Pholiotina cyanopus, a rare fungus producingpsychoactive tryptamines
Open Life Sciences – November 19, 2014
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
A potent psychedelic mushroom, *Pholiotina cyanopus*, contains an impressive 0.90% psilocybin by dry weight. This discovery, rooted in detailed botany and chemistry, highlights its significance for Psychedelics and Drug Studies. Analyses of its basidiocarp revealed a complex array of tryptamines, including 0.17% psilocin and 0.16% baeocystin. Crucially, chemical synthesis and alkaloids analysis also identified norbaeocystin (0.053%) and aeruginascin (0.011%) for the first time in this species, expanding our understanding of its unique biology and forensic toxicology.
Abstract
Abstract Pholiotina cyanopus was collected from wood chips and other woody remnants of undetermined tree species. Its basidiomata were found in June within the area of closed sawmill in the central part of Żywiec city (SW Poland). Description and illustration of Ph. cyanopus based on Polish specimens are provided and its ecology, general distribution and comparison with similar taxa – Pholiotina smithii, Pholiotina sulcatipes , and others are discussed as well. The identity of the active compounds of Ph. cyanopus was additionally determined. Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) data sets were obtained to support the occurrence of psilocybin and its analogues – psilocin, baeocystin, norbaeocystin, and aeruginascin in air-dried basidiomata of the species. The content of psilocybin was found to be high (0.90±0.08% of dry weight), besides, analysed samples contained lower concentrations of psilocin (0.17±0.01%), and baeocystin (0.16±0.01%). Additionally, the chemical analysis revealed small amounts of norbaeocystin (0.053±0.004%) and aeruginascin (0.011±0.0007%) for the first time in the species.