Stability of psilocybin and its four analogs in the biomass of the psychotropic mushroom Psilocybe cubensis

0536518 - ÚJF 2022 RIV US eng J - Journal Article
Gotvaldová, K. - Hájková, K. - Borovička, Jan - Jurok, R. - Cihlářová, P. - Kuchař, M.
Stability of psilocybin and its four analogs in the biomass of the psychotropic mushroom Psilocybe cubensis.
Drug Testing and Analysis. Roč. 13, č. 2 (2021), s. 439-446. ISSN 1942-7603. E-ISSN 1942-7611
Institutional support: RVO:61389005
Keywords : LC-MS * mushrooms * psilocybin * stability * tryptamines
OECD category: Analytical chemistry
Impact factor: 3.234, year: 2021
Method of publishing: Limited access
https://doi.org/10.1002/dta.2950

Psilocybin, psilocin, baeocystin, norbaeocystin, and aeruginascin are tryptamines structurally similar to the neurotransmitter serotonin. Psilocybin and its pharmacologically active metabolite psilocin in particular are known for their psychoactive effects. These substances typically occur in most species of the genus Psilocybe (Fungi, Strophariaceae). Even the sclerotia of some of these fungi known as 'magic truffles' are of growing interest in microdosing due to them improving cognitive function studies. In addition to microdosing studies, psilocybin has also been applied in clinical studies, but only its pure form has been administrated so far. Moreover, the determination of tryptamine alkaloids is used in forensic analysis.

In this study, freshly cultivated fruit bodies of Psilocybe cubensis were used for monitoring stability (including storage and processing conditions of fruiting bodies). Furthermore, mycelium and the individual parts of the fruiting bodies (caps, stipes, and basidiospores) were also examined. The concentration of tryptamines in final extracts was analyzed using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. No tryptamines were detected in the basidiospores, and only psilocin was present at 0.47 wt.% in the mycelium. The stipes contained approximately half the amount of tryptamine alkaloids (0.52 wt.%) than the caps (1.03 wt.%). However, these results were not statistically significant, as the concentration of tryptamines in individual fruiting bodies is highly variable. The storage conditions showed that the highest degradation of tryptamines was seen in fresh mushrooms stored at -80 degrees C, and the lowest decay was seen in dried biomass stored in the dark at room temperature.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0317116