BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY OF PSILOCYBIN EXTRACTS FROM THE FRUITING BODIES OF PSILOCYBE CUBENSIS ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTIMICROBIAL POTENTIAL

Fruiting bodies collected from Mosul forests were identified as Psilocybe cubensis mushrooms using PCR based on the ITS region and registered in GenBank as OR140556.1. The alkaloid psilocybin extracted from the fruiting body powder was analyzed by HPLC, showing a single peak at retention time 19.73, close to the standard's 19.98. Psilocybin exhibited 40% antioxidant activity at 40 µg/ml in the DPPH test, significant compared to ascorbic acid. It also inhibited pathogenic bacteria, with the largest inhibition zone of 25.50 mm against Escherichia coli at 50 mg/ml.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Several fruiting bodies from Mosul forests were collected and were diagnosed using the Polymerase Chain Technique based on ITS region. It was proved they belong to Psilocybe cubensis mushroom, and was registered in the GenBank, NCBI in the serial number OR140556.1. The fruiting body powder was used in order to extract the alkaloid compound “Psilocybe”, which was analyzed using HPLC technique. As a result, a single peak for this compound appeared, at a retention time of 19.73 which is very close to the standard compound,s retention time of 19.98. Also, alkaloid compound “Psilocybe” showed the antioxidant activity by using DPPH test, and it was found out that “Psilocybe” exhibits antioxidant activity of 40% at a concentration of 40 µg/ml with a significant value compared to the standard antioxidant “Ascorbic acid”. In addition, the compound “Psilocybe” had activity against different types of pathogenic bacteria, and the highest diameter of the growth inhibitor towards Escherichia coli bacteria at a concentration of 50 mg/ml and reached 25.50 mm.