Natural product research
July 10, 2006
D Passarella, A Barilli, S M N Efange et al.
4 citations
A microwave-assisted chemical reaction was used to create a key intermediate for synthesizing ibogaine analogues. One analogue, a hydroxymethyl indolyl derivative, showed promising binding to dopamine, serotonin, and opioid receptors in lab tests and reduced withdrawal symptoms in mice. Simplifying the ibogaine molecule appears to be a useful strategy for designing new compounds to treat addiction withdrawal.
Natural product research
May 1, 2023
Genís Ona, Maja Kohek, José Carlos Bouso
2 citations
The authors argue that the emerging field of psychedelic research can benefit from natural product research. They outline specific research topics involving hallucinogens that directly connect with broader natural product research.
Natural product research
November 5, 2024
Balakrishnan Karthiyayini, Arulprakasam Karthick Raja, Sivaraj Arthi et al.
1 citation
Psychedelic mushroom Psilocybe cubensis contains antimicrobial peptides that may inhibit Staphylococcus aureus. Proteomic analysis using LC-MS/MS and gene ontology identified several peptides with favorable binding scores, suggesting potential efficacy against this bacterial pathogen. The findings indicate a promising avenue for discovering novel antimicrobial peptides to combat antibiotic resistance.
Natural product research
September 18, 2024
Jady Vitoria Barjud Pereira Ferreira, Ana Marcia de Freitas Pessoa, Rita de Cassia de Lima Sousa et al.
1 citation
An alkaloid fraction (AF II) from the root bark of Mimosa tenuiflora, containing DMT, reduces anxiety in mice. Female Swiss mice received either saline, AF II (6 mg/kg), or diazepam (5 mg/kg) before being tested in the light-dark box and elevated plus maze. AF II produced significant anxiolytic effects in both tests, comparable to the standard drug diazepam.
Natural product research
June 2, 2026
Genís Ona, Cristina Llagostera, Oscar Alvarez et al.
Psilocybin from Psilocybe cubensis mushrooms shows therapeutic potential, but current research focuses only on isolated psilocybin, ignoring the whole mushroom's broader pharmacology and cultural use. This perspective advocates for studying standardized whole-mushroom extracts. Preclinical studies comparing whole extracts with pure psilocybin reveal enhanced or distinct effects on synaptic proteins, metabolomic profiles, and behavioral outcomes in models of depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Whole extracts may also enable more affordable and equitable treatment models than high-cost synthetic psilocybin. The article argues for urgent exploration of whole-mushroom therapeutics to base psychedelic medicine on a full spectrum of evidence.
Natural product research
July 4, 2024
Joana Gonçalves, José Francisco Cascalheira, Patrícia Valentão et al.
Ayahuasca, a psychoactive Amazonian beverage, contains N,N-dimethyltryptamine and β-carbolines that inhibit monoamine oxidase-A. Extracts from three plants used in ayahuasca preparation—Banisteriopsis caapi, Mimosa hostilis, and Peganum harmala—were tested on gastric adenocarcinoma (AGS) cells. All three extracts induced apoptosis and significantly reduced oxidative stress in these cancer cells, suggesting potential therapeutic effects against gastric cancer.