Medicinal – Page 42

Emerging paradigms for target discovery of traditional medicines: A genome-wide pan-GPCR perspective

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Traditional medicines from plants, animals, and fungi contain chemical compounds that can interact with specific proteins in our cells called G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). These receptors control many important body functions and are targeted by about one-third of all FDA-approved medications. This review explains how scientists are discovering new therapeutic compounds from traditional medicines by systematically screening them against the complete library of human GPCRs, using advanced techniques to identify which compounds bind to which receptors. Famous examples include morphine from poppies for pain relief and compounds from ginseng that help regulate blood sugar.

Classic psychedelics do not affect T cell and monocyte immune responses

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Researchers tested whether common psychedelic drugs (LSD, psilocin, DMT, and mescaline) directly affect human immune cells in laboratory conditions. They found that these psychedelics did not suppress T cell function or immune signaling at the doses tested. This is good news for patients with serious illnesses who might benefit from psychedelic-assisted therapy, as it suggests these treatments won’t dangerously weaken their already compromised immune systems.

Scalable Hybrid Synthetic/Biocatalytic Route to Psilocybin

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Researchers developed a new method to manufacture psilocybin, a promising therapeutic compound from magic mushrooms being tested to treat depression. Instead of using toxic chemicals, they replaced a difficult chemical step with an enzyme from the mushroom itself called PsiK. This approach produced gram amounts of pure psilocybin efficiently and could eventually lower costs for future medical use.

Novel Synbiotic Yogurt Formulation Supplemented with Fucoidan from Phaeophyceae Algae to Promote Limosilactobacillus reuteri and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG

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Researchers developed a new yogurt containing fucoidan (a compound from brown seaweed) along with beneficial bacteria that may help reduce allergy symptoms. Testing showed this special yogurt maintained high levels of protective bacteria throughout its shelf life. The combination of the seaweed compound and beneficial bacteria could offer a natural food-based approach to help people with allergies through improved gut health.

An investigation of acute physiological and psychological moderators of psychedelic-induced personality change among healthy volunteers

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This study examined how a single high dose of psilocybin affects personality in healthy people. Participants who took psilocybin showed decreased anxiety-related personality traits (neuroticism) one month later. The effects were stronger in people who found the experience personally meaningful or who experienced more anxiety during the psychedelic state, suggesting that the intensity and meaning of the experience matters for lasting personality changes.

Lentinan inhibits melanoma development by regulating the AKT/Nur77/Bcl-2 signaling axis

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This research demonstrates that lentinan, a compound from shiitake mushrooms, can effectively inhibit melanoma (a dangerous skin cancer) in laboratory studies. The compound works by triggering cancer cells to self-destruct through a specific cellular pathway involving three key proteins: AKT, Nur77, and Bcl-2. Importantly, the treatment showed no significant toxic side effects in animal models, suggesting it could be developed as a new cancer therapy option.

Psychedelic-assisted therapy – supposedly paradigm-shifting research with poor attempts at hypotheses falsifying and questionable ethics

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This paper critically examines recent clinical trials testing MDMA and psilocybin for treating PTSD and depression. While these trials reported promising results, the author identifies serious scientific and ethical problems: participants could tell whether they received the drug or placebo due to its strong effects, researchers and therapists who strongly believed in the treatment may have unconsciously influenced patient responses, and negative side effects may have been downplayed. The author argues that without fixing these problems, the entire field of psychedelic therapy research could lose credibility.

Chromosome-Scale Genome and Transcriptomic Analyses Reveal Differential Regulation of Terpenoid Secondary Metabolites in Hericium coralloides

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Researchers sequenced the complete genome of Hericium coralloides, an edible medicinal mushroom, at the chromosome level for the first time. They identified genes responsible for producing terpenoids, which are beneficial compounds with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumor properties. The study found that these beneficial compounds are produced in higher amounts in the mushroom’s mycelium (root-like structure) compared to fruiting bodies, which could help optimize mushroom cultivation for medicinal use.

New and emerging pharmacologic treatments for MDD

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Major depressive disorder affects millions worldwide and current antidepressants often don’t work well or take weeks to be effective. Researchers have developed exciting new treatments that work through different brain mechanisms and show promise for rapid symptom relief. These include nasal spray ketamine (approved 2019), oral medications like zuranolone (approved 2023), and investigational treatments including psilocybin, which show benefits especially for treatment-resistant cases. While many show great promise, more research is needed on long-term safety and how to make them widely available.

Ketamine, Psychedelics, and Psychotherapy: Reframing, Redefining, Renaming Treatment Models

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This paper addresses confusion about how ketamine and psychedelics are being used to treat mental health conditions like depression and PTSD. The authors propose new clear definitions to distinguish whether these drugs are used alone for their chemical effects, combined with established talk therapies, or used to create experiences that are then processed in therapy. Using these clearer definitions will help patients, doctors, and regulators better understand what treatments involve and make more informed decisions.

Research Topic: Medicinal