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. Planta Med. 2008 Dec;74(15):1823-5. doi: 10.1055/s-0028-1088321. Epub 2008 Oct 30. Dimeric proanthocyanidins from the roots of Ephedra sinica. Tao H(1), Wang L, Cui Z, Zhao D, Liu Y. Author information: (1)College of Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun, P. R. China. Two new dimeric proanthocyanidins, ephedrannin B ( 2) and mahuannin E ( 4), along with two known congeners, ephedrannin A ( 1) and mahuannin D ( 3), were isolated from the roots of Ephedra sinica Stapf. Based on NMR, MS, and CD analysis, the structures of the new compounds were deduced to be 5,7,4'-trihydroxyflavan-[4(alpha)-->8,2(alpha)-->O-->7]-kaempferol ( 2) and 5,7,4'-trihydroxyflavan-[4(beta)-->8,2(beta)-->O-->7]- EPI-afzelechin ( 4). The compounds 1 - 4 were evaluated for cytotoxicity against three tumor cell lines (SGC-7901, HepG2, and HeLa), and 2 was found to be significantly active. DOI: 10.1055/s-0028-1088321 PMID: 18975262 [Indexed for MEDLINE] 2. J Nat Prod. 1999 May;62(5):705-9. doi: 10.1021/np980467b. Geranins A and B, new antiprotozoal A-type proanthocyanidins from Geranium niveum. Calzada F(1), Cerda-García-Rojas CM, Meckes M, Cedillo-Rivera R, Bye R, Mata R. Author information: (1)Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Coyoacán 04510, México D.F., México. Bioassay-guided fractionation of the antiprotozoal extract of Geranium niveum led to the isolation of two new A-type proanthocyanidins, epi-afzelechin-(4beta-->8, 2beta-->O-->7)-afzelechin (1) and epi-catechin-(4beta-->8, 2beta-->O-->7)-afzelechin (2). Compounds 1 and 2 were given the trivial names of geranins A and B, respectively. In addition, five known compounds, mahuannin B (3), reynoutrin (4), hyperin (5), methyl gallate (6), and 3-beta-caffeoyl-12-oleanen-28-oic acid (7), were obtained. The structures of the new proanthocyanidins were elucidated by spectroscopic and chemical methods as well as CD measurements. Compounds 1, 2, and 4-7 were tested against axenically grown trophozoites of Giardia lamblia and Entamoeba histolytica. DOI: 10.1021/np980467b PMID: 10346950 [Indexed for MEDLINE]