Psychoactive Plant Database - Neuroactive Phytochemical Collection

1. Molecules. 2023 Feb 17;28(4):1912. doi: 10.3390/molecules28041912.

Production and Characterization of New Biosurfactants/Bioemulsifiers from 
Pantoea alhagi and Their Antioxidant, Antimicrobial and Anti-Biofilm 
Potentiality Evaluations.

Essghaier B(1), Mallat N(1), Khwaldia K(2), Mottola F(3), Rocco L(3), Hannachi 
H(4).

Author information:
(1)Laboratory of Mycology, Pathologies and Biomarkers LR16ES05, Faculty of 
Sciences of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar II, Tunis 2092, Tunisia.
(2)Laboratoire des Substances Naturelles, Institut National de Recherche et 
d'Analyse Physico-Chimique (INRAP), BiotechPole, Sidi Thabet 2020, Tunisia.
(3)Department of Environmental Biology and Pharmaceutical Sciences and 
Technologies (DiSTABiF), University of Campania L.Vanvitelli, 80100 Caserta, 
Italy.
(4)Laboratory of Vegetable Productivity and Environmental Constraint LR18ES04, 
Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University Tunis El-Manar II, Tunis 
2092, Tunisia.

The present work aimed to develop rapid approach monitoring using a simple 
selective method based on a positive hemolysis test, oil spreading activity and 
emulsification index determinations. It is the first to describe production of 
biosurfactants (BS) by the endophytic Pantoea alhagi species. Results indicated 
that the new BS evidenced an E24 emulsification index of 82%. Fourier-transform 
infrared (FTIR) results mentioned that the described BS belong to the glycolipid 
family. Fatty acid profiles showed the predominance of methyl 
2-hyroxydodecanoate in the cell membrane (67.00%) and methyl 
14-methylhexadecanoate (12.05%). The major fatty acid in the BS was oleic acid 
(76.26%), followed by methyl 12-methyltetradecanoate (10.93%). Markedly, the BS 
produced by the Pantoea alhagi species exhibited antimicrobial and anti-biofilm 
activities against tested human pathogens. With superior antibacterial activity 
against Escherchia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, a high antifungal effect was 
given against Fusarium sp. with a diameter of zone of inhibition of 29.5 mm, 36 
mm and 31 mm, obtained by BS dissolved in methanol extract. The DPPH assay 
indicated that the BS (2 mg/mL) showed a higher antioxidant activity (78.07 
inhibition percentage). The new BS exhibited specific characteristics, 
encouraging their use in various industrial applications.

DOI: 10.3390/molecules28041912
PMCID: PMC9963710
PMID: 36838900 [Indexed for MEDLINE]

Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare no conflict of interest. The 
funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses or 
interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to 
publish the results.


2. J Ethnopharmacol. 2020 Mar 1;249:112401. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2019.112401. Epub 
2019 Nov 15.

Phytochemical analysis and wound healing studies on ethnomedicinally important 
plant Malva neglecta Wallr.

Saleem U(1), Khalid S(2), Zaib S(3), Anwar F(4), Ahmad B(5), Ullah I(6), Zeb 
A(7), Ayaz M(8).

Author information:
(1)Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Government 
College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan. Electronic address: uzma95@gmail.com.
(2)Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Government 
College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan. Electronic address: 
sanakhalid436@gmail.com.
(3)Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Government 
College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan. Electronic address: 
shingzaib1@gmail.com.
(4)Riphah Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Riphah International University, 
Lahore, Pakistan. Electronic address: fareeha.anwar@riphah.edu.pk.
(5)Riphah Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Riphah International University, 
Lahore, Pakistan. Electronic address: bashir.ahmad@riphah.edu.pk.
(6)Department of Pharmacy, University of the Poonch, Rawalakot, AJK, Pakistan. 
Electronic address: izhar_pharma@yahoo.com.
(7)Department of Biochemistry, University of Malakand, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 
18800, Pakistan. Electronic address: azebuom@gmail.com.
(8)Department of Pharmacy, University of Malakand, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 18800, 
Pakistan. Electronic address: Ayazuop@gmail.com.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVENCE: The use of herbal medicines is increasing in 
developed countries as alternative and/or supportive therapy to conventional 
health care medicines. Malva neglecta Wallr. (Family: Malvaceae) has been 
reported as wound healing remedy in traditional medicines, however no 
experimental data is available on its wound healing potentials. The aim of this 
study was to explore phytochemistry and validate wound healing potentials of the 
plant using animal models.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: M. neglecta crude methanolic extract (Mn.Cme) was 
chemically characterized using HPLC-DAD and GCMS analysis. Acute dermal toxicity 
was determined in albino rats following Organization of Economic Co-operation 
and Development (OECD) 402 established standards. Wound healing potentials were 
evaluated in rats using excision wound model. Wounds (177 mm2) were made by an 
excision on the skin of rats which were placed individually in cages. Mn.Cme was 
formulated in ointment form and was applied topically onto the wound area once 
daily for 14 days. The wound area was measured with translucent paper and 
thereafter estimated on a 1 mm2 graph sheet every 3rd day until 
epithelialization and complete wound closure was recorded. Wound contraction was 
calculated as a percentage of the original wound size. Antioxidant potentials 
were also evaluated via FRAP, DPPH and H2O2 free radicals scavenging assays.
RESULTS: HPLC-DAD analysis revealed 25 phenolic compounds with higher amounts of 
hydrotyrosol (109.3 mg/g), coumaroylhexoside (97.4 mg/g), 
kaempferol-3-(p-coumaroyldiglucoside)-7-glucoside (37.2 mg/g), 
quercetin-3-O-rutinoside (31.5 mg/g) and epicatechin-3-O-(4-O-methyl)-gallate 
(31.3 mg/g). In GC-MS analysis, oleic acid (19.67%), taurine (17.60%), ethylene 
dimercaptan (14.67%), isoeugenol (14.61%), patchoulane (10.36%), methyl 
12-methyltetradecanoate (8.47%) and isopropyl myristate (7.02%) were highly 
abundant compounds. No sign of toxicity was observed in the acute dermal 
toxicity test. Our test sample (Mn.Cme) exhibited considerable wound healing 
tendency at all doses (1 g, 1.5 g, 2 g per 10 g of ointment base) with reduced 
epithelialization period in a dose-related manner. Absolute healing was observed 
after application of 2 g of Mn.Cme ointment. Further, Mn.Cme exhibited 
considerable anti-radical potential in all assays.
CONCLUSION: It may be concluded that M. neglecta possess very potent secondary 
metabolites which are previously reported for wound healing potentials. The 
plant has considerable antioxidant and wound healing properties and thus warrant 
further studies to uncover the molecular mechanism its wound healing potentials.

Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2019.112401
PMID: 31739103 [Indexed for MEDLINE]


3. J Biol Chem. 2005 Sep 16;280(37):32493-8. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M505070200. Epub
2005  Jul 14.

Structure and biosynthesis of staphyloxanthin from Staphylococcus aureus.

Pelz A(1), Wieland KP, Putzbach K, Hentschel P, Albert K, Götz F.

Author information:
(1)Department of Microbial Genetics, University of Tuebingen, Germany.

Most Staphylococcus aureus strains produce the orange carotenoid 
staphyloxanthin. The staphyloxanthin biosynthesis genes are organized in an 
operon, crtOPQMN, with a sigma(B)-dependent promoter upstream of crtO and a 
termination region downstream of crtN. The functions of the five encoded enzymes 
were predicted on the basis of their sequence similarity to known enzymes and by 
product analysis of gene deletion mutants. The first step in staphyloxanthin 
biosynthesis is the head-to-head condensation of two molecules of farnesyl 
diphosphate to form dehydrosqualene (4,4'-diapophytoene), catalyzed by the 
dehydrosqualene synthase CrtM. The dehydrosqualene desaturase CrtN 
dehydrogenates dehydrosqualene to form the yellow, main intermediate 
4,4'-diaponeurosporene. CrtP, very likely a mixed function oxidase, oxidizes the 
terminal methyl group of 4,4'-diaponeurosporene to form 4,4'-diaponeurosporenic 
acid. CrtQ, a glycosyltransferase, esterifies glucose at the C(1)'' position 
with the carboxyl group of 4,4'-diaponeurosporenic acid to yield glycosyl 
4,4'-diaponeurosporenoate; this compound was the major product in the clone 
expressing crtPQMN. In the final step, the acyltransferase CrtO esterifies 
glucose at the C(6)'' position with the carboxyl group of 12-methyltetradecanoic 
acid to yield staphyloxanthin. Staphyloxanthin overexpressed in Staphylococcus 
carnosus (pTX-crtOPQMN) and purified was analyzed by high pressure liquid 
chromatography-mass spectroscopy and NMR spectroscopy. Staphyloxanthin was 
identified as beta-D-glucopyranosyl 
1-O-(4,4'-diaponeurosporen-4-oate)-6-O-(12-methyltetradecanoate).

DOI: 10.1074/jbc.M505070200
PMID: 16020541 [Indexed for MEDLINE]


4. J Clin Microbiol. 1991 Oct;29(10):2351-3. doi:
10.1128/jcm.29.10.2351-2353.1991.

Chemical characterization of clinical isolates which are similar to CDC group 
DF-3 bacteria.

Daneshvar MI(1), Hollis DG, Moss CW.

Author information:
(1)Analytical Chemistry Laboratory, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, 
Georgia 30333.

Six clinical isolates, taken from blood or wounds, that had biochemical 
characteristics most similar to Centers for Disease Control group DF-3 bacteria 
were examined for cellular fatty acid composition and isoprenoid quinone content 
to evaluate their chemical relatedness to known bacterial species and groups. 
The fatty acids were liberated from whole cells by base hydrolysis, methylated, 
and analyzed by capillary gas-liquid chromatography. The isoprenoid quinones 
were extracted from lyophilized whole cells and analyzed by reverse-phase 
high-performance liquid chromatography. All six strains, which were designated 
group DF-3-like, possessed a distinct fatty acid profile that was characterized 
by large amounts (greater than 20%) of 13-methyltetradecanoate (i-C15:0) and 
12-methyltetradecanoate (a-C15:0), moderate amounts of saturated branched-chain 
13-carbon acids (i-C13:0 and a-C13:0) and hexadecanoate (n-C16:0), and small to 
moderate amounts of both branched- and straight-chain hydroxy acids 
(i-3-OH-C15:0, 3-OH-C16:0, i-3-OH-C17:0, and 2-OH-C17:0). This fatty acid 
profile was unique compared with the profiles of group DF-3 and other bacteria 
we have previously tested and is useful for the rapid identification of group 
DF-3-like isolates. The isoprenoid quinone content of four group DF-3-like 
strains was similar, with ubiquinone-9 (Q-9) and Q-10 as their major quinones, 
while the other two group DF-3-like strains contained Q-7 as their major 
quinones, with smaller amounts of Q-8 and Q-9.

DOI: 10.1128/jcm.29.10.2351-2353.1991
PMCID: PMC270330
PMID: 1939597 [Indexed for MEDLINE]


5. J Clin Microbiol. 1989 Apr;27(4):735-7. doi: 10.1128/jcm.27.4.735-737.1989.

Characterization of CDC group DF-3 by cellular fatty acid analysis.

Wallace PL(1), Hollis DG, Weaver RE, Moss CW.

Author information:
(1)Analytical Chemistry Laboratory, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, 
Georgia 30333.

Fourteen strains of Centers for Disease Control group DF-3 bacteria were 
examined for cellular fatty acid composition to evaluate their chemical 
relatedness to known bacterial species and groups. The fatty acids were 
liberated from whole cells by base hydrolysis, methylated, and analyzed by 
capillary gas-liquid chromatography. All group DF-3 strains possessed a distinct 
fatty acid profile which was characterized by large amounts (24%) of 
12-methyltetradecanoate (a-C15:0), moderate amounts of saturated 
iso-branched-chain acids (i-C14:0 and i-C15:0), and small to moderate amounts of 
both branched- and straight-chain hydroxy acids (3-OH C15:0, i-3-OH C16:0, 3-OH 
C16:0, and i-3-OH C17:0). This fatty acid profile was unique as compared with 
the profiles of other bacteria we have previously tested but was most similar to 
the profiles of Capnocytophaga species.

DOI: 10.1128/jcm.27.4.735-737.1989
PMCID: PMC267407
PMID: 2542365 [Indexed for MEDLINE]