Alteration of Depressive-like Behaviors by Psilocybe cubensis Alkaloid Extract in Mice: the Role of Glutamate Pathway
SHILAP Revista de lepidopterología March 1, 2018 Elaheh Mahmoudi, Mehrdad Faizi, Reza Hajiaghaee et al. 14 citations
Psilocybin, the active compound in Psilocybe cubensis extract (PCE), shows antidepressant and anxiety-related effects in mice by potentially interacting with the NMDA glutamate receptor. In experiments, a high dose of PCE (100 mg/kg) altered locomotion and time spent in the center of an open field. Lower doses of PCE (10 or 40 mg/kg) or ketamine (1 mg/kg) alone did not change locomotor activity, but combining these subeffective amounts reduced immobility in forced swimming and tail suspension tests, indicating antidepressant-like effects. These results suggest that psilocybin's interaction with the NMDA receptor may contribute to its antidepressant properties.