The occurrence of the psychotomimetic agent psilocybin in an Australian agaric, Psilocybe subaeruginosa
Australian Journal of Chemistry – April 01, 1970
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent psychotomimetic hallucinogen, was first isolated from the Mexican mushroom *Psilocybe mexicanu*. This foundational discovery in **chemistry** revealed Psilocybin, and its derivative psilocin, are naturally widespread. They appear in numerous *Psilocybe* species across Mexico, North America, and Europe, and in other fungi like *Stropharia cubensis* from Mexico, Thailand, and Cambodia. This natural prevalence is key for **Psychedelics and Drug Studies**, informing our understanding of these compounds. However, some *Psilocybe* species notably lack these unique chemicals.
Abstract
The psychotomimetic agents psilocybinl~2 (1)O\p/ OH and its dephosphorylated derivative psilooin273 were 0, ' '0-first isolated214 from the hallucinogenic Mexican + mushroom Psilocybe mexicanu Heim.The presence C H C H H e 2 of psilocybin, sometimes accompanied by psilooin, \ has subsequently been demonstrated in a number of 2 (1)species of the genus Psilocybe from Mexico,2J*6 North America,7-9 and Europe,loJl in Stropharia cubensis from Mexico,2J Thailand, and Cambodia,2 in Conocybe cyunopusgJl and amithiill from North America, in a Copelundiu from l?rance,l2 and in Panaeolus sphinctrinus from Mexicol3a (although this last occurrence has not been confirmedlOJ4).The mono-and bis-demethyl analogues are found together with psilocybin in submerged cultures of Ps. baeocystis.gJ5The occurrence of psilocybin or derivatives is not universal throughout the genus Psilocybe, however, and Ps.yungensisl3b and atrobrunneug lack such metabolites.