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. Nat Prod Res. 2024 Nov 6:1-9. doi: 10.1080/14786419.2024.2425045. Online ahead of print. β-amyrin heptadecanoate, a new oleanane triterpenoid with α-glucosidase inhibitory and cytotoxic activities from the leaves of Averrhoa bilimbi L. Hoang LT(1)(2), Dong PS(3)(4), Nguyen VK(3)(4), Thao VTM(5), Ramadhan R(6)(7), Jutakanoke R(8), Sichaem J(9). Author information: (1)Laboratory of Advanced Materials Chemistry, Institute for Advanced Study in Technology, Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. (2)Faculty of Applied Sciences, Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. (3)Institute of Fundamental and Applied Sciences, Duy Tan University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. (4)Faculty of Natural Sciences, Duy Tan University, Da Nang, Vietnam. (5)Biotechnology Center of Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. (6)Division of Exploration and Synthesis of Bioactive Compounds (ESBC), CoE-University Research Center for Bio-Molecule Engineering (BIOME), Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia. (7)Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia. (8)Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Science, Naresuan University, Mueang, Phitsanulok, Thailand. (9)Research Unit in Natural Products Chemistry and Bioactivities, Faculty of Science and Technology, Thammasat University Lampang Campus, Lampang, Thailand. A previously unreported oleanane triterpenoid, β-amyrin heptadecanoate (1), was isolated from the leaves of Thai Averrhoa bilimbi (Oxalidaceae), along with five known compounds, β-amyrin (2), β-sitosterol (3), β-sitosterol-D-glucoside (4), β-sitosteryl oleate (5), and α-tocopherol (6). Their structures were elucidated through spectroscopic analysis, including extensive NMR and HRESIMS, and by comparison with the previous literature. All isolated compounds were evaluated for their α-glucosidase inhibitory and cytotoxic activities. Compound 6 exhibited the highest α-glucosidase inhibition (IC50 of 0.72 ± 1.02 µM), significantly outperforming the standard acarbose (IC50 of 82.00 ± 0.24 μM). Furthermore, compound 4 demonstrated the most potent cytotoxicity against HeLa cells (IC50 of 34.92 ± 0.45 μM), while compound 3 exhibited the strongest cytotoxicity towards A549 cells (IC50 of 9.17 ± 0.30 μM). Additionally, a molecular docking study was conducted on the active α-glucosidase inhibitors to estimate their binding affinities and to identify the ligand-binding sites within the enzyme. DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2024.2425045 PMID: 39506514 2. J Microbiol. 2024 Nov 6. doi: 10.1007/s12275-024-00174-5. Online ahead of print. Inhibition of Virulence Associated Traits by β-Sitosterol Isolated from Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Flowers Against Candida albicans: Mechanistic Insight and Molecular Docking Studies. Mohana P(1), Singh A(2), Rashid F(3), Singh S(3), Kaur K(2), Rana R(2), Bedi PMS(2), Bedi N(2), Kaur R(3), Arora S(3). Author information: (1)Department of Botanical and Environmental Sciences, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, 143005, India. psmohana468@gmail.com. (2)Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, 143005, India. (3)Department of Botanical and Environmental Sciences, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, 143005, India. The emerging drug resistance and lack of safer and more potent antifungal agents make Candida infections another hot topic in the healthcare system. At the same time, the potential of plant products in developing novel antifungal drugs is also in the limelight. Considering these facts, we have investigated the different extracts of the flowers of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis of the Malvaceae family for their antifungal efficacy against five different pathogenic Candida strains. Among the various extracts, the chloroform extract showed the maximum zone of inhibition (26.6 ± 0.5 mm) against the Candida albicans strain. Furthermore, the chloroform fraction was isolated, and a sterol compound was identified as β-sitosterol. Mechanistic studies were conducted to understand the mechanism of action, and the results showed that β-sitosterol has significant antifungal activity and is capable of interrupting biofilm formation and acts by inhibiting ergosterol biosynthesis in Candida albicans cells. Microscopic and molecular docking studies confirmed these findings. Overall, the study validates the antifungal efficacy of Candida albicans due to the presence of β-sitosterol which can act as an effective constituent for antifungal drug development individually or in combination. © 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Microbiological Society of Korea. DOI: 10.1007/s12275-024-00174-5 PMID: 39503955 3. Biomed Res Int. 2024 Oct 29;2024:2023620. doi: 10.1155/2024/2023620. eCollection 2024. A Comprehensive Review on Potential In Silico Screened Herbal Bioactive Compounds and Host Targets in the Cardiovascular Disease Therapy. Zarenezhad E(1), Hadi AT(2), Nournia E(3), Rostamnia S(4), Ghasemian A(1). Author information: (1)Noncommunicable Diseases Research Center, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran. (2)Womens Obstetrics & Gynecology Hospital, Ministry of Health, Al Samawah, Iraq. (3)Cardiology Department, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamedan, Iran. (4)Organic and Nano Group, Department of Chemistry, Iran University of Science and Technology, PO Box 16846-13114, Tehran, Iran. Herbal medicines (HMs) have deciphered indispensable therapeutic effects against cardiovascular disease (CVD) (the predominant cause of death worldwide). The conventional CVD therapy approaches have not been efficient and need alternative medicines. The objective of this study was a review of herbal bioactive compound efficacy for CVD therapy based on computational and in silico studies. HM bioactive compounds with potential anti-CVD traits include campesterol, naringenin, quercetin, stigmasterol, tanshinaldehyde, Bryophyllin A, Bryophyllin B, beta-sitosterol, punicalagin, butein, eriodyctiol, butin, luteolin, and kaempferol discovered using computational studies. Some of the bioactive compounds have exhibited therapeutic effects, as followed by in vitro (tanshinaldehyde, punicalagin, butein, eriodyctiol, and butin), in vivo (gallogen, luteolin, chebulic acid, butein, eriodyctiol, and butin), and clinical trials (quercetin, campesterol, and naringenin). The main mechanisms of action of bioactive compounds for CVD healing include cell signaling and inhibition of inflammation and oxidative stress, decrease of lipid accumulation, and regulation of metabolism and immune cells. Further experimental studies are required to verify the anti-CVD effects of herbal bioactive compounds and their pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic features. Copyright © 2024 Elham Zarenezhad et al. DOI: 10.1155/2024/2023620 PMCID: PMC11537750 PMID: 39502274 [Indexed for MEDLINE] Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare no conflicts of interest. 4. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2024 Oct;28(20):4420-4430. doi: 10.26355/eurrev_202410_36865. Molecular docking and dynamics simulation analysis of PDE5 inhibitor candidates for erectile dysfunction treatment. Akdogan N(1), Rawat R, Ozden T, Uzan F, Deger M, Yılmaz IO, Ates T, Arıdogan IA. Author information: (1)Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey. drtunahanates0101@gmail.com. OBJECTIVE: Molecular docking studies were conducted to assess the binding affinities of five potential inhibitor candidates [PDB (Protein Data Bank) ID: 6L6E] against Phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5), with Sildenafil used as the reference compound. The aim of this study is to reveal the potential inhibitory role of plant-derived compounds compared to Sildenafil, a PDE5 inhibitor. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Autodock Vina v. 1.2.5 software was used to dock the protein and each ligand individually. Molecular dynamics simulations assessed the binding affinity of two compounds to the Phosphodiesterase 5A1 (PDE5 A1) enzyme and were carried out using GROMACS 2022.2 RESULTS: Boesenbergin A exhibited the highest affinity at -8.8 kcal/mol, followed by Ginkolide B at -8.5 kcal/mol, Sildenafil at -8.1 kcal/mol, Montanol at -7.8 kcal/mol, Beta-sitosterol at -7.1 kcal/mol, and Eugenol acetate at -6.9 kcal/mol, ranked in descending order. As a result of molecular docking studies, molecular dynamic simulations were performed for Boesenbergin A, which has the highest affinity, and Sildenafil, which is the standard molecule. CONCLUSIONS: Among the two ligands tested, Boesenbergin A exhibited superior binding affinity, surpassing even the standard molecule, Sildenafil. This suggests their potential for modulating enzyme activity and potential relevance in erectile dysfunction treatment. DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_202410_36865 PMID: 39497585 [Indexed for MEDLINE] 5. J Ethnopharmacol. 2024 Nov 1;338(Pt 1):119021. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.119021. Online ahead of print. Unraveling the therapeutic potential of Astilbe rivularis Buch.-Ham. ex D. Don in attenuation of diabetic neuropathy in laboratory rats. Gupta T(1), Lal K(2), Singh R(3). Author information: (1)Department of Pharmacology, Central University of Punjab, Ghudda, Bathinda-151401, India. Electronic address: tanya.gupta.1998.tg@gmail.com. (2)Department of Pharmacology, Central University of Punjab, Ghudda, Bathinda-151401, India. Electronic address: k15lal1998@gmail.com. (3)Department of Pharmacology, Central University of Punjab, Ghudda, Bathinda-151401, India. Electronic address: randhir.singh@cup.edu.in. ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Astilbe rivularis Buch.-Ham. ex D. Don is a rare medicinal plant, traditionally employed for treating several disorders. The juice, decoction or powder of the roots, rhizomes, leaves and even the entire plant, are used for managing peptic ulcer, diarrhoea, jaundice, sprains and muscular swellings, bone fracture and dislocation of joints, postpartum bleeding and other menstrual disorders. These conventional medicinal uses make Astilbe rivularis a promising candidate for further research. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study was designed to explore the neuroprotective potential of hydroethanolic extract of Astilbe rivularis (ARHE) in diabetic neuropathy (DN) in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: GC-MS analysis was used to identify the phytoconstituents present in the plant extract. DN was induced by administration of STZ (55 mg/kg, i.p.), 15 min after NAD (230 mg/kg, i.p.) injection. The rats with fasting blood glucose (FBG) level >250 mg/dl were included in the study. DN was assessed by estimating the level of FBG, lipid profile, and invitro and invivo oxidative stress parameters. Additionally, behavioural parameters like, mechanical hyperalgesia, hot and cold allodynia were estimated to assess diabetic neuropathy. Furthermore, the level of antioxidant enzymes like SOD, GSH, and TBARS in sciatic nerve and inflammatory markers like, TGF-β and IL-6 were measured. RESULTS: Altogether, 30 phytoconstituents were identified including heptafluorobutyric acid, hexadecanoic acid, and beta-sitosterol depicting antioxidant, antidiabetic, and anticancer properties, respectively. Administration of different doses (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) of ARHE to diabetic rats attenuated elevated blood glucose level and restored lipid profile, body weight, food and water intake, and antioxidant level. Moreover, elevated level of inflammatory markers like, TGF-β and IL-6 was also found to be attenuated in sciatic nerve. Furthermore, ARHE attenuated the pain response assessed by mechanical hyperalgesia and hot and cold allodynia in diabetic neuropathy rats. ARHE also showed inhibitory activity on ALR enzyme and erythrocyte sorbitol accumulation, and ameliorated oxidative stress. Histopathological study indicated improvement in the architecture of sciatic nerve tissue in diabetic neuropathy rats with the treatment of ARHE. CONCLUSIONS: Conclusively, hydroethanolic extract of Astilbe rivularis exhibited neuroprotective potential and ameliorated diabetic neuropathy in rats. Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.119021 PMID: 39489357 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.