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Determination of Psilocin and Psilocybin in Magic Mushrooms Using iHILIC®-Fusion and MS Tibor Veress1, Norbert Rácz2, Júlia Nagy1, and Wen Jiang3, 1Department of Drug Investigation, Hungarian Institute for Forensic Sciences, Budapest, Hungary, 2Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Budapest, Hungary, 3HILICON AB

Hallucinogenic mushrooms, known as magic mushrooms, contain psychoactive compounds such as psilocin and psilocybin (Figure 1). This hallucinogenic effect means they are constantly offered on (a) (b) the black market. Therefore, the reliable quantification of these H H compounds is a particularly important task for forensic analysis N N because their results have a significant impact on the judgement passed by the courts. Although there are many analysis methods available in forensic O laboratories and in the scientific literature, the majority of them are OH O P based on reversed-phase liquid chromatography (LC) separation N HO N (1–6). Due to the highly hydrophilic nature of psilocybin and psilocin, OH reversed-phase LC is not able to provide sufficient retention for them. Moreover, it is crucial to develop new methods and techniques that Figure 1: Chemical structures of (a) psilocin and (b) psilocybin. can improve the analysis detectability, selectivity, and productivity. To fulfill these goals, the application of hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) and mass spectrometry (MS) is investigated. ® 1.1E+6 In this study, we aimed to use a charge modulated iHILIC ‑ Fusion 1.0E+6 TIC (Mushroom extract) 9.0E+5 HILIC column for the analysis of extracts from hallucinogenic 8.0E+5 7.0E+5 mushrooms and evaluate its potential for forensic application. 6.0E+5 5.0E+5

Intensity 4.0E+5 Experimental 3.0E+5 2.0E+5 LC–MS System: Agilent 1100 LC system and Bruker Esquire 6000 1.0E+5 0.0E+0 ion trap mass spectrometer, operated in positive ionization mode 012345678910 11 12 13 14 15 Time (min) (ESI+). Chromatographic data were acquired and evaluated with 9.0E+5 8.0E+5 m/z 205 (Psilocin) ChemStation Rev. A. 10.02. 7.0E+5 Column: 150 × 4.6 mm, 3.5-µm 100 Å iHILIC®-Fusion (P/N 6.0E+5 5.0E+5 110.154.0310, HILICON AB, Sweden) 4.0E+5

Mobile Phase: 80:20 (v/v) acetonitrile–ammonium format (10 mM, Intensity 3.0E+5 2.0E+5 pH 3.5) 1.0E+5 0.5 mL/min 0.0E+0 Flow Rate: 012345678910 11 12 13 14 15 Column Temperature: 12 °C Time (min) 9.0E+5 Sample Preparation: Quasi-counter current extraction with methanol 8.0E+5 m/z 285 (Psilocybin) 7.0E+5 at 60 °C in a Shimadzu 10/A HPLC system. A 50-mg measure of 6.0E+5 air‑dried and homogenized hallucinogenic mushroom was filled in 5.0E+5 4.0E+5

the extractor chamber (an empty 250 × 4.6 mm HPLC column). Intensity 3.0E+5 The standard solutions were 5 µg/mL and 500 μg/mL for psilocin 2.0E+5 1.0E+5 and psilocybin, respectively. Methanol was used as the solvent. 0.0E+0 012345678910 11 12 13 14 15 Injection Volume: 1 µL Time (min)

Results and Discussion Figure 2: Total ion chromatogram (m/z 40–400) of the methanolic In our previous study (2), the methanolic mushroom extract was mushroom extract and extracted ion chromatograms of m/z 205 first separated under the conditions within a designed experimental (psilocin) and m/z 285 (psilocybin). space with a total of 18 model establishment points and two approval points, considering the mobile phase composition, pH, and and STATISTICA®. It was found that iHILIC®-Fusion provides temperature. The factors that affect the separation selectivity and best separation regarding separation selectivity and efficiency. resolution on three iHILIC® columns were studied using DryLab® Figure 2 illustrates the separation of mushroom extract and also

2 THE APPLICATIONS BOOK – JULY 2019 GENERAL

the extract ion chromatograms at m/z 205 (psilocin) and m/z 285 (psilocybin), respectively. It is clear that iHILIC®-Fusion was able to 3.5E+6 separate psilocin and psilocybin from each other and also from the TIC (Psilocin) 2.8E+6 major matrix compounds within 15 min. An unique feature is that psilocybin elutes with a retention factor two times greater than that 2.1E+6 1.4E+6 of psilocin. In addition, the sample preparation consists of few steps Intensity to minimize error sources and assure reliable results. 7.0E+5

In the second step of this work, we separated the methanolic 0.0E+0 012345678910 11 12 13 14 15 solution of psilocin and psilocybin standards to confirm the detection Time (min) 3.5E+6 of these two alkaloids in the mushroom extract. As shown in Figure 3, m/z 205 (Psilocin) both psilocin and psilocybin have identical retention times to the 2.8E+6 standards compared to those peaks from the mushroom extracts. 2.1E+6

Therefore, the developed method is selective for the two target 1.4E+6 compounds and can be used for the quantification as described in Intensity 7.0E+5 our early work (1). 0.0E+0 012345678910 11 12 13 14 15 Time (min) Conclusion 4.0E+6 This work illustrates how to use an iHILIC®-Fusion column and TIC (Psilocybin) MS detection to separate and identify psilocin and psilocybin in 3.0E+6 hallucinogenic mushrooms or ”magic mushroom” extracts. This 2.0E+6 developed HILIC–MS method can be utilized in forensic and clinical Intensity 1.0E+6 applications.

0.0E+0 012345678910 11 12 13 14 15 References Time (min) 4.0E+5 (1) J. Nagy and T. Veress, 7, 356 (2016), DOI: 10.4172/2157- J. Forensic Res. 3.5E+5 m/z 285 (Psilocybin) 7145.1000356. 3.0E+5 (2) N. Rácz, J. Nagy, W. Jiang, and T. Veress, J. Chromatogr. Sci. 57, 230–237 2.5E+5 2.0E+5 (2019).

Intensity 1.5E+5 (3) M.W. Beug and J. Bigwood, Journal of Chromatography 207, 379–385 1.0E+5 (1981). 5.0E+4 0.0E+0 (4) N. Anastos, S.W. Lewis, N.W. Barnett, and D.N. Sims, J. Forensic Sci. 51, 012345678910 11 12 13 14 15 Time (min) 45–51 (2006). (5) R. Kysilka and M. Wurst, Planta Med. 56, 327–328 (1990). Figure 3: Total ion chromatogram (m/z 40–400) of psilocin and (6) V. Gambaro, G. Roda, G.L. Visconti, S. Arnoldi, and E. Casagni, J. Anal. psilocybin standards and extracted ion chromatograms of m/z 205 Bioanal. Tech. 6, 277 (2015). (psilocin) and m/z 285 (psilocybin).

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