Surprising Variability in Tryptamine Profiles of Psilocybe cubensis Fruiting Bodies: Inter- and Intra-Strain Differences Across 14 Strains Cultivated Under Controlled Conditions
Amiel Sharchaton, Shilat Parsha, Sara P. Azerrad, Yaron Dekel, Nisreen Rabah, Tomáš Páleníček, Eyal Kurzbaum
Journal of Fungi July 2, 2026 DOI: 10.3390/jof12070486 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Fruiting bodies of 14 distinct strains of Psilocybe cubensis |
| Topics | Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Tryptamine Mushroom Strain injury Agaricales Botany |
| Key findings | Total tryptamine concentrations varied by more than 7.8-fold among 14 strains of Psilocybe cubensis grown under standardized conditions, with substantial intra-strain variability in psilocybin content. |
Abstract
Psilocybin-producing mushrooms exhibit considerable biochemical diversity, yet the extent of variability among strains within a single species under standardized conditions remains insufficiently characterized. In this study, we quantified psilocybin, psilocin, baeocystin, norbaeocystin, aeruginascin, and norpsilocin in the fruiting bodies of 14 distinct strains of Psilocybe cubensis. The mushroom strains were cultivated, dried, extracted, and analyzed under uniform laboratory conditions. Despite strict methodological standardization, total tryptamine concentrations varied by more than 7.8-fold among strains (from 2.62 to 20.65 mg/g), with psilocybin consistently emerging as the dominant compound. Analysis of individual fruiting bodies within the selected strains revealed substantial intra-strain variability, with coefficients of variation for psilocybin ranging from 12.81% to 23.39% between individual fruiting bodies. These findings demonstrate that both inter- and intra-strain biochemical heterogeneity persist even under controlled conditions, underscoring the challenges of standardizing whole mushroom preparations for research or therapeutic use. Our results highlight the importance of strain selection, rigorous chemical profiling, and dosing precision in future pharmacological and clinical applications of P. cubensis.
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
Cites 22
- Single-Dose Psilocybin for a Treatment-Resistant Episode of Major Depression. New England Journal of Medicine November 3, 2022
- Long-term follow-up of psilocybin-facilitated smoking cessation The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse July 21, 2016
- Single-Dose Psilocybin Treatment for Major Depressive Disorder JAMA August 31, 2023
- Efficacy and safety of psilocybin-assisted treatment for major depressive disorder: Prospective 12-month follow-up Journal of Psychopharmacology February 1, 2022
- Therapeutic use of psilocybin: Practical considerations for dosing and administration Frontiers in Psychiatry December 1, 2022
and 17 more in the library