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Psilocybia / Chemistry / Psilocybin

Compound record

Psilocybin

The phosphorylated tryptamine first reported from Psilocybe mexicana in 1958.

Molecular formula
C₁₂H₁₇N₂O₄P

01First description

Psilocybin was reported as a psychotropic constituent of the Mexican mushroom Psilocybe mexicana by Hofmann, Heim, Brack and Kobel in Experientia in 1958. A second paper by Hofmann, Frey, Ott, Petrzilka and Troxler, in the same journal and year, reported the elucidation of its structure and its synthesis.

Neither 1958 paper is available in abstract or full text through the indexes consulted here, so each is cited for the report it is titled as making rather than for any detail within it.

Sources: [hofmann-1958-psilocybin-mexicana] [hofmann-1958-psilocybin-structure]

02Biosynthesis

Psilocybin is described as the principal indolethylamine natural product of psychotropic mushrooms, the majority of producing species belonging to Psilocybe. Schäfer, Haun, Rupp and Hoffmeister report that the biosynthetic route from L-tryptophan, and the enzymes involved, have been characterised in Psilocybe, and that Inocybe arrives at the same product by dissimilar reactions and enzymes.

A genetic survey of five Psilocybe genomes, covering P. azurescens, P. cubensis, P. cyanescens, P. mexicana and P. serbica, notes that the secondary metabolome of these fungi beyond the tryptamines remains poorly understood.

Sources: [schafer-2025-psilocybin-biosynthesis] [dorner-2022-psilocybe-genetic-survey]

03Scope of this record

This record covers chemical identity and the published history of the compound. It does not describe effects, preparation or dose, and nothing here is guidance for use.

04References

  1. Dörner S; Rogge K; Fricke J; Schäfer T; Wurlitzer J; Gressler M; Pham D; Manke D; Chadeayne A; Hoffmeister D (2022). Genetic Survey of Psilocybe Natural Products. ChemBioChem 23(14). DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202200249 Source record ↗

    Source class: primary.

    Source verification history
    • metadata: verified · 2026-09-15 · Psilocybia editorial. Verification source

      Bibliographic record retrieved from Crossref. Authors, title, journal, volume, pages and year read directly from that record.

    • doi: verified · 2026-09-15 · Psilocybia editorial. Verification source

      DOI resolved and matched against the Crossref bibliographic record.

    • content: verified · 2026-09-15 · Psilocybia editorial. Verification source

      Abstract inspected via Europe PMC. Full text was not retrieved; claims drawn from this source are scoped to the abstract.

  2. Hofmann A; Heim R; Brack A; Kobel H (1958). Psilocybin, ein psychotroper Wirkstoff aus dem mexikanischen RauschpilzPsilocybe mexicana Heim. Experientia 14(3), 107-109. DOI: 10.1007/bf02159243 Source record ↗

    Source class: primary.

    Source verification history
    • metadata: verified · 2026-09-15 · Psilocybia editorial. Verification source

      Bibliographic record retrieved from Crossref. Authors, title, journal, volume, pages and year read directly from that record.

    • doi: verified · 2026-09-15 · Psilocybia editorial. Verification source

      DOI resolved and matched against the Crossref bibliographic record.

    • content: unavailable · 2026-09-15 · Psilocybia editorial. Verification source

      No abstract or full text available through the indexes consulted. Only the bibliographic record and title were inspected, so this source supports the fact of its own report and not any detail within it.

  3. Hofmann A; Frey A; Ott H; Petrzilka T; Troxler F (1958). Konstitutionsaufklärung und Synthese von Psilocybin. Experientia 14(11), 397-399. DOI: 10.1007/bf02160424 Source record ↗

    Source class: primary.

    Source verification history
    • metadata: verified · 2026-09-15 · Psilocybia editorial. Verification source

      Bibliographic record retrieved from Crossref. Authors, title, journal, volume, pages and year read directly from that record.

    • doi: verified · 2026-09-15 · Psilocybia editorial. Verification source

      DOI resolved and matched against the Crossref bibliographic record.

    • content: unavailable · 2026-09-15 · Psilocybia editorial. Verification source

      No abstract or full text available through the indexes consulted. Only the bibliographic record and title were inspected, so this source supports the fact of its own report and not any detail within it.

  4. Schäfer T; Haun F; Rupp B; Hoffmeister D (2025). Dissimilar Reactions and Enzymes for Psilocybin Biosynthesis in Inocybe and Psilocybe Mushrooms. Angewandte Chemie International Edition 64(46). DOI: 10.1002/anie.202512017 Source record ↗

    Source class: primary.

    Source verification history
    • metadata: verified · 2026-09-15 · Psilocybia editorial. Verification source

      Bibliographic record retrieved from Crossref. Authors, title, journal, volume, pages and year read directly from that record.

    • doi: verified · 2026-09-15 · Psilocybia editorial. Verification source

      DOI resolved and matched against the Crossref bibliographic record.

    • content: verified · 2026-09-15 · Psilocybia editorial. Verification source

      Abstract inspected via Europe PMC. Full text was not retrieved; claims drawn from this source are scoped to the abstract.