Psychoactive Plant Database - Neuroactive Phytochemical Collection

1. Nat Prod Res. 2024 Nov 5:1-7. doi: 10.1080/14786419.2024.2424390. Online ahead
 of print.

A comprehensive analysis of phytochemicals, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, 
antibacterial, antifungal and phytoestrogenic properties of different parts of 
Tribulus terrestris.

Lal M(1), Sutradhar D(1).

Author information:
(1)School of Advanced Science and Languages, VIT Bhopal University, Madhya 
Pradesh, India.

Tribulus terrestris L., a medicinal plant rich in secondary metabolites, was 
studied for optimising bioactive compound extraction from various parts of the 
plant using ethanol-water (50:50), ethanol, and methanol solvents. Analysis of 
extracts for key phytochemicals like polyphenols, flavonoids, saponins, and 
alkaloids was performed using HPTLC, HPLC and gas chromatography. The 
ethanol-water mixture proved best for extracting saponins and polyphenols, 
ethanol for flavonoids, and methanol for alkaloids. The fruit yielded the 
highest saponin content (59.34% ± 3.87), while leaves were richest in 
polyphenols (18.94% ± 1.39), flavonoids (5.15% ± 1.01), and alkaloids (26.46% ± 
1.71). Leaf extracts showed the highest antibacterial activity against B. 
subtilis and P. aeruginosa, and stem extracts were effective against E. coli. 
Root, stem, and leaf extracts exhibited antifungal activity with leaf extract 
also demonstrating strong phytoestrogenic activity. These findings highlight the 
varied phytochemical profiles and biological activities of T. terrestris, 
suggesting their potential therapeutic uses.

DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2024.2424390
PMID: 39499233


2. Pak J Pharm Sci. 2024 Sep;37(5):1177-1187.

Qualitative and quantitative phytochemical screening and antioxidant potential 
of Bulbine inflata (Asphodelaceae).

Oyerinde RO(1), Risenga IM(1).

Author information:
(1)School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the 
Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Bulbine inflata is one of the species in the genus Bulbine that are yet to be 
documented for potential medicinal uses. Hence, we carried out its preliminary 
phytochemical profiling and investigated its antioxidant potential. The leaves 
were dried using air- and freeze-drying techniques and were extracted by water, 
methanol, ethyl acetate and hexane. Various common colour tests were used for 
the presence of phytochemicals. Some of the phytochemicals were further 
quantified. Phosphomolybdate, 2, 2 diphenyl-1-picryhydrazyl, hydrogen peroxide 
and metal chelating assays were used to assess the antioxidant potential of B. 
inflata. Tannin, flavonoids, phenols, glycosides, steroids, coumarins, quinones, 
saponins and terpenoids were detected phytochemicals in B. inflata leaves. The 
highest total phenolic, flavonoid and tannin contents, as well as total 
antioxidant capacity, were recorded for water extract. B. inflata showed 
moderate to high antioxidant activities against DPPH, H2O2 and metal chelating. 
Freeze-dried samples presented with higher results than air-dried samples in 
most assays. The results showed the potential of B. inflata for medicinal uses 
and could expand the ethnomedicinal resources in the communities where it is 
prevalent and beyond.

PMID: 39495859 [Indexed for MEDLINE]


3. Drug Des Devel Ther. 2024 Oct 29;18:4825-4838. doi: 10.2147/DDDT.S481769. 
eCollection 2024.

Ginsenoside Rb1 Alleviates DSS-Induced Ulcerative Colitis by Protecting the 
Intestinal Barrier Through the Signal Network of VDR, PPARγ and NF-κB.

Zhou Y(1), Xiong X(1), Cheng Z(1), Chen Z(1), Wu S(2), Yu Y(3), Liu Y(4), Chen 
G(1), Li L(5).

Author information:
(1)Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Tongji 
Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 
Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China.
(2)College of Acupuncture and Bone Injury, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, 
Wuhan, 430061, People's Republic of China.
(3)Department of Gastroenterology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, 
Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic 
of China.
(4)Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Union 
Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 
Wuhan, 430022, People's Republic of China.
(5)Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wuhan Fourth Hospital, Wuhan, 
430033, People's Republic of China.

PURPOSE: Ginseng (Panax ginseng Meyer) is an herbal medicine used in traditional 
Chinese medicine (TCM), has the effects of treating colitis and other diseases. 
Ginsenoside Rb1 (GRb1), a major component of ginseng, modulates autoimmunity and 
metabolism. However, the mechanism underlying GRb1 treatment of ulcerative 
colitis (UC) has not yet been elucidated. UC is a refractory inflammatory bowel 
disease (IBD) with a high recurrence rate, and researches on new drugs for UC 
have been in the spotlight for a long time.
METHODS: Mice with DSS-induced UC were treated with GRb1 or 0.9% saline for 10 
days. Colon tissue of UC mice was collected to detect the levels of intestinal 
inflammatory cytokines and integrity of the intestinal barrier. RNA-seq and 
network pharmacology were used to predict the therapeutic targets of GRb1 during 
UC treatment.
RESULTS: GRb1 treatment alleviated intestinal inflammation and improved 
intestinal barrier dysfunction in UC mice. Specifically, GRb1 downregulated the 
levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-6, while upregulating 
the level of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. Additionally, GRb1 treatment 
increased the levels of tight junction proteins including ZO-1, Occludin, and 
E-cadherin, which are crucial for maintaining intestinal barrier integrity. 
Further analyses using RNA-seq and network pharmacology suggested that these 
effects might involve the regulation of GRb1 in the signal transduction network 
of VDR, PPARγ, and NF-κB.
CONCLUSION: The study demonstrated that GRb1 effectively alleviated UC by 
modulating intestinal inflammation and protecting the integrity of the 
intestinal barrier through the signal transduction network of VDR, PPARγ, and 
NF-κB.

© 2024 Zhou et al.

DOI: 10.2147/DDDT.S481769
PMCID: PMC11531243
PMID: 39494151 [Indexed for MEDLINE]

Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare no competing interests that 
could have influenced the work reported in this study.


4. Sci Rep. 2024 Nov 1;14(1):26330. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-77574-5.

Comprehensive profiling of phenolic compounds and triterpenoid saponins from 
Acanthopanax senticosus and their antioxidant, α-glucosidase inhibitory 
activities.

Kwon RH(1)(2), Na H(1), Kim JH(1), Kim SA(1), Kim SY(2), Jung HA(2), Lee SH(1), 
Wee CD(1), Lee KS(1), Kim HW(3).

Author information:
(1)Department of Agrofood Resources, National Institute of Agricultural 
Sciences, Rural Development Administration, Wanju, 55365, Republic of Korea.
(2)Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Jeonbuk National University, 
Jeonju, 54896, Korea.
(3)Department of Agrofood Resources, National Institute of Agricultural 
Sciences, Rural Development Administration, Wanju, 55365, Republic of Korea. 
ksharrier@korea.kr.

Acanthopanax senticosus belongs to Araliaceae family and is traditionally used 
as a tonic. The roots and stems are mainly used as treatments for hypodynamia, 
rheumatism, and hypertension, but their frequent use may lead to extinction. 
However, comprehensive and simultaneous analysis of the remaining parts were 
still limited. There is a need to reorganize them for standardization of 
functional foods. In this study, 50 phenolic compounds and 82 triterpenoid 
saponins from the shoots, leaves, fruits, and stems of were characterized using 
UPLC-QTOF-MS and UPLC-QTRAP-MS/MS. Among them, 52 compounds were newly 
determined as the cis and malonyl-bound phenolic acids and were found to be 
structural isomers of Acanthopanax flavonoids and saponins. All compounds were 
absolutely/relatively quantified, and shoots had the highest content. 
Peroxynitrite and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities were performed, followed 
by evaluation of structure-activity relationships. Particularly, hederasaponin B 
and ciwujianoside B showed remarkable efficacy, which were affected by the C-23 
hydroxylation, the C-20(29) double bond, and the presence of rhamnose. These 
detailed profiling can be used as fundamental data for increasing the 
utilization of A. senticosus and developing them into functional foods.

© 2024. The Author(s).

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-77574-5
PMCID: PMC11530669
PMID: 39487169 [Indexed for MEDLINE]

Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare no competing interests.


5. Integr Cancer Ther. 2024 Jan-Dec;23:15347354241293790. doi: 
10.1177/15347354241293790.

Evaluation of the Efficacy, Safety, and Clinical Outcomes of Ginsenosides as 
Adjuvant Therapy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic 
Review.

Zhang R(1), Liao Y(2), Gao Y(1), Tian H(1), Wu S(1), Zeng Q(1), He Q(1), Zhang 
R(1), Wei C(3), Liu J(1).

Author information:
(1)The First Department of Surgery, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine 
Hospital/The fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese 
Medicine, Futian District, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
(2)The Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese 
Medicine, Futian District, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
(3)Department of Hepatology, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, The 
Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, 
Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China.

Background: Ginsenosides (GS), including total GS, Rh2, Rg3 and compound K (CK), 
have been utilized as adjuvants in transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), 
surgery, and chemotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) therapy. However, 
the safety and efficacy of such combination treatments have been contradictory 
across different studies. This study aims to systematically evaluate the 
efficacy and safety of GS as adjuvant therapy for HCC. Methods: A literature 
search of PubMed, CNKI, Wanfang Data, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Web of 
Science was conducted up to May 2024 for clinical randomized controlled trials 
(RCTs) on GS-based adjuvant treatments for HCC. Two researchers independently 
screened the literature, extracted relevant data, and assessed study quality. 
Meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.4. Results: Nineteen articles 
involving 1448 patients were included. Meta-analysis showed that GS as an 
adjuvant therapy for HCC improved disease control rate (risk ratio (RR) = 1.42, 
95% CI [1.26, 1.60]), objective response rate (RR = 1.20, 95% CI [1.09, 1.32]), 
life quality (RR = 1.49, 95% CI [1.23, 1.79]), 1-year overall survival rate 
(RR = 1.27, 95% CI [1.06, 1.52]), 2-year overall survival rate (RR = 1.43, 
95% CI [1.06, 1.95]), ehanced Child-Pugh in A level (RR = 1.59, 95% CI [1.08, 
2.34]), Child-Pugh in B level (RR = 1.28, 95% CI [1.08, 1.52]); increased CD3+ 
(MD = 8.81, 95% CI [3.91, 13.71]), NKC (MD = 8.00, 95% CI [6.76, 9.24]) and CD4+ 
(MD = 9.38, 95% CI [8.04, 10.72]), and reduced incidence of adverse reactions 
including nausea and vomiting (RR = 0.66, 95% CI [0.57, 0.77]), anorexia 
(RR = 0.33, 95% CI [0.21, 0.50]), leukopenia (RR = 0.55, 95% CI [0.46, 0.67]) 
and myelosuppression (RR = 0.54, 95% CI [0.40, 0.74]); decreased Child-Pugh in C 
level (RR = 0.43, 95% CI [0.27, 0.68]) and CD4+/CD8+ ratio (MD = 0.50, 95% CI 
[0.47, 0.57]). Conclusions: In summary, GS combined with Western medical 
approaches (TACE, surgery, chemotherapy) for the treatment of HCC can improve 
clinical efficacy, increase overall survival rates, enhance patient life 
quality, and reduce the occurrence of adverse reactions. However, due to the 
generally low quality of the included studies, more large-sample, multi-center, 
high-quality, RCTs are warranted to further consolidate these findings.

DOI: 10.1177/15347354241293790
PMCID: PMC11526256
PMID: 39474841 [Indexed for MEDLINE]

Conflict of interest statement: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe 
author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the 
research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.