Research Keyword: biased agonism

Synergistic, multi-level understanding of psychedelics: three systematic reviews and meta-analyses of their pharmacology, neuroimaging and phenomenology

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This comprehensive study analyzed three classic psychedelic drugs—LSD, psilocybin (from magic mushrooms), and DMT—across three levels: how people experience them, how they affect brain activity, and how they interact with brain receptors. Researchers found that LSD produces more intense visual experiences than psilocybin, and all three drugs significantly alter brain connectivity patterns. The study highlights the importance of standardizing research methods to better understand how these compounds might help treat depression and addiction.

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Psychedelics action and schizophrenia

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This review examines how psychedelic drugs like psilocybin and LSD affect the brain, particularly through serotonin receptors. While these compounds can produce psychosis-like symptoms similar to schizophrenia, they also promote brain plasticity and growth of neural connections. The article discusses whether psychedelics could potentially treat negative symptoms and cognitive problems in schizophrenia patients, despite their mind-altering properties, possibly through lower doses or non-hallucinogenic alternatives.

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Emerging paradigms for target discovery of traditional medicines: A genome-wide pan-GPCR perspective

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Traditional medicines from plants, animals, and fungi contain chemical compounds that can interact with specific proteins in our cells called G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). These receptors control many important body functions and are targeted by about one-third of all FDA-approved medications. This review explains how scientists are discovering new therapeutic compounds from traditional medicines by systematically screening them against the complete library of human GPCRs, using advanced techniques to identify which compounds bind to which receptors. Famous examples include morphine from poppies for pain relief and compounds from ginseng that help regulate blood sugar.

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Identification of 5-HT2A receptor signaling pathways associated with psychedelic potential

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Scientists discovered that psychedelic drugs work by activating a specific signaling pathway in the brain called the 5-HT2A-Gq pathway. By creating new drug-like molecules, they found that drugs need to strongly activate this particular pathway to produce psychedelic effects like hallucinations. This discovery could help researchers design new psychiatric medicines that have therapeutic benefits without the hallucinogenic side effects that worry doctors and patients.

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Psilocybin as Transformative Fast-Acting Antidepressant: Pharmacological Properties and Molecular Mechanisms

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Psilocybin, a compound from certain mushrooms, is being studied as a potential rapid-acting treatment for severe depression that doesn’t respond to standard antidepressants. Unlike conventional antidepressants that take weeks to work, psilocybin shows promise for producing mood improvements within days. The drug works by activating serotonin receptors in the brain and promoting the growth of new neural connections, though researchers are still working to fully understand how it achieves its antidepressant effects.

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