze-drying techniques and were extracted by water, 
methanol, ethyl acetate and hexane. Various common colour tests were used for 
the presence of phytochemicals. Some of the phytochemicals were further 
quantified. Phosphomolybdate, 2, 2 diphenyl-1-picryhydrazyl, hydrogen peroxide 
and metal chelating assays were used to assess the antioxidant potential of B. 
inflata. Tannin, flavonoids, phenols, glycosides, steroids, coumarins, quinones, 
saponins and terpenoids were detected phytochemicals in B. inflata leaves. The 
highest total phenolic, flavonoid and tannin contents, as well as total 
antioxidant capacity, were recorded for water extract. B. inflata showed 
moderate to high antioxidant activities against DPPH, H2O2 and metal chelating. 
Freeze-dried samples presented with higher results than air-dried samples in 
most assays. The results showed the potential of B. inflata for medicinal uses 
and could expand the ethnomedicinal resources in the communities where it is 
prevalent and beyond.

PMID: 39495859 [Indexed for MEDLINE]