Psilocybin
Psilocybin is a chemical substance. It can cause hallucinations when eaten, and has also been found to reverse psychological conditioning, grow brain cells and heal the brain.[2] It occurs in many kinds of fungi and mushrooms, most notably Psilocybin mushrooms. Most of these are known as psychedelic mushrooms. It grows in Europe, South America, Mexico, and the United States. Mushrooms that contain psilocybin are known as magic mushrooms.
The substance is used as a recreational drug. It is illegal in many countries.
Psilocybin works by activating serotonin receptors, most often in the prefrontal cortex. This part of the brain affects mood, cognition, and perception. Hallucinogens also work in other regions of the brain that regulate arousal and panic responses.[3]
The hallucinogenic effects of psilocybin usually occur within 30 minutes after a person ingests it and last 4–6 hours. In some individuals, changes in sensory perception and thought patterns can last for several days.
In 2016, Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers first reported that treatment with psilocybin under psychologically supported conditions significantly relieved existential anxiety and depression in people.[4][5]
Psilocybin Media
American psychologist and counterculture figure Timothy Leary conducted early experiments into the effects of psychedelic drugs, including psilocybin (1989 photo)
The ability of psilocybin to cause perceptual distortions is linked to its influence on the activity of the prefrontal cortex
In their studies on the psilocybin experience, Johns Hopkins researchers use peaceful music and a comfortable room to help ensure a comfortable setting, and experienced guides to monitor and reassure the volunteers
Chart of dependence potential and effective dose/lethal dose ratio of several psychoactive drugs
Biosynthetic route previously thought to lead to psilocybin. It has recently been shown that 4-hydroxylation and O-phosphorylation immediately follow decarboxylation, and neither dimethyltryptamine nor psilocin are intermediates, although spontaneously generated psilocin can be converted back to psilocybin.
The neurotransmitter serotonin is structurally similar to psilocybin
Psilocybin is converted in the liver to the pharmacologically active psilocin, which is then either glucuronated to be excreted in the urine or further converted to various psilocin metabolites
Global distribution of over 100 psychoactive species of genus Psilocybe mushrooms.
Albert Hofmann (shown here in 1993) purified psilocybin and psilocin from Psilocybe mexicana in the late 1950s
References
- ↑ Geiger, Haden A.; Wurst, Madeline G.; Daniels, R. Nathan (2018). "DARK Classics in Chemical Neuroscience: Psilocybin". ACS Chem. Neurosci. 9 (10): 2438–2447. doi:10.1021/acschemneuro.8b00186. S2CID 49591766. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
In the late 1950s Albert Hofmann, of Sandoz Laboratories, identified and synthesized the psychoactive compounds psilocybin and psilocin
- ↑ Catlow, Briony J.; Song, Shijie; Paredes, Daniel A.; Kirstein, Cheryl L.; Sanchez-Ramos, Juan (June 2, 2013). "Effects of psilocybin on hippocampal neurogenesis and extinction of trace fear conditioning" (PDF). Experimental Brain Research. Springer. 228 (4): 481–491. doi:10.1007/s00221-013-3579-0. PMID 23727882. S2CID 253752241. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 5, 2017. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
- ↑ "What are magic mushrooms and psilocybin?". MedicalNewsToday. October 3, 2021. Archived from the original on January 9, 2023. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
- ↑ "Hallucinogenic Drug Psilocybin Eases Existential Anxiety in People With Life-Threatening Cancer". Johns Hopkins Medicine. December 2, 2016. Archived from the original on January 16, 2023. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
- ↑ Griffiths, Roland R.; Johnson, Matthew W.; Carducci, Michael A.; Umbricht, Annie; Richards, William A.; Richards, Brian D.; Cosimano, Mary P.; Klinedinst, Margaret A. (December 2016). "Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized double-blind trial". Journal of Psychopharmacology (Oxford, England). National Library of Medicine. 30 (12): 1181–1197. doi:10.1177/0269881116675513. PMC 5367557. PMID 27909165.
