The Occurrence of Tryptamine Derivatives in Psilocybe semilanceata
Rudolf Brenneisen, Stefan Borner
Zeitschrift für Naturforschung C August 1, 1988 DOI: 10.1515/znc-1988-7-806 via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractThe hallucinogenic mushroom Psilocybe semilanceata contains psilocybin and baeocystin at varying levels, with psilocybin ranging from 0.21 to 2.02% and baeocystin from 0.05 to 0.77%, while psilocin appears only in trace amounts. Analysis of 52 samples collected across multiple sites in Switzerland over one to five years showed that alkaloid content varies with the mushroom's origin, year of collection, size, and the part of the mushroom tested. These findings describe the chemical variability of tryptamine derivatives in this species.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 52 |
| Population | Psilocybe semilanceata mushroom samples from Switzerland |
| Duration | 1-5 year collection period |
| Topics | Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Tryptamine Hallucinogen Chemistry Mushroom |
| Citations | 10 |
| Key finding | Psilocybin and baeocystin levels in Psilocybe semilanceata vary widely depending on origin, year, size, and mushroom part, with psilocin present only in traces. |
Abstract
The content of tryptamine derivatives in Psilocybe semilanceata, a popular hallucinogenic mushroom, was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. Most of the 52 samples have been collected at several localities in Switzerland during a 1-5 year period. The content of psilocybin and baeocystin varied in the range of 0.21-2.02% and 0.05-0.77%, respectively, whereas only traces of psilocin were present. The variability of the alkaloid level depending on origin, year of collection, size and part of mushrooms is discussed.