The Effect of Magic Mushroom ( Psilocybe azurescens ) on Social Interaction, Anxiety‐ and Depressive‐Like Behaviors in Male Rats; the Role of Neuroinflammation, Oxidative Stress, and Neurotrophic Factors
Journal of Neuroscience Research January 1, 2026 Hediye Moghadam, Parisa Akbari, Elmira Beirami et al.
Oral consumption of the psilocybin-containing mushroom Psilocybe azurescens at doses of 10, 100, and 250 mg/kg every other day for 14 days increased anxiety- and depressive-like behaviors and disrupted social interaction in male Wistar rats. These behavioral changes were accompanied by elevated neuroinflammation (IL-6 and TNFα) and oxidative stress (ROS and SOD) and reduced neurotrophic factors (BDNF and GDNF) in the hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, and amygdala. The findings suggest that high doses of P. azurescens can induce mood disorders through increased inflammatory responses and oxidative stress alongside decreased neurotrophic factor expression.