MYCOLab Ai Logo - gold and army green

Extensive Collection of Psychotropic Mushrooms with Determination of Their Tryptamine Alkaloids

Summary

Scientists analyzed 226 mushroom samples from about 30 psychotropic species to measure their psilocybin and related compound content. They found that the amounts of these compounds vary greatly, even within the same species, making it difficult to predict how strong a mushroom will be. The research shows that Psilocybe species generally contain the most psychoactive compounds, with some varieties containing over 15 times more psilocybin than others, highlighting safety concerns for users.

Background

Psychotropic mushrooms containing psilocybin and related tryptamines have been used historically in religious ceremonies and are increasingly studied for therapeutic applications. However, current knowledge of tryptamine concentration variability in wild-grown mushrooms is insufficient, with most analytical studies predating the 1990s when analytical techniques were limited.

Objective

To determine concentrations of psilocybin, psilocin, baeocystin, norbaeocystin, and aeruginascin in a large sample set of psychotropic mushrooms from seven genera. The study aimed to assess concentration variability in wild mushrooms and examine potential chemotaxonomic significance of tryptamine profiles.

Results

Concentrations of five tryptamine alkaloids were determined in 226 fruiting bodies of 82 individual collections from approximately 30 mushroom species across seven genera. Highest psilocybin/psilocin concentrations were found in Psilocybe species, with highest PSB concentration of 15.54 mg/g in P. serbica var. bohemica. First-time quantitative data for baeocystin, norbaeocystin, and aeruginascin are reported for many species.

Conclusion

Tryptamine concentrations in mushrooms are extremely variable both within and between species, posing practical challenges for consumers regarding dosing. The varied cocktail of tryptamines in wild mushrooms could influence medicinal effects compared to pure psilocybin therapy, suggesting further studies on minor alkaloids are needed for therapeutic applications.
  • Published in:International Journal of Molecular Sciences,
  • Study Type:Analytical Research Study,
  • Source: PMID: 36430546, DOI: 10.3390/ijms232214068
Scroll to Top