Taking Different Roads: l‐Tryptophan as the Origin of Psilocybe Natural Products
ChemPlusChem October 1, 2020 Claudius Lenz, Alexander M. Sherwood, Robert B. Kargbo et al. 40 citations
Psilocybe fungi, known as magic mushrooms, produce psilocybin from the amino acid L-tryptophan. Recent research shows these fungi have a more varied secondary metabolism derived from this amino acid. This review describes psilocybin and related compounds, including blue-colored psilocyl oligomers, beta-carbolines, and N,N-dimethyl-L-tryptophan, along with current knowledge of their biosynthesis. The work covers pharmacological, medicinal, ecological, biochemical, and evolutionary aspects of these natural products.