Research on Acute Toxicity and the Behavioral Effects of Methanolic Extract from Psilocybin Mushrooms and Psilocin in Mice
О. В. Жук, Іzabela Jasicka-Misiak, Anna Poliwoda, Anastasia Kazakova, В. В. Годован, Marek Halama, Piotr Wieczorek
Toxins March 27, 2015 DOI: 10.3390/toxins7041018 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Experimental study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Mice |
| Intervention | Psilocin |
| Dose | 1 mg/kg psilocin or extracts; 200 mg/kg 5-HTP |
| Measures | LD50, head-twitch response (HTR) |
| Topics | Psilocybin Serotonin |
| Keywords | Hallucinogen Acute toxicity Pharmacology Agonist |
| Citations | 64 |
| Key findings | Psilocin had the highest acute toxicity (LD50 293.07 mg/kg) and reduced head-twitch responses by about 60%, while mushroom extracts were less toxic and reduced head-twitches by about 30-46%, all acting as partial agonists on the serotonergic system. |
Abstract
The pharmacological activities and acute toxicity of the psilocin (PC) and dried residues of the crude extracts of psychotropic mushrooms were investigated in mice. The hallucinogenic substances were effectively isolated, by using methanol, from the species of Psilocybe semilanceata and Pholiotina cyanopus, that were collected in the north-east region of Poland. The chemical analysis of these extracts, which was performed by liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry detection (LC-MS), indicated the presence of psilocin and other hallucinogenic substances, including indolealkylamines and their phosphorylated analogues. When the pure psilocin or fungal extracts were used, slight differences in determined LD50 values were observed. However, the application of PC evoked the highest level of toxicity (293.07 mg/kg) compared to the activity of extracts from Ph. cyanopus and P. semilanceata, where the level of LD50 was 316.87 mg/kg and 324.37 mg/kg, respectively. Furthermore, the behavioral test, which considered the head-twitching response (HTR), was used to assess the effects of the studied psychotropic factors on the serotonergic system. Both, the fungal extracts and psilocin evoked characteristic serotoninergic effects depending on the dose administered to mice, acting as an agonist/partial agonist on the serotonergic system. A dose of 200 mg/kg 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) induced spontaneous head-twitching in mice (100% effect), as a result of the formation of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in the brain. Compared to the activity of 5-HTP, the intraperitoneal administration of 1mg/kg of psilocin or hallucinogenic extracts of studied mushrooms (Ph. cyanopus and P. semilanceata) reduced the number of head-twitch responses of about 46% and 30%, respectively. In contrast, the administration of PC exhibited a reduction of about 60% in HTR numbers.
Comparable studies
Other preclinical and animal studies on psilocybin, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psilocybin induces rapid and persistent growth of dendritic spines in frontal cortex in vivo Mice | 2021 | Observational cohort | |
| Harnessing psilocybin: antidepressant-like behavioral and synaptic actions of psilocybin are independent of 5-HT2R activation in mice Mice | 2021 | Experimental study | |
| Psychedelics reopen the social reward learning critical period Mice | 2023 | Experimental study in mice | |
| Correlation between the potency of hallucinogens in the mouse head-twitch response assay and their behavioral and subjective effects in other species. C57BL/6J mice | 2020 | Experimental study with dose-response experiments | |
| Effects of psilocybin on hippocampal neurogenesis and extinction of trace fear conditioning Mice | 2013 | Experimental study |
Citations in the library
Cited by 49
- DARK Classics in Chemical Neuroscience: Psilocybin ACS Chemical Neuroscience June 29, 2018
- Stability of psilocybin and its four analogs in the biomass of the psychotropic mushroom Psilocybe cubensis Drug Testing and Analysis October 29, 2020
- Role of 5-HT2A, 5-HT2C, 5-HT1A and TAAR1 Receptors in the Head Twitch Response Induced by 5-Hydroxytryptophan and Psilocybin: Translational Implications International Journal of Molecular Sciences November 16, 2022
- The Bright Side of Psychedelics: Latest Advances and Challenges in Neuropharmacology International Journal of Molecular Sciences January 10, 2023
- Genetic Survey of Psilocybe Natural Products ChemBioChem May 18, 2022
and 44 more in the library
Cites 18
- Pilot Study of Psilocybin Treatment for Anxiety in Patients With Advanced-Stage Cancer Archives of General Psychiatry September 7, 2010
- Acute, subacute and long-term subjective effects of psilocybin in healthy humans: a pooled analysis of experimental studies Journal of Psychopharmacology September 20, 2010
- Differential contributions of serotonin receptors to the behavioral effects of indoleamine hallucinogens in mice Journal of Psychopharmacology December 8, 2010
- Effect of Ring Fluorination on the Pharmacology of Hallucinogenic Tryptamines Journal of Medicinal Chemistry October 19, 2000
- The serotonin 2C receptor potently modulates the head-twitch response in mice induced by a phenethylamine hallucinogen Psychopharmacology February 19, 2010
and 13 more in the library