The Analysis of Hallucinogenic Drugs from Plants and Fungi
Michael D. Cole, Lata Gautam, Agatha Grela
May 14, 2025 DOI: 10.1039/9781837673056-00062 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Hallucinogen Traditional medicine |
| Citations | 1 |
| Key findings | Fluorescence detection in HPLC provides greater selectivity than UV or diode array detection for analyzing psychedelic drugs, and NMR is valuable for identifying complex molecules like LSD. |
Abstract
This chapter introduces drugs derived from plants and fungi including lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), psilocybin (from ‘magic mushrooms’), N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and mescaline. Their physical description and chemical identification are described. The use of fluorescence detection for HPLC analysis of drugs and the greater selectivity it offers over UV and diode array detection are described. Derivatisation of this group of drugs prior to GC-MS analysis is discussed. Where the molecules are complex, for example, LSD, the value of NMR as an identification technique is emphasised. Finally, the use of DNA as a powerful tool in the identification of fungal drugs where all of the morphological characteristics have been lost is explored.
Citations in the library
Cites 10
- Hallucinogens and dissociative agents naturally growing in the United States. Pharmacology & Therapeutics May 1, 2004
- Return of the lysergamides. Part I: Analytical and behavioural characterization of 1‐propionyl‐d‐lysergic acid diethylamide (1P‐LSD) Drug Testing and Analysis October 12, 2015
- Return of the lysergamides. Part II: Analytical and behavioural characterization of N6-allyl-6-norlysergic acid diethylamide (AL-LAD) and (2’S,4’S)-lysergic acid 2,4-dimethylazetidide (LSZ) Drug Testing and Analysis June 6, 2016
- Analysis of psilocybin and psilocin in Psilocybe subcubensis GUZMÁN by ion mobility spectrometry and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry Forensic Science International 1999
- The Determination of Psilocin and Psilocybin in Hallucinogenic Mushrooms by HPLC Utilizing a Dual Reagent Acidic Potassium Permanganate and Tris(2,2′‐bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) Chemiluminescence Detection System Journal of Forensic Sciences 2006
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