Optimization of Psilocybin Extraction from Psilocybe cubensis Mushrooms and Characterization of the Fungal Extract
Mateus Araújo Da Luz, Taynah Pereira Galdino, Lucas Matheus da S. Oliveira, H. Guedes, Anauara Silva, Victor I. Afonso, Suédina M L Silva, Antonio G B Lima, Marcus V L Fook, Maria C M Torres
Journal of the Brazilian Chemical Society 2026 DOI: 10.21577/0103-5053.20260049 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Factorial experiment Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Psilocybe cubensis mushrooms |
| Topics | Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Extraction chemistry Phytochemical Yield engineering Factorial experiment Mushroom Chromatography Ethanol Solvent extraction Food science |
| Key findings | Optimal psilocybin extraction from Psilocybe cubensis uses acidified ethanol at pH 2 and 25 °C, yielding 50.03 mg psilocybin per gram of extract, exceeding prior literature values. |
Abstract
Psilocybin is a molecule with significant potential for the treatment of mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and substance abuse. In this study, it was explored the extraction of psilocybin from Psilocybe cubensis mushrooms using a factorial design approach, along with the physicochemical and phytochemical characterization of the extracted material, aiming to optimize the process. The results indicate that the optimal extraction conditions were achieved using an acidified ethanol solvent (without water addition) at pH 2 and at temperature of 25 °C. The maximum yield obtained was 50.03 mg of psilocybin g-1 of extract (ca. 1% psilocybin), which exceeds the values reported in the literature for similar studies, demonstrating the efficiency of the proposed method. Through liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis, six compounds were annotated: the indole alkaloids psilocybin and psilocin, previously reported in the P. cubensis genus, and four additional compounds, sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, norvaline, tetronomycin and N-(tetradecanoyl)-sphinganine, which have not previously been reported in the Psilocybe genus.
Comparable studies
Other experimental studies on psilocybin, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psilocybin induces schizophrenia-like psychosis in humans via a serotonin-2 agonist action Healthy human volunteers | 1998 | Experimental study | |
| Validation of the revised Mystical Experience Questionnaire in experimental sessions with psilocybin Participants in controlled laboratory experiments receiving a moderate to high oral... | 2015 | Validation study using pooled data from five laboratory experiments | n = 184 |
| Broadband Cortical Desynchronization Underlies the Human Psychedelic State Healthy human participants | 2013 | Experimental study | |
| Long-term follow-up of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for psychiatric and existential distress in patients with life-threatening cancer Participants with cancer-related psychiatric distress who completed a parent randomized... | 2020 | Long-term within-subjects follow-up analysis | n = 15 |
| Enzymatic Synthesis of Psilocybin | 2017 | Laboratory study |