A Review of Aeruginascin and Potential Entourage Effect in Hallucinogenic Mushrooms
European Psychiatry June 1, 2022 Pierre Chue, A. Andreiev, E. Bucuci et al. 6 citations
Aeruginascin, a naturally occurring tryptamine compound found in certain mushroom species, has much weaker activity at serotonin receptors compared to psilocybin, with binding affinities several orders of magnitude lower. Its active metabolite, 4-HO-TMT, binds at 5-HT1A, 5-HT2A, and 5-HT2B receptors with inhibition constants of 4400, 670, and 120 nM respectively, versus psilocybin's 567.4, 107.2, and 4.6 nM. As a quaternary trimethylammonium compound, it is less likely to cross the blood-brain barrier. The limited data suggest aeruginascin's direct contribution to any entourage effect in psychedelic mushrooms is limited.