Psychoactive Plant Database - Neuroactive Phytochemical Collection

1. Molecules. 2021 Nov 20;26(22):7010. doi: 10.3390/molecules26227010.

Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, and Nutraceutical Profile of Carissa Species: An 
Updated Review.

Dhatwalia J(1), Kumari A(1), Verma R(1), Upadhyay N(2), Guleria I(1), Lal S(1), 
Thakur S(1), Gudeta K(1)(3), Kumar V(4), Chao JC(5)(6), Sharma S(7), Kumar A(8), 
Manicum AE(9), Lorenzo JM(10)(11), Amarowicz R(12).

Author information:
(1)School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, 
Shoolini University, Solan 173212, HP, India.
(2)School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shoolini University, Solan 173212, HP, 
India.
(3)Department of Applied Biology, Adama Science and Technology University, 
Adama, P.O. Box 1888, Ethiopia.
(4)University Institute of Biotechnology, Chandigarh University, Gharuan, 
Mohali, Punjab 140413, India.
(5)School of Nutrition and Health Sciences, College of Nutrition, Taipei Medical 
University, 250 Wu-Hsing Street, Taipei 11031, Taiwan.
(6)Nutrition Research Center, Taipei Medical University Hospital, 252 Wu-Hsing 
Street, Taipei 11031, Taiwan.
(7)School of Bioengineering and Food Technology, Shoolini University of 
Biotechnology and Management, Solan 173229, HP, India.
(8)Patanjali Herbal Research Department, Patanjali Research Institute, Haridwar, 
Uttarakhand 249405, India.
(9)Department of Chemistry, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria 0183, 
South Africa.
(10)Centro Tecnológico de la Carne de Galicia, Parque Tecnológico de Galicia, 
32900 San Cibrao das Viñas, Spain.
(11)Área de Tecnología de los Alimentos, Facultad de Ciencias de Ourense, 
Universidad de Vigo, 32004 Ourense, Spain.
(12)Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of 
Sciences, 10-748 Olsztyn, Poland.

Carissa, a genus of the Apocynaceae family, consists of evergreen species, such 
as shrubs as well as small trees that are native to Asia, Africa, and Oceania's 
subtropical and tropical regions. Most of the Carissa species are traditionally 
used to treat various diseases, such as chest pain, headaches, gonorrhoea, 
rheumatism, syphilis, oedema, rabies, stomach pain, hepatitis, cardiac diseases, 
and asthma. The pharmacological studies on Carissa species revealed its 
antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, cardioprotective, antipyretic, 
analgesic, wound healing, anticonvulsant, antiarthritic, adaptogenic, 
anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic activities, thus validating its use in 
indigenous medicine systems. The review article summarised the comprehensive 
literature available, including morphology, indigenous uses, bioactive 
composition, nutraceutical, and pharmacological activities of Carissa species. A 
total of 155 research papers were cited in this review article. The Carissa 
fruits are rich in dietary fibre, lipids, proteins, carbohydrates, vitamin C, 
and macro- and micro-elements. A total of 121 compounds (35 polyphenols 
(flavonoids and phenolic acids), 30 lignans, 41 terpenoids, 7 steroids, 2 
coumarins, and 6 cardiac glycosides) have been extracted from C. spinarum, C. 
carandas, and C. macrocarpa. Among all chemical constituents, lupeol, carissol, 
naringin, carisssone, scopoletin, carissaeduloside A, D, J, carandinol, 
sarhamnoloside, carissanol, olivil, carinol, 3β-hydroxyolean-11-en-28,13β-oilde, 
ursolic acid, and carissone are the key bioactive constituents responsible for 
pharmacological activities of genus Carissa. The gathered ethnopharmacological 
information in the review will help to understand the therapeutic relevance of 
Carissa as well as paving a way for further exploration in the discovery of 
novel plant-based drugs.

DOI: 10.3390/molecules26227010
PMCID: PMC8624575
PMID: 34834102 [Indexed for MEDLINE]

Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare no conflict of interest in 
the publication.


2. Phytother Res. 2012 Oct;26(10):1496-9. doi: 10.1002/ptr.4607. Epub 2012 Feb 6.

Bioactive compounds from Carissa spinarum.

Wangteeraprasert R(1), Lipipun V, Gunaratnam M, Neidle S, Gibbons S, 
Likhitwitayawuid K.

Author information:
(1)Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of 
Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.

In our continuing efforts to find new antiherpetic agents from plants, an 
extract prepared from the stems of Carissa spinarum L. was found to possess 
appreciable activity against herpes simplex viruses (HSV I and II). A chemical 
study of this plant was then initiated, and this led to the isolation of 12 
compounds, including a coumarin, two cardiac glycosides and nine lignans. These 
isolated compounds were evaluated for several biological activities, including 
antiherpetic, cytotoxic, antioxidant and antibacterial effects. The cardiac 
glycoside evomonoside was found to be the only antiherpetic principle, showing 
moderate activity against herpes simplex virus types I and II in the 
inactivation method. The lignans (-)-carinol, (-)-carissanol and 
(-)-nortrachelogenin exhibited cytotoxicity against breast (MCF7) and lung 
(A549) cancer cells. Moderate anti-DPPH free radical activity was observed for 
all the lignans. None of the isolates showed antibacterial activity.

Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

DOI: 10.1002/ptr.4607
PMID: 22308099 [Indexed for MEDLINE]


3. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 1998;62(3):521-5. doi: 10.1271/bbb.62.521.

Stereoselective Synthesis of (2S,3S)-2-Benzyl-2-hydroxy-3- 
(3,4-methylenedioxybenzyl)-γ-butyrolactone from L-(+)-Arabinose via a 
Carissanol-type of Lignan.

Yamauchi S(1), Kinoshita Y(1).

Author information:
(1)a College of Agriculture, Ehime University.

As a model experiment for the synthesis of optically active 
α,β-dibenzyl-α-hydroxy-γ-butyrolactone (1), 
(2S,3S)-2-benzyl-2-hydroxy-3-(3,4-methylenedioxybenzyl)-γ-buty-rolactone (3) was 
stereoselectively synthesized from L-(+)-arabinose via the carissanol-type of 
lignan, (2R/ 
S,3S,4S)-3-benzyl-2,3-dihydroxy-4-(3,4-methylenedio-xybenzyl)tetrahydrofuran 
(4).

DOI: 10.1271/bbb.62.521
PMID: 27315929