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. Sci Rep. 2024 Nov 6;14(1):26906. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-77372-z. Reproduction of experimental data for stacked caffeine dimers using various computational methods. Gutierrez MPS(1), Jimenez EG(1), Deriabina A(2), Perez JCS(1), Poltev V(1). Author information: (1)Faculty of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Autonomous University of Puebla (BUAP), Puebla, 72570, Mexico. (2)Faculty of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Autonomous University of Puebla (BUAP), Puebla, 72570, Mexico. alexandra.deriabina@correo.buap.mx. Reliable description of stacking interaction of aromatic molecules is important for the understanding structure, stability, and functions of biopolymers. The caffeine molecule is an ideal object for this study as the stacking interactions are the preferential ones for self-associations of this hydrophobic molecule without H-bond donor groups. The analysis of anhydrous caffeine crystal structures revealed five types of caffeine stacking dimers. Geometry optimization of these dimers was performed using two molecular mechanics force fields, ab-initio method Møller Plesset of the second order (MP2), and density functional theory (DFT) with different functionals. The comparison of geometric parameters of the caffeine dimers obtained using different theoretical methods with those in crystals enables us to suggest the methods providing the most reliable stacking characteristics. These methods are: the MP2 with Basis Set Superposition Error correction (MP2/CP), Poltev force field, along with PBE0-DH, SCAN and PBE-D3 functionals of DFT. For the methods, which give the dimer interaction energy close to that obtained by MP2/CP method, the evaluated sublimation enthalpy values are shown to be close to the experimental data. Additionally, MP2/CP, Poltev FF and PBE0-DH functional showed to be the methods that describe well both the energy and geometry of the caffeine stacking dimer. © 2024. The Author(s). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-77372-z PMID: 39505983 2. Biotechnol Adv. 2024 Nov 4:108473. doi: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2024.108473. Online ahead of print. Biotechnological applications of purine and pyrimidine deaminases. Del Arco J(1), Acosta J(1), Fernández-Lucas J(2). Author information: (1)Applied Biotechnology Group, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Urbanización El Bosque, E-28670 Villaviciosa de Odón, Madrid, Spain. (2)Applied Biotechnology Group, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Urbanización El Bosque, E-28670 Villaviciosa de Odón, Madrid, Spain; Grupo de Investigación en Ciencias Naturales y Exactas, GICNEX, Universidad de la Costa, CUC, Calle 58 # 55-66, 080002 Barranquilla, Colombia; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, E-28040 Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: jesusf08@ucm.es. Deaminases, ubiquitous enzymes found in all living organisms from bacteria to humans, serve diverse and crucial functions. Notably, purine and pyrimidine deaminases, while biologically essential for regulating nucleotide pools, exhibit exceptional versatility in biotechnology. This review systematically consolidates current knowledge on deaminases, showcasing their potential uses and relevance in the field of biotechnology. Thus, their transformative impact on pharmaceutical manufacturing is highlighted as catalysts for the synthesis of nucleic acid derivatives. Additionally, the role of deaminases in food bioprocessing and production is also explored, particularly in purine content reduction and caffeine production, showcasing their versatility in this field. The review also delves into most promising biomedical applications including deaminase-based GDEPT and genome and transcriptome editing by deaminase-based systems. All in all, illustrated with practical examples, we underscore the role of purine and pyrimidine deaminases in advancing sustainable and efficient biotechnological practices. Finally, the review highlights future challenges and prospects in deaminase-based biotechnological processes, encompassing both industrial and medical perspectives. Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc. DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2024.108473 PMID: 39505057 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. 3. Sci Total Environ. 2024 Nov 4:177339. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.177339. Online ahead of print. Bioaccumulation and tissue distribution of pharmaceuticals and their transformation products in fish along the pollution gradients of a wastewater-impacted river. Terzic S(1), Ivankovic K(2), Jambrosic K(2), Kurtovic B(2), Ahel M(2). Author information: (1)Division for Marine and Environmental Research, Ruder Boskovic Institute, Bijenicka c. 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia. Electronic address: terzic@irb.hr. (2)Division for Marine and Environmental Research, Ruder Boskovic Institute, Bijenicka c. 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia. A field study on the occurrence and distribution of forty-three pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) in water and fish samples from anthropogenically impacted section of the Sava River (Croatia) was performed to estimate the importance of bioaccumulation for the environmental risk assessment of PhACs. The study was performed using a highly specific LC-MS/MS method, tailored to include the most prominent PhACs from different therapeutic categories as well as their major metabolites and/or transformation products (TPs). The results revealed a widespread occurrence of PhAC residues both in water and fish samples with a large spatial variability reflecting the distance from the dominant wastewater discharges. The most prominent PhAC categories in less polluted upstream part of the river were common psychostimulants caffeine and cotinine, therapeutic opioids and cardiovascular drugs, while in the river section affected by the local municipal and industrial wastewater inputs, antibiotic drugs became clearly predominant, especially in fish tissue samples. The apparent bioconcentration factors (BCFs) of investigated PhACs varied over several orders of magnitude, from 0.02 ± 0.01 Lkg-1 for O-desmethyl tramadol in fish muscle to 784 ± 260 Lkg-1 for terbinafine in fish liver, indicating rather large differences in their bioconcentration potential and affinity to different tissues, with the tissue-specific BCFs increasing in the following order: muscle < gills < gonads < heart < liver < kidneys. The bioconcentration potential of most of the PhACs included in this study was only low to moderate however moderately high BCFs of certain PhACs (e.g. sertraline, terbinafine, loratadine, diazepam and azithromycin) in some tissues should be taken into consideration when assessing their potential environmental risks. Moreover, it was shown that BCFs could be strongly affected by biotransformation in fish. Risk prioritization based on risk quotient (RQ) and ToxPi index, revealed antibiotics, in particular azithromycin, and therapeutic psychoactive substances as the most hazardous pharmaceutical contaminants in the Sava River. Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.177339 PMID: 39505042 4. J Ophthalmol. 2024 Oct 28;2024:5597188. doi: 10.1155/2024/5597188. eCollection 2024. Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography: Investigating Vessel Density Changes Induced by Caffeine in Healthy Subjects. Jacobs M(1), Demas N(1), Hemesath A(2), Turski C(1), Fowler N(1), Chadwell JB(1), Dupont A(1), Kupper V(1), Acharya K(1), Robbins S(3), Heier K(4), Maldonado R(2). Author information: (1)Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA. (2)Department Eye Center, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. 1992-2016. Dr. Duke's Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases. Home Page, http://phytochem.nal.usda.gov/ http://dx.doi.org/10.15482/USDA.ADC/1239279 University, Durham, North Carolina, USA. (3)Center for Clinical and Translational Service, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA. (4)Department of Biostatistics, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA. Introduction: Caffeine, the most widely consumed psychoactive drug globally, has been associated with vascular changes in various organs, including the retina. Researchers have reported vascular constriction in the retina in response to caffeine, although data on its effects remain limited and somewhat contradictory. Further research is needed to clarify the specific impact of caffeine on retinal blood vessels and its potential implications for ocular health. Purpose: To investigate the effects of 200 mg of caffeine on systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP) and retinal vessel density (VD) assessed by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). Methods: Prospective randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled, IRB-approved study in 59 healthy low caffeine users (< 136 mg of caffeine daily). Baseline 3 × 3 and 6 × 6 mm OCTA scans centered on the fovea as well as a 6 × 6 mm scans centered on the optic nerve head (ONH) were obtained. Participants were randomly assigned into caffeine group (CG, n = 42) receiving 200 mg caffeine pill or placebo group (PG, n = 17). OCTA scans were repeated at 60 and 120 min after intervention. VD was measured with Advanced Retina Imaging (ARI) network software (Carl Zeiss Meditec, Dublin, CA) for superficial capillary plexus (SCP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP). SBP/DBP readings were recorded before each imaging session. Ordinary one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) of each group was performed using GraphPad Prism Version 9.3.0. Results: Both groups had comparable demographics and OCTA parameters at baseline. Two hours after intervention, the CG had a significantly higher SBP (123 ± 7 mmHg) and DBP (81 ± 5 mmHg) compared to the control group (118 ± 7 mmHg, 77 ± 6 mmHg) (p value = 0.012, 0.023). Regarding the OCTA VD metrics, there were no significant differences in VD between the caffeine and placebo groups, regardless of whether the scans were centered on the macula or ONH. Additionally, the comparison across different OCTA scan modalities, specifically the 3 × 3 mm and 6 × 6 mm scans, showed no discernible differences among groups. Conclusion: In conclusion, 200 mg of caffeine elevated blood pressure after 2 h but did not impact the retinal VD. This underscores the intricate relationship between caffeine, blood pressure, and retinal vascular dynamics, prompting further exploration of their implications for ocular health, especially in subjects with vascular disease. Copyright © 2024 Mitchell Jacobs et al. DOI: 10.1155/2024/5597188 PMCID: PMC11535189 PMID: 39502492 Conflict of interest statement: Ramiro Maldonado discloses his role as a PYC Therapeutics Consultant and ProQR Therapeutics consultant. Other authors do not have any financial disclosures. 5. Int J Angiol. 2024 Jul 8;33(4):262-270. doi: 10.1055/s-0044-1788280. eCollection 2024 Dec. Atherogenic Effect of Homocysteine, a Biomarker of Inflammation and Its Treatment. Prasad K(1). Author information: (1)Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. Hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) is an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis. Ischemic stroke and heart disease, coronary heart disease, and cardiovascular disease are events resulting from long-lasting and silent atherosclerosis. This paper deals with the synthesis of homocysteine (Hcy), causes of HHcy, mechanism of HHcy-induced atherosclerosis, and treatment of HHcy. Synthesis and metabolism of Hcy involves demethylation, transmethylation, and transsulfuration, and these processes require vitamin B 6 and vitamin B 12 folic acid (vitamin B 9 ). Causes of HHcy include deficiency of vitamins B 6 , B 9 , and B 12 , genetic defects, use of smokeless tobacco, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, low thyroid hormone, consumption of caffeine, folic acid antagonist, cholesterol-lowering drugs (niacin), folic acid antagonist (phenytoin), prolonged use of proton pump inhibitors, metformin, and hypertension. HHcy-induced atherosclerosis may be mediated through oxidative stress, decreased availability of nitric oxide (NO), increased expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, smooth muscle cell proliferation, increased thrombogenicity, and induction of arterial connective tissue. HHcy increases the generation of atherogenic biomolecules such as nuclear factor-kappa B, proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8), cell adhesion molecules (intercellular adhesion molecule-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, and E-selection), growth factors (IGF-1 and TGF-β), and monocyte colony-stimulating factor which lead to the development of atherosclerosis. NO which is protective against the development of atherosclerosis is reduced by HHcy. Therapy with folic acid, vitamin B 6 , and vitamin B 12 lowers the levels of Hcy, with folic acid being the most effective. Dietary sources of folic acid, vitamin B 6 , vitamin B 12 , omega-3 fatty acid, and green coffee extract reduce Hcy. Abstaining from drinking coffee and alcohol, and smoking also reduces blood levels of Hcy. In conclusion, HHcy induces atherosclerosis by generating atherogenic biomolecules, and treatment of atherosclerosis-induced diseases may be by reducing the levels of Hcy. International College of Angiology. This article is published by Thieme. DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1788280 PMCID: PMC11534477 PMID: 39502352 Conflict of interest statement: Conflict of Interest Non declared.