Psilocybin: clinical potential, mechanistic insights, and biotechnological advances for scalable production.
World journal of microbiology & biotechnology December 31, 2025 José Islas-Vargas, Silvia Armenta, Ángeles Alitzel Rivera-Román et al. 2 citations
Psilocybin, a compound from Psilocybe mushrooms, shows promise for treating depression, but producing it at scale is challenging. Traditional extraction from mushrooms yields low amounts, and chemical synthesis is expensive and complex. Biotechnological methods have advanced, with engineered yeast and fungi reaching over 200 mg/L, and Escherichia coli strains achieving up to 2000 mg/L by improving enzyme efficiency. These microbial platforms offer a scalable, cost-effective route for industrial production. The work also highlights opportunities to combine biotechnology with cultural knowledge in regions rich in Psilocybe diversity, potentially advancing drug discovery and sustainable manufacturing.