Extensive Collection of Psychotropic Mushrooms with Determination of Their Tryptamine Alkaloids
Klára Gotvaldová, Jan Borovička, Kateřina Hájková, Petra Cihlářová, Alan Rockefeller, Martin Kuchař
International Journal of Molecular Sciences November 15, 2022 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232214068 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 226 |
| Population | Wild mushroom fruiting bodies from seven genera |
| Topics | Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Tryptamines Mushroom Agaricales Agaricus Botany Traditional medicine Food science |
| Citations | 50 |
| Key findings | Tryptamine concentrations in wild mushrooms are extremely variable, with Psilocybe species showing the highest psilocybin and psilocin levels, while no tryptamines were detected in Psilocybe fuscofulva and Psilocybe fimetaria. |
Abstract
Since not only psilocybin (PSB) but also PSB-containing mushrooms are used for psychedelic therapy and microdosing, it is necessary to know their concentration variability in wild-grown mushrooms. This article aimed to determine the PSB, psilocin (PS), baeocystin (BA), norbaeocystin (NB), and aeruginascin (AE) concentrations in a large sample set of mushrooms belonging to genera previously reported to contain psychotropic tryptamines. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry was used to quantify tryptamine alkaloids in the mushroom samples. Most mushroom collections were documented by fungarium specimens and/or ITS rDNA/LSU/EF1-α sequencing. Concentrations of five tryptamine alkaloids were determined in a large sample set of 226 fruiting bodies of 82 individual collections from seven mushroom genera. For many mushroom species, concentrations of BA, NB, and AE are reported for the first time. The highest PSB/PS concentrations were found in Psilocybe species, but no tryptamines were detected in the P. fuscofulva and P. fimetaria collections. The tryptamine concentrations in mushrooms are extremely variable, representing a problem for mushroom consumers due to the apparent risk of overdose. The varied cocktail of tryptamines in wild mushrooms could influence the medicinal effect compared to therapy with chemically pure PSB, posing a serious problem for data interpretation.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on psilocybin, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression: fMRI-measured brain mechanisms. Patients with treatment-resistant depression | 2017 | Observational cohort | n = 19 |
| Psychedelic effects of psilocybin correlate with serotonin 2A receptor occupancy and plasma psilocin levels Healthy volunteers | 2019 | Observational cohort | n = 8 |
| Increased spontaneous MEG signal diversity for psychoactive doses of ketamine, LSD and psilocybin Humans | 2017 | Observational study | |
| Classic psychedelic use is associated with reduced psychological distress and suicidality in the United States adult population. USA adult respondents from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (2008-2012) | 2015 | Observational cohort | n = 190,000 |
| Prediction of Psilocybin Response in Healthy Volunteers Healthy volunteers | 2012 | Observational cohort | n = 409 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 42
- Discovering the Potential Mechanisms of Medicinal Mushrooms Antidepressant Activity: A Review Antioxidants March 2, 2023
- Effect of chemically synthesized psilocybin and psychedelic mushroom extract on molecular and metabolic profiles in mouse brain. Molecular Psychiatry July 1, 2024
- A journey with psychedelic mushrooms: From historical relevance to biology, cultivation, medicinal uses, biotechnology, and beyond Biotechnology Advances August 31, 2023
- Determination of psilocybin and psilocin content in multiple Psilocybe cubensis mushroom strains using liquid chromatography - tandem mass spectrometry. Analytica Chimica Acta February 1, 2024
- The evolution and ecology of psilocybin in nature. Fungal Genetics and Biology June 1, 2023
and 37 more in the library
Cites 32
- Psychedelic effects of psilocybin correlate with serotonin 2A receptor occupancy and plasma psilocin levels Neuropsychopharmacology January 26, 2019
- The pharmacology of psilocybin Addiction Biology October 1, 2002
- Increased global integration in the brain after psilocybin therapy for depression. Nature Medicine April 11, 2022
- Psilocybin – Summary of knowledge and new perspectives European Neuropsychopharmacology December 17, 2013
- Psilocybin und Psilocin, zwei psychotrope Wirkstoffe aus mexikanischen Rauschpilzen Helvetica Chimica Acta 1959
and 27 more in the library