Chemical substances in magic mushrooms and truffles by species

Magic mushrooms vs. truffles. The term magic mushrooms refers to the fruiting bodies of certain mushroom species of the genus Psilocybe and related genera (Panaeolus, Inocybe, Pholiotina ea). These fruiting bodies are formed above ground and contain psychoactive substances, whereby psilocybin the most important is.
Truffles (also sclerotia or philosopher's stones) are hard survival tubers that are produced by some species, such as Psilocybe mexicana, P. atlantis and P. tampanensis, are formed underground. They contain the same family of tryptamine alkaloids as the mushrooms, but in lower concentrations and often without free psilocin because this substance degrades rapidly during storage. Truffles are sold legally in the Netherlands, whereas magic mushrooms (the fruiting body) have been banned since 2008.

Major indole alkaloids. Psilocybin-producing fungi synthesize a range of 4-substituted indole alkaloids. The most important are:

The ratio of these substances varies greatly between species and between different parts of the same specimen (cap vs. stem).. Furthermore, storage methods have an influence: psilocin degrades rapidly when exposed to light and heat, whereas psilocybin is relatively stable.. In truffles, only psilocybin was found in LC‑MS/MS‑study; psilocin was absent due to degradation.

Chemical composition per mushroom species

1. Psilocybe cubensis (Cubensis, golden teacher)

• Main fabrics: psilocybin, psilocin, baeocystin, norbaeocystin and aeruginascin. Targeted UHPLC‑MS/MS analysis of fresh and dried material found an average of 0.62 % psilocybin, 0.16 % psilocin, 0.06 % baeocystin, 0.02 % norbaeocystin and 0.01 % aeruginascin in dried powder. Caps contain higher concentrations than stems.
• Variation: in metabolomic studies is P. cubensis one of the species with the highest psilocybin levels. Cultivar “Golden Teacher” can contain up to 9,913 mg/g (~0.991 %) psilocybin.
• Comments: By adding tryptamine to the substrate, the psilocin concentration can be artificially increased (to 3,3 %), but psilocybin then decreases sharply..

2. Psilocybe semilanceata (Liberty cap)

• Main fabrics: psilocybin and baeocystin; psilocin is found only in trace amounts. Analyses of 52 Swiss samples reported psilocybin levels of 0.21–2.02 % and baeocystin 0.05–0.77 %; psilocin was virtually undetected..
• Variation: The content varies greatly depending on the growth location, age, and parts of the mushroom..
• Comments: generally regarded as one of the most potent wild European species present.

3. Psilocybe azurescens (Flying Saucer mushroom)

• Main fabrics: high concentrations of psilocybin, psilocin, and baeocystin. According to Paul Stamets' summary, it contains P. azurescens average ~1.1 % psilocybin, 0.15 % psilocin and 0.35 % baeocystin; maxima up to 1.8 % psilocybin, 0.5 % psilocin and 0.4 % baeocystine have been reported.
• Variation: HPTLC research reported psilocybin content 0.81–1.77 % (average 1.33 %) and psilocin 0.08–0.29 % (average 0.20 %).
• Comments: among the most potent Psilocybe species; in North America, the species grows on driftwood and coastal dunes.

4. Psilocybe cyanescens (Wavy cap)

• Main fabrics: psilocybin, psilocin, and small amounts of baeocystin. In North America, the total content (psilocybin + psilocin) varies between 0.66–1.96 % dry weight; European specimens contain 0.39–0.75 %.
• HPTLC data: psilocybin 0.82–1.32 % (avg. 1.06 %) and psilocin 0.04–0.29 % (avg. 0.12 %).
• Comments: produces distinctive wavy caps; widely used in urban mulch beds.

5. Psilocybe baeocystis (Bottle cap, blue bell)

• Main fabrics: psilocybin, psilocin, and baeocystin. Concentrations range from 0.15–0.85 % psilocybin, to 0.59 % psilocin, and to 0.10 % baeocystin.. Baeocystine was first isolated from this species..
• Comments: Higher psilocin levels are reported in older literature; the species fizzes blue when damaged.

6. Psilocybe bohemica / Psilocybe serbica

• Main fabrics: high psilocybin and psilocin levels. The variety bohemian contains 1.553–15.543 mg/g (0.155–1.554 %) psilocybin and 0.027–2.485 mg/g (0.003–0.249 %) psilocin.
• Variation: The species shows great variability; some analyses report psilocin levels up to 1 %.
• Comments: one of the most potent European species; synonym P. serbica is used nowadays.

7. Psilocybe natalensis

• Main fabrics: psilocybin, psilocin, baeocystin (trace), norbaeocystin (trace). In a recent HPTLC study of six species, it was found for P. natalensis a psilocybin content of 0.62–1.34 % (average 1.03 %) and psilocin 0.26–0.38 % (average 0.30 %) reported.
• Comments: in South Africa in grasslands; related to P. cubensis and sometimes combined by DNA analysis.

8. Psilocybe stuntzii (Blue ringers)

• Main fabrics: psilocybin, psilocin, baeocystin (trace). HPTLC data gives 0.45–1.11 % psilocybin (avg. 0.84 %) and 0.06–0.12 % psilocin (avg. 0.09 %).
• Comments: usually contains less psilocin than P. subaeruginosa or P. natalensis; white ring on the stem.

9. Psilocybe subaeruginosa

• Main fabrics: psilocybin and psilocin. An early Norwegian-Australian HPLC study reported low psilocybin levels (0.01–0.2 %) in Australian specimens., but recent HPTLC research on cultured specimens found significantly higher levels (0.67–1.58 % psilocybin; mean 1.01 % and 0.10–0.45 % psilocin; mean 0.26 %). The variation therefore seems very large.
• Comments: endemic to Australia/New Zealand; sometimes confused with P. cyanescens.

10. Psilocybe zapotecorum

• Main fabrics: psilocybin (1.09–1.89 %; avg. 1.46 %) and psilocin (0.02–0.17 %; avg. 0.10 %).
• Comments: covered membrane on young cap; traditionally used in Mexico by the Zapotecs.

11. Psilocybehoogshagenii / P. subtropicalis

• Main fabrics: psilocybin and psilocin; some reports mention baeocystine. There is little quantitative data; commercial sources mention psilocybin levels of ~0.45–0.60 % with psilocin ~0.1 %, but these figures have not been scientifically confirmed..
• Comments: traditionally used by Mazatec shamans (velada ceremonies).

12. Psilocybe tampanensis

• Fruiting bodies: contain psilocybin (up to ~1 %) and psilocin.
• Sclerotia (truffles): In fresh sclerotia (70‑80 % water), only psilocybin was detected by LC‑MS/MS; concentrations ranged from 59–168 mg per 100 g (0.06–0.16 % fresh weight).. Drying increases the weight percentage; dried sclerotia contain ~0.31–0.68 % psilocybin and up to 0.32 % psilocin according to older studies by Gartz.
• Comments: Sclerotia are sold in the Netherlands as “philosopher's stones”.

13. Psilocybe mexicana, P. atlantis and P. galindoi (truffle varieties, magic truffles)

• These species form sclerotia that are sold as “magic truffles”.
• Substances in truffles: Truffles contain psilocybin as their main compound. Analyses of P. mexicana Sclerotia reported 59–168 mg psilocybin per 100 g fresh weight (0.06–0.16 %); traces of psilocin were not found.
• Dry contents: Since truffles consist of approximately 70–80 % water, this corresponds to ~0.3–0.8 % psilocybin by dry weight.. The sclerotia of P. atlantis and P. galindoi are closely related to P. mexicana, and commercial sources give comparable strength (0.4–0.6 % psilocybin), but reliable scientific data is lacking.
• Comments: Truffles often also contain trace strains of baeocystin, norbaeocystin, and aeruginascin., although these are not always detectable.

14. Other sexes

• Panaeolus cyanescens (Blue Meanie) – belongs to the genus Panaeolus. In a metabolomic study, this species had the highest psilocin concentrations among 42 studied strains; psilocybin content was lower than in P. cubensis, while psilocin dominated. The species also contains minor metabolites and unidentified compounds..
• Inocybe aeruginascens – forms psilocybin, psilocin, baeocystin, and norbaeocystin, but is best known for the trimethyl variant aeruginascine; this quaternary ammonium compound has been found exclusively in this species and is said to occur in microgram amounts.
• Pholiotina, Conocybe, Pluteus salicinus and other genera – contain mainly psilocybin and psilocin; data are scarce and vary by species.

Conclusions

1. Psilocybin-producing mushrooms and truffles contain a complex spectrum of indole alkaloids. Besides the well-known psilocybin come psilocin, baeocystin, norbaeocystin, norpsilocin and (in rare cases) aeruginascine for. Other secondary metabolites such as beta-carbolines, neoequinulin A, and amino acids are found in microgram amounts..

2. Variation between species is large: some types (P. azurescens, P. semilanceata, P. serbica/bohemica) contain >1 % psilocybin, while others (Sclerotia species) often contain <0.5 %. Psilocin is mainly found in
   types such as P. natalensis, P. bohemica and Panaeolus cyanescens; truffles usually contain little or no psilocin.

3. Storage and preparation influence the chemistry: psilocybin is reasonably stable, but psilocin degrades quickly; drying and storing in a dark place minimizes loss..

4. Truffles vs. magic mushrooms: Truffles (sclerotia) are a safe alternative because they contain primarily psilocybin (0.3–0.8 % dry weight) and little psilocin. As a result, users experience fewer unpleasant bodily effects such as nausea..

5. The insight into the chemical diversity per species is important for scientific research, therapeutic applications, and consumer information. Recent metabolomic studies emphasize that each species has a unique metabolome.; Therefore, they cannot be lumped together.