bioRxiv
December 15, 2022
Alexander J Bradshaw, Virginia Ramírez-Cruz, Ali R. Awan et al.
5 citations
preprint
Psilocybin, the psychoactive compound in Psilocybe mushrooms, first evolved in that genus, with 4–5 possible horizontal gene transfers to other mushroom species occurring between 40 and 22 million years ago. Sequencing 71 fungarium specimens and analyzing 2,983 single-copy gene families produced a fully supported phylogeny, showing the stem lineage arose about 66 million years ago and diversified around 53 million years ago. Two distinct gene orders within the psilocybin biosynthetic gene cluster correspond to a deep split within Psilocybe, possibly indicating independent acquisition of the cluster. This may predict chemical differences between the two major clades, aiding development of novel therapeutics.
IMA fungus
January 1, 2025
Mara Ximena Haro-Luna, Felipe Ruan-Soto, Virginia Ramírez-Cruz et al.
2 citations
The use of Psilocybe zapotecorum, called Hongo Borracho, Hongo Santo, or in Zapotec Ni'to be'ya, for healing and divination continues in the Zapotec community of El Peral, San Antonino El Alto in Oaxaca, but its use is decreasing and the mushrooms are more difficult to find, likely due to changing climatic patterns. Some community members still sell these mushrooms. For the Zapotecs of El Peral, the mushrooms can do whatever is asked of them according to a ritual, and they are aware that outsiders use them recreationally, though they do not oppose it. This is the first formal record of Psilocybe mushroom use among Zapotecs of the Valles Centrales Region.
Journal of the Mexican Chemical Society
July 7, 2026
Aylín R. Tabal-Robles, J. Martin Torres-Valencia, Leticia Romero-Bautista et al.
A review of chemical studies on Psilocybe mushrooms, covering publications from 1958 to 2025, identified at least 50 different metabolites across 32 species. Most metabolites were alkaloids with indole structures, responsible for psychotropic properties, but amino acids, terpenoids, and saccharides were also reported. The genus comprises about 165 hallucinogenic species, yet information on non-alkaloid metabolites remains scarce.
Revista iberoamericana de micologia
January 3, 2013
Fernando Vega-Villasante, Luis Eduardo Ruiz-González, Saúl Rogelio Guerrero-Galván et al.
An extract of Psilocybe cubensis, a psychoactive fungus used ceremonially in Mexico, was tested for toxicity on brine shrimp (Artemia franciscana). The median lethal concentration (LC50) was 135 μg/ml for nauplii (larvae) and 172 μg/ml for adults. Cyst hatching was inhibited at all tested concentrations. The extract was toxic to both life stages under the conditions used.