In a mouse model of systemic inflammation induced by lipopolysaccharide injection, psilocybin combined with eugenol reduced brain levels of several inflammatory cytokines. Pre-treatment with psilocybin alone or in a 1:50 combination with eugenol most effectively lowered COX-2 and TNF-α mRNA expression. Post-treatment with the 1:50 combination produced the strongest reductions across multiple markers, including IL-6 and IL-8, as measured by ELISA. Western blot confirmed decreased COX-2 and IL-1β proteins. The findings suggest that psilocybin and eugenol together have anti-inflammatory effects in the brain, potentially relevant to disorders like depression and PTSD.
Oral psilocybin and eugenol, given after inflammation was induced in a colitis mouse model, each reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines and mediators in the brain, including IL-1β, IL-6, and COX-2. The combined treatment produced the strongest reduction in IL-6 levels compared to the colitis group. However, across all markers, the combination did not show synergistic anti-inflammatory effects. These findings support the therapeutic potential of both compounds for psychiatric and neurodegenerative inflammatory disorders, though further research is needed to clarify mechanisms and clinical efficacy.