Hallucinogenic mushrooms circulating in Japan were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy and high-performance liquid chromatography. Psilocybe cubensis contained psilocin (0.14–0.42%) and psilocybin (0.37–1.30%) in the whole mushroom, with higher concentrations in the cap than the stem. Copelandia species contained psilocin (0.43–0.76%) and psilocybin (0.08–0.22%) in the whole mushroom, again with more alkaloid in the cap. Psilocybe cubensis is psilocybin-rich, while Copelandia is psilocin-rich. The combination of SEM and optical microscopy was effective for observing characteristic fungal tissues such as basidiomycetes, spores, cystidia, and basidia.
In rats, the psychoactive compound 2C-B is broken down into at least six distinct breakdown products through two main metabolic pathways. One pathway converts 2C-B into an aldehyde, which is then further processed into an alcohol and a carboxylic acid. The other pathway produces metabolites where a methyl group is removed from either the 2- or 5-position of the molecule, followed by acetylation of the amino group. These findings indicate that the body metabolizes 2C-B through multiple chemical changes, resulting in a variety of metabolites that are excreted in urine.
After oral administration of 10 mg/kg of the psychoactive substance 2C-B to male Wistar rats, the main metabolite found in urine was 5-O-desmethyl-N-acetyl-2C-B, accounting for 13.2% of the dose. Other urinary metabolites included 2-O-desmethyl-N-acetyl-2C-B (5.8%), 2-O-desmethyl-2C-B (3.5%), a carboxylic acid compound (1.9%), 5-O-desmethyl-2C-B (1.2%), and an alcoholic compound (0.8%). Only 0.2% of the original 2C-B was excreted unchanged in urine. In faeces, only two acetylated metabolites were detected. Most hydroxyl-containing urinary metabolites were recovered as conjugates.