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. World J Gastroenterol. 2024 Oct 21;30(39):4308-4312. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v30.i39.4308. Novel intervention for alcohol-associated liver disease. Gao FQ(1), Zhu JQ(2), Feng XD(3). Author information: (1)Department of Endocrinology, The Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Westlake University, Hangzhou 310003, Zhejiang Province, China. (2)Laboratory Medicine Center, Department of Clinical Laboratory, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou 310014, Zhejiang Province, China. (3)Department of Clinical Laboratory, Ningbo Medical Center Lihuili Hospital, The Affiliated Lihuili Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo 315000, Zhejiang Province, China. xdfeng@zju.edu.cn. A recently published article in the World Journal of Gastroenterology clarified that elafibranor, a dual peroxisome proliferator activated receptor α/δ (PPARα/δ) agonist, reduced inflammation and fibrosis in alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD). This letter aims to discuss the findings presented in that article. ALD is a global health problem, and no effective drugs has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration to cure it. Thus, finding targeted therapies is of great urgency. Herein, we focus on the pathogenesis of ALD and the role of PPARα/δ in its development. Consistent with the conclusion of the article of interest, we think that elafibranor may be a promising therapeutic option for ALD, due to the pivotal involvement of PPARα/δ in the pathogenesis of the disease. However, its treatment dose, timing, and side effects need to be further investigated in future studies. ©The Author(s) 2024. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved. DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v30.i39.4308 PMCID: PMC11525857 PMID: 39492829 [Indexed for MEDLINE] Conflict of interest statement: Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article. 2. World J Gastroenterol. 2024 Oct 21;30(39):4313-4317. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v30.i39.4313. Elafibranor: A promising treatment for alcohol-associated liver disease? Wei H(1), Sang LX(2), Chang B(3). Author information: (1)Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, Liaoning Province, China. (2)Department of Gastroenterology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110022, Liaoning Province, China. (3)Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, Liaoning Province, China. cb000216@163.com. We comment on an article by Koizumi et al. Elafibranor (EFN) is a dual pero-xisome proliferator-activated receptor α/δ agonist. The experimental results from Koizumi et al demonstrated that EFN significantly increases intestinal barrier function and ameliorates liver fibrosis. These positive outcomes suggest that EFN could be a promising therapeutic option for alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD). However, this study has limitations that necessitate further research to evaluate the efficacy of EFN. Future studies should consider the use of more appropriate animal models and cell types, optimize the administration routes and dosages of the drug, and conduct an in-depth investigation into the underlying mechanisms of action to determine the therapeutic effects of EFN in humans. With sustained and in-depth research, EFN has the potential to emerge as a novel therapeutic agent for the treatment of ALD. ©The Author(s) 2024. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved. DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v30.i39.4313 PMCID: PMC11525850 PMID: 39492824 [Indexed for MEDLINE] Conflict of interest statement: Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article. 3. Int J Pharm. 2023 Oct 28:123554. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2023.123554. Online ahead of print. Development of Innovative Electrospun Nepafenac-Loaded Nanofibers-based Ophthalmic Inserts. Omer S(1), Nagy N(2), Szőcs E(2), Kádár S(3), Völgyi G(4), Pinke B(5), Mészáros L(5), Katona G(6), Vincze A(7), Dormán P(8), Zs Nagy Z(8), Balogh GT(4), Kazsoki A(9), Zelkó R(10). Author information: (1)University Pharmacy Department of Pharmacy Administration, Semmelweis University, Hőgyes Endre Street 7-9, H-1092 Budapest, Hungary. (2)Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology Semmelweis University, Tűzoltó Street 58, H-1094 Budapest, Hungary. (3)Department of Organic Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Műegyetem Rkp. 3, H-1111, Budapest, Hungary; Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Semmelweis University, Hőgyes Endre Street 9, H-1092 Budapest, Hungary. (4)Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Semmelweis University, Hőgyes Endre Street 9, H-1092 Budapest, Hungary. (5)Department of Polymer Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Műegyetem Rkp. 3, H-1111 Budapest, Hungary. (6)Institute of Pharmaceutical Technology and Regulatory Affairs, University of Szeged, Eötvös u. 6, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary. (7)Department of Chemical and Environmental Process Engineering, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Műegyetem Rkp. 3, H-1111 Budapest, Hungary. (8)Department of Ophthalmology, Semmelweis University, Ma ́ria Street 39, 1085 Budapest, Hungary. (9)University Pharmacy Department of Pharmacy Administration, Semmelweis University, Hőgyes Endre Street 7-9, H-1092 Budapest, Hungary. Electronic address: zelko.romana@semmelweis.hu. (10)University Pharmacy Department of Pharmacy Administration, Semmelweis University, Hőgyes Endre Street 7-9, H-1092 Budapest, Hungary. Electronic address: kazsoki.adrienn@semmelweis.hu. Electrospun nanofibers can be utilized to develop patient-centric ophthalmic formulations with reasonable bioavailability at the targeted site. The current study aimed to develop 0.1% w/w of nepafenac-loaded electrospun nanofibrous webs as potential candidates for ocular delivery of nepafenac with improved solubility and stability. Nine different formulations were prepared by electrospinning and investigated for morphology, physicochemical properties, drug release, cytocompatibility, and in vitro and ex vivo permeability. The scanning electron microscopy images showed fibrous samples. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction confirmed the polymer cross-linking and the formation of amorphous solid dispersion. All formulations showed complete and fast release of nepafenac (≤ 60 minutes), and the release followed first-order kinetics (β values for all formulations were <1). The formulations (F3, F6, and F9) showed considerable in vitro and ex vivo permeability. The Raman studies revealed comparable corneal distributions of F3 and the commercial Nevanac® suspension at 60 min (p value = 0.6433). The fibrous composition remains stable under stress conditions (40 ± 2 °C, 75 ± 5% relative humidity). The formulation composition showed good cytocompatibility with hen eggs tested on the chorioallantoic membrane of chick embryos. The developed nanofiber webs could be a promising candidate for nepafenac-loaded ophthalmic inserts. Chemical compounds studied in this article Nepafenac (PubChem CID151075); Polyvinyl alcohol (PubChem CID 11199); Poloxamer 407 (PubChem CID 24751); Chloroform (PubChem CID 6212); Methanol (PubChem CID 887); L-α-phosphatidylcholine (PubChem CID 10425706); Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (PubChem CID 6049). Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2023.123554 PMID: 39492434 Conflict of interest statement: Declaration of Competing Interest 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. 4. Food Sci Nutr. 2024 Jul 16;12(10):7186-7201. doi: 10.1002/fsn3.4307. eCollection 2024 Oct. Brewing method-dependent changes of volatile aroma constituents of green tea (Camellia sinensis L.). Göksu Sürücü C(1), Tolun A(2), Halisçelik O(3), Artık N(2). Author information: (1)Plant-Based Food Research Center, Field Crops Central Research Institute, Directorate General of Agricultural Research and Policies Ankara Türkiye. (2)Department of Food Engineering Ankara University Ankara Türkiye. (3)Core Unit Metabolomics, Berlin Institute of Health Charité University Berlin Germany. The determination of optimal levels of green tea amount and brewing time would have a crucial role in the accumulation of desired aromatic volatile compounds to meet worldwide market demand. Aroma is the most important factor influencing tea consumers' choices along with taste, price, and brand. This study aims to determine how the brewing time and amount of green tea affect the aroma profile of green tea infusion. The effect of the amount of Turkish green tea (5-10 g) and brewing time (5-60 min) on aromatic volatile compounds was evaluated using solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) technique. The SPME/GC-MS analysis identified 57 components in the aroma profile of green tea infusions including 13 esters, 12 alkanes, 7 unknowns, 6 ketones, 3 alcohols, 2 terpenes, 2 terpenoids, 1 alkaloid, 1 phenolic compound, 1 lactone, 1 pyrazine, and 1 norisoprenoid. The green tea amount and brewing time had significant effects on the number of chemical compounds. A total of 42, 47, and 36 aromatic volatile compounds were determined by brewing 5, 7.5, and 10 g of green tea. The most abundant constituents in green tea infusions were phytone, 2-decenal, lauric acid, unknown 1, methoxy-1-methylethyl pyrazine, α-ionone, β-ionone, and diethyl phthalate (DEP). With this study, the aroma structures of green tea infusion have been revealed for the first time depending on the brewing time and quantity. © 2024 The Author(s). Food Science & Nutrition published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. DOI: 10.1002/fsn3.4307 PMCID: PMC11521698 PMID: 39479672 Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare no conflict of interest. 5. World J Gastroenterol. 2024 Oct 7;30(37):4163-4167. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v30.i37.4163. Dual peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α/δ agonists: Hope for the treatment of alcohol-associated liver disease? Zhang XY(1), Chen QJ(2), Zhu F(3), Li M(2), Shang D(4). Author information: (1)Department of Vascular Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, Hubei Province, China. (2)Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, Hubei Province, China. (3)Department of Vascular Surgery, Hubei Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wuhan 430061, Hubei Province, China. (4)Department of Vascular Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, Hubei Province, China. danshang@hust.edu.cn. In this letter, we review the article "Effects of elafibranor on liver fibrosis and gut barrier function in a mouse model of alcohol-associated liver disease". We focus specifically on the detrimental effects of alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) on human health. Given its insidious onset and increasing incidence, increasing awareness of ALD can contribute to reducing the prevalence of liver diseases. ALD comprises a spectrum of several different disorders, including liver steatosis, steatohepatitis, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. The pathogenesis of ALD is exceedingly complex. Previous studies have shown that peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) regulate lipid metabolism, glucose homeostasis and inflammatory responses within the organism. Additionally, their dysfunction is a major contributor to the progression of ALD. Elafibranor is an oral, dual PPARα and δ agonist. The effectiveness of elafibranor in the treatment of ALD remains unclear. In this letter, we emphasize the harm of ALD and the burden it places on society. Furthermore, we summarize the clinical management of all stages of ALD and present new insights into its pathogenesis and potential therapeutic targets. Additionally, we discuss the mechanisms of action of PPARα and δ agonists, the significance of their antifibrotic effects on ALD and future research directions. ©The Author(s) 2024. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved. DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v30.i37.4163 PMCID: PMC11514538 PMID: 39474402 [Indexed for MEDLINE] Conflict of interest statement: Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.