Neuropsychiatric diseases such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress represent a substantial long-term challenge for the global health systems because of their rising prevalence, uncertain neuropathology, and lack of effective pharmacological treatments. The approved existing studies constitute a piece of strong evidence whereby psychiatric drugs have shown to have unpleasant side effects and reduction of sustained tolerability, impacting patients’ quality of life. Thus, the implementation of innovative strategies and alternative sources of bioactive molecules for the search for neuropsychiatric agents are required to guarantee the success of more effective drug candidates. Psychotherapeutic use of indole alkaloids derived from magic mushrooms has shown great interest and potential as an alternative to the synthetic drugs currently used on the market. The focus on indole alkaloids is linked to their rich history, their use as pharmaceuticals, and their broad range of biological properties, collectively underscoring the indole heterocycle as significant in drug discovery. In this review, we aim to report the physicochemical and pharmacological characteristics of indole alkaloids, particularly those derived from magic mushrooms, highlighting the promising application of such active ingredients as safe and effective therapeutic agents for the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders.

The maize weevil (Sitophilus zeamais) is one of the main insect responsible of significant losses in stored products, and to keep nutritional value of them to find effective and safe solutions are very important. The Hypericum genus might be a potential source of new bio-insecticides due to the chemical composition of essential oils. In this study, components of essential oils of three Hypericum species were investigated for first time by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and, fumigant and contact toxicities as well as the repellent activity of essential oils of them were evaluated against S. zeamais adults. While the main components in H. mexicanum oil were determined as n-nonane (53.08%) and α-pinene (25.28%), the major constituents were determined as α-pinene (45.52%) and β-caryophyllene (13.59%) in the essential oil of H. myricariifolium. Chemical composition of essential oil of H. juniperinum were found to be n-nonane (12.0%), α-pinene (8.25%), geranyl acetate (7.93%), and β-caryophyllene (13.60%). The results revealed that H. mexicanum and H. myricariifolium oils have fumigant toxicity (LC50 < 500 µL/L air) and a potential action as repellents (RP > 70% at 6.2–22.7 μL/L air) for the control of the pest.

The cytokine storm, a hyperinflammatory response characterized by the excessive release of pro-inflammatory mediators such as TNFα, INFγ, IL-1β, IL-6, and GM-CSF, has been identified as a critical factor in the progression and severity of acute inflammatory conditions. Regulating these pathways is essential for mitigating systemic damage and improving outcomes. Natural products from tropical American plants have shown significant potential in modulating these hyperinflammatory responses. Key polyphenols, like quercetin and luteolin, found in plants such as Achyrocline satureioides and Mangifera indica demonstrate the downregulation of NF-κB and inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Alkaloids, such as berberine and mitraphylline, isolated from Berberis species and Uncaria tomentosa, respectively, have shown potent effects in suppressing nitric oxide production and regulating inflammasomes. Terpenoids, including parthenolide from Tanacetum parthenium and curcumol from Curcuma longa, exhibit multitarget activity, reducing cytokine levels and inhibiting key inflammatory enzymes like COX-2 and iNOS. These findings highlight the immense potential of bioactive compounds from tropical American plants as modulators of immune–inflammatory pathways, providing a foundation for developing effective therapeutic agents to counteract the severe effects of cytokine storms.