Chemical Composition and Biological Activities of Psilocybe Mushrooms: Gaps and Perspectives
Pharmaceuticals July 1, 2025 Mateus Araújo Da Luz, H. Guedes, Antônio B. M. Bisneto et al. 5 citations
A review of 74 articles on Psilocybe mushrooms found that 66 reported psilocybin or psilocin, confirming psychoactivity, while 4 demonstrated antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of whole extracts. Across the genus, 37 chemical compounds were identified, 23 of which are alkaloids. Only alkaloids, terpenoids, and phenolic compounds were found, totaling just 36 compounds over 67 years of study. Most research focused on tryptamine alkaloids responsible for psychoactivity, with no studies examining isolated compounds against specific pathological factors except for whole-extract larvicidal, antimicrobial, and antioxidant potential. The authors suggest that future work should isolate new compounds and evaluate alternative biological activities.