A systematic review of 25 studies on extracting and quantifying psilocybin and psilocin from Psilocybe mushrooms found that both the extraction method and mushroom species significantly affect compound yields. Ultrasonic bath extraction was the most efficient technique, especially for Psilocybe cyanescens and Psilocybe cubensis. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was the most common method for identifying and quantifying the compounds. Polar solvents were essential for effective solubilization, with temperature, solvent-to-material ratio, and extraction time being key parameters for optimizing yields. The review aims to support standardized protocols for ensuring compound quality and purity.
A validated HPLC-DAD method quantifies psilocybin and psilocin in psychedelic mushroom extracts for medicinal use. Following Brazilian ANVISA guidelines, the method achieved detection limits of 1.58 mg/L for psilocybin and 1.70 mg/L for psilocin, with quantification limits of 4.78 and 5.17 mg/L, respectively. Recovery intervals ranged from 80–120% for psilocybin and 98–116% for psilocin. The mushroom samples contained 2.57% psilocybin and 0.16% psilocin. Accurate measurement of these compounds supports their reliable use in therapeutic contexts, emphasizing the need for precise quantification in developing safe medical treatments.
Optimizing the extraction of psilocybin from Psilocybe cubensis mushrooms using an acidified ethanol solvent at pH 2 and 25 °C, without added water, yields up to 50.03 mg of psilocybin per gram of extract (about 1% psilocybin). This exceeds yields reported in similar studies. Analysis by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry identified six compounds: the known indole alkaloids psilocybin and psilocin, plus four compounds not previously reported in the Psilocybe genus—sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, norvaline, tetronomycin, and N-(tetradecanoyl)-sphinganine.