Metabolism of psilocybin and psilocin: clinical and forensic toxicological relevance |
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Authors: | Ricardo Jorge Dinis-Oliveira |
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Affiliation: | 1. Department of Sciences, IINFACTS – Institute of Research and Advanced Training in Health Sciences and Technologies, University Institute of Health Sciences (IUCS), CESPU, CRL, Gandra, Portugal;2. Department of Biological Sciences, UCIBIO-REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal;3. Department of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal |
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Abstract: | Psilocybin and psilocin are controlled substances in many countries. These are the two main hallucinogenic compounds of the “magic mushrooms” and both act as agonists or partial agonists at 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)2A subtype receptors. During the last few years, psilocybin and psilocin have gained therapeutic relevance but considerable physiological variability between individuals that can influence dose-response and toxicological profile has been reported. This review aims to discuss metabolism of psilocybin and psilocin, by presenting all major and minor psychoactive metabolites. Psilocybin is primarily a pro-drug that is dephosphorylated by alkaline phosphatase to active metabolite psilocin. This last is then further metabolized, psilocin-O-glucuronide being the main urinary metabolite with clinical and forensic relevance in diagnosis. |
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Keywords: | Psilocybin psilocin metabolomics metabolism toxicity toxicokinetics |
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