Psychoactive Plant Database - Neuroactive Phytochemical Collection

1. Nutrients. 2022 Nov 9;14(22):4731. doi: 10.3390/nu14224731.

Mechanistic Insights into the Neuroprotective Potential of Sacred Ficus Trees.

Shim KH(1), Sharma N(1), An SSA(1).

Author information:
(1)Department of Bionano Technology, Gachon University, 1342 Seongnam-daero, 
Sujeong-Gu, Seongnam 461-701, Korea.

Ficus religiosa (Bo tree or sacred fig) and Ficus benghalensis (Indian banyan) 
are of immense spiritual and therapeutic importance. Various parts of these 
trees have been investigated for their antioxidant, antimicrobial, 
anticonvulsant, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, hepatoprotective, 
dermoprotective, and nephroprotective properties. Previous reviews of Ficus 
mostly discussed traditional usages, photochemistry, and pharmacological 
activities, though comprehensive reviews of the neuroprotective potential of 
these Ficus species extracts and/or their important phytocompounds are lacking. 
The interesting phytocompounds from these trees include many bengalenosides, 
carotenoids, flavonoids (leucopelargonidin-3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside, 
leucopelargonidin-3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranoside, lupeol, cetyl behenate, and α-amyrin 
acetate), flavonols (kaempferol, quercetin, myricetin), leucocyanidin, 
phytosterols (bergapten, bergaptol, lanosterol, β-sitosterol, stigmasterol), 
terpenes (α-thujene, α-pinene, β-pinene, α-terpinene, limonene, β-ocimene, 
β-bourbonene, β-caryophyllene, α-trans-bergamotene, α-copaene, aromadendrene, 
α-humulene, alloaromadendrene, germacrene, γ-cadinene, and δ-cadinene), and 
diverse polyphenols (tannin, wax, saponin, leucoanthocyanin), contributing 
significantly to their pharmacological effects, ranging from antimicrobial 
action to neuroprotection. This review presents extensive mechanistic insights 
into the neuroprotective potential, especially important phytochemicals from F. 
religiosa and F. benghalensis. Owing to the complex pathophysiology of 
neurodegenerative disorders (NDDs), the currently existing drugs merely 
alleviate the symptoms. Hence, bioactive compounds with potent neuroprotective 
effects through a multitarget approach would be of great interest in developing 
pharmacophores for the treatment of NDDs.

DOI: 10.3390/nu14224731
PMCID: PMC9695857
PMID: 36432418 [Indexed for MEDLINE]

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


2. J Biomol Struct Dyn. 2022 Jul;40(11):5053-5059. doi: 
10.1080/07391102.2020.1866669. Epub 2020 Dec 29.

In silico analysis of phytochemicals as potential inhibitors of proteases 
involved in SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Umadevi P(1)(2), Manivannan S(3), Fayad AM(1), Shelvy S(1).

Author information:
(1)Division of Crop Improvement & Biotechnology, ICAR- Indian Institute of 
Spices Research, Kozhikode, India.
(2)Rice Breeding & Genetics Research Centre, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research 
Institute, Aduthurai, India.
(3)Department of Horticulture, Central University of Tamil Nadu, Thiruvarur, 
India.

In silico analysis of six phytochemicals, flabelliferin, marmelosin, piperine, 
ocimin, curcumin and leucoanthocyanin, along with three drug compounds, 
nelfinavir, remdesivir and hydroxychloroquine, as positive control against drug 
targets of one SARS-CoV-2 viral protease, COVID-19 main protease (SARS CoV-2 
3CLpro/Mpro), two coronavirus proteases, SARS-CoV main peptidase (SARS CoV 
Mpro), SARS-CoV main proteinase (SARS CoV 3CLpro), and one human cellular 
transmembrane serine proteinase (TMPRSS2), was carried out. Except 
leucoanthocyanin all other phytochemicals proved better than all three positive 
control drugs against SARS-CoV main peptidase, whereas, flabelliferin was found 
to be the potential inhibitor for SARS-CoV main proteinase out performing all 
the positive control drugs and phytochemicals. Amongst the compounds studied, 
the best inhibitor for COVID-19 main protease was nelfinavir followed by 
flabelliferin and ocimin. Flabelliferin was found to the best promising 
inhibitor of human cellular transmembrane serine proteinase, followed by 
nelfinavir, curcumin, piperine and marmelosin. The result on the inhibition of 
human cellular transmembrane serine proteinase against COVID-19 has a stable 
therapeutic advantage as mutation may quickly occur on viral drug targets. 
Hence, all the phytochemicals tested in the present study are the potential 
inhibitors of the all the four drug targets and can form a part of therapeutics 
against COVID-19 with further clinical studies.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. 
Sarma.

DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2020.1866669
PMCID: PMC7876729
PMID: 33372574 [Indexed for MEDLINE]

Conflict of interest statement: No potential conflict of interest was reported 
by the authors.


3. Front Plant Sci. 2018 Apr 5;9:426. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2018.00426. eCollection 
2018.

Exogenous Melatonin Application Delays Senescence of Kiwifruit Leaves by 
Regulating the Antioxidant Capacity and Biosynthesis of Flavonoids.

Liang D(1)(2), Shen Y(1), Ni Z(1), Wang Q(1), Lei Z(1), Xu N(1), Deng Q(1), Lin 
L(1)(2), Wang J(1)(2), Lv X(1)(2), Xia H(1)(2).

Author information:
(1)College of Horticulture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.
(2)Institute of Pomology and Olericulture, Sichuan Agricultural University, 
Chengdu, China.

Melatonin, a multiple signal molecule, plays important roles in delaying 
senescence during the development of plants. Because few species have been 
studied for the effect of exogenous melatonin on anti-aging, the plausible 
mechanism of melatonin of anti-aging effects on other plant species has remained 
largely unknown. In the present study, the effects of exogenous melatonin on 
leaf senescence in kiwifruit were examined during natural aging after melatonin 
(200 μM) or water (Control) pretreatment. The decreased membrane damage and 
lower hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content due to the enhanced scavenging activity 
of antioxidant enzymes peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and 
catalase (CAT) demonstrated that melatonin effectively delayed the aging of 
kiwifruit leaves. Likewise, owing to up-regulated expression of chlorophyll 
a/b-binding protein (CAB) gene in the sampled leaves pretreated with melatonin, 
chlorophyll degradation decreased. Therefore, osmoregulatory substances in 
sampled leaves accumulated (e.g., soluble sugar and soluble protein) and 
seedling cell environment stability was maintained. Simultaneously, melatonin 
decreased H2O2 concentration owing to increased glutathione (GSH) and ascorbate 
(AsA) content, and the expression levels of glutathione reductase (GR), 
ascorbate peroxidase (APX), monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDAR), 
dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR) were up-regulated by melatonin application, 
indicating that the increase of GSH and AsA was attributed to the expression of 
these genes. In addition, a large amount of flavonoids accumulated in seedlings 
pretreated with melatonin, and transcript levels of eight genes involved in 
flavonoid synthesis, including phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), 
cinnamate-4-hydroxymate (C4H), chalcone synthase (CHS), flavanone 3-hydroxylase 
(F3H), flavonol synthase (FNS), leucoanthocyanin reductase (LAR), anthocyanin 
reductase (ANR), flavonoid 3-O-glucosyltransferase (UFGT) were enhanced in 
response to melatonin application. These results indicated that melatonin 
delayed aging of kiwifruit leaves by activating the antioxidant capacity and 
enhancing flavonoid biosynthesis. All of these results can provide clear proof 
that melatonin plays a key roles in delaying leaf senescence.

DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2018.00426
PMCID: PMC5896581
PMID: 29675031


4. Pharm Biol. 2013 Nov;51(11):1480-5. doi: 10.3109/13880209.2013.793718. Epub
2013  Jul 22.

Nephroprotective and curative effects of Ficus religiosa latex extract against 
cisplatin-induced acute renal failure.

Yadav YC(1), Srivastava DN.

Author information:
(1)Department of Pharmacy , Sumandeep Vidyapeeth, Pipariya Vadodara, Gujarat , 
India and.

CONTEXT: Ficus religiosa L. (Moraceae) is widely planted in the tropics. Its 
chemical constituents include tannin, saponin gluanol acetate, β-sitosterol, 
leucoanthocyanidin and leucoanthocyanin which are used for the treatment of 
pain, inflammation, impotence, menstrual disturbances, uterine tonic and urine 
related problems.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the possible nephroprotective and curative effects of F. 
religiosa latex methanol extract against cisplatin induced acute renal failure.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Methanol extract was obtained by maceration process. Rats 
were divided in five groups. Group 1 was administered acacia (2% w/v) of 5 ml/kg 
throughout the experiment; group 2 was treated with single dose of cisplatin 
(5 mg/kg i.p.) on the 1st day; group 3 (200 mg/kg p.o.) of extract control for 
the 1st to 10th day, group 4 (200 mg/kg p.o.) of extract from the 1st to 10th 
day and a single dose of cisplatin (5 mg/kg, i.p.) on 11th day while group 5 
received the same dose of cisplatin on day 1 and extract (200 mg/kg p.o.) from 
the 7th to 16th day.
RESULTS: Phytochemical screening of the extract revealed the presence of 
glycoside, alkaloids, tannins (phenolic compounds), flavonoids and amino acids. 
The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of the extract were 
31.75 ± 0.12 and 18.35 ± 0.48 µg/ml, respectively. The cisplatin-treated group 2 
showed significant changes; renal functions, biochemical parameters and 
histopathology were significantly (**p < 0.01) recovered by 200 mg/kg curative 
and protective groups.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrated that F. religiosa latex 
and constituents have excellent nephroprotective and curative activities and 
thus have great potential as a source for natural health products.

DOI: 10.3109/13880209.2013.793718
PMID: 23870082 [Indexed for MEDLINE]


5. Theor Appl Genet. 2005 May;110(7):1324-33. doi: 10.1007/s00122-005-1973-0.
Epub  2005 Apr 2.

Association analysis of candidate genes for maysin and chlorogenic acid 
accumulation in maize silks.

Szalma SJ(1), Buckler ES 4th, Snook ME, McMullen MD.

Author information:
(1)Genetics Area Program, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA.

Two compounds, the C-glycosyl flavone maysin and the phenylpropanoid product 
chlorogenic acid (CGA), have been implicated in corn earworm (Helicoverpa zea 
Boddie) resistance in maize (Zea mays L.). Previous quantitative trait locus 
(QTL) analyses identified the pericarp color (p) locus, which encodes a 
transcription factor, as the major QTL for maysin and CGA. QTL analysis has also 
implicated the dihydroflavanol reductase (DFR; E.C. no. 1.1.1.219) locus 
anthocyaninless1 (a1) and the duplicate chalcone synthase (CHS; E.C. no. 
2.3.1.74) loci colorless2 (c2) and white pollen1 (whp1) as genes underlying QTL 
for maysin and/or CGA synthesis. Epistatic interactions between p and a1 and 
between p and c2 were also defined. CHS catalyzes the first step in the 
flavonoid pathway and represents one of the first enzyme steps following the 
branch off the general phenylpropanoid pathway towards CGA synthesis. In maize, 
the reduction of dihydroflavanol to leucoanthocyanin by DFR immediately follows 
the pathway branch leading to C-glycosyl flavone production. The detection of 
QTLs for maysin and CGA concentration at loci encoding enzyme steps following 
the pathway branch points implicates alterations in the flow of biochemical 
intermediates as the biological basis of the QTL effects. To examine if sequence 
variation among alleles of a1, c2, and whp1 affect maysin and CGA synthesis in 
maize silks, we performed an association analysis. Because the p locus has often 
been a major QTL for maysin and CGA and has exhibited epistatic interactions 
with a1, c2, and whp1, association analysis was conditioned on the p genotype. A 
highly significant association of two sequence polymorphisms in the promoter of 
a1 with maysin synthesis was demonstrated. Additional conditioning on the 
genotype of the significant a1 polymorphism allowed the detection of a 
significant polymorphism within the whp1 promoter. Our analyses demonstrate that 
conditioning for epistatic factors greatly increases the power of association 
testing.

DOI: 10.1007/s00122-005-1973-0
PMID: 15806344 [Indexed for MEDLINE]