Psilocybin and psilocin levels in twenty species from seven genera of wild mushrooms in the Pacific Northwest, U.S.A.

Occurrence and use of hallucinogenic mushrooms containing psilocybin alkaloids

“…Wurst et al (1984) reported that caps contain more psilocybin than stems. Similar findings have been reported by Beug and Bigwood (1982), Gartz (1987aGartz ( , 1987b, Keller et al (1998), Gartz and Müller (1989), and Gurevich (1993). Even lower levels are found in the mycelium (Gartz, 1986b;Kysilka and Wurst, 1989;Keller et al, 1998).…”

“…Similarly, Beug and Bigwood (1982) found a poor correlation between degree of natural bluing and psilocybin or psilocin level. The variability of psilocybin and psilocin within each species as well as the difference in average level between species lead Beug and Bigwood (1982) to conclude that recreational users of these mushrooms are ingesting unpredictably varying amounts of psilocybin and psilocin. The variability of the bluing reaction further implies that this reaction is not a safe guide to psilocybin or psilocin levels.…”

“…(Gartz, 1987b) and Inocybe aeruginascens (Gartz, 1987c). Beug and Bigwood (1982) reported that the observed levels of hallucinogenic compounds varied by a factor of two to more than six. The reason for this variation is not known, but it is surely to some extent influenced by the different conditions and times of storage between collection and chemical analysis (see section 5.2.).…”

“…Although drying had no influence on the psilocybin level of fruit bodies of Psilocybe mushrooms, storage of the dried mushrooms reduced the levels significantly. Beug and Bigwood (1982) studied how storage of mushroom samples may influence the psilocybin and psilocin content. They noted that freeze-dried samples showed no detectable loss of psilocybin and psilocin when stored at -5 o C or -60 o C, but some freeze-dried samples lost both psilocybin and psilocin over periods of one to two years when stored at room temperature.…”

Poisoning by hallucinogenic mushroom Hikageshibiretake (Psilocybe argentipes K. Yokoyama) indigenous to Japan.

“…In 1958 Hofmann, a chemist at the Sandoz Lab., isolated from Psilocybe mexicana Heim hallucinogenic psilocybin and psilocin as active principles. Afterwards, the "sacred mushrooms'' and psilocybin aroused the interest of psychiatrist and ethono-pharmacologist, (Miyoshi 1964;Beug and Bigwood 1982).…”