Psilocybin Conspectus: Status, Production Methods, and Considerations
Lauren Plotnik, Grace Gibbs, Thomas Graham
International journal of medicinal mushrooms November 23, 2021 DOI: 10.1615/intjmedmushrooms.2021041921 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Psilocybin |
| Citations | 9 |
| Key findings | Current methods for producing pharmaceutical-grade psilocybin include synthetic and biosynthetic routes, with new approaches emerging to meet clinical demand. |
Abstract
Psilocybin is a psychoactive alkaloid that is produced naturally by approximately 200 species of mushrooms. The potential medical use of this molecule for the treatment of mental illness is gaining renewed momentum. As demand grows and clinical trials progress, appropriate methods for producing a quality pharmaceutical product are needed. This review highlights the methods currently available, such as the prominent synthetic method and its biosynthetic alternatives, as well as others on the near horizon. This article further seeks to discuss the rapid and evolving nature of the psilocybin industry in the 21st century.