Determination of psilocybin in Psilocybe semilanceata by capillary zone electrophoresis

A new capillary zone electrophoresis method rapidly measures psilocybin in Psilocybe semilanceata mushrooms. After a simple methanol extraction, the compound separates from other mushroom components using a borate-phosphate buffer at pH 11.5. Psilocybin identity is confirmed by migration time and UV spectra, and quantitation uses barbital as an internal standard. The method is linear for psilocybin concentrations between 0.01 and 1 mg/ml, with high precision (intra-day variation 0.5% R.S.D., inter-day 2.5% R.S.D.). It also works for the related compound baeocystin.

Study at a glance

Abstract

A capillary zone electrophoretic (CZE) method was developed for the rapid determination of psilocybin in Psilocybe semilanceata. Following a simple two step extraction with 3.0+2.0 ml methanol, the hallucinogenic compound was effectively separated from matrix components by CZE utilizing a 10 mM borate-phosphate running buffer adjusted to pH 11.5. The identity of psilocybin was confirmed by migration time information and by UV spectra, while quantitation was accomplished utilizing barbital as internal standard. The calibration curve for psilocybin was linear within 0.01-1 mg/ml, while intra-day and inter-day variations of quantitative data were 0.5 and 2.5% R.S.D., respectively. In addition to psilocybin, the method was also suitable for the determination of the structurally related compound baeocystin.