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. Phytochemistry. 2024 Oct 24;229:114311. doi: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2024.114311. Online ahead of print. Iridoids and lignans from Valeriana officinalis and their bioactivities. Lu Z(1), Mei G(2), Zhong F(3), Gu Y(2), Xi J(2), Chen X(1), Xu J(2), Huang X(2), Yang G(4), Chen Y(5). Author information: (1)College of Chemistry and Material Sciences, South-Central Minzu University, Wuhan, 430074, PR China. (2)Ethnopharmacology Laboratory, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, South-Central Minzu University, Wuhan, 430074, PR China. (3)Pingyang Institute of Quality Inspection&Testing, Wenzhou, 325499, PR China. (4)Ethnopharmacology Laboratory, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, South-Central Minzu University, Wuhan, 430074, PR China. Electronic address: yangguangzhong@mail.scuec.edu.cn. (5)College of Chemistry and Material Sciences, South-Central Minzu University, Wuhan, 430074, PR China. Electronic address: 3006007@mail.scuec.edu.cn. Seven undescribed iridoids, identified as valeriridoids A-E (compounds 1, 5, 18, 19a, 19b, 20a, and 20b), were isolated from the roots and rhizomes of Valeriana officinalis L., along with sixteen known iridoids and nine known lignans. The structures were elucidated using NMR and MS spectroscopy, and the absolute configurations of the undescribed iridoids were determined through ECD calculations. Valeriridoids D and E were found to be epimeric and scalemic mixtures, which were successfully resolved through a chiral column. These isolated iridoids were evaluated for their antiproliferative activities, with valeriridoid A, jatamanvaltrates P, and Q showing significant effects against human non-small cell lung cancer cells, with IC50 values of 14.68, 8.77, and 10.07 μM, respectively. Furthermore, the antihyperglycemic properties of the compounds were investigated in insulin-resistant human hepatoblastoma cells induced by palmitic acid treatment, revealing that valeriridoid A, jatamanvaltrates P, and Q at a concentration of 10 μM led to a notable increase in glucose consumption. Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd. DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2024.114311 PMID: 39454744 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.