Renal excretion profiles of psilocin following oral administration of psilocybin: a controlled study in man

After oral doses of psilocybin (212 ± 25 µg/kg body weight), the metabolite psilocin appears in urine, peaking at 870 µg/L between 2 and 4 hours. Within 24 hours, 3.4 ± 0.9% of the dose is excreted as free psilocin. Adding beta-glucuronidase doubles measured psilocin levels, indicating partial excretion as psilocin-O-glucuronide, though 18 ± 7% of unconjugated psilocin decomposes during incubation. Enzymatic hydrolysis extends detectability in urine.

Study at a glance

Abstract

In a clinical study eight volunteers received psilocybin (PY) in psychoactive oral doses of 212+/-25 microg/kg body weight. To investigate the elimination kinetics of psilocin (PI), the first metabolite of PY, urine was collected for 24 h and PI concentrations were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography with column switching and electrochemical detection (HPLC-ECD). Sample workup included protection of the unstable PI with ascorbic acid, freeze-drying, and extraction with methanol. Peak PI concentrations up to 870 microg/l were measured in urine samples from the 2-4 h collection interval. The PI excretion rate in this period was 55.5+/-33.8 microg/h. The limit of quantitation (10 microg/L) was usually reached 24 h after drug administration. Within 24 h, 3.4+/-0.9% of the applied dose of PY was excreted as free PI. Addition of beta-glucuronidase to urine samples and incubation for 5 h at 40 degrees C led to twofold higher PI concentrations, although 18+/-7% of the amount of unconjugated PI was decomposed during incubation. We conclude that in humans PI is partially excreted as PI-O-glucuronide and that enzymatic hydrolysis extends the time of detectability for PI in urine samples.