Laura Smith
Synthetic psilocybin, or magic mushrooms, is a topic of growing interest, with several companies investing in research to develop synthetic compounds for therapeutic use. The appeal of synthetic psilocybin lies in its ability to address the issue of varying potency in natural psychedelic mushrooms, thereby providing consistent and reliable doses for therapeutic applications. However, critics argue that there is insufficient evidence to support the superiority of synthetic psilocybin over natural mushrooms, and that this pursuit may be driven more by profit motives and patent rights than therapeutic benefits. While synthetic psilocybin offers therapeutic qualities, studies suggest that natural psychedelic mushrooms are preferred due to their perceived sacredness, naturalness, and gentler onset and comedown effects.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Synthetic psilocybin | Solves the problem of varying potency between different natural psychedelic growths |
| Natural psilocybin | May have additional benefits not found in synthetic psychedelics |
| Synthetic psilocybin | Composed of single-compound molecules |
| Natural psilocybin | Contain a host of secondary metabolites |
| Synthetic psilocybin | May have a harsh onset and rapid comedown |
| Natural psilocybin | Gentler onset and comedown |
| Synthetic psilocybin | May have an inferior quality of experience compared to natural psilocybin |
| Natural psilocybin | Has been ingested safely by humans for thousands of years |
| Synthetic psilocybin | May be preferred by some consumers |
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What You'll Learn
Synthetic psilocybin for therapeutic use
Psilocybin, commonly known as magic mushrooms, is a naturally occurring psychedelic drug found in certain types of mushrooms. It has been used for thousands of years in cultural ceremonies and spiritual practices. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the therapeutic potential of psilocybin for treating various neurological and psychiatric disorders.
While psilocybin has shown promising therapeutic effects, there are challenges associated with its natural variability and the difficulty in obtaining and purifying sufficient quantities from fungi for biological studies and therapeutic use. This has led to the development of synthetic psilocybin as a potential solution. Synthetic psilocybin refers to the laboratory synthesis of the psilocybin compound, independent of its natural source in mushrooms.
Synthetic psilocybin offers several advantages over its natural counterpart. Firstly, it solves the problem of varying potency between different natural psychedelic mushrooms. By creating synthetic psilocybin, companies like Filament Health have been able to produce standardized natural psychedelic medicines with identical potency in each dose. This consistency in dosage can enhance the safety and efficacy of psilocybin-based treatments.
Additionally, synthetic production methods can provide a more efficient and sustainable approach to obtaining psilocybin. For example, recent advancements in synthetic biology have demonstrated the successful production of psilocybin using a recombinant E. coli fermentation setup in a simple homebrew-style environment. This not only reduces the time and resources required for production but also raises the possibility of more accessible and affordable pharmaceutical applications.
However, some experts argue that there may be benefits to natural psilocybin that are absent in synthetic variants. Natural psilocybin contains a host of secondary metabolites that are believed to contribute to the therapeutic effect through a concept known as the "'entourage effect." Synthetic psilocybin, on the other hand, is composed of single-compound molecules, potentially limiting its therapeutic benefits. Furthermore, natural psychedelics have a long history of safe human consumption, indicating their compatibility with the human body and supporting their future therapeutic use.
Currently, there is ongoing research and debate regarding the comparative effectiveness of synthetic versus natural psilocybin. While synthetic psilocybin offers advantages in terms of standardization and production efficiency, natural psilocybin may provide additional therapeutic benefits due to its complex metabolite profile. As research progresses, further evidence will emerge to guide the development of psilocybin-based treatments and inform regulatory decisions surrounding this promising therapeutic compound.
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Natural psychedelics vs synthetic
Natural psychedelics are derived from plants, whereas synthetic psychedelics are created in a controlled setting, such as a laboratory. Natural psychedelics include plant-based entheogens like mescaline, peyote, psilocybin, ayahuasca, and some forms of DMT. Synthetic psychedelics, on the other hand, include LSD and MDMA. Despite their distinct origins, many of these compounds share similar structures and affect the brain in comparable ways.
Natural psychedelics have been used medicinally for thousands of years, whereas synthetic psychedelics are often associated with recreational use. Synthetic psychedelics are designed to mimic the effects of their natural counterparts, but they can induce more severe adverse reactions. For example, synthetic cannabinoids can cause respiratory difficulties, hypertension, tachycardia, chest pain, muscle twitches, acute renal failure, anxiety, agitation, psychosis, and cognitive impairment. Chronic use of these synthetic substances has been linked to serious psychiatric and medical conditions and even death.
However, it's important to note that the term "natural" doesn't necessarily imply safety or superiority. Belladonna, for instance, is a plant that fits the definition of "natural" but is highly toxic to humans and animals. Similarly, natural psychedelics can have adverse effects, such as flashbacks that can occur long after taking the drug.
By developing synthetic versions of natural medicines, scientists aim to minimize adverse effects and gain a better understanding of their efficacy and durability. Synthetic drugs based on natural product structures exhibit greater chemical diversity and occupy larger regions of chemical space than drugs from completely synthetic origins. They also tend to have lower hydrophobicity and greater stereochemical content.
In summary, while natural psychedelics have been used for millennia and offer certain advantages, synthetic psychedelics can provide insights into improving efficacy and reducing adverse effects. The choice between natural and synthetic psychedelics depends on various factors, including the intended outcome, preparation, and set and setting.
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The entourage effect
The concept of the "entourage effect" in relation to magic mushrooms is a hypothesis that the different compounds in the mushrooms work together to create a therapeutic effect. This is in contrast to single-compound molecules, which are found in synthetic psychedelics. The entourage effect was first proposed by Dr Ethan Russo in 2011 in relation to cannabis, where hundreds of cannabinoids have been identified.
Some research has been conducted to explore the entourage effect in magic mushrooms. A 2015 paper by Zhuck et al. observed that the effect of psychedelic mushroom extracts on mice was much stronger than pure psilocybin. Another study by CaaMTech, a biotech startup, explored how psilocybin, baeocystin, aeruginascin, and related drugs bind to receptors in the brain. The research found that while baeocystin and aeruginascin are not psychedelic, they still bind to serotonin receptors in the brain, indicating they may produce therapeutic effects.
While synthetic psilocybin may be easier to research due to the challenges of studying organic, multi-compound medicines, natural psychedelics may offer additional benefits due to the potential entourage effect. Furthermore, natural psychedelics have a long history of safe use by humans and are generally preferred by consumers for medical treatments.
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Synthetic psilocybin research
Several companies are investing in research on synthetic psilocybin, a naturally occurring psychedelic found in certain types of mushrooms. Psilocybin is a Schedule I controlled substance and is highly illegal at the federal level. However, it has been awarded "Breakthrough Therapy" status for depressive disorders twice, expediting its movement through the pharmaceutical approval process. The latest estimate is that psilocybin will become an FDA-approved drug before 2026.
Synthetic psilocybin solves the problem of varying potency between different natural psychedelic growths. However, synthetic psychedelics are composed of single-compound molecules, while natural psychedelics contain a host of secondary metabolites that could contribute to their therapeutic benefit, a concept called the "entourage effect." Natural psychedelics have also been ingested safely by humans for thousands of years, indicating that they are well-tolerated by the human body and safe for therapeutic use. Research has shown that consumers prefer natural products for medical treatments, and providing a natural option may increase the likelihood of widespread adoption.
Some companies are trying to find evidence for the entourage effect in mushrooms. CaaMTech, a biotech startup, recently published a study exploring how psilocybin, baeocystin, aeruginascin, and related drugs bind to receptors in the brain. The research adds to the evidence that baeocystin and aeruginascin are not psychedelic but may still produce some therapeutic effects.
Filament Health has developed extraction, purification, standardization, and stabilization technologies that standardize natural psychedelic medicines to a precisely known quantity while preserving the naturally occurring spectrum and ratio of psychoactive alkaloids. Each dose created has identical potency. These natural psychedelics have already been approved for various clinical trials, including a Phase 2 microdose study for depression at the University of Toronto and a Phase 1 study for psilocin at the University of California, San Francisco.
Filament also partnered with the University of California, San Francisco, to conduct the first FDA-approved clinical trial administering patients with psilocybin derived from mushrooms versus synthetic versions. The goal is to determine if patients notice any difference, including more consistent trippy experiences, faster onset, and reduced side effects. However, some experts argue that there isn't enough evidence to support one over the other yet.
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Synthetic psilocybin startups
Several startups are exploring the use of synthetic psilocybin, the main psychedelic compound in magic mushrooms. These companies are betting on synthetic psilocybin as the future of the industry, as it solves the problem of varying potency between different natural psychedelic growths.
One such company is Filament Health, which has developed extraction, purification, standardization, and stabilization technologies that can extract the psychoactive alkaloids from magic mushrooms and standardize them to a precisely known quantity. This results in each dose having identical potency. Filament partnered with the University of California, San Francisco, to conduct the first FDA-approved clinical trial administering 20 patients with psilocybin derived from mushrooms, as opposed to synthetic versions, to determine if patients notice any difference.
Another company, CaaMTech, a biotech startup, has been exploring the entourage effect in mushrooms for several years. They recently published a study exploring how psilocybin, baeocystin, aeruginascin, and related drugs bind to receptors in the brain. The research adds to the evidence that baeocystin and aeruginascin are not psychedelic but may still produce some therapeutic effects.
Other startups focused on turning psychedelic compounds into approved medicines have raised hundreds of millions of dollars from private investors, and dozens have gone public. The global market for psychedelic drugs is expected to grow from around $5 billion in 2020 to more than $10 billion by 2027. Compass Pathways, a $1.2 billion company, is also developing a synthetic form of psilocybin for the treatment of depression and other mental health conditions.
While synthetic psilocybin offers the advantage of standardized dosing, some argue that natural psychedelics may be beneficial due to the entourage effect and consumer preference for natural products. Natural psychedelics have been ingested safely by humans for thousands of years and are well-tolerated by the human body. Additionally, the presence of secondary metabolites in natural psychedelics may contribute to their therapeutic benefit.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, synthetic psilocybin, more commonly known as "magic mushrooms", does exist.
Synthetic psilocybin is created in a lab, where the potency levels can be controlled. Natural psilocybin occurs in over 200 species of mushrooms, with hallucinogenic and serotonergic effects. Synthetic psilocybin may be missing the additional benefits found in natural psychedelics, such as the entourage effect, where the myriad co-occurring chemicals within the mushrooms catalyse synergistic effects.
Synthetic psilocybin can be used to create consistent and reliable doses for therapeutic use, which is not possible with natural psilocybin due to its varying potency. Synthetic psilocybin may also be easier to obtain, as natural psilocybin is illegal in many places.
Synthetic psilocybin has been found to have therapeutic qualities, however, some people have reported a "harsh onset and rapid comedown, artificial texture, and overall inferior quality" when compared to natural psilocybin.
