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. Molecules. 2024 Oct 15;29(20):4886. doi: 10.3390/molecules29204886. Simultaneous Qualitative and Quantitative Analyses of 41 Constituents in Uvaria macrophylla Leaves Screen Antioxidant Quality-Markers Using Database-Affinity Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with Quadrupole Orbitrap Tandem Mass Spectrometry. Xu X(1), Li X(2), Chen S(2), Liang Y(2), Zhang C(3), Huang Y(2). Author information: (1)College of Pharmacy, Gansu Medical University, Pingliang 744000, China. (2)School of Chinese Herbal Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, China. (3)School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610075, China. To date, no study has focused on Uvaria macrophylla leaves with various traditional efficiencies. This paper therefore applied a database affinity ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography with quadrupole Orbitrap tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS/MS) strategy to analyze the lyophilized aqueous extract of U. macrophylla leaves. Through database comparison and MS fragment elucidation, this study has putatively identified 41 constituents belonging to flavonoid, phenolic acid, steroid, and saccharide natural product classifications. Significantly, four groups of isomers (liquiritigenin vs. isoliquiritigenin vs. pinocembrin; oroxylin A vs. wogonin vs. galangin 3-methyl ether; isoquercitrin vs. hyperoside; protocatechuic acid vs. 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid) have been successfully distinguished from each other. All of 41 constituents were then subjected to a quantitative analysis based on linear regression equation established by the above UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS/MS strategy and an ABTS+•-scavenging antioxidant assay. Finally, the chemical content was multiplied by the corresponding ABTS+•-scavenging percentage to calculate the antioxidant contribution. It was shown that the chemical contents of 41 constituents varied from 0.003 ± 0.000 to 14.418 ± 1.041 mg/g, and gallic acid showed the highest antioxidant contribution. Gallic acid is considered as a suitable antioxidant quality-marker (Q-marker) of U. macrophylla leaves. These findings have scientific implications for the resource development and quality control of U. macrophylla leaves. DOI: 10.3390/molecules29204886 PMCID: PMC11510267 PMID: 39459254 [Indexed for MEDLINE] Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare that they have no competing interests. 2. Rapid Commun Mass Spectrom. 2025 Jan 15;39(1):e9927. doi: 10.1002/rcm.9927. MALDI versus DESI mass spectrometry imaging of lipids in atherosclerotic plaque. Slijkhuis N(1), Towers M(2), Claude E(2), van Soest G(1)(3)(4). Author information: (1)Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Institute, Thorax Center, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. (2)Waters Corporation, Wilmslow, UK. (3)Department of Precision and Microsystems Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands. (4)Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) is a powerful tool for detecting lipids in tissue sections, with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) and desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) as its key ionization techniques. In this study, we examine how MALDI compares with state-of-the-art DESI ionization in identifying lipids in heterogeneous samples, specifically atherosclerotic plaques. Carotid plaques (n = 4) from patients undergoing endarterectomy were snap-frozen, stored at -80°C, and then sectioned for MSI analysis and H&E staining. Measurements were conducted using a SYNAPT XS mass spectrometer in positive ion mode, employing MALDI with a 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHB) matrix and DESI with a methanol: water (98:2) (v/v) solvent. Our comparison covered spectral profiles, sensitivity, and image quality generated by these two techniques. We found that both MALDI and DESI are highly suitable techniques for detecting a wide range of lipids in atherosclerotic plaque sections. DESI-MSI exhibited higher ion counts for most lipid classes than MALDI-MSI and provided sharper images. MALDI detected larger amounts of ceramide and hexosylceramide species, possibly due to its efficient generation of dehydrated ions. In contrast, DESI showed greater peak intensities of cholesteryl ester and triacylglyceride species than MALDI, consistent with reduced fragmentation. These findings establish the relative merits of DESI and MALDI and demonstrate their complementarity as techniques for lipid research in MSI. © 2024 The Author(s). Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. DOI: 10.1002/rcm.9927 PMID: 39435741 [Indexed for MEDLINE] 3. Nat Prod Res. 2024 Oct 15:1-12. doi: 10.1080/14786419.2024.2415437. Online ahead of print. Exploring the bioactivity potential of indigenous Ganoderma species from Northern Serbia: insights into antioxidant and anti-acetylcholinesterase properties. Rašeta M(1)(2), Mišković J(2), Krsmanović N(2), Čapelja E(2), Berežni S(1), Pintać Šarac D(3), Karaman M(2). Author information: (1)Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia. (2)ProFungi Laboratory, Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia. (3)Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia. This study explores the bioactivity potential of four indigenous Ganoderma species from northern Serbia (G. applanatum, G. lucidum, G. pfeifferi, and G. resinaceum), comparing antioxidant and anti-acetylcholinesterase (anti-AChE) properties. The mycochemical profile, including ethanol (EtOH), water (H2O), and chloroform (CHCl3) extracts, was analysed, revealing significant phenolic compounds, such as 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid. Highest total phenolic content (TP) was in EtOH extracts (205 - 380 mg GAE/g d.w.), and total carbohydrate content peaked in G. pfeifferi CHCl3 extracts (1895 ± 0.29 mg GluE/g d.w., 439 ± 0.42 mg FruE/g d.w.). DPPH and FRAP activities were prominent in G. applanatum H2O extracts, while CHCl3 extracts excelled in the NO assay, and EtOH extracts were superior in the ABTS assay. The most effective AChE inhibitors were polar extracts from G. pfeifferi. These findings emphasise the potential therapeutic use of Ganoderma species, particularly G. pfeifferi, in combating oxidative stress and acetylcholine deficiencies. DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2024.2415437 PMID: 39404345 4. Anal Chem. 2024 Oct 15;96(41):16145-16153. doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.4c02555. Epub 2024 Oct 3. 2-Nitro-4-Carboxyphenylhydrazine and 2,4-Dicarboxylphenylhydrazine as a Pair of Novel Reactive MALDI Matrices for Rapid and Accurate Profiling of N-Glycome in Dual Ion Modes. Liao J(1), Wang H(2), Zhou S(1), Feng H(1), Liu Y(1), Zhao X(3), Pan Y(1). Author information: (1)Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, People's Republic of China. (2)Analysis Center of Agrobiology and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, People's Republic of China. (3)College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, People's Republic of China. N-glycosylation is closely linked to a wide range of biological functions in organisms. Owing to the constriction of awful crystals formed by conventional MALDI matrices and the extremely inferior ionization efficiency of N-glycans, the traditional direct detection of N-glycans by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) has been gradually replaced by postderivatization detection using reactive matrices. Nevertheless, the laborious identification of complex spectral peaks remains the major difficulty in N-glycan profiling. Hence, we logically designed and synthesized two novel reactive matrices, 2-nitro-4-carboxylphenylhydrazine (NCPH) and 2,4-dicarboxylphenylhydrazine (DCPH), and separately combined them with the acidic matrix 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHB) to constitute two composite matrices with high on-target derivatization efficiency and significant promotion of N-glycan ionization for productive MALDI analysis in dual ion modes. Using both composite matrices, we can actualize MALDI-MS and MS2 mass calibration in dual ion modes by postderivatization detection and fragmentation of dextrans and selectively enhance the ionization effect of oligosaccharides in mixed systems. Quite homogeneous cocrystals can ensure N-glycan quantification with decent linearity and reproducibility. A fixed mass difference derived from the identical N-glycan in two ion modes is available for rapid identification in complex biological samples. Ultimately, the developed strategy was triumphantly employed to identify and quantify the relative content and alteration tendency of peach N-glycans, which can be referable to the latent correlation between N-glycan expression and peach ripening. DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.4c02555 PMID: 39361878 [Indexed for MEDLINE] 5. Front Pharmacol. 2024 Sep 2;15:1390551. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1390551. eCollection 2024. Sanguisorba officinalis L. ethanolic extracts and essential oil - chemical composition, antioxidant potential, antibacterial activity, and ex vivo skin permeation study. Muzykiewicz-Szymańska A(1), Nowak A(1), Kucharska E(2), Cybulska K(3), Klimowicz A(1), Kucharski Ł(1). Author information: (1)Department of Cosmetic and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Health Sciences, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland. (2)Department of Chemical Organic Technology and Polymeric Materials, Faculty of Chemical Technology and Engineering, West Pomeranian University of Technology, Szczecin, Poland. (3)Department of Bioengineering, Faculty of Environmental Management and Agriculture, West Pomeranian University of Technology, Szczecin, Poland. INTRODUCTION: Sanguisorba officinalis L. is classified as a medicinal plant and used in traditional medicine. The root of this plant is mainly used as a medicinal raw material, but the above-ground parts are also a valuable source of health-promoting biologically active compounds. METHOD: The study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant activity and total polyphenol content (TPC) of extracts prepared in 70% and 40% aqueous ethanol solution (dry extract content 50-500 g/L) from the aerial parts of S. officinalis. The essential oil was isolated from the tested raw material, and its composition was determined using GC-MS. Ethanolic extracts and essential oil have been tested for antibacterial activity. The extract in 70% v/v ethanol (dry extract content: 500 g/L) was subjected to HPLC analysis for the content of selected phenolic acids and an ex vivo skin permeation study. The ability of these metabolites to permeate and accumulate in the skin was analysed. RESULTS: Extracts prepared at both ethanol concentrations showed similar antioxidant activity and TPC. Depending on the method, concentration of solvent, and dry extract content (50-500 g/L), the activity ranged from 1.97 to 84.54 g Trolox/L. TPC range of 3.80-37.04 g GA/L. Gallic acid (424 mg/L) and vanillic acid (270 mg/L) had the highest concentrations among the phenolic acids analysed. Vanillic acid (10 μg) permeates the skin at the highest concentration. The highest accumulation in the skin was found for 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (53 μg/g skin), 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid (45 μg/g skin), and gallic acid (45 μg/g skin). The tested ethanolic extracts exhibited antibacterial activity. Samples with a dry extract concentration of 500 g/L showed the largest growth inhibition zones. The most sensitive strains to these extracts were P. aeruginosa (24 mm), S. lutea (23 mm), and S. pneumoniae (22 mm). The smallest inhibition zones were observed for B. subtilis (17 mm). The essential oil showed weaker antimicrobial activity (growth inhibition zone 8-10 mm). The GC-MS method identified 22 major components of the essential oil, including aliphatic hydrocarbons, unsaturated terpene alcohols, aliphatic aldehydes, unsaturated and saturated fatty acids, sesquiterpene, phytyl ester of linoleic acid, nitrogen compound, phytosterol, terpene ketone, phenylpropanoids, aliphatic alcohol, diterpenoid, aromatic aldehyde, and aliphatic carboxylic acid. DISCUSSION: The conducted research has shown that ethanolic extracts from Sanguisorbae herba are a valuable source of compounds with antibacterial and antioxidant potential, including phenolic acids. The fact that selected phenolic acids contained in the tested extract have the ability to permeate and accumulate in the skin provides the basis for conducting extended research on the use of extracts from this plant raw material in cosmetic and pharmaceutical preparations applied to the skin. Copyright © 2024 Muzykiewicz-Szymańska, Nowak, Kucharska, Cybulska, Klimowicz and Kucharski. DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1390551 PMCID: PMC11402713 PMID: 39286626 Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.