Psychoactive Plant Database - Neuroactive Phytochemical Collection

1. Sci Rep. 2024 May 23;14(1):11843. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-62834-1.

Multivariate analysis of the phytochemical composition and antioxidant 
properties in twenty-five accessions across three Achillea species.

Farajpour M(1), Ebrahimi M(2), Sadat-Hosseini M(3), Al-Fekaiki DF(4), Baghizadeh 
A(5).

Author information:
(1)Crop and Horticultural Science Research Department, Mazandaran Agricultural 
and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research, 
Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Sari, Iran. 
m.farajpour@areeo.ac.ir.
(2)Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, College of Abourihan, University 
of Tehran, Tehran, Iran. mebrahimi@ut.ac.ir.
(3)Department of Horticultural Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of 
Jiroft, Jiroft, Iran.
(4)Department of Food Sciences, Agriculture College, Basrah University, 61004, 
Basrah, Iraq.
(5)Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Science and High Technology and 
Environmental Sciences, Graduate University of Advanced Technology, Kerman, 
Iran.

This study explored the chemical composition, antioxidant activity, and total 
phenol content of aerial parts from 25 accessions of three Achillea species 
(Achillea wilhelmsii C. Koch, Achillea vermicularis Trin., and Achillea 
tenuifolia Lam.). The plants were collected from various natural habitats across 
Iran, encompassing regions such as Central, Western, Southern, Northern, 
Western, and Northwestern parts of the country. Subsequently, they were grown 
together under field conditions. The study revealed significant variation in 
essential oil yields among accessions of A. wilhelmsii, ranging from 0.01 to 
0.107%, A. vermicularis with a range of 0.075 to 1.5%, and A. tenuifolia showing 
a variation of 0.1 to 2%. The study utilized Gas Chromatography-Mass 
Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis, revealing 75, 49, and 75 compounds in the 
essential oils of A. wilhelmsii, A. tenuifolia, and A. vermicularis, 
respectively. Major components included camphor, 1,8-cineole, anethole, 
α-pinene, and phytol in A. wilhelmsii, 1,8-cineole, camphor, levo-carvone, and 
δ-terpinene in A. vermicularis, and β-cubebene, elixene, β-sesquiphellandrene, 
1,8-cineole, camphor, and δ-terpinene in A. tenuifolia. The essential oil 
compositions of A. wilhelmsii and A. vermicularis were predominantly 
characterized by oxygenated monoterpenes, whereas that of A. tenuifolia was 
characterized by sesquiterpenes. Cluster analysis grouped accessions into three 
clusters, with A. tenuifolia forming a distinct group. Principal Component 
Analysis (PCA) triplot (62.21% of total variance) confirmed these results and 
provided insights into compound contributions. Furthermore, total phenolic 
content and antioxidant activity of the accessions of three species were 
assessed over 2 years. A. tenuifolia exhibited the highest levels in both 
categories, with statistically significant linear regression between antioxidant 
activity and total phenol content for A. tenuifolia and A. wilhelmsii. These 
findings emphasize significant phytochemical diversity within Achillea species, 
positioning them as promising natural sources of antioxidants. Further 
exploration and selection of specific accessions within each species are crucial 
for unlocking their medicinal potential and supporting cultivation and 
conservation efforts.

© 2024. The Author(s).

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-62834-1
PMCID: PMC11116415
PMID: 38783072 [Indexed for MEDLINE]

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


2. Plants (Basel). 2024 Jan 16;13(2):253. doi: 10.3390/plants13020253.

Chemical Analysis of the Essential Oils from Three Populations of Lippia dulcis 
Trevir. Grown at Different Locations in Southern Ecuador.

Castillo LN(1), Calva J(1), Ramírez J(1), Vidari G(2), Armijos C(1).

Author information:
(1)Departamento de Química, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, Loja 
1101608, Ecuador.
(2)Department of Medical Analysis, Faculty of Applied Science, Tishk 
International University, Erbil 44001, Iraq.

In this investigation, we have analyzed for the first time the essential oils 
(EOs) isolated by steam distillation of the leaves and flowers of Lippia dulcis 
Trevir., grown at three different locations in southern Ecuador: the Catacocha 
canton (Ca), the Vilcabamba parish (Vi), and the Chuquiribamba parish (Ch). 
Around 98.5% of the oils' constituents were identified by Gas 
Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and Gas Chromatography-Flame Ionization 
Detector (GC-FID) analysis using a DB-5ms capillary column. Sesquiterpene 
hydrocarbons were predominant in the EOs (79.77, 78.22, and 76.51%, 
respectively). The most representative constituents of the sample from the Ca 
canton were β-cedrene (16.75%), δ-selinene (11.04%), and β-cubebene (12.09%), 
while the sample from the Vi parish was characterized by the abundant presence 
of β-cedrene (17.9%), δ-selinene (12.52%), and bicyclogermacrene (11.34%). 
β-Cedrene (18.89%), δ-selinene (11.78%), and δ-cadinene (11.07%) were the main 
constituents of the essential oil (EO) from the Ch parish. The likely occurrence 
of low amounts of thermolabile hernandulcin in the volatile oils was indicated 
by the presence of the fragmentation products 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one and 
3-methyl-2-ciclohexen-1-one. In summary, the study gave us a clue to the 
variability of Lippia dulcis chemotypes depending on the collection sites.

DOI: 10.3390/plants13020253
PMCID: PMC10821391
PMID: 38256806

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


3. Food Chem. 2024 Mar 1;435:137518. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2023.137518. Epub
2023  Sep 16.

Early detection of dry bubble disease in Agaricus bisporus using volatile 
compounds.

Hayes W(1), Keenan C(2), Wilson J(3), Onarinde BA(4).

Author information:
(1)National Centre for Food Manufacturing, University of Lincoln, 2 Peppermint 
Way, Holbeach, Lincs, PE12 7FJ, United Kingdom. Electronic address: 
whayes@lincoln.ac.uk.
(2)BiOrbic, Bioeconomy SFI Research Centre, University College Dublin, Belfield, 
Dublin 4, Ireland. Electronic address: cathy.keenan@biorbic.com.
(3)MBio, Monaghan Mushrooms Group, Tyholland, Co. Monaghan, Ireland. Electronic 
address: Jude.Wilson@MBIO.ie.
(4)National Centre for Food Manufacturing, University of Lincoln, 2 Peppermint 
Way, Holbeach, Lincs, PE12 7FJ, United Kingdom. Electronic address: 
bOnarinde@lincoln.ac.uk.

Lecanicillium fungicola is a pathogen of the commercial white button mushroom 
(Agaricus bisporus) and is the causal agent of dry bubble disease, which can 
cause severe economic losses to mushroom growers. Volatile compounds were 
measured by GC/MS techniques over pure cultures of mycelia on agars, over 
microcosms of growing mushrooms, and over harvested mushrooms to identify 
compounds that might give an early warning of the disease. The mushroom strain 
tested was Agaricus bisporus, strain Sylvan A15; either deliberately infected 
with L. fungicola or water as a control. Over microcosms, the appearance of 
β-copaene, β-cubebene, and α-cedrene coincided with, but did not precede, the 
earliest visual signs of the disease. Mushrooms with dry bubble symptoms also 
had high levels of β-barbatene and an unknown diterpene (UK 1821). Over some 
harvested mushroom sets, high levels of cis-α-bisabolene developed as a defence 
reaction to infection.

Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2023.137518
PMID: 37788541 [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. Nat Prod Res. 2023 Aug 28:1-7. doi: 10.1080/14786419.2023.2251168. Online
ahead  of print.

A comparative study on essential oils from the leaves and stems of Vietnamese 
Mikania micrantha Kunth.

Nguyen QT(1)(2), Huynh Thi KL(2)(3), Nguyen MP(1)(2), Trinh T(1)(2), Pham 
NT(1)(2), Ho MN(4), Tran Thi YN(5), Tran NQ(6), Le Thi P(6).

Author information:
(1)Faculty of Chemistry, University of Science, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
(2)Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
(3)School of Biotechnology, International University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
(4)Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, St. Petersburg, 
Russia.
(5)Institute of Technology Application and Sustainable Development, Nguyen Tat 
Thanh University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
(6)Institute of Applied Materials Science, Vietnam Academy of Science and 
Technology, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Mikania micrantha Kunth is widely known as potential herbal medicine, although 
it is an invasive alien species in Southeast Asia. In this study, the essential 
oils from leaves and stems of M. micrantha were extracted by hydrodistillation 
method, and the chemical profiles of essential oils were then analysed by gas 
chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry 
(GC/MS). It was found that there were similarities and differences in chemical 
compositions and their percentage between the essential oils obtained from these 
two parts. The dominant components of leaves essential oil are β-Cubebene, 
Germacrene D, and α-Zingiberene, accounting for 11.34%, 10.96%, and 10.76%, 
respectively. Additionally, the major components of stems essential oils are 
D-Limonene (16.99%), β-Pinene (7.91%), and α-Zingiberene (7.26%). The research 
sheds fresh light on the chemical makeup of M. micrantha essential oils, 
emphasising their potential for the future.

DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2023.2251168
PMID: 37635675


5. Chem Biodivers. 2023 Sep;20(9):e202300811. doi: 10.1002/cbdv.202300811. Epub 
2023 Sep 4.

Phytochemicals, Essential Oils Composition and Antioxidant Activity of 
Astragalus spp., Phlomis olivieri and Daphne mucronata in Habitats of Central 
Iran.

Ghorbani L(1), Golkar P(1), Jafary R(1), Ahmadi M(1), Allafchian A(2).

Author information:
(1)Department of Natural Resources, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, 
84156-83111, Iran.
(2)Research Institute for Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials, Isfahan 
University of Technology, Isfahan, 84156-83111, Iran.

This study evaluated several secondary metabolites, essential oils (EOs) 
compositions, and antioxidant activity in four medicinal plants that originated 
in Isfahan rangelands. The species were Astragalus verus, Astragalus adscendens, 
Daphne mucronata, and Phlomis olivieri. Thirty-two genotypes of these species 
were evaluated for different biochemical traits. Based on the evaluation of EOs 
compounds, GC/MS analysis revealed the total number of identified compounds. 
These compounds were 25, 22, 12, and 22 for A. adscendens, A. verus, D. 
mucronata, and P. olivieri, respectively. The dominant compounds were phthalate 
(59.88 %) in A. adscendens, phytol (38.02 %) in A. verus, hexanoic acid 
(32.05 %) in D. mucronata and β-cubebene (30.94 %) in P. olivieri. Phytochemical 
analysis showed that D. mucronata, A. adscendens, and P. olivieri had the 
highest total phenolics content (TPC) (18.24 mg gallic acid equivalent/g dry 
weight), total flavonoids content (5.57 mg QE/g DW), and total anthocyanins 
content (0.23 mg/g DW), respectively. The highest total chlorophyll (0.27 mg/g 
DW), total carotenoids (0.03 mg/g DW), and antioxidant activity (71.36 %) were 
observed in A. adscendens, A. adscendens and A. verus, respectively. Among all 
genotypes, the highest TPC (20.1 mg GAE/g DW) was observed in genotype 5 of D. 
mucronata. This study provided new information on the chemical compounds within 
the distribution range of these ecologically dominant rangeland species in 
Isfahan province, Iran. The data revealed that superior genotypes from these 
species are rich in natural antioxidants and bioactive compounds. Thus, they can 
be used in ethno pharmacological fields, food, and industrial applications.

© 2023 Wiley-VHCA AG, Zurich, Switzerland.

DOI: 10.1002/cbdv.202300811
PMID: 37566100 [Indexed for MEDLINE]