A Review of Synthetic Access to Therapeutic Compounds Extracted from Psilocybe.
Raphaël Serreau, Ammar Amirouche, Amine Benyamina, Sabine Berteina‐raboin
Pharmaceuticals December 28, 2022 DOI: 10.3390/ph16010040 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Psilocybin Psychedelic-assisted therapy |
| Keywords | Psilocybe mushrooms Clinical research Synthetic access Tryptamines Psychedelics hallucinogens Entheogens Psychoactive compounds Organic synthesis Laboratory synthesis Clinical studies |
| Citations | 13 |
| Key findings | Multiple synthetic routes exist for producing psilocybin and related compounds, including historical methods, metal-catalyzed couplings, and biocatalysis, but further development is needed to meet research demands. |
Abstract
Psychedelics are used for various pathologies of the central nervous system and are currently the subject of much research, some of which relates to the compounds contained in various Psilocybe-type hallucinogenic mushrooms. It is difficult, however, to obtain and purify sufficient quantities of these compounds from fungi to carry out biological studies, hence the need to develop simple and efficient synthetic routes. We review here the various syntheses used to obtain these molecules, focusing first on the classic historical syntheses, then the use of more recent metallo-catalyzed couplings and finally the known biocatalytic methods for obtaining these molecules. Other access routes are certainly possible and should be the subject of future research given the therapeutic interest of these compounds.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on psilocybin and psychedelic-assisted therapy, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy: A Paradigm Shift in Psychiatric Research and Development | 2018 | Review | |
| Novel psychopharmacological therapies for psychiatric disorders: psilocybin and MDMA. | 2016 | Review | |
| Systematized Review of Psychotherapeutic Components of Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy | 2021 | Systematized review | |
| The Emerging Field of Psychedelic Psychotherapy. | 2022 | Review | |
| Experience of Music Used With Psychedelic Therapy: A Rapid Review and Implications Participants in psychedelic therapy research aged 18–69 with varied backgrounds | 2020 | Rapid review | n = 180 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 10
- The molecular structure, vibrational spectra, solvation effect, non-covalent interactions investigations of psilocin. Spectrochimica acta. Part A, Molecular and biomolecular spectroscopy November 5, 2024
- A cane toad (Rhinella marina) N-methyltransferase converts primary indolethylamines to tertiary psychedelic amines. Journal of Biological Chemistry October 1, 2023
- Hormonal Influences on Psilocybin Responsivity Across the Female Lifespan: Toward Personalized Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Psychoactives November 2, 2025
- Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy in adults with depression – A literature review Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry September 24, 2025
- Psychedelic Drugs Rediscovered-In Silico Study of Potential Fetal Exposure to Analogues of Psychedelic Drugs During Pregnancy. Molecules January 8, 2026
and 5 more in the library
Cites 30
- Psilocybin-assisted treatment for alcohol dependence: A proof-of-concept study Journal of Psychopharmacology January 13, 2015
- Pilot study of the 5-HT2AR agonist psilocybin in the treatment of tobacco addiction Journal of Psychopharmacology September 11, 2014
- Safety, Tolerability, and Efficacy of Psilocybin in 9 Patients With Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry November 15, 2006
- The Therapeutic Potential of Psychedelic Drugs: Past, Present, and Future. Neuropsychopharmacology April 26, 2017
- Percentage of Heavy Drinking Days Following Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy vs Placebo in the Treatment of Adult Patients With Alcohol Use Disorder JAMA Psychiatry August 24, 2022
and 25 more in the library