ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters
September 14, 2023
Robert B. Kargbo
3 citations
Neurological diseases often involve changes in synaptic connectivity and plasticity. Psychoplastogens, substances that stimulate neuronal growth and enhance neural structures, show promise in mitigating these changes. They activate key biological targets, including AMPA receptors, TrkB, and mTOR. Substances like ketamine, scopolamine, N,N-dimethyltryptamine, and rapastinel have...
ACS Med Chem Lett
August 18, 2023
Robert B. Kargbo
3 citations
This viewpoint discusses integrating biomarkers, psychedelics, and AI into psychiatry for enhanced diagnostics, prognosis, and treatment. It highlights the potential of psychedelics in therapy, AI's role in predicting treatment response, and the challenges that must be addressed. The aim is to encourage research for more precise, personalized psychiatric care.
Journal of Xenobiotics
July 25, 2023
Robert B. Kargbo
5 citations
The psychedelic renaissance has reignited interest in the therapeutic potential of psychedelics for mental health and well-being. An emerging area of interest is the potential modulation of psychedelic effects by the gut microbiome—the ecosystem of microorganisms in our digestive tract. This review explores the intersection of the gut microbiome and psychedelic therapy, underlining potential...
ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters
July 13, 2023
Robert B. Kargbo
2 citations
This Patent Highlight presents a method to treat inflammatory or neurological disorders in subjects needing treatment. The method involves administering a therapeutically effective amount of a composition containing a subhallucinogenic concentration of substituted phenethylamine. The substituted phenethylamine may belong to the 2C-X family, including 2C-H, 2C-I, 2C-B, or 2C-E. The specific...
ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters
May 11, 2023
Robert B. Kargbo
15 citations
The gut-brain axis (GBA) refers to the sophisticated bidirectional communication system connecting the digestive system with the central nervous system. This interaction is enabled by a series of intricate signaling processes, encompassing various neuro-immune and hormonal pathways. The association between the gut microbiome and mental health has garnered immense scientific and public interest,...
ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters
April 13, 2023
Robert B. Kargbo
4 citations
This Patent Highlight describes derivatives of DMT, 5-MeO-DMT, and MDMA that are metabolically converted to biologically active analogs. When these prodrugs are administered to a subject, they potentially could be used therapeutically in conditions associated with neurological diseases. Furthermore, the disclosure provides methods to potentially treat conditions comprising major depressive...
ACS Omega
February 7, 2022
Robert B. Kargbo, Alexander M. Sherwood, Poncho Meisenheimer et al.
5 citations
Psilocybin, a serotonergic agonist, was granted a "breakthrough therapy" status by the Food and Drug Administration for clinical trials involving major depressive disorder and treatment-resistant depression. The direct phosphorylation of psilocin to psilocybin that uses a fast crystallization associated with a kinetically controlled process resulted in a smaller particle size distribution....
Acta Crystallographica Section C Structural Chemistry
December 20, 2021
Alexander M. Sherwood, Robert B. Kargbo, Kristi W. Kaylo et al.
10 citations
Psilocybin {systematic name: 3-[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl]-1 H -indol-4-yl dihydrogen phosphate} is a zwitterionic tryptamine natural product found in numerous species of fungi known for their psychoactive properties. Following its structural elucidation and chemical synthesis in 1959, purified synthetic psilocybin has been evaluated in clinical trials and has shown promise in the treatment of...
ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters
October 21, 2021
Robert B. Kargbo
15 citations
ADVERTISEMENT RETURN TO ISSUEPREVPatent HighlightNEXT5-MeO-DMT: Potential Use of Psychedelic-Induced Experiences in the Treatment of Psychological DisordersRobert B. Kargbo*Robert B. KargboUsona Institute, 277 Granada Drive, San Luis Obispo, California 93401-7337, United States*Email: [email protected]More by Robert B. Kargbohttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-5539-6343Cite this: ACS Med. Chem. Lett....
Journal of Natural Products
March 5, 2021
Janis Fricke, Alexander M. Sherwood, Adam L. Halberstadt et al.
18 citations
A novel analogue of psilocybin was produced by hybrid chemoenzymatic synthesis in sufficient quantity to enable bioassay. Utilizing purified 4-hydroxytryptamine kinase from Psilocybe cubensis, chemically synthesized 5-methylpsilocin (2) was enzymatically phosphorylated to provide 5-methylpsilocybin (1). The zwitterionic product was isolated from the enzymatic step with high purity utilizing a...
ChemPlusChem
October 1, 2020
Claudius Lenz, Alexander M. Sherwood, Robert B. Kargbo et al.
40 citations
Abstract Psychotropic fungi of the genus Psilocybe , colloquially referred to as „magic mushrooms”, are best known for their l ‐tryptophan‐derived major natural product, psilocybin. Yet, recent research has revealed a more diverse secondary metabolism that originates from this amino acid. In this minireview, the focus is laid on l ‐tryptophan and the various Psilocybe natural products and their...
ACS Omega
July 1, 2020
Jessica Sable, Tura Patterson, Gary Tarpley et al.
41 citations
A second-generation kilogram-scale synthesis of the psychedelic tryptamine psilocybin has been developed. The synthesis was designed to address several challenges first encountered with the scale-up of previously described literature procedures, which were not optimized for providing consistent yield and purity of products, atom economy, or being run in pilot plant-scale reactors. These...
ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters
March 2, 2020
Robert B. Kargbo
48 citations
Psilocybin, an active component in "magic mushroom", may have the potential to meet the therapeutic needs for a number of indications without the addictiveness and overdose risk of other mind-altering drugs, such as cocaine, heroin, alcohol, methamphetamine, and so forth. The need for new therapies is urgent because addiction, overdose, and suicide deaths have risen throughout the United States...
Chemistry - A European Journal
February 26, 2020
Janis Fricke, Robert B. Kargbo, Lars Regestein et al.
48 citations
Abstract Psilocybin, the principal indole alkaloid of Psilocybe mushrooms, is currently undergoing clinical trials as a medication against treatment‐resistant depression and major depressive disorder. The psilocybin supply for pharmaceutical purposes is met by synthetic chemistry. We replaced the problematic phosphorylation step during synthesis with the mushroom kinase PsiK. This enzyme was...
Journal of Natural Products
February 20, 2020
Alexander M. Sherwood, Adam L. Halberstadt, Adam K. Klein et al.
79 citations
A general synthetic method was developed to access known tryptamine natural products present in psilocybin-producing mushrooms. In vitro and in vivo experiments were then conducted to inform speculations on the psychoactive properties, or lack thereof, of the natural products. In animal models, psychedelic activity by baeocystin alone was not evident using the mouse head twitch response assay,...
Synthesis
January 8, 2020
Robert B. Kargbo, Alexander M. Sherwood, Poncho Meisenheimer et al.
31 citations
Described herein is an improved synthesis of 3-[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl]-1H-indol-4-yl dihydrogen phosphate (psilocybin). The protocol outlines: synthesis of multigram quantities of psilocybin, identification of critical in-process parameters, and isolation of psilocybin without the use of chromatography, TLC, or aqueous workup. The synthesis furnishes psilocybin in five steps in 23% overall...
ChemBioChem
May 31, 2019
Janis Fricke, Alexander M. Sherwood, Robert B. Kargbo et al.
38 citations
Abstract Psilocybin and its direct precursor baeocystin are indole alkaloids of psychotropic Psilocybe mushrooms. The pharmaceutical interest in psilocybin as a treatment option against depression and anxiety is currently being investigated in advanced clinical trials. Here, we report a biocatalytic route to synthesize 6‐methylated psilocybin and baeocystin from 4‐hydroxy‐6‐methyl‐ l...