Classics in Chemical Neuroscience: Muscimol.
ACS chemical neuroscience September 18, 2024 Diego Rivera-Illanes, Gonzalo Recabarren-Gajardo 17 citations
Muscimol is a psychoactive compound found in Amanita mushrooms, including the fly agaric, and is structurally similar to the neurotransmitter GABA. It acts as a potent agonist at GABAA receptors and has been used historically as an entheogen in Siberian shamanic cultures. Although not approved for clinical use, muscimol is a valuable research tool in neuroscience, with its radiolabeled form, 3H-muscimol, employed as a radioligand in GABA receptor studies. Recent research explores its potential for neuropathic pain relief. This review covers the history, chemistry, pharmacology, and overall importance of muscimol.