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. Biomed Res Int. 2024 Oct 29;2024:2023620. doi: 10.1155/2024/2023620. eCollection 2024. A Comprehensive Review on Potential In Silico Screened Herbal Bioactive Compounds and Host Targets in the Cardiovascular Disease Therapy. Zarenezhad E(1), Hadi AT(2), Nournia E(3), Rostamnia S(4), Ghasemian A(1). Author information: (1)Noncommunicable Diseases Research Center, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran. (2)Womens Obstetrics & Gynecology Hospital, Ministry of Health, Al Samawah, Iraq. (3)Cardiology Department, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamedan, Iran. (4)Organic and Nano Group, Department of Chemistry, Iran University of Science and Technology, PO Box 16846-13114, Tehran, Iran. Herbal medicines (HMs) have deciphered indispensable therapeutic effects against cardiovascular disease (CVD) (the predominant cause of death worldwide). The conventional CVD therapy approaches have not been efficient and need alternative medicines. The objective of this study was a review of herbal bioactive compound efficacy for CVD therapy based on computational and in silico studies. HM bioactive compounds with potential anti-CVD traits include campesterol, naringenin, quercetin, stigmasterol, tanshinaldehyde, Bryophyllin A, Bryophyllin B, beta-sitosterol, punicalagin, butein, eriodyctiol, butin, luteolin, and kaempferol discovered using computational studies. Some of the bioactive compounds have exhibited therapeutic effects, as followed by in vitro (tanshinaldehyde, punicalagin, butein, eriodyctiol, and butin), in vivo (gallogen, luteolin, chebulic acid, butein, eriodyctiol, and butin), and clinical trials (quercetin, campesterol, and naringenin). The main mechanisms of action of bioactive compounds for CVD healing include cell signaling and inhibition of inflammation and oxidative stress, decrease of lipid accumulation, and regulation of metabolism and immune cells. Further experimental studies are required to verify the anti-CVD effects of herbal bioactive compounds and their pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic features. Copyright © 2024 Elham Zarenezhad et al. DOI: 10.1155/2024/2023620 PMCID: PMC11537750 PMID: 39502274 [Indexed for MEDLINE] Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare no conflicts of interest. 2. Antibiotics (Basel). 2024 Oct 19;13(10):994. doi: 10.3390/antibiotics13100994. Combinations of Terminalia bellirica (Gaertn.) Roxb. and Terminalia chebula Retz. Extracts with Selected Antibiotics Against Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria: Bioactivity and Phytochemistry. Tiwana G(1), Cock IE(2), Cheesman MJ(1). Author information: (1)School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, Gold Coast Campus, Griffith University, Gold Coast 4222, Australia. (2)School of Environment and Science, Nathan Campus, Griffith University, Brisbane 4111, Australia. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has arisen due to antibiotic overuse and misuse. Antibiotic resistance renders standard treatments less effective, making it difficult to control some infections, thereby increasing morbidity and mortality. Medicinal plants are attracting increased interest as antibiotics lose efficacy. This study evaluates the antibacterial activity of solvent extracts prepared using Terminalia bellirica and Terminalia chebula fruit against six bacterial pathogens using disc diffusion and broth microdilution assays. The aqueous and methanol extracts of T. bellirica and T. chebula showed substantial zones of inhibition (ZOIs) against Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). The activity against those bacteria was strong, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) ranging from 94 µg/mL to 392 µg/mL. Additionally, the T. bellirica methanolic extract showed noteworthy antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and an extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) E. coli strain (MIC values of 755 µg/mL for both). The aqueous T. bellirica and T. chebula extracts also inhibited Klebsiella pneumoniae growth (MIC values of 784 µg/mL and 556 µg/mL, respectively). The corresponding methanolic extracts also inhibited ESBL K. pneumoniae growth (MIC values of 755 µg/mL and 1509 µg/mL, respectively). Eighteen additive interactions were observed when extracts were combined with reference antibiotics. Strong antagonism occurred when any of the extracts were mixed with polymyxin B. Liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy (LC-MS) analysis of the extracts revealed several interesting flavonoids and tannins, including 6-galloylglucose, 1,2,6-trigalloyl-β-D-glucopyranose, 6-O-[(2E)-3-phenyl-2-propenoyl]-1-O-(3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoyl)-β-D-glucopyranose, propyl gallate, methyl gallate, sanguiin H4, hamamelitannin, pyrogallol, gallic acid, ellagic acid, chebulic acid, and chebuloside II. All extracts were nontoxic in brine shrimp assays. This lack of toxicity, combined with their antibacterial activities, suggests that these plant species may be promising sources of antibacterial compound(s) that warrant further study. DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics13100994 PMCID: PMC11504310 PMID: 39452260 Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare no conflicts of interest. 3. Z Naturforsch C J Biosci. 2024 Sep 19. doi: 10.1515/znc-2024-0116. Online ahead of print. Hepatoprotective activity of medicinal plants, their phytochemistry, and safety concerns: a systematic review. Gonfa YH(1), Bachheti A(2), Semwal P(3), Rai N(3), Singab AN(4)(5), Bachheti RK(6)(7)(8). Author information: (1)Department of Chemistry, P.O. Box: 19, Ambo University, Ambo, Ethiopia. (2)Department of Environment Science, Graphic Era Deemed to be University, Dehradun-248002, Uttarakhand, India. (3)Department of Biotechnology, Graphic Era Deemed to be University, Dehradun-248002, Uttarakhand, India. (4)Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Abbassia, Cairo, Egypt. (5)Center of Drug Discovery Research and Development, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt. (6)Department of Allied Sciences, Graphic Era Hill University, Society Area, Clement Town, Dehradun, 248002, Uttarakhand, India. (7)Department of Industrial Chemistry, Addis Ababa Science and Technology University, P.O. Box-1641716417 Ethiopia. (8)University Centre for Research and Development, Chandigarh University, Gharuan 140413, Punjab, India. Medicinal plants and their derivatives represent a promising reservoir of remedies for various ailments. Especially secondary metabolites of these plants, including alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, terpenoids, steroids, saponins, tannins, and anthraquinones, play crucial roles in hepatoprotection. Studies have identified several prominent phytoconstituents, such as silymarin, quercetin, luteolin, glycyrrhizin, curcumin, gallic acid, chebulic acid, catechin, aloin, emodin, liquiritin, liquiritigenin, cudraflavone B, and karaviloside, as effective agents for addressing hepatotoxicity. The mechanisms underlying their efficacy include antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, free radical scavenging, and the ability to block oxidative stress, cytokine production, and stabilize liver cell membranes. The application of natural products derived from medicinal plants in treating liver injuries is rooted in their efficacy, cost-effectiveness, and safety profile, contributing to their popularity. Many studies, encompassing in vitro, in vivo, preclinical, and clinical investigations, have demonstrated that the extracts of medicinal plants mitigate chemical-induced liver damage using animal models. However, intensive research efforts regarding the safety, regulatory standard, and quality control issues for using medicinal plants as hepatoprotective agents remain the strong task of scholars. The primary focus of this systematic review is to analyze the current state of the literature regarding treating liver ailments using extracts from medicinal plants, examining their phytochemical composition, and addressing associated safety considerations. © 2024 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston. DOI: 10.1515/znc-2024-0116 PMID: 39291928 4. Molecules. 2024 May 20;29(10):2399. doi: 10.3390/molecules29102399. Study on Quality Characteristic of Chebulae Fructus and Its Adulterants and Degradation Pathway of Hydrolyzable Tannins. Xu J(1), Wang X(1), Yu H(1)(2), Chai X(1)(2), Zhang M(1)(2), Wu HH(1)(2), Wang Y(1)(2). Author information: (1)National Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Modernization, State Key Laboratory of Component-Based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin Key Laboratory of TCM Chemistry and Analysis, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China. (2)Haihe Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China. Chebulae Fructus (CF) is known as one of the richest sources of hydrolyzable tannins (HTs). In this study, ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a photodiode array detector method was established for simultaneous determination of the 12 common phenolcarboxylic and tannic constituents (PTCs). Using this method, quantitative analysis was accomplished in CF and other four adulterants, including Terminaliae Belliricae Fructus, Phyllanthi Fructus, Chebulae Fructus Immaturus, and Canarii Fructus. Based on a quantitative analysis of the focused compounds, discrimination of CF and other four adulterants was successfully accomplished by hierarchical cluster analysis and principal component analysis. Additionally, the total contents of the 12 compounds that we focused on in this study were unveiled as 148.86 mg/g, 96.14 mg/g, and 18.64 mg/g in exocarp, mesocarp, and endocarp and seed of CF, respectively, and PTCs were witnessed to be the most abundant in the exocarp of CF. Noticeably, the HTs (chebulagic acid, chebulanin acid, chebulinic acid, and punicalagin) were observed to be ultimately degraded to chebulic acid, gallic acid, and ellagic acid during sunlight-drying of the fresh fruits. As a result, our study indicated that CF and its adulterants could be distinguished by the observed 12 PTCs, which were mainly distributed in the exocarp of the fruits. The HTs were prone to degrade into the three simple phenolcarboxylic acids during drying or processing, allowing us to obtain a more comprehensive understanding of the PTCs, with great significance in the improved quality of CF and related products. DOI: 10.3390/molecules29102399 PMCID: PMC11123712 PMID: 38792262 [Indexed for MEDLINE] Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare no conflicts of interest. 5. J Food Drug Anal. 2023 Dec 15;31(4):639-648. doi: 10.38212/2224-6614.3481. Analysis and identification of phenolic compounds with antiproliferative activity from Chinese olive (Canarium album L.) fruit extract by HPLC-DAD-SPE-TT-NMR. Yeh YT(1)(2), Chen CK(3), Liao YC(4), Lee SS(3), Hsieh SC(1). Author information: (1)Institute of Food Science and Technology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan. (2)Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. (3)School of Pharmacy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan. (4)Department of Biochemical Science and Technology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan. Chinese olives (Canarium album L.) are rich in phenolic compounds, exhibiting a broad spectrum of potential clinical applications. This study is the first report on the isolation and elucidation of bioactive compounds with high antiproliferative activity from the ethyl acetate fraction of a Chinese olive fruit methanolic extract (CO-EtOAc). We used the WST-1 assay to determine which subfractions of CO-EtOAc had significant antiproliferative activity using the murine colon cancer cell line CT26. Subsequently, the functional compounds were characterized by the hyphenated technique and high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector-solid phase extraction-transfer tube-nuclear magnetic resonance (HPLC-DAD-SPE-TT-NMR). Thirteen phenolic constituents were identified from the antiproliferation-enhancing subfractions of CO-EtOAc, including two new compounds, 2,4-didehydrochebulic acid 1,7-dimethyl ester (5) and 1-hydroxybrevifolin (7), which were further purified and found to exhibit marked antiproliferative activity. Chebulic acid dimethyl ester (2), which was isolated from C. album for the first time, also possessed antiproliferative activity. DOI: 10.38212/2224-6614.3481 PMCID: PMC10962664 PMID: 38526815 [Indexed for MEDLINE] Conflict of interest statement: Conflicts of interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.