Aromatic l-amino acid decarboxylases (AAADs) are a phylogenetically diverse group of enzymes responsible for the decarboxylation of aromatic amino acid substrates into their corresponding aromatic arylalkylamines. AAADs have been extensively studied in mammals and plants as they catalyze the first step in the production of neurotransmitters and bioactive phy...
Psilocybe mushrooms are best known for their l-tryptophan-derived psychotropic alkaloid psilocybin. Dimethylation of norbaeocystin, the precursor of psilocybin, by the enzyme PsiM is a critical step during the biosynthesis of psilocybin. However, the "magic" mushroom Psilocybe serbica also mono- and dimethylates l-tryptophan, which is incompatible with the s...
Psilocybin (4-phosphoryloxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine) is the main alkaloid of the fungal genus Psilocybe, the so-called "magic mushrooms." The pharmaceutical interest in this psychotropic natural product as a future medication to treat depression and anxiety is strongly re-emerging. Here, we present an enhanced enzymatic route of psilocybin production by addin...
Secondary metabolites are a heterogeneous class of chemicals that often mediate interactions between species. The tryptophan-derived secondary metabolite, psilocin, is a serotonin receptor agonist that induces altered states of consciousness. A phylogenetically disjunct group of mushroom-forming fungi in the Agaricales produce the psilocin prodrug, psilocybi...
Psilocybin is the psychotropic tryptamine-derived natural product of Psilocybe carpophores, the so-called "magic mushrooms". Although its structure has been known for 60 years, the enzymatic basis of its biosynthesis has remained obscure. We characterized four psilocybin biosynthesis enzymes, namely i) PsiD, which represents a new class of fungal l-tryptopha...
Secondary metabolites are heterogeneous natural products that often mediate interactions between species. The tryptophan-derived secondary metabolite, psilocin, is a serotonin receptor agonist that induces altered states of consciousness. A phylogenetically disjunct group of mushroom-forming fungi in the Agaricales produce the psilocin prodrug, psilocybin. S...
Abstract Psilocybin ist der psychotrope, vom Tryptamin abgeleitete Naturstoff der Psilocybe-Fruchtkörper, der so genannten “Zauberpilze”. Obwohl dessen Struktur seit 60 Jahren bekannt ist, blieb die enzymatische Grundlage ihrer Biosynthese ungeklärt. Wir charakterisierten vier Psilocybin-Biosyntheseenzyme, nämlich i) PsiD, welches zu einer neuen Klasse pilzl...
The aim of the study was to develop a methodology for the determination of γ-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB), ibotenic acid (IBO) and psilocybin (PY) abuse in human saliva.
UnlabelledThe definition New psychoactive substances (NPS) refers to emerging drugs whose chemical structures are similar to other psychoactive compounds but not identical, representing a "legal" alternative to internationally controlled drugs. There are many categories of NPS, such as synthetic cannabinoids, synthetic cathinones, phenylethylamines, piperazi...
Five Psilocybe species with unresolved systematic position (P. atrobrunnea, P. laetissima, P. medullosa, P. pelliculosa, and P. silvatica) were investigated using four molecular markers (EF1-α, ITS, LSU, and IGS). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that with the exception of P. laetissima, which is now rightfully classified in the genus Leratiomyces, all investi...
I. Psilocybe cubensis was cultured successfully in two media. Medium A was devised by Catalfomo and Tyler and Medium B was a modification of a medium which has been used for ergot alkaloid production by Claviceps purpurea. Only when the fungus was kept on Sabouraud agar plates.did it subsequently produce psilocybin when transferred to liquid media. A quantit...
Psilocybe argentipes is a hallucinogenic mushroom. The present study examined the effects of P. argentipes on marble-burying behavior, which is considered an animal model of obsessive-compulsive disorder. P. argentipes significantly inhibited marble-burying behavior without affecting locomotor activity as compared with the same dose of authentic psilocybin. ...
After the immunisation of rabbits with a psilocin-specific immunogen, polyclonal antisera were obtained. With these antisera a competitive, heterogeneous radioimmunoassay for the detection of psilocin was developed. As tracer a derivative of psilocin was synthesised, which contained a tritiated CH(3) group. The antisera showed a specific reaction with psiloc...
The occurrence of tryptamine derivatives and urea in Panaeolus cyanescens, also known as Copelandia cyanescens, from Australia, Hawaii and Thailand was investigated. All 70 collections contained psilocin, serotonin and urea. Those from Hawaii were also relatively rich in psilocybin, whereas the species from Australia and Thailand were virtually exempt of thi...
Using HPLC and TLC, psilocybin and baeocystin but not psilocin were found in extracts of dried fruit bodies of PLUTEUS SALICINUS. Caps contain more psilocybin than stems. The amount of psilocybin varies and was as high as 1.57% in the caps. Urea was also detected. This substance is virtually exclusively localized in the caps. Baeocystin and tryptophan were a...
Tryptamine produces pharmacologic effects in man and the chronic spinal dog which are similar to those produced by LSD, mescaline, psilocin, DMT, DOM and DOB. These effects include tachycardia, tachypnea, mydriasis, hyperreflexia, behavioral changes and in man, hallucinations. Chronic spinal dogs treated chronically with LSD became tolerant to its ability to...
This article reviews the major hallucinogenic fungi both for their historical as well as neurochemical import. Despite voluminous literature on them, relatively little study has focused on psilocybin related substances that could relate to forms of psychotic illness. Some metabolic pathways are reviewed which illustrate the need for more study of indole comp...