Psilocybin containing mushrooms: a rapidly developing biotechnology industry in the psychiatry, biomedical and nutraceutical fields.
3 Biotech – December 01, 2022
Source: PubMed
Summary
Ancient healing meets modern medicine: Hallucinogenic mushrooms are emerging as breakthrough treatments for mental health. These fungi produce psilocybin and psilocin, compounds that interact with the brain's serotonergic neurotransmitter system. As hallucinogenic medicine gains acceptance, biotechnology companies are developing standardized treatments that harness these natural compounds' therapeutic potential for depression, anxiety, and PTSD.
Abstract
Humans have collected and used hallucinogenic mushrooms for ethnic medicinal, recreational, and religious purposes since before recorded history. Currently, the use of these mushrooms is illegal in most countries, but where their use is legal they are applied as self medication. Psilocybin and psilocin, two psychoactive alkaloids, are naturally synthesized by hallucinogenic mushrooms. The chemical structure of these compounds are similar to the neurotransmitter serotonin. Activation of this system by psilocybin and psilocin may produce temporary changes in the brain that induce hallucinations and feelings of euphoria. Adjustment of the serotonin system in this way can moderate symptoms of related mental disorders. This review summarizes relevant and current information regarding the discovery of hallucinogenic mushrooms and their contained psychoactive compounds, the events that lead to their criminalization and decriminilization, and the state of knowledge of psilocybin, psilocin, and derivatives. Last, research on the psychoactive properties of these mushrooms is placed in perspective to possible applications for human dysfunctions.