Psychoactive Plant Database - Neuroactive Phytochemical Collection

1. ACS Med Chem Lett. 2023 May 11;14(6):692-695. doi: 
10.1021/acsmedchemlett.3c00168. eCollection 2023 Jun 8.

Microbiome-Gut-Brain Axis Modulation: New Approaches in Treatment of 
Neuropsychological and Gastrointestinal Functional Disorders.

Kargbo RB(1).

Author information:
(1)Usona Institute, Fitchburg, Wisconsin 53711-5300, United States.

The gut-brain axis (GBA) refers to the sophisticated bidirectional communication 
system connecting the digestive system with the central nervous system. This 
interaction is enabled by a series of intricate signaling processes, 
encompassing various neuro-immune and hormonal pathways. The association between 
the gut microbiome and mental health has garnered immense scientific and public 
interest, driven by an enhanced understanding of the microbiome's role in 
facilitating communication between the gut and the brain. This Patent Highlight 
discloses methods for promoting the colonization of spore-forming bacteria in 
the gastrointestinal track. These methods include administering a serotonin 
receptor agonist, such as psilocybin, psilocin, N,N-dimethyltryptamine, 
bufotenine, 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine, lysergic acid diethylamide, 
ergine, mescaline, 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine, 
2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylamphetamine, and others.

Published 2023 by American Chemical Society.

DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.3c00168
PMCID: PMC10258818
PMID: 37312838

Conflict of interest statement: The author declares no competing financial 
interest.


2. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 May 29;19(11):6619. doi: 
10.3390/ijerph19116619.

Spatiotemporal Mapping of Online Interest in Cannabis and Popular Psychedelics 
before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Poland.

Al-Imam A(1)(2)(3), Motyka MA(4), Witulska Z(5), Younus M(6), Michalak M(2).

Author information:
(1)Doctoral School, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-512 Poznan, 
Poland.
(2)Department of Computer Science and Statistics, Poznan University of Medical 
Sciences, Rokietnicka 7 St. (1st Floor), 61-806 Poznan, Poland.
(3)Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, University of Baghdad, Baghdad 
10001, Iraq.
(4)Institute of Sociological Sciences, University of Rzeszow, 35-959 Rzeszów, 
Poland.
(5)Faculty of Psychology and Law, SWPS University of Social Sciences and 
Humanities, Kutrzeby 10, 61-719 Poznan, Poland.
(6)Iraqi Pharmacovigilance Centre, Ministry of Health, Baghdad 10001, Iraq.

BACKGROUND: Psychedelics represent a unique subset of psychoactive substances 
that can induce an aberrant state of consciousness principally via the neuronal 
5-HT2A receptor. There is limited knowledge concerning the interest in these 
chemicals in Poland and how they changed during the pandemic. Nonetheless, these 
interests can be surveyed indirectly via the web.
OBJECTIVES: We aim to conduct a spatial-temporal mapping of online 
information-seeking behavior concerning cannabis and the most popular 
psychedelics before and during the pandemic.
METHODS: We retrieved online information search data via Google Trends 
concerning twenty of the most popular psychedelics from 1 January 2017 to 1 
January 2022 in Poland. We conducted Holt-Winters exponential smoothing for time 
series analysis to infer potential seasonality. We utilized hierarchical 
clustering analysis based on Ward's method to find similarities of psychedelics' 
interest within Poland's voivodships before and during the pandemic.
RESULTS: Twelve (60%) psychedelics had significant seasonality; we proved that 
psilocybin and ayahuasca had annual seasonality (p-value = 0.0120 and p = 
0.0003, respectively), and four substances-LSD, AL-LAD, DXM, and DOB-exhibited a 
half-yearly seasonality, while six psychedelics had a quarterly seasonal 
pattern, including cannabis, dronabinol, ergine, NBOMe, phencyclidine, and 
salvinorin A. Further, the pandemic influenced a significant positive change in 
the trends for three substances, including psilocybin, ergine, and DXM.
CONCLUSIONS: Different seasonal patterns exist for psychedelics, and some might 
correlate with school breaks or holidays in Poland. The pandemic induced some 
changes in the temporal and spatial trends. The spatial-temporal trends could be 
valuable information to health authorities and policymakers responsible for 
monitoring and preventing addictions.

DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19116619
PMCID: PMC9180639
PMID: 35682204 [Indexed for MEDLINE]

Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare no conflict of interest.


3. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2020 Jul 2;86(14):e00373-20. doi:
10.1128/AEM.00373-20.  Print 2020 Jul 2.

Several Metarhizium Species Produce Ergot Alkaloids in a Condition-Specific 
Manner.

Leadmon CE(1), Sampson JK(1), Maust MD(1), Macias AM(1), Rehner SA(2), Kasson 
MT(1), Panaccione DG(3).

Author information:
(1)West Virginia University, Division of Plant and Soil Sciences, Morgantown, 
West Virginia, USA.
(2)Mycology and Nematology Genetic Diversity and Biology Laboratory, USDA-ARS, 
Beltsville, Maryland, USA.
(3)West Virginia University, Division of Plant and Soil Sciences, Morgantown, 
West Virginia, USA danpan@wvu.edu.

Genomic sequence data indicate that certain fungi in the genus Metarhizium have 
the capacity to produce lysergic acid-derived ergot alkaloids, but accumulation 
of ergot alkaloids in these fungi has not been demonstrated previously. We 
assayed several Metarhizium species grown under different conditions for 
accumulation of ergot alkaloids. Isolates of M. brunneum and M. anisopliae 
accumulated the lysergic acid amides lysergic acid α-hydroxyethyl amide, ergine, 
and ergonovine on sucrose-yeast extract agar but not on two other tested media. 
Isolates of six other Metarhizium species did not accumulate ergot alkaloids on 
sucrose-yeast extract agar. Conidia of M. brunneum lacked detectable ergot 
alkaloids, and mycelia of this fungus secreted over 80% of their ergot alkaloid 
yield into the culture medium. Isolates of M. brunneum, M. flavoviride, M. 
robertsii, M. acridum, and M. anisopliae produced high concentrations of ergot 
alkaloids in infected larvae of the model insect Galleria mellonella, but larvae 
infected with M. pingshaense, M. album, M. majus, and M. guizhouense lacked 
detectable ergot alkaloids. Alkaloid concentrations were significantly higher 
when insects were alive (as opposed to killed by freezing or gas) at the time of 
inoculation with M. brunneum Roots of corn and beans were inoculated with M. 
brunneum or M. flavoviride and global metabolomic analyses indicated that the 
inoculated roots were colonized, though no ergot alkaloids were detected. The 
data demonstrate that several Metarhizium species produce ergot alkaloids of the 
lysergic acid amide class and that production of ergot alkaloids is tightly 
regulated and associated with insect colonization.IMPORTANCE Our discovery of 
ergot alkaloids in fungi of the genus Metarhizium has agricultural and 
pharmaceutical implications. Ergot alkaloids produced by other fungi in the 
family Clavicipitaceae accumulate in forage grasses or grain crops; in this 
context they are considered toxins, though their presence also may deter or kill 
insect pests. Our data report ergot alkaloids in Metarhizium species and 
indicate a close association of ergot alkaloid accumulation with insect 
colonization. The lack of accumulation of alkaloids in spores of the fungi and 
in plants colonized by the fungi affirms the safety of using Metarhizium species 
as biocontrol agents. Ergot alkaloids produced by other fungi have been 
exploited to produce powerful pharmaceuticals. The class of ergot alkaloids 
discovered in Metarhizium species (lysergic acid amides) and their secretion 
into the growth medium make Metarhizium species a potential platform for future 
studies on ergot alkaloid synthesis and modification.

Copyright © 2020 American Society for Microbiology.

DOI: 10.1128/AEM.00373-20
PMCID: PMC7357478
PMID: 32385081 [Indexed for MEDLINE]


4. Anal Bioanal Chem. 2016 May;408(12):3093-102. doi: 10.1007/s00216-016-9322-5. 
Epub 2016 Feb 12.

Identification and determination of ergot alkaloids in Morning Glory cultivars.

Nowak J(1), Woźniakiewicz M(2), Klepacki P(3), Sowa A(1), Kościelniak P(1).

Author information:
(1)Laboratory for Forensic Chemistry, Department of Analytical Chemistry, 
Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Ingardena 3, 30-060, 
Kraków, Poland.
(2)Laboratory for Forensic Chemistry, Department of Analytical Chemistry, 
Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Ingardena 3, 30-060, 
Kraków, Poland. michal.wozniakiewicz@uj.edu.pl.
(3)Institute of Botany, Faculty of Biology and Earth Sciences, Jagiellonian 
University in Kraków, Kopernika 27, 31-501, Krakow, Poland.

Seeds of plants from Ipomoea genera contain numerous ergot alkaloids, including 
psychoactive ergine and ergometrine, and are often abused as so-called "legal 
highs." In this work, an analytical method for determination of ergine and 
ergometrine, and identification of other alkaloids was developed, optimized, and 
validated. Three extraction techniques, ultrasound-assisted extraction in bath, 
or with sonotrode, and microwave-assisted extraction were evaluated, and it was 
concluded that ultrasonic bath is the most suitable technique for extraction of 
ergot alkaloids. The extraction method was later optimized using a Doehlert 
experimental design with response surface methodology and used together with the 
optimized LC-Q-TOF-MS method. The analytical procedure was validated in terms of 
recovery and matrix effect, repeatability, and intermediate precision. Limits of 
detection and quantification were 1.0 and 3.0 ng mL(-1), respectively, and were 
sufficient for determination of ergot alkaloids in Ipomoea seeds. The analysis 
revealed that from five kinds of seeds purchased from different vendors, only 
three contained ergot alkaloids. Concentration of alkaloids and their relative 
abundance was similar in samples representative for whole seeds packs; however, 
when single seeds were analyzed, significant discrepancies in ergine and 
ergometrine concentrations were detected.

DOI: 10.1007/s00216-016-9322-5
PMCID: PMC4830885
PMID: 26873205 [Indexed for MEDLINE]


5. BMC Microbiol. 2015 Mar 28;15:73. doi: 10.1186/s12866-015-0407-7.

Rhodococcus erythropolis MTHt3 biotransforms ergopeptines to lysergic acid.

Thamhesl M(1), Apfelthaler E(2), Schwartz-Zimmermann HE(3), Kunz-Vekiru E(4), 
Krska R(5), Kneifel W(6), Schatzmayr G(7), Moll WD(8).

Author information:
(1)BIOMIN Research Center, Technopark 1, 3430, Tulln, Austria. 
michaela.thamhesl@biomin.net.
(2)Department for Agrobiotechnology (IFA-Tulln), Christian Doppler Laboratory 
for Mycotoxin Research, Center for Analytical Chemistry, University of Natural 
Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) Vienna, Konrad Lorenz Straße 20, 3430, Tulln, 
Austria. elisabeth.apfelthaler@gmx.at.
(3)Department for Agrobiotechnology (IFA-Tulln), Christian Doppler Laboratory 
for Mycotoxin Research, Center for Analytical Chemistry, University of Natural 
Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) Vienna, Konrad Lorenz Straße 20, 3430, Tulln, 
Austria. heidi.schwartz@boku.ac.at.
(4)Department for Agrobiotechnology (IFA-Tulln), Christian Doppler Laboratory 
for Mycotoxin Research, Center for Analytical Chemistry, University of Natural 
Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) Vienna, Konrad Lorenz Straße 20, 3430, Tulln, 
Austria. elisavet.vekiru@boku.ac.at.
(5)Department for Agrobiotechnology (IFA-Tulln), Christian Doppler Laboratory 
for Mycotoxin Research, Center for Analytical Chemistry, University of Natural 
Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) Vienna, Konrad Lorenz Straße 20, 3430, Tulln, 
Austria. rudolf.krska@boku.ac.at.
(6)Christian Doppler Laboratory for Innovative Bran Biorefinery, University of 
Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Muthgasse 18, 1190, Vienna, Austria. 
wolfgang.kneifel@boku.ac.at.
(7)BIOMIN Research Center, Technopark 1, 3430, Tulln, Austria. 
gerd.schatzmayr@biomin.net.
(8)BIOMIN Research Center, Technopark 1, 3430, Tulln, Austria. 
dieter.moll@biomin.net.

BACKGROUND: Ergopeptines are a predominant class of ergot alkaloids produced by 
tall fescue grass endophyte Neotyphodium coenophialum or cereal pathogen 
Claviceps purpurea. The vasoconstrictive activity of ergopeptines makes them 
toxic for mammals, and they can be a problem in animal husbandry.
RESULTS: We isolated an ergopeptine degrading bacterial strain, MTHt3, and 
classified it, based on its 16S rDNA sequence, as a strain of Rhodococcus 
erythropolis (Nocardiaceae, Actinobacteria). For strain isolation, mixed 
microbial cultures were obtained from artificially ergot alkaloid-enriched soil, 
and provided with the ergopeptine ergotamine in mineral medium for enrichment. 
Individual colonies derived from such mixed cultures were screened for 
ergotamine degradation by high performance liquid chromatography and 
fluorescence detection. R. erythropolis MTHt3 converted ergotamine to ergine 
(lysergic acid amide) and further to lysergic acid, which accumulated as an end 
product. No other tested R. erythropolis strain degraded ergotamine. R. 
erythropolis MTHt3 degraded all ergopeptines found in an ergot extract, namely 
ergotamine, ergovaline, ergocristine, ergocryptine, ergocornine, and ergosine, 
but the simpler lysergic acid derivatives agroclavine, chanoclavine, and 
ergometrine were not degraded. Temperature and pH dependence of ergotamine and 
ergine bioconversion activity was different for the two reactions.
CONCLUSIONS: Degradation of ergopeptines to ergine is a previously unknown 
microbial reaction. The reaction end product, lysergic acid, has no or much 
lower vasoconstrictive activity than ergopeptines. If the genes encoding enzymes 
for ergopeptine catabolism can be cloned and expressed in recombinant hosts, 
application of ergopeptine and ergine degrading enzymes for reduction of 
toxicity of ergot alkaloid-contaminated animal feed may be feasible.

DOI: 10.1186/s12866-015-0407-7
PMCID: PMC4411749
PMID: 25887091 [Indexed for MEDLINE]