Elucidating the Phase I metabolism of psilocin in vitro.
Archives of toxicology March 1, 2025 Junqi Chen, Ziteng Wang, Ching Yee Yong et al. 3 citations
Psilocin, the active compound from magic mushrooms, is metabolized mainly by the enzyme monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) in the liver and other organs. The Phase I metabolic pathway produces a newly identified intermediate, 2-(4-hydroxy-1H-indol-3-yl)-acetaldehyde (4-HIA), which is then converted to the terminal metabolite 2-(4-hydroxy-1H-indol-3-yl)-acetic acid (4-HIAA) by aldehyde oxidase and aldehyde dehydrogenases. MAO-A-mediated hepatic clearance accounts for 80.9% of total hepatic metabolism, but extrahepatic clearance is substantial, with total MAO-A-mediated organ clearance estimated at 614.81 mL/min, indicating that MAO-A plays a major role both in the liver and elsewhere in the body.