Medicinal Plants with Psychoactive Properties: A Comprehensive Review
Sciences of Phytochemistry July 12, 2026 Fakhray Rimi, Jannatul Fardous, Fahmida Zaman et al.
A review of twenty psychoactive medicinal plants, including Withania somnifera, Cannabis sativa, Valeriana officinalis, Psilocybe cubensis, and Passiflora incarnata, finds they contain alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, and cannabinoids that modulate serotonergic, dopaminergic, GABAergic, and endocannabinoid systems. These plants show anxiolytic, antidepressant, sedative, hallucinogenic, or cognition-enhancing effects in preclinical and limited clinical studies, along with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and adaptogenic properties. However, most evidence remains preclinical, with limited clinical validation of efficacy, safety, standardization, and long-term use, underscoring the need for further experimental and clinical investigations.