Discrimination of Psychoactive Fungi (Commonly Called "Magic Mushrooms") Based on the DNA Sequence of the Internal Transcribed Spacer Region.
Food Hygiene and Safety Science (Shokuhin Eiseigaku Zasshi) – January 01, 2003
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
Panaeolus cyanescens contained the highest psilocin levels among "magic mushrooms" sold in Japanese markets, while Amanita species had none. Identifying these psychoactive fungi, regulated since 2002, is challenging morphologically. A genetic approach, analyzing the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, classified samples into 6 groups. Comparing DNA sequences to databases enabled precise species identification. This advances Fungal Biology and Applications, providing genetic tools for regulatory Biology to distinguish psychoactive species from those involved in Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Interactions or Plant Pathogens and Fungal Diseases.
Abstract
'Magic mushrooms' (MMs) are psychoactive fungi containing the hallucinogenic compounds, psilocin (1) and psilocybin (2). Since June 6, 2002, these fungi have been regulated by the Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Law in Japan. Because there are many kinds of MMs and they are sold even as dry powders in local markets, it is very difficult to identify the original species of the MMs by morphological observation. Therefore, we investigated the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region in the ribosomal RNA gene of MMs obtained in Japanese markets to classify them by a genetic approach. Based on the size and nucleotide sequence of the ITS region amplified by PCR, tested MMs were classified into 6 groups. Furthermore, a comparison of the DNA sequences of the MMs with those of authentic samples or with those found in the databases (GenBank, EMBL and DDBJ) made it possible to identify the species of tested MMs. Analysis by LC revealed that psilocin (1) was contained at the highest level in Panaeolus cyanescens among the MMs, but was absent in the Amanita species.