HPLC Sample Prep and Extraction SOP v1.3 for Fungi
August 11, 2023 Dominick Annunziato
A novel sample preparation and extraction technique for fungi uses microwave assisted extraction with 75% methanol and 25% water, plus ultrasonication and vortex mixing, to break down chitin in the cell wall and release bioactive compounds. Applied to magic mushroom fruit bodies, it extracts tryptamines (psilocybin and psilocin) for accurate chromatography measurements in two hours and forty-five minutes with minimal handling. The technique is superior to other methods in time and effectiveness, pulling all active compounds without degrading them. It can be adapted for other fungi like Cordyceps and Lion's mane. Sharing such methods reduces variability between testing labs and improves result consistency.