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. Antibiotics (Basel). 2024 May 28;13(6):499. doi: 10.3390/antibiotics13060499. Combination of Chromatographic Analysis and Chemometric Methods with Bioactivity Evaluation of the Antibacterial Properties of Helichrysum italicum Essential Oil. Zeremski T(1), Šovljanski O(2), Vukić V(2), Lončar B(2), Rat M(3), Perković Vukčević N(4)(5), Aćimović M(1), Pezo L(6). Author information: (1)Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia. (2)Faculty of Technology, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia. (3)Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia. (4)National Poison Control Centre, Military Medical Academy, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia. (5)Faculty of Medicine of the Military Medical Academy, University of Defense, 11042 Belgrade, Serbia. (6)Institute of General and Physical Chemistry, University of Belgrade, 11158 Belgrade, Serbia. Helichrysum italicum (immortelle) essential oil is one of the most popular essential oils worldwide and it has many beneficial properties, including antimicrobial. However, in this plant, the chemical diversity of the essential oil is very pronounced. The aim of this work was to process the GC-MS results of four samples of H. italicum essential oil of Serbian origin by chemometric tools, and evaluate the antimicrobial activity in vitro and in silico. Overall, 47 compounds were identified, the most abundant were γ-curcumene, α-pinene, and ar-curcumene, followed by α-ylangene, neryl acetate, trans-caryophyllene, italicene, α-selinene, limonene, and italidiones. Although the four samples of H. italicum essential oil used in this study were obtained from different producers in Serbia, they belong to the type of essential oil rich in sesquiterpenes (γ-curcumene and ar-curcumene chemotype). In vitro antimicrobial potential showed that five were sensitive among ten strains of tested microorganisms: Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, Bacillus cereus, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Candida albicans. Therefore, these microorganism models were used further for in silico molecular docking through the mechanism of ATP-ase inhibitory activity. Results showed that among all compounds from H. italicum essential oil, neryl acetate has the highest predicted binding energy. Artificial neural network modeling (ANN) showed that two major compounds γ-curcumene and α-pinene, as well as minor compounds such as trans-β-ocimene, terpinolene, terpinene-4-ol, isoitalicene, italicene, cis-α-bergamotene, trans-α-bergamotene, italidiones, trans-β-farnesene, γ-selinene, β-selinene, α-selinene, and guaiol are responsible for the antimicrobial activity of H. italicum essential oil. The results of this study indicate that H. italicum essential oil samples rich in γ-curcumene, α-pinene, and ar-curcumene cultivated in Serbia (Balkan) have antimicrobial potential both in vitro and in silico. In addition, according to ANN modeling, the proportion of neryl acetate and other compounds detected in these samples has the potential to exhibit antimicrobial activity. DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics13060499 PMCID: PMC11201240 PMID: 38927166 Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare no conflict of interest. 2. Org Process Res Dev. 2023 Dec 15;27(12):2317-2328. doi: 10.1021/acs.oprd.3c00300. Epub 2023 Nov 16. Kilo-Scale GMP Synthesis of Renewable Semisynthetic Vaccine-Grade Squalene. Fisher KJ(1), Shirtcliff L(2), Buchanan G(1), Thompson AW(1), Woolard FX(1), LaMunyon DH(2), Marshall JL(2), Baranouskas MB(2), Voelker RB(2), Lusk JS(2), Wells CE(2), Mohamath R(3), Kinsey R(3), Lykins WR(3), Ramer-Denisoff G(3), Fox CB(3), Paddon CJ(1), McPhee D(1). Author information: (1)Amyris Inc, 5885 Hollis St, Suite 100, Emeryville, CA 94608, USA. (2)Actylis Eugene, 90 North Polk St., Suite 200, Eugene OR 97402, USA. (3)Access to Advanced Health Institute (AAHI), 1616 Eastlake Avenue East, Seattle, WA 98102, USA. Emulsions of the triterpene squalene ((6E,10E,14E,18E)-2,6,10,15,19,23-hexamethyltetracosa-2,6,10,14,18,22-hexaene, CAS 111-02-4) have been used as adjuvants in influenza vaccines since the 1990s. Traditionally sourced from shark liver oil, the overfishing of sharks and concomitant reduction in the oceanic shark population raises sustainability issues for vaccine adjuvant grade squalene. We report a semisynthetic route to squalene meeting current pharmacopeial specifications for use in vaccines that leverages the ready availability of trans-β-farnesene ((6E)-7,11-dimethyl-3-methylene-1,6,10-dodecatriene, CAS 18794-84-8), manufactured from sustainable sugarcane via a yeast fermentation process. The scalability of the proposed route was verified by a kilo-scale GMP synthesis. We also report data demonstrating the synthesized semi-synthetic squalene's physical stability and biological activity when used in a vaccine adjuvant formulation. DOI: 10.1021/acs.oprd.3c00300 PMCID: PMC10956619 PMID: 38524776 Conflict of interest statement: Competing Interests All authors declare no competing non-financial interests, but the following declare competing financial interests: C.J.P., G.B., A.W.T. and D.J.M. own shares and possess stock options in Amyris, Inc. F.X.W. owns shares in Amyris, Inc. C.B.F. is an inventor on patents and/or patent applications involving terpenoid emulsion adjuvant formulations. K.J.F. and F.X.W. are inventors on a patent application involving the synthesis of squalene from farnesene. 3. Saudi Pharm J. 2024 Mar;32(3):101993. doi: 10.1016/j.jsps.2024.101993. Epub 2024 Feb 12. Chemical profile and biological properties of the Piper corcovadense C.DC. essential oil. Henrique Fontoura B(1), Cristina Perin E(1), Paula Buratto A(1), Francisco Schreiner J(1), Menezes Cavalcante K(1), Dias Teixeira S(1), Manica D(2), Antônio Narzetti R(2), Bruno da Silva G(3), Dulce Bagatini M(2)(4), Luiza Cadorin Oldoni T(1), Teresinha Carpes S(1). Author information: (1)Department of Chemistry, Postgraduate Program in Chemical and Biochemical Process Technology (PPGTP), Federal Technological University of Paraná, Campus Pato Branco, PO Box 571, CEP 85503-390 PR, Brazil. (2)Postgraduate Program in Biochemistry, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil. (3)Multicentric Postgraduate Program in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, State University of Santa Catarina, Lages, SC, Brazil. (4)Postgraduate Program in Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Fronteira Sul, Chapecó, SC, Brazil. The essential oil from Piper corcovadense D.DC. (EOPc), an important plant belonging to the Piperaceae family, which is commonly found in the northern region of Brazil and poorly explored scientifically, was used in this study. Thus, the EOPc was characterized chemically by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) and the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities and their potential effects on cutaneous melanoma (SK-MEL-28) and healthy peripheral blood mononuclear (PBMC) cells were determined. The major compounds identified in the EOPc were: trans-sesquisabinene hydrate, trans-caryophyllene, β-pinene, trans-β-farnesene, 14-hydroxycaryophyllene, limonene and p-cymene. The EOPc demonstrated antioxidant activity as evaluated by Folin-Ciocalteu reagent (FC) reducing capacity, DPPH, and ABTS methods. The values found were respectively 5.41 ± 0.17 mg GAE mL-1 (GAE: Gallic acid equivalent), 2.88 ± 0.17 µmol TE mL-1 (TE: Trolox equivalent) and 6.26 ± 0.02 µmol TE mL-1. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were determined for different bacterial strains. The EOPc at a concentration of 2.61 µg mL-1 exhibited both bactericidal and bacteriostatic properties against Escherichia coli. The EOPc showed potential antitumor activity as it reduced the cell viability of human cutaneous melanoma cells SK-MEL-28. Besides, the EOPc did not exhibit cytotoxic activity against healthy PBMCs, indicating that it does not harm healthy cells at the tested concentrations. The EOPc increased the levels of ROS at concentrations of 250 µg mL-1. The EOPc also did not stimulate the mobilization of endogenous antioxidant defenses, as assessed by total thiol (PSH) and non-protein thiols (NPSH). Thus, the study suggests that the EOPc has antioxidant and antimicrobial properties due to the presence of specific compounds. It also exhibits antitumor potential against cutaneous melanoma cells while showing no cytotoxicity to healthy PBMCs. It directly influenced ROS levels at the highest tested concentration in the cells, suggesting an antitumor effect related to the intrinsic apoptosis pathway. Nevertheless, while the study has initial findings, the results are promising and indicate an attractive biological potential of P. corcovadense, mainly in human cutaneous melanoma cells. © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of King Saud University. DOI: 10.1016/j.jsps.2024.101993 PMCID: PMC10879029 PMID: 38384478 4. Life (Basel). 2022 Oct 27;12(11):1722. doi: 10.3390/life12111722. Agricultural Parameters and Essential Oil Content Composition Prediction of Aniseed, Based on Growing Year, Locality and Fertilization Type-An Artificial Neural Network Approach. Pezo L(1), Lončar B(2), Šovljanski O(2), Tomić A(2), Travičić V(2), Pezo M(3), Aćimović M(4). Author information: (1)Institute of General and Physical Chemistry, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 12, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia. (2)Faculty of Technology Novi Sad, University of Novi Sad, Bulevar cara Lazara 1, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia. (3)Department of Thermal Engineering and Energy, "Vinča" Institute of Nuclear Sciences-National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 12, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia. (4)Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops Novi Sad, Maksima Gorkog 30, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia. Predicting yield is essential for producers, stakeholders and international interchange demand. The majority of the divergence in yield and essential oil content is associated with environmental aspects, including weather conditions, soil variety and cultivation techniques. Therefore, aniseed production was examined in this study. The categorical input variables for artificial neural network modelling were growing year (two successive growing years), growing locality (three different locations in Vojvodina Province, Serbia) and fertilization type (six different treatments). The output variables were morphological and quality parameters, with agricultural importance such as plant height, umbel diameter, number of umbels, number of seeds per umbel, 1000-seed weight, seed yield per plant, plant weight, harvest index, yield per ha, essential oil (EO) yield, germination energy, total germination, EO content, as well as the share of EOs compounds, including limonene, cis-dihydro carvone, methyl chavicol, carvone, cis-anethole, trans-anethole, β-elemene, α-himachalene, trans-β-farnesene, γ-himachalene, trans-muurola-4(14),5-diene, α-zingiberene, β-himachalene, β-bisabolene, trans-pseudoisoeugenyl 2-methylbutyrate and epoxy-pseudoisoeugenyl 2-methylbutyrate. The ANN model predicted agricultural parameters accurately, showing r2 values between 0.555 and 0.918, while r2 values for the forecasting of essential oil content were between 0.379 and 0.908. According to global sensitivity analysis, the fertilization type was a more influential variable to agricultural parameters, while the location site was more influential to essential oils content. DOI: 10.3390/life12111722 PMCID: PMC9694612 PMID: 36362877 Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare no conflict of interest. 5. Polymers (Basel). 2022 Mar 30;14(7):1406. doi: 10.3390/polym14071406. Synthesis and Vulcanization of Polymyrcene and Polyfarnesene Bio-Based Rubbers: Influence of the Chemical Structure over the Vulcanization Process and Mechanical Properties. Banda-Villanueva A(1), González-Zapata JL(1), Martínez-Cartagena ME(1), Magaña I(1), Córdova T(1), López R(1), Valencia L(2), Medina SG(3), Rodríguez AM(3), Soriano F(1), Díaz de León R(1). Author information: (1)Research Center for Applied Chemistry, Blvd Enrique Reyna 140, San José de los Cerritos, Saltillo 25294, Mexico. (2)Biofiber Tech Sweden AB, Norrsken Hourse, Birger Jarlsgatan 57C, SE11356 Stockholm, Sweden. (3)CIATEC, Omega 1201, Colonia Industrial Delta, Guanjuato 37545, Mexico. The overuse of fossil-based resources to produce thermoplastic materials and rubbers is dramatically affecting the environment, reflected in its clearest way as global warming. As a way of reducing this, multiple efforts are being undertaken including the use of more sustainable alternatives, for instance, those of natural origin as the main feedstock alternative, therefore having a lower carbon footprint. Contributing to this goal, the synthesis of bio-based rubbers based on β-myrcene and trans-β-farnesene was addressed in this work. Polymyrcene (PM) and polyfarnesene (PF) were synthesized via coordination polymerization using a neodymium-based catalytic system, and their properties were compared to the conventional polybutadiene (PB) and polyisoprene (PI) also obtained via coordination polymerization. Moreover, different average molecular weights were also tested to elucidate the influence over the materials' properties. The crosslinking of the rubbers was carried out via conventional and efficient vulcanization routes, comparing the final properties of the crosslinking network of bio-based PM and PF with the conventional fossil-based PB and PI. Though the mechanical properties of the crosslinked rubbers improved as a function of molecular weight, the chemical structure of PM and PF (with 2 and 3 unsaturated double bonds, respectively) produced a crosslinking network with lower mechanical properties than those obtained by PB and PI (with 1 unsaturated double bond). The current work contributes to the understanding of improvements (in terms of crosslinking parameters) that are required to produce competitive rubber with good sustainability/performance balance. DOI: 10.3390/polym14071406 PMCID: PMC9003078 PMID: 35406280 Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare no conflict of interest.