Several fruiting bodies from Mosul forests were collected and were diagnosed using the Polymerase Chain Technique based on ITS region. It was proved they belong to Psilocybe cubensis mushroom, and was registered in the GenBank, NCBI in the serial number OR140556.1. The fruiting body powder was used in order to extract the alkaloid compound “Psilocybe”, which...
The growing body of evidence supporting the therapeutic efficacy of psychoactive substances, like psilocybin, has driven significant interest in recent decades due to their low toxicity and potential applications in treating various mental health disorders. However, producing pharmaceutical-grade psilocybin remains challenging, with three primary approaches:...
This study presents the development and validation of a high-performance liquid chromatography method with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD) for determining the content of tryptamines in methanolic extracts of dried fruiting bodies of mushrooms belonging to species of the Psilocybe genus. The objective is to initiate the assessment of tryptamine content in fu...
BACKGROUND: Psilocybin-containing mushrooms are gaining the attention of the scientific community due to the potential benefits offered by their psychoactive phytochemicals in the treatment of addiction and various mental health conditions. Although there are hundreds of different Psilocybe species, only a handful have been successfully cultivated under indo...
The incidence of mental health disorders is increasing worldwide. While there are multiple factors contributing to this problem, neuroinflammation underlies a significant subset of psychiatric conditions, particularly major depressive and anxiety disorders. Anti-inflammatory interventions have demonstrated benefit in these conditions. Psilocin, the active in...
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 psiloci...
ABSTRACT Psilocybe is a genus of mushroom-forming fungi with ecological, ethnomycological, and clinical importance due to psilocybin production by most species. We present five genomes that enable deeper discovery and analysis of the psilocybin gene cluster and increase taxonomic resolution within Psilocybe: Psilocybe semilanceata, Psilocybe gandalfiana nom....
Methamphetamine (MA) dependence leads to severe physical and psychological issues. Current treatments, including psychosocial therapies and residential rehabilitation, face limitations such as high relapse rates, cost, and accessibility issues. As a result, there is an urgent need for novel approaches to treat MA dependence that are effective, affordable, an...
BackgroundTreatment with so-called psychedelic drugs, including psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), and others, is among the most promising recent developments in psychiatry. This review focuses on psilocybin, a substance found in all mushrooms of the genus Psilocybe, because the largest amount of available evidence relates to this drug.MethodsThis...
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating psychiatric condition that develops following exposure to a traumatic event. Individuals with this condition experience numerous physiological and behavioral alterations, including intrusive memories, avoidance of trauma-related stimuli, heightened anxiety, hypervigilance, impaired cognition, elevated r...
Abstract: Psilocybin mushrooms, also known as "magic mushrooms," have garnered significant attention for their psychoactive properties and potential therapeutic applications. This review explores the comprehensive morphology, pharmacognostic properties, and pharmacological activities of psilocybin-producing fungi. The unique morphological characteristics of ...
Psilocybin-containing mushrooms, commonly known as magic mushrooms, drastically affect mental processing, cognitive functioning, and the mood state. In the present study, we investigated the effect of the Psilocybe cubensis extract on spatial memory and the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in rats exposed to chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS). ...
Abstract Interest in psychedelic research in the West is surging, however, clinical trials have almost exclusively studied synthetic compounds such as MDMA, ketamine, DMT, LSD, ibogaine, and psilocybin. To date, few clinical trials have utilized whole mushroom/plant material like Psilocybe mushrooms, Iboga, or Ayahuasca. Individuals participating in the Root...
Psilocybin, the natural hallucinogen from Psilocybe (magic) mushrooms, is a highly promising drug candidate for the treatment of depression and several other mental health conditions. Biosynthesis of psilocybin from the amino acid l-tryptophan involves four strictly sequential modifications. The third of these, ATP-dependent phosphorylation of the intermedia...
This study is an open-label, single-arm, proof-of-concept study, wherein treatment resistant bipolar depression (TRBD) participants will receive one 25 mg dose of oral psilocybin accompanied by preparatory, monitoring, and integration psychotherapy sessions (psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy, or PAP). Using fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging), the f...
Abstract The Psilocybe cubensis SAM-dependent methyltransferase, PsiM, catalyzes the last step in the biosynthesis of psilocybin. Likely evolved from monomethylating RNA methyltransferases, PsiM acquired a key amino acid exchange in the secondary sphere of the active site, M247 N, which is responsible for its capacity to dimethylate. Two variants, PsiM N247M...
The psychedelic mushroom market has expanded rapidly due to changing regulations and increasing consumer demand. Product diversity now extends beyond traditional capsules and tablets to include gummies, powders, and confectionery items, complicating quality control efforts. To assess the quality and potential adulteration of Amanita musca-ria and Psilocybe c...
Psilocybin, a major indole alkaloid found in magic mushrooms (Psilocybe cubensis), has recently drawn attention as a breakthrough therapy to treat major depressive disorder. This review aimed to summarize and identify knowledge gaps concerning their pharmacokinetic characteristics of psilocybin and its active metabolite, psilocin. Original studies related to...
This study is a two-group feasibility study of oral psilocybin combined with a 12-week group-based program, customized for firefighters. Trained facilitators will help create a trauma-informed space for the group (n = 6-8) to thrive and promote cognitive resilience. The topics covered throughout the 12 weeks include breath-work, mindfulness, self-compassion,...
Data on medication interactions with psychedelics are limited. Here we present what may be the first published report of a hypertensive emergency following the combination of psilocybin mushrooms with a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI). A42-year-old man with treatment-resistant major depressive disorder took 1 g of Psilocybe cubensis mushrooms, while presc...
