Exploring Psilocybe spp. mycelium and fruiting body chemistry for potential therapeutic compounds
Frontiers in Fungal Biology November 29, 2023 Adam Waldbillig, Maria Baranova, Sarah Neumann et al. 10 citations
Psilocybe mushrooms produce psilocybin, which is converted to the psychoactive compound psilocin. Using metabolomics, a technique that profiles chemical fingerprints, the study shows that the chemical makeup of Psilocybe differs across mycelia, grain mycelia, and fruiting bodies. Fruiting bodies preferentially accumulate psilocybin, baeocystin, tryptophan, ergothioneine, and phenylethylamine, while mycelia have higher levels of alpha-glycerylphosphorylcholine, N-acetylglucosamine, and trimethylglycine. The findings suggest that compounds in Psilocybe mycelia may be worth investigating as potential naturally derived therapeutic targets.