Exploring the biocatalysis of psilocybin and other tryptamines: Enzymatic pathways, synthetic strategies, and industrial implications

Tryptamines are neurotransmitters and psychoactive compounds found in many organisms. Psilocybin, a tryptamine, shows therapeutic potential for depression and anxiety, but current extraction methods are labor-intensive and costly. Biocatalysis—using enzymes—offers a sustainable alternative for synthesizing psilocybin and related tryptamines. Understanding psilocybin biosynthesis pathways can improve synthetic methods and industrial production. This review highlights biocatalysis's potential to advance tryptamine biosynthesis knowledge and enable high-purity production for therapy and research.

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Abstract

Abstract Tryptamines play diverse roles as neurotransmitters and psychoactive compounds found in various organisms. Psilocybin, a notable tryptamine, has garnered attention for its therapeutic potential in treating mental health disorders like depression and anxiety. Despite its promising applications, current extraction methods for psilocybin are labor‐intensive and economically limiting. We suggest biocatalysis as a sustainable alternative, leveraging enzymes to synthesize psilocybin and other tryptamines efficiently. By elucidating psilocybin biosynthesis pathways, researchers aim to advance synthetic methodologies and industrial applications. This review underscores the transformative potential of biocatalysis in enhancing our understanding of tryptamine biosynthesis and facilitating the production of high‐purity psilocybin and other tryptamines for therapeutic and research use.