Psychoactive Plant Database - Neuroactive Phytochemical Collection

1. An Acad Bras Cienc. 2024 Apr 8;96(1):e20230539. doi: 
10.1590/0001-3765202420230539. eCollection 2024.

Green manure (Crotalaria juncea L.) enhances Origanum vulgare L. biomass 
accumulation, essential oil yield, and phytochemical properties.

Assis RMA(1), Santos JPD(2), Honorato ADC(2), Rocha JPM(2), Carvalho AA(1), 
Bertolucci SKV(2), Pinto JEBP(1).

Author information:
(1)Universidade Federal de Lavras, Departamento de Agricultura, Laboratório de 
Cultura de Tecidos Vegetais e Plantas Medicinais, Trevo rotatório Professor 
Edmir Sá Santos, s/n, Campus universitário, Caixa Postal 3037, 37203-202 Lavras, 
MG, Brazil.
(2)Universidade Federal de Lavras, Departamento de Agricultura, Laboratório de 
Fitoquímica e Plantas Medicinais, Trevo rotatório professor Edmir Sá Santos, 
s/n, Campus universitário, Caixa Postal 3037, 37203-202 Lavras, MG, Brazil.

Green manure (GM) may reduce the use of chemical fertilizers, been an 
ecologically appropriate strategy to cultivation of medicinal plants. Crotalaria 
juncea, is one of the most used because it adapts to different climatic and high 
nitrogen content. Origanum vulgare. is widely used in cooking, pharmaceutical, 
cosmetic industries and food products. The objectives of this study were to 
evaluate the GM on biomass, essential oil (EO), phenolic and antioxidant. The 
experiment consisted: control; 150, 300, 450, and 600 g (Sh= leaves+steam) more 
200 g roots (R); 600 g aerial part; 200 g roots; and soil with 300 g cattle 
manure per pot. The highest dry weights were observed in the presence of GM and 
cattle manure (90 days). The control had an EO production 75% lower in relation 
to the dose of 450 g GM (Sh+R). Principal component analysis showed that GM and 
cattle manure positively influenced the dry weight, content, yield, and EO 
constituents, and total flavonoids. The GM contributed to the accumulation of 
the major EO compounds (trans-sabinene hydrate, thymol, terpinen-4-ol). The GM 
management may be beneficial for cultivating, because it can increase the 
production of biomass and the active components, in addition to being an 
inexpensive resource.

DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765202420230539
PMID: 38597500 [Indexed for MEDLINE]


2. Molecules. 2023 Mar 29;28(7):3044. doi: 10.3390/molecules28073044.

Microbiological Studies on the Influence of Essential Oils from Several Origanum 
Species on Respiratory Pathogens.

Piasecki B(1), Balázs VL(2), Kieltyka-Dadasiewicz A(3), Szabó P(4), Kocsis B(5), 
Horváth G(2), Ludwiczuk A(1).

Author information:
(1)Department of Pharmacognosy with the Medicinal Plant Garden, Medical 
University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland.
(2)Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Pécs, 7624 
Pécs, Hungary.
(3)Department of Plant Production Technology and Commodity, University of Life 
Sciences in Lublin, 20-950 Lublin, Poland.
(4)Institute of Geography and Earth Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of 
Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary.
(5)Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Medical School, University 
of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary.

Essential oils (EOs) with established and well-known activities against human 
pathogens might become new therapeutics in multidrug-resistant bacterial 
infections, including respiratory tract infections. The aim of this study was to 
evaluate the antimicrobial activity of EOs obtained from several samples of 
Origanum vulgare, O. syriacum, and O. majorana cultivated in Poland. EOs were 
analyzed by GC-MS and tested against four bacterial strains: Staphylococcus 
aureus (MRSA), Haemophilus influenzae, Haemophilus parainfluenzae, and 
Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Chemical analyses showed that the Eos were characterized 
by a high diversity in composition. Based on the chemical data, four chemotypes 
of Origanum EOs were confirmed. These were carvacrol, terpineol/sabinene 
hydrate, caryophyllene oxide, and thymol chemotypes. Thin-layer 
chromatography-bioautography confirmed the presence of biologically active 
antibacterial components in all tested EOs. The highest number of active spots 
were found among EOs with cis-sabinene hydrate as the major compound. On the 
other hand, the largest spots of inhibition were characteristic to EOs of the 
carvacrol chemotype. Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were evaluated for 
the most active EOs: O. vulgare 'Hirtum', O. vulgare 'Margarita', O. vulgare 
'Hot & Spicy', O. majorana, and O. syriacum (I) and (II); it was shown that both 
Haemophilus strains were the most sensitive with an MIC value of 0.15 mg/mL for 
all EOs. O. majorana EO was also the most active in the MIC assay and had the 
highest inhibitory rate in the anti-biofilm assay against all strains. The most 
characteristic components present in this EO were the trans-sabinene hydrate and 
terpinen-4-ol. The strain with the least sensitivity was the MRSA with an MIC of 
0.6 mg/mL for all EOs except for O. majorana, where the MIC value reached 0.3 
mg/mL. Scanning electron microscopy performed on the Haemophilus influenzae and 
Haemophilus parainfluenzae biofilms showed a visible decrease in the appearance 
of bacterial clusters under the influence of O. majorana EO.

DOI: 10.3390/molecules28073044
PMCID: PMC10096388
PMID: 37049808 [Indexed for MEDLINE]

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


3. Biomed Res Int. 2022 Jul 26;2022:5218950. doi: 10.1155/2022/5218950.
eCollection  2022.

Phytochemical Analysis and Antioxidant, Antibacterial, and Antifungal Effects of 
Essential Oil of Black Caraway (Nigella sativa L.) Seeds against Drug-Resistant 
Clinically Pathogenic Microorganisms.

Zouirech O(1), Alyousef AA(2), El Barnossi A(3), El Moussaoui A(3), Bourhia 
M(4), Salamatullah AM(5), Ouahmane L(4), Giesy JP(6)(7), Aboul-Soud MAM(2), 
Lyoussi B(1), Derwich E(1)(8).

Author information:
(1)Laboratory of Natural Substances, Pharmacology, Environment, Modeling, Health 
and Quality of Life (SNAMOPEQ), Faculty of Sciences Dhar El Mahraz, University 
Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah, Fez, Morocco.
(2)Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical 
Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 10219, Riyadh 11433, Saudi Arabia.
(3)Laboratory of Biotechnology, Environment, Agrifood, and Health, Faculty of 
Sciences Dhar El Mahraz, University of Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah, Fez 30050, 
Morocco.
(4)Laboratory of Microbial Biotechnology, Agro-Sciences and Environment 
(BioMAgE), Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakesh 40000, Morocco.
(5)Department of Food Science & Nutrition, College of Food and Agricultural 
Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2460, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.
(6)Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences & Toxicology Centre, University 
of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada S7N5B3.
(7)Department of Environmental Science, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76798-7266, 
USA.
(8)Unity of GC/MS and GC-FID, City of Innovation, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdallah 
University, Fez, Morocco.

Nigella sativa (NS) is a plant that has long been utilized in traditional 
medicine as a treatment for certain diseases. The aim of this work was to 
valorize the essential oil (EO) of this species by phytochemical analysis and 
antimicrobial and antioxidant evaluation. EO was extracted by hydrodistillation 
from the seeds of Nigella sativa (EO-NS). Phytochemical content of EO-NS was 
evaluated by use of gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS). 
Antioxidant ability was in vitro determined by use of three assays: 
2.2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), ferric reducing power (FRAP), and total 
antioxidant capacity (TAC) relative to two synthetic antioxidants: BHT and 
quercetin. Antimicrobial effect was evaluated against four clinically important 
bacterial strains (Staphylococcus aureus, ATCC 6633; Escherichia coli, K12; 
Bacillus subtilis, DSM 6333; and Proteus mirabilis, ATCC 29906) and against four 
fungal strains (Candida albicans, ATCC 10231; Aspergillus niger, MTCC 282; 
Aspergillus flavus, MTCC 9606; and Fusarium oxysporum, MTCC 9913). Fifteen 
constituents that accounted for the majority of the mass of the EO-NS were 
identified and quantified by use of GC-MSMS. The main component was O-cymene 
(37.82%), followed by carvacrol (17.68%), α-pinene (10.09%), trans-sabinene 
hydrate (9.90%), and 4-terpineol (7.15%). EO-NS exhibited significant 
antioxidant activity with IC50, EC50, and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of 
0.017 ± 0.0002, 0.1196 ± 0.012, and 114.059 ± 0.97 mg EAA/g, respectively. 
Additionally, EO-NS exhibited promising antibacterial activity on all strains 
under investigation, especially on E. coli K12 resulting in inhibition diameter 
of 38.67 ± 0.58 mm and a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 1.34 ± 
0.00 μg/mL. Also, EO-NS had significant antifungal efficacy, with a percentage 
of inhibition of 67.45 ± 2.31% and MIC of 2.69 ± 0.00 μg/mL against F. 
oxysporum, MTCC 9913 and with a diameter of inhibition 42 ± 0.00 mm and MIC of 
0.67 ± 0.00 μg/mL against C. albicans. To minimize development of 
antibiotic-resistant bacteria, EO-NS can be utilized as a natural, alternative 
to synthetic antibiotics and antioxidants to treat free radicals implicated in 
microbial infection-related inflammatory reactions.

Copyright © 2022 Otmane Zouirech et al.

DOI: 10.1155/2022/5218950
PMCID: PMC9363207
PMID: 35958807 [Indexed for MEDLINE]

Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare that they have no conflict 
of interest.


4. Plants (Basel). 2022 May 27;11(11):1432. doi: 10.3390/plants11111432.

Antimicrobial, Multidrug Resistance Reversal and Biofilm Formation Inhibitory 
Effect of Origanum majorana Extracts, Essential Oil and Monoterpenes.

Ghazal TSA(1), Schelz Z(2), Vidács L(1), Szemerédi N(3), Veres K(1), Spengler 
G(3), Hohmann J(1)(4).

Author information:
(1)Department of Pharmacognosy, University of Szeged, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary.
(2)Department of Pharmacodynamics and Biopharmacy, University of Szeged, H-6720 
Szeged, Hungary.
(3)Department of Medical Microbiology, Albert Szent-Györgyi Health Center and 
Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, University of Szeged, Semmelweis utca 6, 
H-6725 Szeged, Hungary.
(4)Interdisciplinary Centre for Natural Products, University of Szeged, Eötvös 
u. 6, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary.

Origanum majorana L. is a widely used medicinal plant; its distilled oil and 
preparations are extensively utilised in the phytotherapy and food industries. 
The objective of this study is to evaluate the extracts and the essential oil 
(EO) of Origanum majorana L, and its monoterpenes for antimicrobial, bacterial 
multidrug resistance reversing, and biofilm formation inhibitory potency. The 
composition of EO and n-hexane extract was characterized by GC-MS. In the 
essential oil terpinen-4-ol (24.92%), trans-sabinene hydrate (25.18%), 
γ-terpinene (6.48%), cis-sabinene hydrate (5.44%), p-cymene (4.72%), sabinene 
(4.53%), α-terpineol (4.43%), and α-terpinene (3.00%) were found as the main 
constituents while trans-sabinene hydrate (1.43%), and terpinen-4-ol (0.19%) 
were detected in the n-hexane extract besides a series of hydrocarbons. The 
antibacterial activity of EO and terpinen-4-ol, α-terpinene, and linalool was 
also assessed against sensitive and drug-resistant S. aureus, and E. coli 
strains with MIC values of 0.125-0.250% and 30-61 µM, respectively. In the 
efflux pump (EP) inhibitory assay, made by the ethidium bromide accumulation 
method in E. coli ATCC 25922, and AG100 and S. aureus ATCC 25923, and MRSA ATCC 
43300 strains, EO exhibited substantial activity, especially in the E. coli ATCC 
25922 strain. Among the EO constituents, only sabinene was an EP inhibitor in 
sensitive Escherichia strain. In the case of S. aureus strains, EO and sabinene 
hydrate exhibited moderate potency on the drug-resistant phenotype. The 
antibiofilm effects of the samples were tested by crystal violet staining at 
sub-MIC concentration. γ-Terpinene, terpinen-4-ol, sabinene, sabinene hydrate 
and linalool were found to be effective inhibitors of biofilm formation 
(inhibition 36-86%) on E. coli ATCC 25922 and S. aureus MRSA ATCC 43300, while 
EO was ineffective on these strains. In contrast to this, biofilms formed by E. 
coli AG100 and S. aureus ATCC 25923 were significantly inhibited by the EO; 
however, it was not affected by any of the monoterpenes. This observation 
suggests that the antibiofilm effect might be altered by the synergism between 
the components of the essential oil.

DOI: 10.3390/plants11111432
PMCID: PMC9183178
PMID: 35684205

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


5. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem. 2022 Dec;37(1):1610-1619. doi: 
10.1080/14756366.2022.2081846.

GC/MS analysis and potential synergistic effect of mandarin and marjoram oils on 
Helicobacter pylori.

Elkousy RH(1), Mostafa NM(2), Abd-Alkhalek AM(3), El Hassab MA(4), Al-Rashood 
ST(5), Eldehna WM(6)(7), Eldahshan OA(2)(8).

Author information:
(1)Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy (for Girls), Al-Azhar 
University, Cairo, Egypt.
(2)Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, 
Cairo, Egypt.
(3)Faculty of Medicine (for Boys), Al Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt.
(4)Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Salman 
International University (KSIU), Ras Sedr, Egypt.
(5)Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, King Saud 
University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
(6)School of Biotechnology, Badr University in Cairo, Badr City, Egypt.
(7)Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kafrelsheikh 
University, Kafrelsheikh, Egypt.
(8)Center for Drug Discovery Research and Development, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain 
Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.

Helicobacter pylori can cause chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer, and gastric 
carcinoma. This study compares chemical composition and anti-H. pylori activity 
of mandarin leaves and marjoram herb essential oils, and their combined oil. 
GC/MS analysis of mandarin oil revealed six compounds (100% identified), mainly 
methyl-N-methyl anthranilate (89.93%), and 13 compounds (93.52% identified) of 
marjoram oil, mainly trans-sabinene hydrate (36.11%), terpinen-4-ol (17.97%), 
linalyl acetate (9.18%), and caryophyllene oxide (8.25%)). Marjoram oil (MIC = 
11.40 µg/mL) demonstrated higher activity than mandarin oil (MIC = 31.25 µg/mL). 
The combined oil showed a synergistic effect at MIC of 1.95 µg/mL (same as 
clarithromycin). In-silico molecular docking on H. pylori urease, CagA, 
pharmacokinetic and toxicity studies were performed on major compounds from both 
oils. The best scores were for caryophyllene oxide then linalyl acetate and 
methyl-N-methyl anthranilate. Compounds revealed high safety and desirable 
properties. The combined oil can be an excellent candidate to manage H. pylori.

DOI: 10.1080/14756366.2022.2081846
PMCID: PMC9176704
PMID: 35642325 [Indexed for MEDLINE]

Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare that they do not have any 
conflict of financial interests or personal relationships that could influence 
the reported work.