A new liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method measures psilocybin and psilocin in the mushroom species Psilocybe cubensis. Five strains—Blue Meanie, Creeper, B-Plus, Texas Yellow, and Thai Cubensis—were analyzed. The method detects psilocybin at 300 ng/g and psilocin at 30 ng/g of mushroom, with accuracy and precision errors under 6%. From most to least potent, average total psilocybin and psilocin concentrations were 1.36% (Creeper), 1.221% (Blue Meanie), 1.134% (B+), 1.103% (Texas Yellow), and 0.879% (Thai Cubensis) by weight. Results were comparable between two laboratories, and homogenizing multiple mushrooms together improved precision.
Psilocybin mushrooms, which contain psychoactive compounds like psilocybin and psilocin, are being studied for treating psychological disorders. An untargeted chemical analysis using liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry compared the chemical diversity of several psilocybin mushroom species to edible non-psilocybin mushrooms. The analysis identified multiple classes of compounds and their derivatives. Principal component analysis showed that psilocybin mushrooms and non-psilocybin mushrooms are compositionally very different from each other. These findings deepen understanding of the chemical complexity of psilocybin mushrooms and provide a foundation for future research into their medical and psychological applications.