Psilocin

Psilocin (also known as 4-HO-DMT, 4-hydroxy DMT, psilocine, psilocyn, or psilotsin) is a substituted tryptamine alkaloid and a serotonergic psychedelic substance. It is present in most psychedelic mushrooms together with its phosphorylated counterpart psilocybin. Psilocin is a Schedule I drug under the Convention on Psychotropic Substances.[2] The mind-altering effects of psilocin are highly variable and subjective and resemble those of LSD and DMT.

Psilocin
Clinical data
Other names4-hydroxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine
Routes of
administration		Oral, IV
ATC code
  • none
Legal status
Legal status
  • AU: S9 (Prohibited substance)
  • CA: Schedule III
  • DE: Anlage I (Authorized scientific use only)
  • NZ: Class A
  • UK: Class A
  • US: Schedule I
  • UN: Psychotropic Schedule I
Pharmacokinetic data
MetabolismHepatic
Elimination half-life1-3 hours[1]
ExcretionUrine
Identifiers
IUPAC name
  • 3-[2-(Dimethylamino)ethyl]-1H-indol-4-ol
CAS Number
PubChem CID
IUPHAR/BPS
ChemSpider
UNII
KEGG
ChEBI
ChEMBL
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
ECHA InfoCard100.007.543
Chemical and physical data
FormulaC12H16N2O
Molar mass204.273 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)
Melting point173 to 176 °C (343 to 349 °F)
SMILES
  • CN(C)CCc1c[nH]c2cccc(O)c12
InChI
  • InChI=1S/C12H16N2O/c1-14(2)7-6-9-8-13-10-4-3-5-11(15)12(9)10/h3-5,8,13,15H,6-7H2,1-2H3 Y
  • Key:SPCIYGNTAMCTRO-UHFFFAOYSA-N Y
 NY (what is this?)  (verify)

Chemistry

Psilocin and its phosphorylated cousin, psilocybin, were first isolated and named in 1958 by Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann. Hofmann obtained the chemicals from laboratory-grown specimens of the entheogenic mushroom Psilocybe mexicana. Hofmann also succeeded in finding synthetic routes to these chemicals.[3]

Psilocin can be obtained by dephosphorylation of natural psilocybin under strongly acidic or under alkaline conditions (hydrolysis). Another synthetic route uses the Speeter–Anthony tryptamine synthesis starting from 4-hydroxyindole.

Psilocin is relatively unstable in solution due to its phenolic hydroxy (-OH) group. In the presence of oxygen it readily forms bluish and dark black degradation products.[4] Similar products are also formed under acidic conditions in the presence of oxygen and Fe3+ ions (Keller's reagent).

Structural analogs

Sulfur analogs are known with a benzothienyl replacement[5] as well as 4-SH-DMT.[6] 1-Methylpsilocin is a functionally 5-HT2C receptor preferring agonist.[7] 4-Fluoro-N,N-dimethyltryptamine is known.[7] O-Acetylpsilocin (4-AcO-DMT) is an acetylated analog of psilocin. Additionally, replacement of a methyl group at the dimethylated nitrogen with an isopropyl or ethyl group yields 4-HO-MIPT (4-hydroxy-N-methyl-N-isopropyltryptamine) and 4-HO-MET (4-hydroxy-N-methyl-N-ethyltryptamine), respectively. 4-Acetoxy-MET (4-Acetoxy-N-methyl-N-ethyltryptamine), also known as 4-AcO-MET, is the acetate ester of 4-HO-MET, and a homologue of 4-AcO-DMT.

Pharmacology
See also: psilocybin

Psilocin is the pharmacologically active agent in the body after ingestion of psilocybin or some species of psychedelic mushrooms.

Psilocybin is rapidly dephosphorylated in the body to psilocin which acts as a 5-HT2A, 5-HT2C and 5-HT1A agonist or partial agonist. Psilocin exhibits functional selectivity in that it activates phospholipase A2 instead of activating phospholipase C as the endogenous ligand serotonin does. Psilocin is structurally similar to serotonin (5-HT),[8] differing only by the hydroxyl group being on the 4-position rather than the 5 and the dimethyl groups on the nitrogen. Its effects are thought to come from its agonist activity at 5-HT2A serotonin receptors in the prefrontal cortex.

Psilocin has no significant effect on dopamine receptors (unlike LSD) and only affects the noradrenergic system at very high dosages.[9]

Psilocin's half-life ranges from 1 to 3 hours.[1]

Behavioral and non-behavioral effects
Dried psilocybin mushrooms. (Notice the characteristic blue bruising by the stems of the mushrooms.)

Its physiological effects are similar to a sympathetic arousal state. Specific effects observed after ingestion can include but are not limited to tachycardia, dilated pupils, restlessness or arousal, euphoria, open and closed eye visuals (common at medium to high doses), synesthesia (e.g. hearing colours and seeing sounds), increased body temperature, headache, sweating and chills, and nausea. Psilocin acts as a 5-HT2A, 5-HT2C and 5-HT1A receptor agonist or partial agonist. Such receptors are claimed to significantly regulate visuals, decision making, mood, decreased blood pressure, and heart rate.[8]

There is virtually no direct lethality associated with psilocin.[8] There is virtually no withdrawal syndrome when chronic use of this drug is ceased.[8] There is cross tolerance among psilocin, mescaline, LSD,[8] and other 5-HT2A, 5-HT2C, and 5-HT1A agonists due to down-regulation of these receptors.

The United Nations Convention on Psychotropic Substances (adopted in 1971) requires its members to prohibit psilocybin, and parties to the treaty are required to restrict use of the drug to medical and scientific research under strictly controlled conditions.

Australia

Psilocin is considered a Schedule 9 prohibited substance in Australia under the Poisons Standard (October 2015).[10] A Schedule 9 substance is a substance which may be abused or misused, the manufacture, possession, sale or use of which should be prohibited by law except when required for medical or scientific research, or for analytical, teaching or training purposes with approval of Commonwealth and/or State or Territory Health Authorities.[10]

Russia

Psilocin and psilocybin are banned in Russia as narcotic drugs with a criminal penalty for possession of at least 50 mg.[11]

See also

References
  1. Tylš, F; Páleníček, T; Horáček, J (March 2014). "Psilocybin - Summary of knowledge and new perspectives". European Neuropsychopharmacology. 24 (3): 342–356. doi:10.1016/j.euroneuro.2013.12.006. PMID 24444771. S2CID 10758314.
  2. "Green list" (PDF). INCB. Retrieved 2012-10-11. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  3. Hofmann A, Heim R, Brack A, Kobel H, Frey A, Ott H, Petrzilka T, Troxler F (1959). "Psilocybin und Psilocin, zwei psychotrope Wirkstoffe aus mexikanischen Rauschpilzen" [Psilocybin and psilocin, two psychotropic substances in Mexican magic mushrooms]. Helvetica Chimica Acta (in German). 42 (5): 1557–72. doi:10.1002/hlca.19590420518.
  4. Lenz, Claudius; Wick, Jonas; Braga, Daniel; García‐Altares, María; Lackner, Gerald; Hertweck, Christian; Gressler, Markus; Hoffmeister, Dirk (20 January 2020). "Injury‐Triggered Blueing Reactions of "Magic" Mushrooms". Angewandte Chemie International Edition. 59 (4): 1450–1454. doi:10.1002/anie.201910175. PMC 7004109. PMID 31725937.
  5. N Chapman; Scrowston, R. M.; Sutton, T. M.; et al. (1972). "Synthesis of the sulphur analogue of psilocin and some related compounds". Journal of the Chemical Society, Perkin Transactions 1: 3011–15. doi:10.1039/P19720003011.
  6. A Hofmann, F Troxler, Swiss 421,960 (1967); CA 68:95680n
  7. H Sard; Kumaran, G; Morency, C; Roth, BL; Toth, BA; He, P; Shuster, L; et al. (2005-10-15). "SAR of psilocybin analogs: discovery of a selective 5-HT 2C agonist". Bioorg Med Chem Lett. 15 (20): 4555–9. doi:10.1016/j.bmcl.2005.06.104. PMID 16061378.
  8. Diaz, Jaime (1996). How Drugs Influence Behavior: A Neurobehavioral Approach. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall. ISBN 978-0-02-328764-0.
  9. Lisa Jerome (March–April 2007). "Psilocybin Investigator's Brochure" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-10-11.
  10. Poisons Standard October 2015 https://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/F2015L01534
  11. "Resolution of the Government of the Russian Federation of October 1, 2012 N 1002 "On approval of significant, large and particularly large amounts of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, as well as significant, large and particularly large sizes for plants containing narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances, or parts thereof, containing narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances for the purposes of articles 228, 228.1, 229 and 229.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation "(as amended) (translated)". Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. 1 October 2012. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
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