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. Molecules. 2023 Jun 7;28(12):4603. doi: 10.3390/molecules28124603. Effect of Light Conditions on Polyphenol Production in Transformed Shoot Culture of Salvia bulleyana Diels. Krzemińska M(1), Hnatuszko-Konka K(2), Weremczuk-Jeżyna I(1), Owczarek-Januszkiewicz A(3), Ejsmont W(1), Olszewska MA(3), Grzegorczyk-Karolak I(1). Author information: (1)Department of Biology and Pharmaceutical Botany, Medical University of Lodz, Muszynskiego 1, 90-151 Lodz, Poland. (2)Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Genetics, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, Banacha 12/16, 90-237 Lodz, Poland. (3)Department of Pharmacognosy, Medical University of Lodz, Muszynskiego 1, 90-151 Lodz, Poland. Various strategies have been used to increase the efficiency of secondary metabolite production in Salvia plants. This report is the first to examine the spontaneous development of Salvia bulleyana shoots transformed by Agrobacterium rhizogenes on hairy roots and the influence of light conditions on the phytochemical profile of this shoot culture. The transformed shoots were cultivated on solid MS medium with 0.1 mg/L of IAA (indole-3-acetic acid) and 1 mg/L of m-Top (meta-topolin), and their transgenic characteristic was confirmed by PCR-based detection of the rolB and rolC genes in the target plant genome. This study assessed the phytochemical, morphological, and physiological responses of the shoot culture under stimulation by light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with different wavelengths (white, WL; blue, B; red, RL; and red/blue, ML) and under fluorescent lamps (FL, control). Eleven polyphenols identified as phenolic acids and their derivatives were detected via ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection coupled to electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-DAD/ESI-MS) in the plant material, and their content was determined using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Rosmarinic acid was the predominant compound in the analyzed extracts. The mixed red and blue LEDs gave the highest levels of polyphenol and rosmarinic acid accumulation (respectively, 24.3 mg/g of DW and 20.0 mg/g of DW), reaching two times greater concentrations of polyphenols and three times greater rosmarinic acid levels compared to the aerial parts of two-year-old intact plants. Similar to WL, ML also stimulated regeneration ability and biomass accumulation effectively. However, the highest total photosynthetic pigment production (1.13 mg/g of DW for total chlorophyll and 0.231 mg/g of DW for carotenoids) was found in the shoots cultivated under RL followed by BL, while the culture exposed to BL was characterized as having the highest antioxidant enzyme activities. DOI: 10.3390/molecules28124603 PMCID: PMC10302416 PMID: 37375158 [Indexed for MEDLINE] Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare no conflict of interest. 2. Plants (Basel). 2023 Jan 19;12(3):466. doi: 10.3390/plants12030466. Combined Effect of the Potassium Dose and Plant Biofertilization by Acinetobacter calcoaceticus on the Growth, Mineral Content, Nutritional Quality, Antioxidant Activity, and Metabolomic Features of Tomatillo Fruits (Physalis ixocarpa Brot.). Ramírez-Cariño HF(1), Ochoa-Velasco CE(2), Guerrero-Analco JA(3), Monribot-Villanueva JL(3), Calderón-García C(4), González-Terreros E(5), Escamirosa-Tinoco C(1), Morales I(1), Valadez-Blanco R(4). Author information: (1)Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigación para el Desarrollo Integral Regional-Unidad Oaxaca, Hornos 1003, Santa Cruz Xoxocotlán, Oaxaca 71230, Mexico. (2)Departamento de Bioquímica-Alimentos, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla 72420, Mexico. (3)Laboratorio de Química de Productos Naturales, Red de Estudios Moleculares Avanzados, Instituto de Ecología A. C., Clúster Científico y Tecnológico BioMimic®, Carretera Antigua a Coatepec 351, El Haya, Xalapa, Veracruz 91073, Mexico. (4)Instituto de Agroindustrias, Universidad Tecnológica de la Mixteca, Carretera a Acatlima km. 2.5, Huajuapan de León, Oaxaca 69000, Mexico. (5)Instituto de Estudios Ambientales, Universidad de la Sierra Juárez, Avenida Universidad S/N, Ixtlán de Juárez, Oaxaca 68725, Mexico. An Acinetobacter calcoaceticus UTMR2 strain was evaluated in tomatillo plants (Physalis ixocarpa Brot.) using a factorial design with different potassium doses (100, 75, 50 and 0% of the recommended dose). In addition to the agronomic parameters, an analysis of the physicochemical, antioxidant, and metabolomic properties of the fruit was performed. The application of the inoculant affected several parameters of the plant (chlorophyll, weight, and contents of several mineral elements) as well as of the fruit (yield, maturity index, FRAP antioxidant capacity, and contents of protein, fiber, and fat). A multivariate analysis was performed by means of a PCA and a heatmap, indicating that the inoculant induced a strong modulating activity in tomatillo plants for the evaluated parameters, with a remarkable effect at low K doses (0 and 50%). The inoculated treatment at 75% of the K dose resulted in similar plant and fruit characteristics to the fully fertilized control. On the other hand, the biofertilized treatment with no K addition resulted in the highest values in the plant and fruit parameters. In addition, from the metabolomics analysis of the fruits at 75% of the K dose, the up-regulation of 4,4″-bis(N-feruloyl)serotonin, salvianolic acid K, and chlorogenic acid was observed, which may have a role in anti-senescence and resistance mechanisms. In conclusion, the rhizobacterial strain had a positive effect on plant growth, nutritional quality, bioactive compounds, and antioxidant activity of tomatillo fruits at reduced doses of K fertilizer, which gives support for its consideration as an effective biofertilizer strain. DOI: 10.3390/plants12030466 PMCID: PMC9920258 PMID: 36771548 Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare no conflict of interest. 3. Int J Mol Sci. 2022 Jul 14;23(14):7771. doi: 10.3390/ijms23147771. In Vitro Strategy for the Enhancement of the Production of Bioactive Polyphenols in Transformed Roots of Salvia bulleyana. Krzemińska M(1), Owczarek A(2), Olszewska MA(2), Grzegorczyk-Karolak I(1). Author information: (1)Department of Biology and Pharmaceutical Botany, Medical University of Lodz, Muszynskiego 1, 90-151 Lodz, Poland. (2)Department of Pharmacognosy, Medical University of Lodz, Muszynskiego 1, 90-151 Lodz, Poland. The underground parts of Salvia bulleyana, a rare Chinese plant species, have long been used in traditional Chinese medicine. The Rhizobium rhizogenes-transformed root culture obtained from this plant might be a promising novel source of valuable phenolics, including rosmarinic acid. The present study identifies for the first time, the optimal growth conditions of S. bulleyana hairy roots regarding production efficiency. The comprehensive optimization comprised cultivation in different basal media (B5, SH, MS, and WP) with full- and half-strength macro- and microelements, different vitamin contents (full, half, one-quarter part, and without) and sucrose concentrations (2, 3, 4, 5%), and under different light conditions: in dark, under blue LED (λ = 430 nm), red LED (λ = 670 nm), mixed blue and red LED (30%:70%), and white LED (390-670 nm). Hairy root growth and bioactive compound accumulation were also detailed every five days over the 50-day culture cycle. The optimal conditions were determined using a technique for order preference by similarity to the ideal solution (TOPSIS). The most efficient combination for root growth and polyphenol content was found to be ½SH liquid medium with half vitamin concentration and 3% sucrose when grown in the dark. The biomass yield during the growth cycle was 6.1 g (fresh weight-FW) and 0.92 g (dry weight-DW) on one Erlenmeyer flask: a 14.3-fold increase in FW and 16.1-fold increase in DW in relation to the inoculum. The highest mean total phenolic content was 93.6 mg/g DW including about 70 mg/g DW rosmarinic acid, reached on day 40 of culture; compared to roots of two-year-old plants grown under field conditions, the total phenolic acid content was four times higher and rosmarinic acid eight times higher. The obtained results place the investigated culture among the best hair root cultures for rosmarinic acid production. DOI: 10.3390/ijms23147771 PMCID: PMC9322094 PMID: 35887119 [Indexed for MEDLINE] Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare no conflict of interest. 4. Food Funct. 2022 Feb 21;13(4):2253-2268. doi: 10.1039/d1fo02988f. Insights into the neuroprotective effects of Salvia officinalis L. and Salvia microphylla Kunth in the memory impairment rat model. Ayoub IM(1), George MY(2), Menze ET(2), Mahmoud M(3), Botros M(3), Essam M(3), Ashmawy I(3), Shendi P(3), Hany A(3), Galal M(3), Ayman M(3), Labib RM(1). Author information: (1)Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, 11566 Cairo, Egypt. irinyayoub@pharma.asu.edu.eg. (2)Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, 11566 Cairo, Egypt. (3)Drug Design Program Graduates, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, 11566 Cairo, Egypt. Salvia species have a longstanding traditional culinary use, mostly being consumed in the Mediterranean diet as a common herb added to food. Salvia is commonly consumed as a herbal tea for memory enhancement. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent form of dementia affecting people worldwide Therefore, the current research aimed to investigate potential therapeutic benefits of Salvia officinalis (SOL) cultivated in Jordan and Salvia microphylla (SML) cultivated in Egypt with regard to acetylcholinesterase activity, β-amyloid deposition and oxidative stress associated with scopolamine-induced AD. Metabolite profiling of the ethanol extracts of SOL and SML was performed using UPLC-ESI-MS/MS analysis. Methyl carnosate, carnosic acid, carnosol, rosmanol and salvianolic acids were the major secondary metabolites identified in SOL and SML extracts. In our study, scopolamine (1.14 mg kg-1, i.p.) was administered for 7 consecutive days to induce memory impairment in rats. SML and SOL (150 and 300 mg kg-1, p.o.) were tested for their effects to reduce the scopolamine-induced deficits. Donepezil (0.5 mg kg-1, i.p.) was used as a positive control. Scopolamine induced histopathological changes in rats' prefrontal cortex and hippocampus in addition to β-amyloid plaque deposition. Furthermore, scopolamine treatment promoted oxidative stress and acetylcholinesterase activity. On the other hand, treatment with Salvia extracts corrected the histological changes induced by scopolamine and significantly reduced β-amyloid deposition. Moreover, both oxidative stress markers and acetylcholinesterase activity were ameliorated by Salvia treatment. Using virtual docking to the active sites of the human acetylcholinesterase crystal structure, salvianolic acid K, rosmarinic acid and salvianolic acid C showed the best fitting binding modes to active sites of acetylcholinesterase. Accordingly, the present study demonstrates the beneficial effects of Salvia species from Egypt and Jordan against scopolamine-induced AD-like disorder. DOI: 10.1039/d1fo02988f PMID: 35137748 [Indexed for MEDLINE] 5. Food Chem X. 2021 Nov 25;12:100171. doi: 10.1016/j.fochx.2021.100171. eCollection 2021 Dec 30. Orange thyme: Phytochemical profiling, in vitro bioactivities of extracts and potential health benefits. Silva AM(1)(2), Félix LM(2), Teixeira I(1), Martins-Gomes C(2)(3), Schäfer J(4), Souto EB(5)(6), Santos DJ(1)(2), Bunzel M(3), Nunes FM(4)(7). Author information: (1)Department of Biology and Environment (DeBA-ECVA), University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Quinta de Prados, 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal. (2)Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Quinta de Prados, 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal. (3)Chemistry Research Center -Vila Real (CQ-VR), Food and Wine Chemistry Lab, UTAD, Quinta de Prados, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal. (4)Department of Food Chemistry and Phytochemistry - Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Germany. (5)Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal. (6)CEB-Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar 4710-057 Braga, Portugal. (7)Department of Chemistry, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Quinta de Prados, 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal Vila Real, Portugal. Orange thyme (Thymus fragrantissimus) is becoming widely used in food as a condiment and herbal tea, nevertheless its chemical composition and potential bioactivities are largely unknown. Thus the objective of this work is to obtain a detailed phytochemical profile of T. fragrantissimus by exhaustive ethanolic extraction and by aqueous decoction mimicking its consumption. Extracts showed high content in rosmarinic acid, luteolin-O-hexuronide and eriodictyol-O-hexuronide; these were the main phenolic compounds present in orange thyme accounting for 85% of the total phenolic compounds. Orange thyme extracts presented high scavenging activity against nitric oxide and superoxide radicals. Both extracts presented significant inhibitory effect of tyrosinase activity and moderate anti-acetylcholinesterase activity. Both extracts showed a good in vitro anti-inflammatory activity and a weak anti-proliferative/cytotoxic activity against Caco-2 and HepG2 cell lines supporting its safe use. Orange thyme is a very good source of bioactive compounds with potential use in different food and nutraceutical industries. © 2021 The Authors. DOI: 10.1016/j.fochx.2021.100171 PMCID: PMC8639431 PMID: 34901827 Conflict of interest statement: 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.