Psychoactive Plant Database - Neuroactive Phytochemical Collection

1. Heliyon. 2024 Sep 18;10(19):e38074. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e38074. 
eCollection 2024 Oct 15.

Therapeutic potential of Leea asiatica: Chemical isolation and validation of 
ethnomedicinal claims through in vitro and in silico assessment of antioxidant 
and anti-inflammatory properties.

Joshi KR(1)(2), Devkota HP(1), Al-Mutairi KA(3), Sugimura K(1), Yahara S(1), 
Khadka R(2), Thapa S(4), Shekh MU(2), Poudel S(2), Watanabe T(1).

Author information:
(1)Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kumamoto University, 5-1 
Oe-honmachi, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, 862-0973, Japan.
(2)School of Health and Allied Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Pokhara 
University, Pokhara, 33700, Nepal.
(3)University of Tabuk, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Tabuk, P.O. 
Box 741, Tabuk, 741, Saudi Arabia.
(4)Department of Pharmacy, Madan Bhandari Academy of Health Sciences, Hetauda, 
Nepal.

Leea asiatica (L.) Ridsdale has been used by different ethnic communities to 
manage diseased conditions that can be traced to oxidative stress and cellular 
inflammations but scientific evidences to support the claim are scanty. The 
objective of this study was to isolate and identify the antioxidants present in 
the aerial parts of Leea asiatica, perform their molecular docking against 
proteins to inspect whether the traditional uses of the plant can be validated 
by an in-silico approach. Quercetin (1), gallic acid (2), kaempferol (3), methyl 
gallate (4), myricetin 3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (5), (-)-epicatechin-3-O-gallate 
(6) and (-)-epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (7) were isolated from the 70 % 
methanolic extract of the aerial parts. Compounds 2, 4, 6, and 7 are reported 
for the first time from Leea asiatica. Quercetin (1), gallic acid (2), 
(-)-epicatechin-3-O-gallate (6) and (-)-epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (7) showed 
potent antioxidant activity against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) 
radical. Molecular docking with NADPH oxidase and TNF-α revealed that 
epicatechin-3-O-gallate, epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate and quercetin bound with 
the least binding energy amongst the isolated compounds as well as standard 
(Trolox and Prednisolone). By molecular dynamics analysis, 
epicatechin-3-O-gallate maintained stable conformation with NADPH oxidase and 
TNF-α and was found to possess good ADMET profile thereby validating the ethnic 
use of the plant as a medicine in the management of inflammatory conditions by 
an in vitro and in silico approach.

© 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e38074
PMCID: PMC11462247
PMID: 39386820

Conflict of interest statement: 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.


2. Biofilm. 2024 Jun 10;8:100205. doi: 10.1016/j.bioflm.2024.100205. eCollection 
2024 Dec.

Myrtus communis leaf compounds as novel inhibitors of quorum sensing-regulated 
virulence factors and biofilm formation: In vitro and in silico investigations.

Khadraoui N(1), Essid R(1), Damergi B(1), Fares N(1), Gharbi D(1), Forero AM(2), 
Rodríguez J(2), Abid G(3), Kerekes EB(4), Limam F(1), Jiménez C(2), Tabbene 
O(1).

Author information:
(1)Laboratory of Bioactive Substances, Biotechnology Center of Borj Cedria, 
BP-901, Hammam-Lif 2050, Tunisia.
(2)CICA-Centro Interdisciplinar de Química e Bioloxía e Departamento de Química, 
Facultade de Ciencias. Universidade da Coruña, 15071, A Coruña, Spain.
(3)Laboratory of Legumes and Sustainable Agrosystems, Centre de Biotechnology de 
Borj Cedria, BP-901, 2050, Hammam-Lif, Tunisia.
(4)Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of 
Szeged, Szeged, Közép fasor 52, Hungary.

Antibiotic resistance of the Gram-negative bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa and 
its ability to form biofilm through the Quorum Sensing (QS) mechanism are 
important challenges in the control of infections caused by this pathogen. The 
extract of Myrtus communis (myrtle) showed strong anti-QS effect on C 
hromobacterium . violaceum 6267 by inhibiting 80 % of the production of 
violacein pigment at a sub-MIC concentration of 1/8 (31.25 μg/mL). In addition, 
the extract exhibited an inhibitory effect on virulence factors of P. aeruginosa 
PAO1 at half MIC (125 μg/mL), significantly reducing the formation of biofilms 
(72.02 %), the swarming activity (75 %), and the production of protease 
(61.83 %) and pyocyanin (97 %). The active fraction also downregulated the 
expression of selected regulatory genes involved in the biofilm formation and QS 
in the P. aeruginosa PAO1 strain. These genes included the autoinducer synthase 
genes (lasI and rhlI), the genes involved in the expression of their 
corresponding receptors (lasR and rhlR), and the pqsA genes. The analysis of the 
active fraction by HPLC/UV/MS and NMR allowed the identification of three 
phenolic compounds, 3,5-di-O-galloylquinic acid, myricetin 
3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranoside (myricitrin), and myricetin 
3-O-(2″-O-galloyl)-ß-d-galactopyranoside. In silico studies showed that 
3,5-di-O-galloylquinic acid, with an affinity score of -9.20 kcal/mol, had the 
highest affinity to the active site of the CviR protein (3QP8), a QS receptor 
from C. violaceum. Additionally, myricetin 3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranoside (myricitrin) 
and myricetin 3-O-(2″-O-galloyl)-ß-d-galactopyranoside interact to a lesser 
extent with 3QP8. In conclusion, this study contributed significantly to the 
discovery of new QS inhibitors from M. communis leaves against resistant 
Gram-negative pathogens.

© 2024 The Authors.

DOI: 10.1016/j.bioflm.2024.100205
PMCID: PMC11231753
PMID: 38988475

Conflict of interest statement: 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. Carlos Jiméenez reports financial 
support was provided by Spanish State Agency for Research. If there are other 
authors, they 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. Int J Mol Sci. 2024 May 12;25(10):5280. doi: 10.3390/ijms25105280.

A Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR)- and Mass Spectrometry (MS)-Based Saturation 
Kinetics Model of a Bryophyllum pinnatum Decoction as a Treatment for Kidney 
Stones.

Chik C(1), Larroque AL(2), Zhuang Y(1), Feinstein S(1), Smith DL(3), Andonian 
S(2)(4), Ryan AK(1)(2)(5), Jean-Claude B(2)(6), Gupta IR(1)(2)(5).

Author information:
(1)Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 0C7, 
Canada.
(2)The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center, Montreal, QC 
H4A 3J1, Canada.
(3)Plant Science Department, McDonald Campus, McGill University, 
Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC H9X 3V9, Canada.
(4)Division of Urology, McGill University, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada.
(5)Department of Pediatrics, McGill University, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada.
(6)Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, McGill University, 
Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada.

Bryophyllum pinnatum (BP) is a medicinal plant used to treat many conditions 
when taken as a leaf juice, leaves in capsules, as an ethanolic extract, and as 
herbal tea. These preparations have been chemically analyzed except for 
decoctions derived from boiled green leaves. In preparation for a clinical trial 
to validate BP tea as a treatment for kidney stones, we used NMR and MS analyses 
to characterize the saturation kinetics of the release of metabolites. During 
boiling of the leaves, (a) the pH decreased to 4.8 within 14 min and then 
stabilized; (b) regarding organic acids, citric and malic acid were released 
with maximum release time (tmax) = 35 min; (c) for glycoflavonoids, quercetin 
3-O-α-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (Q-3O-ArRh), myricetin 
3-O-α-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (M-3O-ArRh), 
kappinatoside, myricitrin, and quercitrin were released with tmax = 5-10 min; 
and (d) the total phenolic content (TPC) and the total antioxidant capacity 
(TAC) reached a tmax at 55 min and 61 min, respectively. In summary, 24 g of 
leaves boiled in 250 mL of water for 61 min ensures a maximal release of key 
water-soluble metabolites, including organic acids and flavonoids. These 
metabolites are beneficial for treating kidney stones because they target 
oxidative stress and inflammation and inhibit stone formation.

DOI: 10.3390/ijms25105280
PMCID: PMC11121557
PMID: 38791318 [Indexed for MEDLINE]

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


4. Chem Biodivers. 2024 Mar;21(3):e202400124. doi: 10.1002/cbdv.202400124. Epub 
2024 Feb 12.

Undescribed Triterpenes from the Leaves of Syzygium myrsinifolium with Their 
α-Glucosidase and α-Amylase Inhibition Activity.

Trang DT(1), Tai BH(1)(2), Hoang NH(1), Cuc NT(1), Bang NA(1), Dung DT(1), Yen 
DTH(1), Huong PTT(1), Dung NV(1), Hang DTT(1), Yen PH(1), Kiem PV(1)(2).

Author information:
(1)Institute of Marine Biochemistry, VAST, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Hanoi, 
10072, Vietnam.
(2)Graduate University of Science and Technology, VAST, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau 
Giay, Hanoi, 10072, Vietnam.

Two undescribed triterpenes, syzyfolium A (1) and syzyfolium B (2), together 
with twelve known compounds, terminolic acid (3), actinidic acid (4), piscidinol 
A (5), threo-dihydroxydehydrodiconiferyl alcohol (6), 
lariciresinol-4-O-β-D-glucoside (7), icariol A2 (8), 
14β,15β-dihydroxyklaineanone (9), garcimangosone D (10), (+)-catechin (11), 
myricetin-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (12), quercitrin (13), and 3, 4, 
5-trimethoxyphenyl-(6'-O-galloyl)-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (14) were isolated from 
the leaves of Syzygium myrsinifolium. Their chemical structures were determined 
by IR, HR-ESI-MS, 1D and 2D NMR spectra. Compounds 3 and 4 inhibited 
significantly α-glucosidase with IC50 values of 23.99 and 36.84, respectively, 
and compounds 1 and 2 inhibited significantly α-amylase with IC50 values of 
35.48 and 43.65 μM, respectively.

© 2024 Wiley-VHCA AG, Zurich, Switzerland.

DOI: 10.1002/cbdv.202400124
PMID: 38279623 [Indexed for MEDLINE]


5. Front Plant Sci. 2023 Oct 11;14:1252196. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1252196. 
eCollection 2023.

Corylus avellana "Nocciola Piemonte": metabolomics focused on polar lipids and 
phenolic compounds in fresh and roasted hazelnuts.

Cerulli A(1), Napolitano A(1), Olas B(2), Masullo M(1), Piacente S(1)(3).

Author information:
(1)Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Fisciano, SA, Italy.
(2)Department of General Biochemistry, Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of 
Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
(3)National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC), Palermo, Italy.

The common hazel plant (Corylus avellana L., Betulaceae) is one of the most 
popular tree nuts widespread in Europe and Asia. In Italy, there are different 
cultivars among which the cultivar affording the valuable hazelnut "Tonda 
Gentile Trilobata," also known as "Tonda Gentile delle Langhe," covered by the 
Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) label "Nocciola Piemonte" (NP), known 
for its sweetness, cooked-bread aroma, and the low intensity of the burnt aroma. 
In order to obtain a detailed and in-depth characterization of the polar 
fraction of fresh (NPF) and roasted (NPR) kernels of NP the analysis of the 
n-butanol extracts by liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization 
and high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-ESI/HRMS) was carried out. Moreover, 
to evaluate the quantitative distribution of the most representative polar 
lipids in NPF and NPR, the analysis by liquid chromatography combined with 
tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was performed. To unambiguously identify the 
phenolic compounds highlighted by the LC-ESI/HRMS profiles, they were isolated 
from the n-butanol extract and characterized by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) 
experiments. Finally, the ability of the isolated compounds to exert radical 
scavenging activity and to inhibit the lipid peroxidation induced by H2O2 or 
H2O2/Fe2+ was tested by Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (TEAC) and 
thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) assays, respectively. The 
LC-ESI/HRMS allowed to ascertain the presence of phenolic compounds and multiple 
classes of polar lipids including phospholipids, glycolipids, sphingolipids, and 
oxylipins. The quantitative analysis highlighted in NPR fraction a lipid content 
three times higher than in NPF, evidencing lyso-phospholipids and phospholipids 
as the most represented lipid classes in both NPF and NPR, together accounting 
for 94 and 97% of the considered lipids, respectively. Furthermore, 
phytochemical analysis permitted to identify flavonoid and diarylheptanoid 
derivatives. In particular, quercetin 
3-O-β-D-galactopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-glucopyranoside and 
myricetin-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside showed the highest antioxidant activity, 
exhibiting TEAC values similar to that of quercetin, used as reference compound 
(2.00 ± 0.03 and 2.06 ± 0.03 mM vs 2.03 ± 0.03 mM, respectively). Moreover, most 
of the tested compounds were found to reduce lipid peroxidation induced by H2O2 
and H2O2/Fe2+ more than curcumin used as positive control, with 
myricetin-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside determining 44.4 % and 34.1 % inhibition 
percentage, respectively.

Copyright © 2023 Cerulli, Napolitano, Olas, Masullo and Piacente.

DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1252196
PMCID: PMC10598857
PMID: 37885660

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.