Dephosphorylation of Psilocybin to Psilocin by Alkaline Phosphatase
Experimental Biology and Medicine – January 01, 1961
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
The **hallucinogen Psilocybin** undergoes a crucial **biochemistry** transformation, revealing its metabolic secret. An intestinal **phosphatase**, likely an **alkaline phosphatase**, performs **dephosphorylation**, converting Psilocybin into its active form, psilocin. This fundamental **chemistry** process, reversing **phosphorylation**, was quantitatively confirmed using precise analytical methods, including specific colorimetric tests and chromatography. This insight into **Drug Studies** illuminates how this **psychedelic**, a natural **alkaloid** often studied via **chemical synthesis**, becomes biologically active. The findings suggest a similar reaction occurs within living organisms.
Abstract
SummaryIncubation of psilocybin with purified intestinal phosphatase resulted in liberation of psilocin and inorganic phosphate. Psilocin formed was determined both quantitatively by a specific colorimetric method employing the nitrosonaphthol reagent and qualitatively by paper chromatography. Some characteristics of the phosphatase action on psilocybin are described. The possibility of a similar reaction occurring in the intact animal is discussed.