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. Metallomics. 2024 Nov 5:mfae049. doi: 10.1093/mtomcs/mfae049. Online ahead of print. Iron-sulfur cluster-dependent enzymes and molybdenum-dependent reductases in the anaerobic metabolism of human gut microbes. Zahn LE(1), Gannon PM(1), Rajakovich LJ(1). Author information: (1)Department of Chemistry, University of Washington-Seattle, United States. Metalloenzymes play central roles in the anaerobic metabolism of human gut microbes. They facilitate redox and radical-based chemistry that enables microbial degradation and modification of various endogenous, dietary, and xenobiotic nutrients in the anoxic gut environment. In this review, we highlight major families of iron-sulfur (Fe-S) cluster-dependent enzymes and molybdenum cofactor-containing enzymes used by human gut microbes. We describe the metabolic functions of 2-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydratases, glycyl radical enzyme activating enzymes, Fe-S cluster-dependent flavoenzymes, U32 oxidases, and molybdenum-dependent reductases and catechol dehydroxylases in the human gut microbiota. We demonstrate widespread distribution and prevalence of these metalloenzyme families across 5000 human gut microbial genomes. Lastly, we discuss opportunities for metalloenzyme discovery in the human gut microbiota to reveal new chemistry and biology in this important community. © The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press. DOI: 10.1093/mtomcs/mfae049 PMID: 39504489 2. Biomater Adv. 2024 Oct 29;167:214090. doi: 10.1016/j.bioadv.2024.214090. Online ahead of print. Development and in vitro assessment of injectable, adhesive, and self-healing chitosan-based hydrogels for treatment of spinal cord injury. Correia C(1), Peixoto D(1), Soares da Costa D(1), Reis RL(1), Pashkuleva I(1), Alves NM(2). Author information: (1)3B's Research Group, I3Bs - Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, Barco, 4805-017 Guimarães, Portugal; ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal. (2)3B's Research Group, I3Bs - Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, Barco, 4805-017 Guimarães, Portugal; ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal. Electronic address: nalves@i3bs.uminho.pt. Injured spinal cords have a limited ability to regenerate because of the inhibitory environment formed in situ that affects neuronal regrow. Ensuring stable contact between the injuried nerves to support neural regeneration in the lesion microenvironment remains a significant challenge. To address this challenge, we have engineered a new injectable and adhesive hydrogel to treat spinal cord injuries. This hydrogel was produced by functionalizing chitosan with catechol groups and crosslinking it with different amounts of β-glycerophosphate to obtain adhesive hydrogels with tunable mechanical properties. The softest hydrogel (G' ~ 300 Pa) demonstrated strong adhesion to different biological soft tissues, including porcine skin (adhesion strength of 3.4 ± 0.9 kPa) and spinal cord, as well as injectability and self-healing abilities, making it ideal for a minimally invasive administration in difficult-to-reach areas. Additionally, this composition promoted the attachment, viability, proliferation, and the expression of neuronal marker β-III tubulin (Tuj-1) by the neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. Moreover, SH-SY5Y cells cultured on the hydrogel modulated its mechanical properties (G' ~ 3500 Pa). In summary, we propose a material that is compatible with different therapies for soft tissue healing, including repairing injured nerve tissue. Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. DOI: 10.1016/j.bioadv.2024.214090 PMID: 39500150 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. 3. CNS Neurosci Ther. 2024 Nov;30(11):e70094. doi: 10.1111/cns.70094. Muscle Weakness in an Adult With 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome. Wang CC(1)(2), Zhou Y(1), Li XL(1)(2), Du T(1)(2), Duan RS(1)(2). Author information: (1)Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Jinan, Shandong, China. (2)Shandong Institute of Neuroimmunology, Jinan, Shandong, China. This case report provides the first evidence that coenzyme Q10 may improve muscle weakness in patients with 22q11.2DS. The patient's genetic copy number deletion mutation region mainly contains COMT, PRODH functional genes related with mitochondria dynamics. The level of L-arginine was significantly increased after treatment by coenzyme Q10 in serum. © 2024 The Author(s). CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. DOI: 10.1111/cns.70094 PMCID: PMC11534444 PMID: 39496467 [Indexed for MEDLINE] Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare no conflicts of interest. 4. World J Microbiol Biotechnol. 2024 Nov 4;40(12):377. doi: 10.1007/s11274-024-04178-6. Bioremediation by Brevibacterium sediminis: a prospective pyrene degrading agent to eliminate environmental polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Karmakar M(1), Jana D(1), Manna T(1), Mitra M(2), Guchhait KC(1), Dey S(1)(3), Raul P(1)(3), Jana S(4), Roy S(4), Baitalik A(5), Ghosh K(6), Panda AK(2), Ghosh C(7). Author information: (1)Department of Human Physiology, Vidyasagar University, Midnapore, 721102, West Bengal, India. (2)Department of Chemistry, Vidyasagar University, Midnapore, 721102, West Bengal, India. (3)Centre for Life Sciences, Vidyasagar University, Midnapore, West Bengal, 721102, India. (4)Nutrition Research Laboratory, Department of Paramedical and Allied Health Sciences, Midnapore City College, Midnapore, West Bengal, 721129, India. (5)Department of Pure and Applied Sciences, Midnapore City College, Midnapore, West Bengal, 721129, India. (6)Department of Biological Sciences, Midnapore City College, Midnapore, West Bengal, 721129, India. (7)Department of Human Physiology, Vidyasagar University, Midnapore, 721102, West Bengal, India. ch_ghosh@mail.vidyasagar.ac.in. Environmental abuses and subsequent array of health hazards by petroleum products have emerged as a global concern that warrants proper remediation. Pyrene (PYR), a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, is a xenobiotic by-product during crude petroleum processing. Biodegradation potential of two bacterial isolates (MK4 and MK9) of Brevibacterium sediminis from oil contaminated sites was explored. MK4 and MK9 could degrade PYR up to 23 and 59% (1000 mg.L- 1), respectively. A first-order formalism with the rate constant for MK4 and MK9 were found to be 0.022 ± 0.001 and 0.081 ± 0.005 day- 1, respectively with the corresponding half life period of 31.4 ± 1.4 and 8.6 ± 0.60 days respectively. Both the isolates produce biosurfactants as established by drop collapse assay, oil spreading and emulsification activity studies. Decrease in pH, change in absorbance (bacterial growth), and catechol formation support adaptation capability of the isolates to degrade PYR by using it as a source of carbon. PYR ring cleavage was induced by the ring hydroxylating dioxogenase enzyme present in the strains, as identified by PCR assay. In silico analyses of the PYR degrading enzyme revealed its higher binding affinity (-7.6 kcal.mol- 1) and stability (Eigen value:1.655763 × 10- 04) to PYR, as further supported by other thoeroretical studies. MK9 strain was more efficient than the MK4 strain in PYR degradation. Studies gain its prominence as it reports for the first time on the aptitude of B. sediminis as novel PYR-degrading agent that can efficiently be used in the bioremediation of petroleum product pollution with a greener approach. © 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V. DOI: 10.1007/s11274-024-04178-6 PMID: 39495360 [Indexed for MEDLINE] 5. Environ Pollut. 2023 Oct 27:122743. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122743. Online ahead of print. Investigating the gas-phase reaction mechanism of catechol with ozone: Product analysis and insights. Obeid E(1), Otman A(2), Khaled Y(3), Hanna D(3), Atallah EZ(4). Author information: (1)College of Engineering and Technology, American University of the Middle East, Egaila, 54200, Kuwait. Electronic address: emil.obeid@aum.edu.kw. (2)College of Engineering and Technology, American University of the Middle East, Egaila, 54200, Kuwait; African Sustainable Agriculture Research Institute (ASARI), Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), Laâyoune, 70000, Morocco. (3)College of Engineering and Technology, American University of the Middle East, Egaila, 54200, Kuwait. (4)Radiation, Chemicals and Environmental Hazards, Toxicology Department, UK Health Security Agency, Didcot, OX11 0RQ, United Kingdom. Volatile aromatic compounds (VOCs) are ubiquitous in the environment, they can be emitted from biogenic and anthropogenic sources. They can contribute to the formation of many products leading to the formation of secondary organic aerosols (SOA). The products of the gas phase reaction of 1,2-benzenediol (catechol) with ozone were studied in a simulation chamber at atmospheric pressure and 294 ± 2 K in presence of different levels of relative humidity (0-60%). The gas phase products were monitored continuously by a PTR-ToF-MS for 2 h, whereas filters samples were collected directly from the reaction chamber and analyzed by thermo-desorption gas chromatography; TD-GC-MS. This study shows the different potential chemical pathways that catechol could follow to form a variety of products under dry, low and high humidity conditions. The molecular mass 98 was found to be distinctive and appears in the gas phase when humidity in the reaction chamber is between 20 and 60%. Other new masses (m/z) such as 176, 154, 116, 68, 72, 80, 96, 108, and 124 were also detected under different experimental conditions. Furthermore, the catechol concentration has been monitored continuously by a PTR-ToF-MS from low to high humidity conditions (RH = 7.5-78.8%). The purpose of the latter is to suggest that the formation of catechol-H2O clusters occurs in the gas phase of the reaction chamber causing a decrease in catechol reactivity towards other gases and subsequently a decrease in the rate constant. Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Ltd. DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122743 PMID: 39491160 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.