The occurrence of the psychotomimetic agent psilocybin in an Australian agaric, Psilocybe subaeruginosa

Psilocybin and its dephosphorylated derivative psilocin were first isolated from the hallucinogenic Mexican mushroom Psilocybe mexicana Heim. These compounds have since been found in many species of the genus Psilocybe from Mexico, North America, and Europe, as well as in Stropharia cubensis from Mexico, Thailand, and Cambodia, Conocybe cyanopus and amithiill from North America, a Copelandia from France, and Panaeolus sphinctrinus from Mexico (though this last occurrence is unconfirmed). Mono- and bis-demethyl analogues occur together with psilocybin in submerged cultures of Ps. baeocystis. However, not all Psilocybe species contain these metabolites; Ps. yungensis and atrobrunnea lack them.

Study at a glance

Abstract

The psychotomimetic agents psilocybinl~2 (1)O\p/ OH and its dephosphorylated derivative psilooin273 were 0, ' '0-first isolated214 from the hallucinogenic Mexican + mushroom Psilocybe mexicanu Heim.The presence C H C H H e 2 of psilocybin, sometimes accompanied by psilooin, \ has subsequently been demonstrated in a number of 2 (1)species of the genus Psilocybe from Mexico,2J*6 North America,7-9 and Europe,loJl in Stropharia cubensis from Mexico,2J Thailand, and Cambodia,2 in Conocybe cyunopusgJl and amithiill from North America, in a Copelundiu from l?rance,l2 and in Panaeolus sphinctrinus from Mexicol3a (although this last occurrence has not been confirmedlOJ4).The mono-and bis-demethyl analogues are found together with psilocybin in submerged cultures of Ps. baeocystis.gJ5The occurrence of psilocybin or derivatives is not universal throughout the genus Psilocybe, however, and Ps.yungensisl3b and atrobrunneug lack such metabolites.