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. Forensic Sci Int. 2015 Apr;249:281-93. doi: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2015.02.011. Epub 2015 Feb 19. Studies on the alkaloid composition of the Hawaiian Baby Woodrose Argyreia nervosa, a common legal high. Paulke A(1), Kremer C(2), Wunder C(2), Wurglics M(3), Schubert-Zsilavecz M(3), Toennes SW(2). Author information: (1)Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Frankfurt/Main, Kennedyallee 104, D-60596 Frankfurt/Main, Germany. Electronic address: paulke@em.uni-frankfurt.de. (2)Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Frankfurt/Main, Kennedyallee 104, D-60596 Frankfurt/Main, Germany. (3)Institute for Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Frankfurt/Main, Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, D-60438 Frankfurt/Main, Germany. Seeds from the Hawaiian Baby Woodrose Argyreia nervosa of different origin and labelling and with allegedly high levels of ergot alkaloids were analysed using high performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (HPLC-HRMS/MS) technique. Lysergic acid amide (LSA), ergometrine, lysergol/elymoclavine/setoclavine, chanoclavine, lysergic acid and their respective stereoisomers were identified as well as penniclavine and lysergic acid α-hydroxyethylamide. In addition, methylergometrine, methysergide, and lysergylalanine were detected, some high molecular weight ergot alkaloid derivatives and hydroxyalanine derived ergopeptide fragments were detected indicating the presence of ergopeptides in the seeds. The results of the study demonstrate that the content of ergot alkaloids in Argyreia nervosa seeds depends on the quality of the material. For a consumer the quality of the seeds is unforeseeable. For the toxicological expert it is essential to investigate not only the identity of such a confiscated seed material, but also the various ergot alkaloid constituents to assess the hazardous nature and the toxic potential of the material. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2015.02.011 PMID: 25747328 [Indexed for MEDLINE] 2. J Anim Sci. 1995 Mar;73(3):871-80. doi: 10.2527/1995.733871x. Analysis of endophyte toxins: fescue and other grasses toxic to livestock. Porter JK(1). Author information: (1)Toxicology and Mycotoxin Research Unit, Richard B. Russell Agricultural Research Center, ARS, USDA, Athens, GA 30613, USA. Research on livestock toxicoses caused by Acremonium (endophyte)-infected grasses strongly implicate the ergopeptine alkaloids with A. coenophialum-infected fescue and paxilline and the lolitrem alkaloids with A. lolii-infected perennial ryegrass as the causative agents. Isolation, identification, and detection of these toxins involves extraction with appropriate solvents, clean-up procedures, and chromatographic methods with known standards. Thin-layer, high-performance liquid and gas chromatography along with ultraviolet and mass spectrometric (i.e., electron impact, chemical ionization, tandem mass) characterizations have been reported. These methods have varying degrees of success depending on the matrix from which the alkaloids have been extracted. Ergovaline is the primary ergopeptine alkaloid isolated from cultures of A. coenophialum and also from infected fescue grass and seeds toxic to livestock. Other compounds isolated from the endophyte-infected fescue include: lysergic acid amide (ergine), the clavine class of ergot alkaloids (chanoclavine I, agroclavine, elymoclavine, penniclavine), the pyrrolizidine alkaloids (N-formylloline, N-acetylloline, N-methyloline, N-acetylnorloline), and the unique pyrrolopyrazine alkaloid peramine. The loline alkaloids and peramine have been more associated with the insect-deterrent properties of the endophyte-infected fescue than with livestock toxicoses. Also, both peramine and the ergopeptine alkaloids (ergovaline, ergotamine) have been isolated from A. lolii-infected perennial ryegrass. More recently, paxilline and lolitrem B have been detected in laboratory cultures of A. coenophialum isolated from tall fescue. The ergot alkaloids in endophyte-infected perennial ryegrass may be more related to decreased animal productivity (weight gains, reproduction problems), whereas the lolitrems cause the staggers syndrome. The detection, isolation, identification, and analyses of these compounds from Acremonium-infected grasses is presented. DOI: 10.2527/1995.733871x PMID: 7608022 [Indexed for MEDLINE] 3. J Gen Microbiol. 1979 Jul;113(1):119-26. doi: 10.1099/00221287-113-1-119. Laboratory production of ergot alkaloids by species of balansia. Bacon CW, Porter JK, Robbins JD. Four species of Balansia (clavicipitaceous systemic grass pathogens) isolated from pastures where cattle showed signs of ergot toxicity were grown in culture. Balansia epichloë, one isolate of B. claviceps, B. henningsiana and two isolates of B. strangulans produced conidia in submerged culture during the first stage of a two-stage fermentation procedure. When tranferred to a glucose/sorbitol/inorganic salts medium during the second stage, these four species produced ergot alkaloids in stationary cultures. The transfer of fungi cultured in the first medium to the second medium was necessary for alkaloid biosynthesis. One isolate of B. claviceps did not produce alkaloids. Balansia epichloë produced chanoclavine (I), agroclavine, penniclavine, elymoclavine, ergonovine and ergonovinine. Balansia claviceps produced chanoclavine (I), ergonovine and ergonovinine. This is the first report of isolating ergonovine and ergonovinine, two lysergic acid derivatives, from fungi outside the genus Claviceps. Only chanoclavine (I) was identified from extracts of B. strangulans and B. henningsiana. Chanoclavine (I) and ergonovine were identified from smut grass (Sporobolus poiretii) parasitized by B. epichloë, indicating that this endophyte produces alkaloids both in vivo and in vitro. DOI: 10.1099/00221287-113-1-119 PMID: 501329 [Indexed for MEDLINE] 4. Science. 1965 Apr 23;148(3669):499-500. doi: 10.1126/science.148.3669.499. Ergoline Alkaloids in Tropical Wood Roses. Hylin JW, Watson DP. Extracts of Argyreia nervosa, a tropical wood rose, contain appreciable quantities of ergoline alkaloids tentatively identified as ergine isoergine, and penniclavine together with related substances. DOI: 10.1126/science.148.3669.499 PMID: 17842841