Psychoactive Plant Database - Neuroactive Phytochemical Collection

1. J Agric Food Chem. 2024 Nov 5. doi: 10.1021/acs.jafc.4c08663. Online ahead of 
print.

Design, Synthesis, and Biological Activity Studies of Myricetin Derivatives 
Containing a Diisopropanolamine Structure.

An Y(1), Zou H(1), Zhou Q(1), Deng T(1), Tian J(1), Qiu Y(1), Xue W(1).

Author information:
(1)State Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Center for R&D of Fine Chemicals, 
Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, P. R. China.

A series of myricetin derivatives containing diisopropanolamine were designed 
and synthesized. The in vitro inhibitory effects of the target compounds on 9 
fungal pathogens and 3 bacterial pathogens were also evaluated. A12 had the best 
inhibitory effect against Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo), with an EC50 
value of 4.9 μg/mL, which was better than zinc-thiazole (ZT: EC50 = 7.3 μg/mL) 
and thiodiazole-copper (TC: EC50 = 65.5 μg/mL); A25 had the best inhibitory 
effect against Phomopsis sp. (Ps), with an EC50 value of 17.2 μg/mL, which was 
better than azoxystrobin (Az: EC50 = 22.3 μg/mL). In vivo inhibition tests were 
performed on kiwifruit for A25 and rice leaves for A12. At 200 μg/mL, the 
curative activity of A12 against rice leaf blight was 40.7%, which was better 
than that of ZT (37.2%) and TC (32.9%), and the protective activity of A12 was 
44.8%, which was better than that of ZT (39.5%) and TC (34.6%). The curative 
activity of A25 against kiwi soft rot disease was 70.1%, which was better than 
that of Az (62.8%). Preliminary elucidation of the possible mechanisms of action 
was carried out by experiments on fluorescence microscopy, scanning electron 
microscopy, formation of biofilms, density functional theory calculations, and 
so on.

DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.4c08663
PMID: 39498550


2. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2024 Oct 9;17(10):1349. doi: 10.3390/ph17101349.

Potential Anti-Obesity Effect of Hazel Leaf Extract in Mice and Network 
Pharmacology of Selected Polyphenols.

Zhao J(1), Alimu A(1), Li Y(1), Lin Z(1), Li J(1), Wang X(1), Wang Y(1), Lv 
G(1), Lin H(1), Lin Z(1).

Author information:
(1)College of Pharmacy, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun 
130117, China.

Background: Obesity is gradually becoming a widespread health problem, and 
treatment using natural compounds has seen an increasing trend. As a by-product 
of hazelnut, hazel leaf is usually disposed of as waste, but it is widely used 
in traditional and folk medicines around the world. Aim of this study: Based on 
previous studies, the effects of the regulation of lipid metabolism and the 
mechanism of hazel leaf polyphenol extraction obesity were investigated. 
Methods: In this study, a high-fat diet-fed mouse model of obesity and 3T3-L1 
preadipocytes were established. The ameliorative effects of the hazel leaf 
polyphenol extract on obesity and the regulating lipid metabolisms were explored 
based on network pharmacology, gut microbiota, and molecular docking. Results: 
Network pharmacology showed that hazel leaf polyphenols may play a role by 
targeting key targets, including PPARγ, and regulating the PPAR signaling 
pathway. They significantly improved body weight gain, the liver index, and 
adiposity and lipid levels; regulated the gut microbiota and short-chain fatty 
acid contents; down-regulated the expression of lipid synthesis proteins 
SREBP1c, PPARγ, and C/EBP-α; and up-regulated the expression of p-AMPK in obese 
mice. They inhibited the differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells, and the expression of 
related proteins is consistent with the results in vivo. The molecular docking 
results indicated that gallic acid, quercetin-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside, 
quercetin, myricetin, and luteolin-7-O-glucoside in the hazel leaf polyphenol 
extract had strong binding activities with PPARγ, C/EBP-α, and AMPK. 
Conclusions: The results demonstrate that the hazel leaf polyphenol extract can 
improve obesity by regulating lipid metabolism, which provides a valuable basis 
for developing health products made from hazel leaf polyphenols in the future.

DOI: 10.3390/ph17101349
PMCID: PMC11510286
PMID: 39458990

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


3. J Ethnopharmacol. 2024 Oct 16;337(Pt 3):118949. doi:
10.1016/j.jep.2024.118949.  Online ahead of print.

Bioactive phytocompounds profiling and the evaluation of analgesic, 
anti-inflammatory, and antihyperglycemic potential of Argyreia capitiformis 
(Poir.) Ooststr.: A combined in vitro, in vivo, and computational 
investigations.

Devnath HS(1), Biswas P(2), Oisay DS(3), Medha MM(4), Islam MN(5), Biswas B(6), 
Hossain A(7), Hasan MN(8), Ahmed KS(9), Hossain H(10), Sadhu SK(11).

Author information:
(1)Pharmacy Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna, 9208, Bangladesh. Electronic 
address: hiron.ku.pharm15@gmail.com.
(2)Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Department of 
Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Jashore University of Science and 
Technology, Jashore, 7408, Bangladesh. Electronic address: 
partha_160626@just.edu.bd.
(3)Pharmacy Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna, 9208, Bangladesh. Electronic 
address: dsenkuph36@gmail.com.
(4)Pharmacy Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna, 9208, Bangladesh. Electronic 
address: m.malihamedha@gmail.com.
(5)Pharmacy Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna, 9208, Bangladesh. Electronic 
address: naharulapu109@gmail.com.
(6)Department of Pharmacy, Jashore University of Science & Technology, Jashore, 
7408, Bangladesh. Electronic address: bb.131192@gmail.com.
(7)Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur 
Rahman Science and Technology University, Gopalgonj, 8100, Bangladesh. 
Electronic address: arafathossainbmb@gmail.com.
(8)Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Department of 
Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Jashore University of Science and 
Technology, Jashore, 7408, Bangladesh. Electronic address: mn.hasan@just.edu.bd.
(9)Chemical Research Division, Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial 
Research (BCSIR), Dhaka 1205, Bangladesh. Electronic address: 
shahinjnu005@gmail.com.
(10)Chemical Research Division, Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial 
Research (BCSIR), Dhaka 1205, Bangladesh. Electronic address: 
hemayet.hossain02@gmail.com.
(11)Pharmacy Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna, 9208, Bangladesh. Electronic 
address: sksadhu1969@yahoo.com.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Argyreia capitiformis (Poir.) Ooststr. 
(Convolvulaceae) is traditionally used by the Chakma community in the hilly 
region of Bangladesh to treat minor disorders such as pain.
AIM OF THE STUDY: This study intended to determine the secondary metabolites to 
identify bioactive compounds and evaluate antioxidant potential, in vitro 
anti-inflammatory and in vivo analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and 
antihyperglycemic activities of A. capitiformis along with in silico 
investigations.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Chemical profiling was carried out using HPLC and GC-MS 
analysis. The analgesic effect was measured employing tail immersion and acetic 
acid-induced writhing methods. Following protein denaturation and 
formalin-induced paw edema, anti-inflammatory activity was studied. The 
antihyperglycemic potential was assessed using an oral glucose tolerance test 
(OGTT), while further mechanistic investigation was conducted using an 
alpha-glucosidase enzyme inhibitory assay. Simulations and molecular docking 
analyses were performed to ascertain the stability and binding affinities of the 
drug-protein complex.
RESULTS: A. capitiformis ethanolic extract confirmed the presence of phenolics, 
alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, tannins, gums, steroids, and reducing sugars. 
HPLC analysis revealed the presence of eight polyphenolic compounds, the most 
abundant of which was myricetin (64.10 ± 0.14 mg per 100 g dry extract). 
Moreover, the GC-MS analysis revealed twenty-four molecules, the most important 
of which was 2,4-bis (dimethylbenzyl)-6-t-butylphenol (9.19%). The 
concentrations of total flavonoids, total terpenoids, total phenolics, and total 
tannins were ascertained to be 142.48 mg QE/g, 173.1 mg UAE/g, 19.35 mg GAE/g, 
and 13.05 mg GAE/g, respectively. Furthermore, the plant extract had a total 
antioxidant capacity of 388 mg AAE/g. In the writhing assay, the plant extract 
suppressed writhing by 59.73% and 76.99% at the doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg, 
respectively, compared to the standard diclofenac Na 87.17%, and in the tail 
immersion assay, the plant extract displayed a maximum average reaction time of 
1.94 and 2.40 s at the doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg, respectively as compared to 
the control tramadol 2.84 s at 60 min. In an in vitro anti-inflammatory assay, 
the plant extract possessed an IC50 of 95.51 μg/ml while diclofenac Na (standard 
drug) was found to be 69.50 μg/ml. Afterward, in vivo anti-inflammatory activity 
was observed in mice over a period, particularly after 3 h, the plant extract 
exerted maximum percent inflammation inhibitions of 36.36% and 45.45% at the 
doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg, respectively whereas ibuprofen the standard drug 
(100 mg/kg) exhibited 61.82%. The plant extract demonstrated antihyperglycemic 
activity, lowering blood sugar levels to 5.7 and 4.62 mM at doses of 250 and 
500 mg/kg, respectively, as opposed to 8.58 mM in the control group. Meanwhile, 
the standard drug glibenclamide (5 mg/kg) dropped blood glucose levels to 
2.38 mM in 60 min after glucose administration. Molecular docking (MD) and 
molecular dynamics simulation (MDS) studies support the stability of the protein 
complex responsible for exerting pharmacological activities.
CONCLUSION: A. capitiformis extract exhibited strong medicinal values supporting 
its traditional uses.

Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.118949
PMID: 39419301

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.


4. Chem Biodivers. 2024 Oct 16:e202401128. doi: 10.1002/cbdv.202401128. Online 
ahead of print.

Friedericia chica, a medicinal plant from the Amazon region, is repellent 
against Aedes aegypti: in vivo and molecular docking evidence.

Miorando D(1), Maccagnan JC(2), Vecchia CAD(1), Ferraz CV(3), Monteiro M(4), 
Busato MA(4), Lutinski JA(4), Roman MI(5), de Souza Rezende R(6), Gutiérrez 
MV(7), Hage-Melim LIS(8), Pontes FMM(9), Barison A(10), Nepel A(11), Veselinova 
A(12), Roman Junior WA(13).

Author information:
(1)Unochapeco, PPGCS, Servidão Anjo da Guarda, Chapecó, 89809-900, Chapecó, 
BRAZIL.
(2)Unochapeco, PPGCS, Servidão Anjo da Guarda, 89809-900, Chapecó, BRAZIL.
(3)Unochapeco, PPGCS, Servidão Anjo da Guarda, Chapecó, Chapecó, BRAZIL.
(4)Unochapeco, PPGCS, Servidão Anjo da Guarda, Chapecó, BRAZIL.
(5)Unochapeco, Lab. Pharmacognosy, Servidão Anjo da Guarda, Chapecó, BRAZIL.
(6)Unochapeco, PPGCA, Servidão Anjo da Guarda, Chapecó, BRAZIL.
(7)Universidad de Sonora, Department of Chemical, Biological and Agricultural 
Sciences, Servidão Anjo da Guarda, Sonora, MEXICO.
(8)Federal University of Amapa, Pharmacy Course, Servidão Anjo da Guarda, 
Macapá, BRAZIL.
(9)Federal University of Amapá, Pharmacy Course, Servidão Anjo da Guarda, 
Macapá, BRAZIL.
(10)Federal University of Parana, Laboratory of RMN, Servidão Anjo da Guarda, 
Curitiba, BRAZIL.
(11)Unochapeco, Laboratory of RMN, Servidão Anjo da Guarda, Curitiba, BRAZIL.
(12)Universidad de Salamanca, Department of Physical Chemistry, Servidão Anjo da 
Guarda, Salamanca, SPAIN.
(13)Community University of Chapeco Region, PPGCS, 1330 Rua Quatorze de Agosto - 
E, casa, 89801-251, Chapecó, BRAZIL.

Fridericia chica is widely distributed in Brazil, where it is commonly known as 
crajiru or pariri in several regions. Despite its popular use for treating 
inflammations and as an insect repellent, there has been limited assessment of 
its chemical and biological properties, including its bioinsecticide activities. 
In this study, we conducted phytochemical analyses and investigated the 
larvicidal and repellent effects of F. chica against the mosquito Aedes aegypti. 
The F. chica (HEFc) hydroalcoholic extract was partitioned using column 
chromatography, and subfractions were analyzed using chromatographic and 
spectroscopic analyses (ESI-IT-MSn and NMR). In addition, HEFc was evaluated for 
its larvicidal and repellent activities. Phytochemical analyses revealed the 
presence of 17 constituents, including 2,4-dihydroxybenzoic and p-coumaric 
acids, along with umbelliferone, acetovanilone, myricetin-3-O-glucuronide, and 
cis-isorhapontigenin, which are reported for the first time in this species. 
Although no larvicidal effect was observed at the doses tested, the HEFc 
exhibited promising repellent effects against A. aegypti, which aligns with its 
ethnopharmacological potential. In addition, molecular docking studies 
demonstrated that the compounds of HEFc interacted efficiently with insect 
odorant binding proteins (OBPs), providing repellent effects. Consistent with 
the chemical profile and in silico studies, preparations of F. chica have 
considerable repellent potential.

© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.

DOI: 10.1002/cbdv.202401128
PMID: 39412496


5. Plants (Basel). 2024 Sep 24;13(19):2678. doi: 10.3390/plants13192678.

Brazil Nut Semi-Defatted Flour Oil: Impact of Extraction Using Pressurized 
Solvents on Lipid Profile, Bioactive Compounds Composition, and Oxidative 
Stability.

Barbosa Abrantes KK(1), Colombo Pimentel T(2), da Silva C(1), Santos Junior 
OO(3), Barão CE(2), Cardozo-Filho L(1).

Author information:
(1)Programa de Pós-Graduação em Engenharia Química, Universidade Estadual de 
Maringá, Av. Colombo, 5790, Maringá 87020-900, PR, Brazil.
(2)Instituto Federal do Paraná (IFPR), Rua José Felipe Tequinha, 1400, Paranavaí 
87703-536, PR, Brazil.
(3)Laboratório de Química de Alimentos, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Química, 
Universidade Estadual de Maringá (UEM), Av. Colombo, 5790, Maringá 87020-900, 
PR, Brazil.

Brazilian nuts are native to the Amazon rainforest and are considered a 
non-timber forest-product of extreme economic importance to local populations. 
This study evaluated the lipid profile, bioactive compounds, and oxidative 
stability of semi-defatted Brazilian nut flour oil (BNSDFO) obtained using 
pressurized fluids (n-propane at 40 °C and 2, 4, and 8 MPa or a CO2/n-propane 
mixture at 40 °C and 12 MPa). A Brazilian nut kernel oil (BNKO) processed by 
conventional cold pressing was also obtained. The BNKO showed a higher 
concentration of total phenolic compounds and saturated fatty acids, higher 
antioxidant activity, and the presence of gallic acid derivatives. The oils 
extracted using pressurized fluids showed a higher concentration of linoleic 
acid, β-sitosterol, and polyunsaturated fatty acids. The utilization of 
pressurized n-propane resulted in higher yields (13.7 wt%), and at intermediate 
pressures (4 MPa), the product showed myricetin 3-O-rhamnoside and higher 
oxidative stability (OSI, 12 h) than at lower pressures (2 MPa). The 
CO2/n-propane mixture of pressurized solvents resulted in higher concentrations 
of squalene (4.5 times), the presence of different phenolic compounds, and a 
high OSI (12 h) but lower yield (2.2 wt%). In conclusion, oils with better fatty 
acid profiles (oleic e linoleic acids), phytosterol composition, and suitable 
radical scavenging activity may be obtained using pressurized fluids and 
Brazilian nut flour, a byproduct of oil extraction. The mixture of solvents may 
improve the concentration of squalene, whereas using only n-propane may increase 
oil yield.

DOI: 10.3390/plants13192678
PMCID: PMC11478675
PMID: 39409547

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