The Bright Side of Psychedelics: Latest Advances and Challenges in Neuropharmacology
International Journal of Molecular Sciences January 10, 2023 Andrea Mastinu, Margrate Anyanwu, Marinella Carone et al. 45 citations
Psychedelic compounds such as psilocybin and LSD are being reexamined as potential treatments for psychiatric disorders like depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder, though clinical results remain unclear and definitive. The mechanisms of action of these molecules are not fully understood. This review summarizes the ethnobotanical uses of well-known psychedelic plants and the pharmacological mechanisms of their active ingredients. It provides an overview of structural and computational studies on the binding of ibogaine, mescaline, DMT, psilocin, and LSD to biological receptors. Recent clinical studies evaluating psychedelics in psychiatric disorders are compared with existing therapies.