Recommend book on medicinal plants that shows chemical and pharmacological characterization of active agents

[LucidSDreamr]

Can you Recommend good books on medicinal plants that shows chemical and pharmacological characterization of active agents in the plants?

Not just limited to psychoactive plants but all medicinal plants

 

[unodelacosa]

• Northeast Medicinal Plants by Liz Neves is pretty good
• Hallucinogenic Plants by Richard Evans Shultes (you can find an online copy if you look around)

I'm not sure there's a book out there that comprehensively covers all of this flora.

 

[red22]

One of the most respected resources is Dr. Duke's Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases, created by ARS researcher Dr. James A. Duke. Duke (1929 – 2017), a botanist who traveled the world to study plants, served as chief of the Plant Taxonomy Lab in the ARS Plant Genetics and Germplasm Institute in Beltsville, MD.

The Duke of Herbs (and Medicinal Plants). Nany Vanatta. USDA

 

[unodelacosa]

1. Fundamentals of Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy (Edited by Michael Heinrich, Joanne Barnes, et al. - 4th Edition, 2023): This is a comprehensive textbook often used in healthcare professions. It covers the history, identification, quality assurance, therapeutic properties, safety, and drug interactions of plant-based medicines. It delves into the science of nature-derived drugs from various sources like plants, fungi, and algae.
2. Medicinal Plants: Chemistry, Pharmacology, and Therapeutic Applications (Edited by Mallappa Kumara Swamy, Jayanta Kumar Patra, et al. - 2019): This book specifically focuses on detailing important medicinal plants, their compounds, chemical structures, and pharmacological properties against human diseases. It also discusses isolation, structural elucidation, bio-assays, and therapeutic applications.
3. Phytochemistry and Pharmacology of Medicinal Plants (2-volume set) (Edited by T. Pullaiah - 2023): This extensive set covers 79 important medicinal plant species. Each chapter, written by experts, details a specific plant's bioactive phytochemicals, their chemical structures, and a wide range of pharmacological activities (antiviral, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, organ-protective effects, etc.).
4. Drugs of Natural Origin: A Treatise of Pharmacognosy (By Gunnar Samuelsson and Lars Bohlin - 7th Edition available): A well-established, multidisciplinary book suitable for students and researchers. It covers the occurrence, biosynthesis, isolation, chemistry, and medical use of bioactive substances from plant, microbial, and animal origins, describing their potential as drug candidates or pharmacological tools.
5. Medicinal Plants: Chemical, Biochemical, and Pharmacological Approaches (Edited by Mozaniel Santana De Oliveira, Eloisa Helena De Aguiar Andrade, et al. - 2024): This book provides an in-depth exploration of the chemical and biochemical aspects of medicinal plants. It examines various plant-derived compounds (alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenes, etc.), analyzing their chemical structures, mechanisms of action, and pharmacological roles in both traditional and modern healthcare.
6. Bioactives and Pharmacology of Medicinal Plants (2-volume set) (Edited by T. Pullaiah - 2022/2024): Similar to the Phytochemistry and Pharmacology set by the same editor, this work presents detailed information on the bioactive phytocompounds of over 68 medicinal plants, including their chemical structures and pharmacological properties (antiviral, antioxidant, anti-cancer, etc.), along with reviews of published literature for each species.

These books range from comprehensive textbooks suitable for students (Fundamentals of Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy, Drugs of Natural Origin) to detailed reference works focusing on specific plants and their compounds (Medicinal Plants: Chemistry, Pharmacology, and Therapeutic Applications, Phytochemistry and Pharmacology of Medicinal Plants, Bioactives and Pharmacology of Medicinal Plants). They all emphasize the crucial link between the chemical constituents of medicinal plants and their pharmacological effects.

 

[emkee_reinvented]

Can you Recommend good books on medicinal plants that shows chemical and pharmacological characterization of active agents in the plants?

Not just limited to psychoactive plants but all medicinal plants

Gimme some time my Granny gave me some bizar old Herb books.
Just have no idea how you could get em.
Been looking myself for a book for years mentioned in one of those books.

'The art for Housewives s cooking during Wartime', or something like that.
Never found a ancient copy, but will add the title of the book [its mentioned in].
When i wake ! And the name of the one on medical plants. Guessing they
were from Readers Digest ?

There also a book of a Dutch writer about Ayahuasca, preceding all other.
Not totally sure bout the drug he investigated and took,
assume Ayahuasca. Real old book, written in 18 hundred something.
Never found it , even lost the news article that mentioned it.

 

[red22]

Drugs of Natural Origin: A Treatise of Pharmacognosy (By Gunnar Samuelsson and Lars Bohlin - 7th Edition available): A well-established, multidisciplinary book suitable for students and researchers. It covers the occurrence, biosynthesis, isolation, chemistry, and medical use of bioactive substances from plant, microbial, and animal origins, describing their potential as drug candidates or pharmacological tools.

This one was just referenced in a paper I read, so I downloaded it.

Drugs of Natural Origin: A Treatise of Pharmacognosy, 6th revised edition. Gunnar Samuelsson, Lars Bohlin. 2001, 2009. Stockholm, SE: Sweidish Pharmaceutical Press. ISBN: 9789197651059

…A paper about Strychnos nux-vomica.

https://www.bluelight.org/community/threads/strychnines-association-with-peyote-and-lsd.941875/

Strychnine and brucine are obtained from the seed of Strychnos nux-vomica. Strychnine stimulates the central nervous system, greatly increasing the reflex excitability. Very small doses can give a subjective feeling of stimulation. For this reason, strychnine was formerly used as an ingredient in so-called tonics, i.e. invigorating drugs used during convalescence and in conditions of debility. In larger doses (30-100 mg), strychnine is a deadly poison. The increase in reflex excitability leads to violent muscular convulsions. All the muscles contract, forcing the patient into a position, with the back arched and resting only on the head and heels.

The effects of brucine are much weaker (about 1/50th of those of strychnine). The alkaloid has a very bitter taste and can be used as a standard substance for the determination of bitterness values (page 388).

Nux vomica (Strychni semen) is the seed of Strychnos nux-vomica L. (Loganiaceae). This plant is a tree, about 12 m high, native to the south-west of India (the Malabar coast) but growing also in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. The fruit is a berry with 3-5 seeds which, after drying, constitute the crude drug. Nux vomica is used for the extraction of strychnine and brucine.


Alkaloids of Strychnos-based curares

As mentioned earlier (page 663), the South American dart and arrow poison curare derives partly from plants of the family Menispermaceae and partly from plants of the family Loganiaceae. Strychnos-based curares are prepared from the bark of several species, especially S. guianensis Baill., S. toxifera Schomb. ex Lindl., and S. castelnaei Wedd. Numerous alkaloids have been detected in and isolated from these three species, many of which are indole alkaloids with quaternary nitrogen. The most active bases contain two quaternary nitrogen atoms and their skeleton comprises 38 carbon atoms. An example is toxiferine. They can be regarded as dimers of C9 alkaloids related to strychnine, which have also been isolated from samples of curare. Similar dimeric quaternary alkaloids have been isolated from an African Strychnos species. N,N¹-Diallylbisnortoxiferine is a semisynthetic derivative of toxiferine which is used as a short-lasting muscle relaxant in surgical operations.

10. Alkaloids / Terpenoid Indole Alkaloids, p. 690–691



I just finished experimenting with a nux-vomica tincture and contrary to your recent post in another thread, I can tell you that strychnine is very pleasant.

This crude alkaloid fraction seemed to be about 1000 times more potent than morphine (Cai et al., 1996).*

Cyanide strichnynne botulinum toxin batrachotoxin and tetrodotoxin are all natural and not pleasant chemicals.

*Philippe, G., Angenot, L., Tits, M., & Frédérich, M. (2004). About the toxicity of some Strychnos species and their alkaloids. Toxicon : official journal of the International Society on Toxinology, 44(4), 405–416. DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2004.05.006 2.7. Medical and other uses of tetanizing alkaloids

 

[unodelacosa]

I just finished experimenting with a nux-vomica tincture and contrary to your recent post in another thread, I can tell you that strychnine is very pleasant.

That wasn't I who said that, just for the record – I haven't discussed strychnine in any thread. And anyway the difference between a medicine and a poison is, as usual, the dose. I'm certain there's a dose at which you would no longer be charmed by it

 

[LucidSDreamr]

I just finished experimenting with a nux-vomica tincture and contrary to your recent post in another thread, I can tell you that strychnine is very pleasant.

Surprising how it’s not as popular as heroin cocaine after all these decades of access to it.

Keep trying it and keep us updated.

 

[red22]

This comment from a book suggests it's somewhat popular in India:

"The seed is very bitter and highly poisonous but some people get addicted to it and tolerate the lethal dose."

Rasayana: Ayurvedic Herbs for Longevity and Rejuvenation. H. S. Puri, 2002, Taylor & Francis. ISBN: 9780203216569 31. Kuchla (Strychnos nux vomica), pgs. 175–179 pg. 175


In Asia and the Middle East, they put the seeds through an oxidation process that substantially lowers the convulsant threshold, which allows for higher doses to be used, i.e., shodhana, shudh kuchla beej, shuddha kuchala.

Ayurveda strictly recommend the use of this drug in therapeutics only after proper Shodhana (purificatury procedure)[1]


Due to the high toxicity, the seeds of Strychnos nux-vomica must be processed before clinical practice. During processing, the toxic alkaloids are converted into their isoforms or nitrogen oxidation derivatives, which are more or equally as potent and less toxic than their parent alkaloids [35,36].[2]


Also, as noted in the book's entry in my above post, brucine (dimethoxystrychnine) is only 1/50ᵗʰ the potency of strychnine—although, I think 1/50ᵗʰ the toxicity may be a better way of putting it, as it may have a good effect—a better effect[3]—in similar doses—and luckily seperating brucine from strychnine is easy.[4]

A convenient, modern way to incite the oxidation may be to add hydrogen peroxide to a solution and heat it.[5]


Studies have documented its neuropharmacological, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, antimicrobial, anticancer, antipyretic, gastroprotective, antidiabetic, antialcoholic, and antioxidant qualities. Despite being regarded as a highly toxic plant, it possesses a vast array of therapeutic benefits.[6]


It definitely has a painkilling effect, although it's certainly not 1,000 times as strong as morphine. Not much of a mental effect, just a modest increase in focus; mostly a very strong body buzz, like you put a compression sock around your whole body. I look forward to getting the oxidized version so I can really push the dose. If you take too much, your body starts to feel heavy and dehydrated and it starts to contort.

Seems like it would be great for potentiating other substances, like adding hot peppers to a recipe.

"Its my favorite stimulant […] it's my favorite nootropic, and it works wonders as far as the potentiation of psychedelics."

@Viṣakaṇṭha, 2013-11-23, https://www.bluelight.org/community...-as-a-motivational-boost.503184/post-11973074


https://www.bluelight.org/community/threads/strychnines-association-with-peyote-and-lsd.941875/


1. Mitra, W., Shukla, V. J., & Acharya, R. (2012). Impact of Shodhana (purificatory procedures) on Kupeelu (Strychnos nux-vomica Linn.) seeds: A pharmaco-analytical study. Journal of Research in Education and Indian Medicine, 18(2), 65-71

2. Important poisonous plants in tibetan ethnomedicine. Ma, L., Gu, R., Tang, L., Chen, Z. E., Di, R., & Long, C. 2015. Toxins, 7(1), 138–155. DOI: 10.3390/toxins7010138 (3.2. Alkaloids in Strychnos nux-vomica)

3. The analgesic activities of brucine and strychnine were compared by the acetic acid writhing test. The results showed that brucine had significant inhibition potency and the duration of its inhibition effect was about four times as long as that of pethidine. However, it was found that strychnine had no significant inhibition effect [8]. Brucine and brucine N-oxide have been proved to be mainly responsible for the analgesic effects produced by nux vomica [9].


It should be noted that in addition to its significantly enhanced therapeutic efficacy compared to strychnine, brucine is much less toxic. Following i.p. administration to mice, the LD50 values of strychnine and brucine were determined to be 1.10 and 50.10 mg/kg, respectively [11]. Therefore, formulations containing brucine have been intensively investigated [12,13,14].

Pharmacological evaluation of total alkaloids from nux vomica: effect of reducing strychnine contents. Chen, J., Qu, Y., Wang, D., Peng, P., Cai, H., Gao, Y., Chen, Z., & Cai, B. 2014. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 19(4), 4395–4408. DOI: 10.3390/molecules19044395 1. Introduction

4. The solubility of brucine in 50% ethanol was 455.40 mg/mL, while that of strychnine was only 1.60 mg/mL. Therefore, by using 50% ethanol, most strychnine was precipitated while most brucine and other alkaloid components remained dissolved in the solution. (From the study in ref 3, 3.4. Preparation of MTAF)

If extraction of TAF with 50% ethanol works so well to eliminate strychnine while still retaining brucine, (From the study in ref 3, 2.1. Alkaloid Composition of TAF and MTAF)

5.

OBJECTIVE: To obtain the optimal conditions of semisynthesis of strychnine N-oxide from strychnine using orthogonal designs.

METHODS: Using strychnine as a precurosor, absolute alcohol as a solvent and 30% H2O2 as an oxidizing agent, the desired strychnine N-oxide possessing the hemi-polarity coordinate bond was obtained from the oxidation of 19-nitrogen atom of strychnine under certain temperature. Using the composite index which combined strychnine N-oxide's yield (%) with its purity detected by HPLC normalization as an evaluation standard, the L9 (33) orthogonal experiment was carried out in consideration of 3 levels of 3 factors including: (A) quantities of H2 O2 (mL) added, (B) water bath temperature (°C) of reaction, and (C) N-oxidizing time (min).

RESULTS: The optimized semisynthesis conditions calculated by the intuitive analysis and ANOVA was A1 B1 C2, 0.4 g Strychnine was dissolved in 30 mL dehydrated alcohol, then 0.5 mL H2O2 was added, and the mixture was stired continuously in water bath at 50 °C for 90 min. Each level of the three factors had no significant difference (P > 0.05). Furthermore, three parallel tests were performed to demonstrate the best semisynthesis craft given by the orthogonal designs mentioned above. The results showed that the average yield (%) of strychnine N-oxide was (106.1 ± 0.1), purity (%) was (98.4 ± 0.2) and the composite index was (10 437 ± 17) in the 3 tests. By contrast with the values of the yield (108.9%), purity (98.5%) and the composite index (10 727) from the experiment A 1B2C2 (the best craft among the orthogonal designs), they had not obvious differences.

CONCLUSION: It was indicated that method provided by this paper to semisynthesize strychnine N-oxide by N-oxidizing reaction had a good reproducibility and high reliability.

Study on optimization of experimental conditions for semisynthesis of strychnine N-oxide by orthogonal design. Yang Pan, X. Zhang, Z.-H. Pan, X.-H. Kan. 2008. Journal of Chinese Pharmaceutical Sciences, 43(17), 1346-1349 Abstract

6. A Critical Review on Poisoning of Kuchala in Agadtantra. 2024. Bhor, A. N., Gadkari, M. D., Jugnake, S. B., Reshma, C. R. International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research 11(10), e849–e856. ISSN: 2349-5162