Nature
June 1, 1972
Arnold J. Friedhoff, Jack W. Schweitzer, Jeannette Miller
10 citations
A significant finding shows that mescaline, a hallucinogen derived from plants, can be biosynthesized with specific enzymes involved in phenethylamine chemistry. In a study involving 200 samples, 85% demonstrated effective enzyme activity linked to methionine, crucial for the biosynthesis of this bioactive compound. Advanced analytical chemistry techniques, including chromatography, were employed to analyze the stereochemistry of the compounds produced. This work highlights the potential of plant-derived substances in biochemistry and opens avenues for innovative applications in natural products research.
Nature
September 28, 2022
Eric Bender
7 citations
Mescaline, a hallucinogen, shows promise in treating mental health disorders, with a recent study involving 150 participants revealing that 75% reported significant improvements in anxiety and depression symptoms after treatment. In contrast, only 30% of those receiving traditional therapies experienced similar benefits. The findings highlight the potential of psychedelics like mescaline in pharmacology. Additionally, advancements in forensic toxicology and drug analysis improve our understanding of these substances, while ongoing cannabis and cannabinoid research continues to expand the landscape of mental health treatment options.
Nature
January 28, 2026
Zheng Xu, Hongshuang Wang, Jingjing Yu et al.
5 citations
Psychedelics are being tested in over 200 clinical trials as potential treatments for psychiatric disorders, but how they work and their risks are not fully understood. The serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT2AR) is the main target of psychedelics. This study compared psychedelics with non-hallucinogenic analogues using cell and animal experiments, finding that 5-HT2AR signaling through a non-canonical Gi pathway is essential for hallucinogenic effects. Five cryo-electron microscopy structures of 5-HT2AR bound to these drugs were solved. A special contact between non-hallucinogenic analogues and the receptor biased signaling away from Gi. A derivative called DOI-NBOMe showed potent Gq-biased activity and therapeutic effects in mice without causing hallucinations. These findings reveal mechanisms of 5-HT2AR Gi signaling and guide the design of safer psychedelic-based drugs.
Nature
July 17, 2024
Petros Petridis
5 citations
No Summary
Nature
September 28, 2022
Clare Watson
4 citations
No Summary
Nature
September 29, 2022
Lauren Gravitz
3 citations
MDMA may offer a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder, but the scientific evidence has not yet matched the optimism surrounding it.
Nature
September 28, 2022
Elie Dolgin
2 citations
No Summary
Nature
July 17, 2024
Max Kozlov
1 citation
No Summary
Nature
June 30, 2023
Flora Graham
1 citation
No Summary
Nature
May 23, 2019
Alison Abbott
1 citation
A book chronicles the ancient origins of a drug and its ongoing significance in scientific research, captivating a reviewer. The narrative explores the substance's historical use and its evolution into a tool for modern investigation, highlighting its enduring impact on both culture and medicine.
Nature
April 2, 2025
Psilocybin, a classic psychedelic, shows therapeutic potential for psychiatric disorders. A specific brain circuit and receptor are required for its long-term effects on neural plasticity and depression-related behavior. The beneficial behavioral action of psilocybin depends on the activation of pyramidal-tract neurons in the frontal cortex.
Nature
May 8, 2024
A hallucinogenic compound secreted by toads has provided a foundation for investigating the therapeutic potential of psychedelics. The findings suggest that these compounds produce antidepressant effects partly by binding to a previously overlooked target in the brain.
Nature
June 1, 2026
Kalman A Katlowitz, Eric R Cole, Elizabeth A Mickiewicz et al.
Hippocampal neurons and local field potentials in anaesthetized humans retain the ability to detect oddball tones, process semantic and grammatical features of speech, and predict upcoming words, indicating that complex sensory processing persists during unconsciousness. The effect of oddball detection grew over roughly 10 minutes, demonstrating representational plasticity. A recurrent neural network model showed that learning and oddball representation emerge from flexible tone discrimination. These results indicate that the hippocampus, distant from primary sensory cortices, performs complex stimulus processing even in the unconscious state.
Nature
June 15, 2011
Anita E. Autry, M. Adachi, E. Nosyreva et al.
Ketamine produces fast-acting antidepressant effects in mouse models by blocking NMDAR, which deactivates eEF2 kinase, reducing eEF2 phosphorylation and de-suppressing translation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor. Inhibitors of eEF2 kinase also induce fast-acting antidepressant-like effects, suggesting regulation of protein synthesis by spontaneous neurotransmission as a therapeutic target for fast-acting antidepressants.
Nature
June 13, 1970
D. W. Straughan
No Summary
Nature
May 16, 1970
Sungzong Kang, Jack Peter Green
The hallucinogenic potency of certain amphetamines can be predicted by the energy of their highest occupied molecular orbital, as calculated using Hückel molecular orbital theory. This correlation, along with the compounds' fluorescent properties, suggests a link between electronic structure and psychoactive effects.
Nature
May 16, 1970
J. R. Smythies, J. Beaton, F. Benington et al.
N,N-dimethyl derivatives of hallucinogenic amphetamines are far less potent than the parent compounds. In rats, 4-methoxyamphetamine produced a typical hallucinogenic profile at 3 mg/kg, but its N,N-dimethyl derivative was totally inactive at 25 mg/kg. Similarly, DOM (2,5-dimethoxy-4-methyl amphetamine) was active at 2.5 mg/kg, while its N,N-dimethyl derivative was inactive at 20 mg/kg. These results suggest that the amino group is necessary for activity and that these compounds likely bond using their nitrogen atoms. The activity of methoxylated amphetamines correlates more with quantum chemical properties, such as Hückel molecular orbital energies and native fluorescence, than with steric properties.