Exploring Psilocybe cubensis Strains: Cultivation Techniques, Psychoactive Compounds, Genetics and Research Gaps
Eyal Kurzbaum, Tomáš Páleníček, Amiel Shrchaton, Yaron Dekel, Sara P. Azerrad
Journal of Fungi January 28, 2025 DOI: 10.3390/jof11020099 (opens in new tab)
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Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Biotechnology Documentation |
| Citations | 11 |
| Key findings | Genetic diversity, strain variability, and environmental factors shape the biosynthesis of psilocybin and psilocin in Psilocybe cubensis, and recent advances in cultivation and analytical methods are beginning to clarify its therapeutic potential despite decades of regulatory restrictions. |
Abstract
Psilocybe cubensis, a widely recognized psychoactive mushroom species, has played a significant role in both historical and modern therapeutic practices. This review explores the complex interplay between genetic diversity, strain variability and environmental factors that shape the biosynthesis of key psychoactive compounds, including psilocybin and psilocin. With many strains exhibiting substantial variability in their phenotypic characteristics and biochemical content, understanding and documenting this diversity is crucial for optimizing therapeutic applications. The review also highlights advances in cultivation techniques, such as submerged fermentation of the mycelium, and innovative analytical methodologies that have improved the precision of compound quantification and extraction. Although there is limited scientific information on P. cubensis due to nearly four decades of regulatory restrictions on psychedelic research, recent developments in genetic and biochemical studies are beginning to provide valuable insights into its therapeutic potential. Furthermore, this review emphasizes key knowledge gaps and offers insights into future research directions to advance the cultivation, scientific documentation of strain diversity, regulatory considerations and therapeutic use of P. cubensis.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on psilocybin, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic psychedelics: An integrative review of epidemiology, therapeutics, mystical experience, and brain network function. General population | 2019 | Integrative review | |
| The pharmacology of psilocybin | 2002 | Review | |
| Serotonin research: contributions to understanding psychoses | 2008 | Review | |
| Psychedelics, Meditation, and Self-Consciousness | 2018 | Review | |
| The abuse potential of medical psilocybin according to the 8 factors of the Controlled Substances Act | 2018 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 11
- Network pharmacology and molecular simulation reveal the entourage effect mechanisms of psilocybin-producing mushrooms on the brain Scientific Reports February 14, 2026
- Novel qNMR Method to Quantify Psilocybin and Psilocin in Psychedelic Mushrooms ACS Omega November 10, 2025
- Psilocybin, From Ancestral Use to Therapeutic Potential: A Multidimensional Review of Its Pharmacological Basis and Current Perspectives Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental September 1, 2026
- Longitudinal neural and psychological changes following psilocybin under compassion imagery priming Frontiers in Human Neuroscience July 22, 2026
- Quantifying psilocybin exposure in a natural product–based retreat setting: An observational field method for dose measurement Psychedelics July 18, 2026
and 6 more in the library
Cites 72
- REBUS and the Anarchic Brain: Toward a Unified Model of the Brain Action of Psychedelics Pharmacological Reviews June 20, 2019
- Homological scaffolds of brain functional networks Journal of the Royal Society, Interface October 29, 2014
- 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
- The Subjective Effects of Psychedelics Are Necessary for Their Enduring Therapeutic Effects. ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science December 10, 2020
- Psychedelic effects of psilocybin correlate with serotonin 2A receptor occupancy and plasma psilocin levels Neuropsychopharmacology January 26, 2019
and 67 more in the library