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. Z Naturforsch C J Biosci. 2002 Nov-Dec;57(11-12):994-7. doi: 10.1515/znc-2002-11-1207. Sesquiterpene lactones in a hairy root culture of Cichorium intybus. Malarz J(1), Stojakowska A, Kisiel W. Author information: (1)Department of Phytochemistry, Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Smetna Street 12, 31-343 Kraków, Poland. malarzj@if-pan.krakow.pl A transformed root culture of Cichorium intybus L. (Asteraceae) was found to produce sesquiterpene lactones of guaiane and germacrane type. Lactucopicrin, 8-desoxylactucin and three sesquiterpene lactone glycosides: crepidiaside B, sonchuside A and ixerisoside D were isolated from the roots. The yield of 8-desoxylactucin reached 0.03 g l(-1) at the early stationary phase of the culture. DOI: 10.1515/znc-2002-11-1207 PMID: 12562083 [Indexed for MEDLINE] 2. J Nat Prod. 2000 Jun;63(6):812-6. doi: 10.1021/np990554j. New taxonomically significant sesquiterpenoids from Leontodon autumnalis. Zidorn C(1), Ellmerer-Müller EP, Ongania KH, Sturm S, Stuppner H. Author information: (1)Institut für Pharmazie der Universität Innsbruck, Josef-Möller-Haus, Innrain 52, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria. Christian.H.Zidorn@uibk.ac.at The methanolic extract of subaerial parts of Leontodon autumnalis afforded four new and two known sesquiterpenoids of the guaiane type. The known compounds were identified by means of (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopy as crepidiaside A (1) and B (2). The structures of the new compounds were determined by extensive 1D and 2D NMR experiments as 15-glucopyranosyloxy-2-oxo-guaia-3,11(13)-dien-1alp ha,5alpha, 6beta,7alpha,10alphaH-12,6-olide (3); 15-glucopyranosyloxy-2-oxo-guai-3-en-1alpha,5alpha+ ++,6beta,7alpha, 10alpha,11betaH-12,6-olide (4); 15-hydroxy-2-oxo-guai-3-en-1alpha, 5alpha,6beta,7alpha,10alpha,11betaH-12,6-+ ++olide (5); and 15-glucopyranosyloxy-2-oxo-guaia-3,11(13)-dien-1bet a,5alpha,6beta, 7alpha,10alphaH-12,6-olide (6), respectively. HPLC-DAD and HPLC-MS analyses of crude extracts of subaerial parts of 25 different taxa of the genus Leontodon revealed that compounds 1 and 2 occur in all investigated members of the section Oporinia (L. autumnalis, L. croceus, L. helveticus, L. montaniformis, L. montanus, L. pyrenaicus, and L. rilaensis) and in L. duboisii from the section Kalbfussia. Compounds 1-6 are detectable neither in other investigated taxa of Kalbfussia (L. cichoraceus, L. muelleri, and L. palisae) nor in any members of the subgenus Leontodon. Compounds 3-5 occur in high amounts only in L. croceus and L. pyrenaicus and in samples of L. autumnalis from northwestern Europe. In other members of the section Oporinia, in L. duboisii as well as in samples of L. autumnalis from the Pyrenees, the Alps, the Carpathians, and southern Central Europe, these substances occur only in trace amounts; in L. montanus and its closest relatives, compounds 3-5 are not detectable at all. Compound 6 is only detectable in samples of L. autumnalis, L. helveticus, L. pyrenaicus, L. rilaensis, and L. duboisii. DOI: 10.1021/np990554j PMID: 10869207 [Indexed for MEDLINE]