Administration effects of four psilocybin mushroom extracts on serotonin levels and endothelial nitric oxide synthase activity levels in vivo and in vitro after one hour
Research Square (Research Square) July 18, 2023 Sanah Malomile Nkadimeng, L. Hay, Christiaan Ml Steinmann et al. 1 citation
Four species of psilocybin-containing mushrooms—Panaeolus cyanescens, Psilocybe natalensis, Psilocybe cubensis, and a leucistic A+ strain of Psilocybe cubensis—were tested in anesthetized Wistar rats for their effects on heart function, serotonin, and nitric oxide (NO) pathways. Hot-water extracts of the mushrooms (5 mg/kg) caused a non-significant increase in left ventricular (LV) parameters after 20 minutes, unlike the immediate effect of the control drug LNAME. The mushrooms significantly raised serotonin levels and suppressed endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activity both in vivo and in vitro on H9C2 cardiomyocytes. The findings suggest that disruption of eNOS pathways may underlie temporary blood pressure increases from psilocybin mushrooms, with different species producing distinct cardiac effects.