Psilocybin Psilocin H H N N

CH CH3 3 N N HO OH HO O CH P CH3 3

O CAS Registry Number: 520-52-5 CAS Registry Number: 520-53-6 CAS Name: 3-[2-(Dimethylamino)ethyl]-1H-indol-4-ol CAS Name: 3-[2-(Dimethylamino)ethyl]-1H-indol-4-ol dihydrogen phosphate ester Additional Names: 4-hydroxy-N,N- Additional Names: O-phosphoryl-4-hydroxy-N,N- dimethyltryptamine; psilocyn dimethyltryptamine Molecular Formula: C12H16N2O Trademarks: Indocybin (Sandoz) Molecular Weight: 204.27. Molecular Formula: C12H17N2O4P Percent Composition: C 70.56%, H 7.89%, N Molecular Weight: 284.25. 13.71%, O 7.83% Percent Composition: C 50.70%, H 6.03%, N 9.86%, Literature References: The minor hallucinogenic O 22.51%, P 10.90% component of Teonanácatl, the sacred mushroom of Literature References: The major of two Mexico. Isolated in trace amounts from the fruiting hallucinogenic components of Teonanácatl, the sacred bodies of Psilocybe mexicana Heim, Agaricaceae: mushroom of Mexico, the other component being Hofmann et al., Experientia 14, 107 (1958); Heim et psilocin, q.v. from the fruiting bodies of Psilocybe al., Helv. Chim. Acta 42, 1557 (1959). Prepn: Heim et mexicana Heim, Agaricaceae: Hofmann et al., al., DE 1087321 (1960 to Sandoz). Synthetic Experientia 14, 107 (1958); Heim et al., Helv. Chim. precursor of psilocybin: Hofmann, Troxler, US Acta 42, 1557 (1959); Heim et al., DE 1087321 (1960 3075992 (1963 to Sandoz). Psilocin, the 4-hydroxy to Sandoz). Structure: Hofmann et al., Experientia 14, analog of psilocybin, is formed by metabolic 397 (1958). Synthesis: Hofmann, Troxler, US dephosphorylation of psilocybin and is the active 3075992 (1963 to Sandoz). Crystal structure: H. P. species in the central nervous system: Horita, Weber, Weber, T. J. Petcher, J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. II Toxicol Appl. Pharmacol. 4, 730 (1962). Crystal 1974, 942. Converted to psilocin in vivo. Toxicity data: structure: T. J. Petcher, H. P. Weber, J. Chem. Soc. E. Usdin, D. H. Efron, Psychotropic Drugs and Related Perkin Trans. II 1974, 946. Review: Hofmann, Bull. Compounds (National Institute of Mental Health, Narcotics 23, 3 (1971). Rockville, Md., 2nd ed., 1972) p 138. Reviews: Properties: Plates from methanol, mp 173-176°. Hofmann, Proc. 1st Int. Congr. Neuro-Pharm., Rome Amphoteric substance. Unstable in soln, esp. akaline 1958, 446; Cerletti, Deut. Med. Wochenschr. 84, 2317 soln. Very slightly sol in water. uv max: 222, 260, (1959); Hofmann, Bull. Narcotics 23, 3 (1971). 267, 283, 293 nm (log 4.6, 3.7, 3.8, 3.7, 3.6). Properties: Crystals from boiling water, mp 220-228°; Melting point: mp 173-176° from boiling methanol, mp 185-195°. uv max Absorption maximum: uv max: 222, 260, 267, 283, (methanol): 220, 267, 290 nm (log 4.6, 3.8, 3.6). pH 293 nm (log 4.6, 3.7, 3.8, 3.7, 3.6) 5.2 in 50% aq ethanol. Sol in 20 parts boiling water, NOTE: This is a controlled substance (hallucinogen): 120 parts boiling methanol; difficultly sol in ethanol. 21 CFR, 1308.11. Practically insol in chloroform, benzene. LD50 in mice, rats, rabbits (mg/kg): 285, 280, 12.5 i.v. (Usdin, Efron). Melting point: mp 220-228°; mp 185-195° Absorption maximum: uv max (methanol): 220, 267, 290 nm (log 4.6, 3.8, 3.6)

Toxicity data: LD50 in mice, rats, rabbits (mg/kg): 285, 280, 12.5 i.v. (Usdin, Efron) NOTE: This is a controlled substance (hallucinogen): 21 CFR, 1308.11. Therap-Cat: Psychomimetic #18. 4-HO-DMT / 4-HO-DMT PHOSPHATE ESTER

4-HO-DMT; TRYPTAMINE, 4-HYDROXY-N,N-DIMETHYL; 4-INDOLOL, 3-[2-(DIMETHYLAMINO)ETHYL]; N,N-DIMETHYL-4-HYDROXYTRYPTAMINE; 3-[2- (DIMETHYLAMINO)ETHYL]-4-INDOLOL; CX-59; PSOH; PSILOCIN

4-HO-DMT PHOSPHATE ESTER; TRYPTAMINE, N,N-DIMETHYL-4-PHOSPHORYLOXY; 4-INDOLOL, 3-[2-(DIMETHYLAMINO)ETHYL], PHOSPHATE ESTER; N,N-DIMETHYL-4-PHOSPHORYLOXYTRYPTAMINE; 3-[2-(DIMETHYLAMINO)ETHYL]-4-INDOLOL, PHOSPHATE ESTER; CY-39; PSOP; PSILOCIN, PHOSPHATE ESTER; PSILOCYBIN

SYNTHESIS : To a solution of 0.50 g 4- DOSAGE : 10 - 20 mg, orally (as the indolol, the acetate or the acetoxyindole (see preparation in the phosphate) recipe for 4-HO-DET) in 4 mL Et2O, that was stirred and cooled with an DURATION : 3 - 6 hrs external ice bath, there was added, dropwise, a solution of 0.5 mL oxalyl chloride in 3 mL anhydrous Et2O. QUALITATIVE COMMENTS : (with 6.6 mg phosphate ester, orally) Stirring was continued for 0.5 h and the "Something has started but I decide to join in a full dinner anyway. intermediate indoleglyoxylchloride separated as a yellow crystalline The effects develop right through the meal, with some hints of animal solid but it was not isolated. There was then added, dropwise, a 40% faces in the pork-chop bones. No movement, nothing flows, but it solution of dimethylamine in Et2O until the pH came to 8-9. The probably wouldn't take much effort. Another hour and I am dropping reaction was then quenched by the addition of 100 mL CHCl3, and off already. The food? Somehow I doubt it. I would be completely the organic phase was washed with 30 mL of 5% NaHSO4 solution, unable to tell this from, say, 80 milligrams of MDMA except that I had with 30 mL of saturated NaHCO3, and finally with 30 mL of saturated a good appetite." brine. After drying with anhydrous MgSO4, the solvent was removed under vacuum. The residue set up as crystals and, after recrystallization from THF, provided 0.61 g 4-acetoxyindol-3-yl-N,N- (with 7 mg, orally) "Basically I am not in a pleasant place -- quite dimethylglyoxylamide (80% yield) with a mp of 204-205 °C. Anal: neurotic -- inwardly turned -- a touch of despair -- considerable visual C,H,N. activity and if I were with someone I might find some sort of A suspension of 0.38 g LAH in 10 mL anhydrous THF was reinforcement. The apathy and unpleasantness is ebbing now. My held in an inert atmosphere and vigorously stirred. To this there was mood might have been negative, and the psilocybin simply amplified added, dropwise, a solution of 0.55 g of 4-acetoxyindol-3-yl-N,N- everything. There was some intensification of the lights and darks dimethylglyoxylamide in 10 mL anhydrous THF at a rate that around me." maintained a gentle reflux. After the addition was complete, the refluxing was maintained for an additional 15 min, the reaction (with 10 mg, orally) "Approximately forty minutes after the start, there mixture cooled to 40 °C, and the excess hydride destroyed by the was a flutter and a very high, stimulated feeling, and gradually things addition of water diluted with a little THF. The reaction mixture was began to move very rapidly. It was astounding. When I closed my filtered free of insoluble material under a N2 atmosphere, the eyes I saw so many fantastically beautiful patterns, textures, colors. resulting solids washed with THF. The filtrate and washings were Everywhere I looked, eyes open, the colors were brilliant. The house combined and stripped of solvent under vacuum. The residue was looked absolutely gorgeous and nature was simply spectacular. It distilled in a KugelRohr apparatus allized from EtOAc / hexane to was a little frightening, almost too exciting, after the gentleness of give 3-[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl]-4-indolol (4-HO-DMT, psilocin) as other substances. I could not believe that I was doing it, and that I white crystals which, after recrystallization from ethyl acetate / had the power within myself to see such beauty. I don't know how hexane, had a mp of 103-104 °C. The final weight was 0.23 g (yield long this went on but the motion was so rapid that I felt a sort of 56%). IR (in cm-1): 686, 725, 832, 991, 1040 and 1055; the OH motion sickness. Then I became quite nauseated and remained stretch is at 3240. MS (in m/z): C3H8N+ 58 (100%); parent ion 204 nauseated the rest of the day, until things quieted down in the (15%); indolemethylene+ 146 (3%); 159 (2%). evening, and then I felt absolutely wonderful." Most of the early syntheses of psilocin and psilocybin employ the O-benzyl ether as a protecting group. This provides more stability to the chemical intermediates, but also requires the (with 15 mg, orally) "My 'early warning system' alerted me at fifteen additional step of reductive debenzylation. The flow chart of this minutes, then all was quiet for a while. I start building up again, and I process is: conversion of 4-hydroxyindole to 4-benzyloxyindole via am awfully glad that I am familiar with this transition. Visual the sodium salt, with benzyl chloride; the conversion of this with distortions. Things distract me. I can't find the cap to my pen -- must I oxalyl chloride to 4-benzyloxyindole-3-glyoxylchloride; the conversion keep writing forever? At this point I couldn't drive, let alone write, and of this to 4-benzyloxy-3-(N,N-dimethyl-glyoxamide with anhydrous it is just a bit more than a half hour since I took it. The furniture in my dimethylamine; the conversion of this to 4-benzyloxy-N,N- office is moving up and down. I lie down, and close my eyes. THIS is dimethyltryptamine with LAH in dioxane; and finally the conversion of where it is at. Visuals are wild. Even with eyes open, with no visual this to 4-HO-DMT (psilocin) with hydrogen with a Pd catalyst on target, there are imaginative visual effects. I imagine a dark room Al2O3. The phosphate ester, psilocybin, requires two additional with a fire place going in the middle of the night, with no other inputs, steps: the conversion of 4-HO-DMT (as the sodium salt) to 4-(O,O- and with my eyes closed I have the body image of being seated in dibenzylphosphoryloxy)-N,N-dimethyltryptamine, with dibenzyl front of that fire and I am amazed by the hallucinations and chlorophosphonate, followed by the catalytic removal of the benzyl distortions I am seeing there only there is no fireplace as I am still groups with hydrogen and Pd on Al2O3 to give the phosphate ester lying in my darkened bedroom. Sort of a 2x removed hallucination. of 4-HO-DMT (psilocybin). This product is much more stable in air This is a night-time drug -- the day-light washes everything out. I than psilocin, and is water soluble. The yields of this conversion are, tried but could not repeat the fireplace thing, and must be dropping however, very bad, often less than 10%, and the two products rapidly. At three hours I ask if I would try some other experiment. OK, appear to be pharmacologically equivalent. Further, I have heard that but there are some reservations. At four hours, no reservations." the phosphorylating agent dibenzyl chlorophosphonate must always be used in solution as it is quite unstable as a pure reagent. The (with 15 mg, orally) "As soon as I felt the chill and the alert, I lay fingerprint infra-red spectrum for psilocybin shows (in cm-1): 752, down and closed my eyes. Indian motif. Abundant fruits, vegetables, 789, 806, 858, 925 and the P=O stretch at 1110; the acidic OH leaves, straw, wood, vines. Very responsive sexually. Beautiful, stretches are broad peaks at 2400, 2700 and 3200. The mass stern, rich encounter with livingness and Indian Gods and serenity. spectrum is identical to that of psilocin. Color and peacefulness. A couple of hours, then elaborateness dropped slightly. At this point top of temple easy, but it was a South 1970, our Federal drug law, there are only four plants listed as being American temple, with earth floor, straw, vines full of fruit. Familiar "Scheduled Drugs." In Schedule I there was Marijuana (later defined feeling. We are naked and we are children-adults, daring to be there, as the plant Cannabis spp.) and Peyote (later defined as the regarded benignly (stern, amused) (rising through the floor). This is botanical Lophophora williamsii); in Schedule II there was Opium one of the true ones, this plant experience. poppy and poppy straw, and Coca leaves. It is generally known that commercial opium comes from the plant Papaver somniferum and that commercial coca comes from the plant Erythroxylon coca, but I (with 12 mg phosphate ester, intramuscularly) "This is strong. There am not aware of either of these botanical binomials having been were a lot of wild images in about two hours, and I thought that the explicitly named in the statutes. A couple of quickies were slipped in, day would never end. At about six hours I knew it would, but in fact in not completely properly, in the giving of the binomial of Tabernanthe the evening I took 100 milligrams of seconal which allowed me to iboga as a synonym for ibogaine, and the giving of the binomial of drift into a fine sleep. The next day I was fine." Catha edulis as a synonym for cathinone, both Schedule I drugs. So there are definitely four, and maybe six, plants that can be (with 3 mg phosphate ester, intravenously) "The effects are considered Scheduled drugs. immediate (in 30 seconds) and I did not have the time to build up any But nowhere in the legal archives of current drug statutes worry -- it was simply too fast. In about an hour I was back where I can you find mention of Genera such as Psilocybe, Stropharia, started from." Paneolus or Inocybe. Nor of the dozens and dozens of species that stem from them. So, you would logically conclude that these magic mushroom are not illegal? Well, yes and no. (with 12 mg phosphate ester, intravenously) "I had had eight No, in the letter-of-the-law sense that they are not explicitly milligrams earlier, with a very good reaction. Here, today, I feel that named as illegal entities. But yes, in the de facto exercise of the law. everything has disintegrated, and I am extremely anxious. I am very With the inescapable fact that both psilocin and psilocybin are confused." named as Schedule I drugs, and the acknowledgment that there are some mushrooms that might contain these drugs, then these Psilocybe cubensis: (with 1.5 g, orally) "At best, some speckled botanical entities become legal complications. Might the dried fruiting patterning with my eyes closed, and in general a light intoxication. bodies be seen as packaging strategy for the sale and delivery of a Certainly not the sparkle of LSD. Dropped quickly and felt heavy and Scheduled I drug? Might the growing of them be seen as a tired, good sleep." production strategy for the manufacture of a Schedule I drug? Of course it might be, as the law has stated that the manufacture and sale of Schedule I drugs is a Federal felony. "Your Honor. I gathered (with 3.5 g, orally) "Took a gram to start with, and it started in ten these things out there in the field for my dinner salad. I had no idea minutes, but not strong enough, so did the other 2.5 grams. that they contained something illegal." A reasonable defense, and it Everything was coming at me in waves, boxing me in, the visuals may well work today, along with the argument that opium poppy pods were in waves and in dark earth colors, orange and brown, not the are buyable at the Farmer's Market as floral decorations, and wide spectrum of acid. I was sea-sick, and vomiting helps some, and morning glory seeds can be bought at the local nursery for next a little dope quieted the tummy. Started dropping, and everything Spring's garden. Innocence may be a virtue for a while, as it is not became very good, and by midnight I was out. No hangover at all." widely recognized that these decorative poppies are in fact Schedule II opium capsules and those Ipomoea seeds in fact contain ergine, a EXTENSIONS AND COMMENTARY : There are two generalizations Schedule III depressant. But that is today. What happens tomorrow? implicit here, one of which I am quite at peace with, but the other is Today, to a large measure, the burden of proof still falls both complex and disturbing. The OK item is the casual equation upon the accuser, and that ephemeral and undocumented between the hydroxy compound psilocin, the acetate ester, and the "presumption of innocence" concept provides some measure of phosphate ester, psilocybin. As I had discussed in the CZ-74 to CEY- protection. They, the accusors, must prove you are guilty. But, as the 19 entries in 4-HO-DET, there is no proof that the ester goes to the legal structure drifts from the criminal statutes to the regulatory indolol metabolically, but it is a good guess, and there have been no statutes, this protection is lost. You must prove that you are innocent. demonstrated differences in their pharmacology. Ditto here, with The perfect example is the random urine test, which demands, psilocin and psilocybin. I have explored both of them as pure without any probable cause, that you prove that you do not have chemicals, and I find them completely interchangeable as to their drugs in you. There is no presumption of innocence. This has been pharmacological properties. the sad state of our income tax laws for years, and now it is The second generalization is more difficult and leads into becoming a reality in our drug laws. Prove to the court that you didn't some uncomfortable areas. This is the effort to equate the know that these mushrooms were psychoactive! Shades of the chemicals, psilocin and psilocybin, with their natural sources, the Inquisitions of a few hundred years ago. Or the Salem travesties of mushrooms. Part of the uncertainties I feel are related to the more recent times. Prove to us you are not a witch. unknowns that are intrinsic to the plant sources. There are many There is quite a body of scientific literature that discusses species that have been offered and accepted as magic mushrooms. the changes (increases and well as decreases) of psilocybin and Identification in the field is one thing, but what can be said of dried, psilocin content in mushrooms as a function of their nutrient diet. ground up plant material of unknown sources? What are they? How And, under the 4-HO-DET entry, I mentioned that the inclusion of an have they been preserved? What is their composition? The older unnatural component into the diet just might produce an unnatural samples may be reasonably free of the rather unstable psilocin, but alkaloidal product, with an exploitation of the natural and available psilocybin is much more stable and may persist. But so might its enzyme systems that are part of the mycelial structure. congeners such as baeocystin and norbaeocystin which are Another aside. There is a trivial, and fun, bit of scattered in widely different proportions in many species, and which nomenclature which I have used for years. I have, in my notes, are quite unexplored pharmacologically. There are so many referred to psilocybin as PSOP (because of the phosphate thing) and uncontrollable variables in the mushroom area that here I cast my psilocin as PSOH (because of the exposed OH group). I have gotten vote for exploration with the chemicals themselves. They can, at into the habit of referring to the acetate as PSOA, the O-methyl ether least in principle, be analyzed, and weighed. But this is a luxury not as PSOM and the chemical intermediate O-benzyl ether as PSOB. I available to many, as the syntheses of these alkaloids is difficult, and know that this will never catch on, but I still do it because it is woefully illegal. convenient and a bit campy. One code that is not mine, but Which brings us back to the mushrooms, and the topic of Sandoz's, is CMY for 1-methyl-psilocin. I know it has been looked at the law. In the original writing of the Controlled Substances Act of in a clinical environment, but I have not idea as to its activity. It is a simple thing to make. I would love to know what it does Extraction and analysis of indole derivatives from fungal biomass by Jochen Gartz , Journal of Basic Microbiology, Vol 34, 1994; 17-22

Abstract: The occurence and extraction of indole Sebek were studied by using methanol and the derivatives in six species from four genera of higher fungi recommended mixtures of sol vents (Casale 1985, Kysilka were investigated. By using pure methanol for extraction of and Wurst 1990, Wurst et al. 1992), respectively. the mushrooms analysis revealed the highest concentrations of psilocybin and baeocystin. The psilocin content of the Materials & Methods species was higher by using aqueous solutions of alcohols Fungal material: Cultivated mushrooms: Psilocybe than with methanol alone but was an artificial phenomenon semilanceata (FR.) Kumm from horse manure compost caused by enzymatic destruction of psilocybin. The (Gartz 1991); Psilocybe cubensis (Earle) Singer grown on extraction with dilute acetic acid yielded better results than cow dung/rice grain mixture (Gartz 1989a); P. bohemica with the water containing alcohols. The simlpe one-step from rice grain/water (Gartz and Mueller 1989; Gymnopilus procedure with methanol for the quantitative extraction is purpuratus (Cooke and Mass) Singer from rice grain/saw still the safest method to obtain the genuine alkaloids from dust medium (Gartz and Mueller 1990, Gartz 1991). funghal biomass. Naturally grown mushrooms: Panaeolus cyanescens (BK & BK) SACC. (leg. Oahu, Hawaii 13.11.88); Inocybe Comments: aeruginascens Babos (leg. Potsdam 20.05.1987); P. The abstract says it, if you are planning to extract the bohemica Sebek (leg. near Sazava, Czech Republic alkaloids from either dries and pulverisized fruiting bodies 15.11.89). or from mycelium it is best to use pure methanol. Superior to All basidiocarps were dried at room temperature. aqueous solutions of alcohols (which is wet alcohol, the one Possible present residual water was removed from the you are likely to have!) is dilute acetic acid which means mushrooms by freeze-drying. Voucher speciments of each simple vinegar (better: vinegar essence diluted with same species have been deposited in the herbarium of the amount of water) which is quite nice because there is no Univeristy of Leipzig (LZ). problem obtaining it. The problem with wet alcohol is that Extraction: (Samples (0.01 - 0.1 g) of dried ground the enzymes which dephosphorylise Psilocybin to the mushrooms were extracted with 5 to 20 ml of methanol for instable Psilocin are also extracted from the biomass. This 0.5 to 12 hours by using a magnetic stirrer at room also occures with acetic acid but to a smaller amount and temperature. Under equal conditions the mixtures with does not occure at all with pure methanol (ethanol?). The aqueous acetic acid (Casale 1985) and a queous ethanol recommended extraction time (magnetical stirring) is with (psilocin) and methanol (psilocybin) (Kysilka and Wurst methanol 12h at room temperature or 1h at 45 deg.Celsius, 1990, Wurst et al. 1992) were used for extraction of the same no times given for the acetic acid method. And the moral: batch of mushrooms. In the cases with aqueous alcohols as Dont use clandestine-quality alcohols for extraction, use solvent a different extraction time for psilocybin (10 min) vinegar ! Or dry the alcohol by adding salts like MgSO4, and psilocin (160 min) was performed (Kysilka and Wurst CaCl2, NaSO4 which were previously dried in an oven and 1990). By using of dilute acetic acid the solution was placed decand or filter the solvent from them after a day or longer. in a boiling water bath for 10 min after extraction and anaysis and was then analysed 10 min after extraction and In the last 15 years many papers have been analysis and was then anal ysed again (Casale 1985). published about the occurance and determination of The filtration and analysis of the indole derivatives psychotropic tryptamine derivatives like psilocybin, psilocin by using HPLC and TLC were described elsewhere (Gartz and baeocystin in fungi (Gartz 1992, 1993). 1987, Semerdzieva et al. 1986, Wurst et al. 1992). An Various extraction procedures of these substances analysis of the extracts for enzymes of the phosphatase type from mushrooms have been ised mainly with methanol as was also carried out (Weber a nd Horita 1963). solvent (Beug and Bigwood 1982, Gartz 1987, Sottolano and Lurie 1983). Results In 1985 an aqueous-organic extraction method with In this investigation the extraction of psilocin, acetic acid for these compounds was described (Casale psilocybin and baeocystin with pure methanol was not 1985). Recently, Czech analysts have used aqueous solutions completely after 30 min in all species and even 6 hours in of methanol and ethanol (pure or in presence of potassium- analysis of P. cubensis and G. purpuratus. But the full nitrate) for extraction of the indole derivatives in Psilocybe extraction of the alkaloids from al l mushrooms was reached bohemica Sebek (Kysilka and Wurst 1990, Wurst et al after 12 hours. After this time no traces of indole derivatives 1992). They claimed that it was possible to have found more could be detected after subsequent extraction of the fungal psilocin with aqueous ethanol extraction than with pure material with aqueous solutions of ethanol/methanol or methanol and that a dissimilar extraction of the alka loids by acetic acid as well as with chloroform for psilocin. using both new systems could be achieved. In this work the Baeocystin as incompletely methylated counterpart extraction procedures of psilocybin, psilocin and baeocystin and possible precursor of psilocybin (Gartz 1989a) was from varoius mushroom species including P. bohemica found in all species by using methanol but in some cases destroyed during the extraction procedure with water only in very small amounts (Table 1). containing alcohols (Tables 1 and 3). The psilocybin and psilocin content was in the Casale (1985) described the rapid formaion of same order of magnitude as that found earlier (Gartz 1992, psilocin after complete dephosphorylation of psilocybin by 1993). This substance seems to be a phosphoric acid ester heating the dilute acetic acid extract. It is now quite clear like psilocybin and baeocystin. Similar concentrations of that the decomposition under these conditions is an psilocin were detected in the extracts of P. cubensis and G. enzymatic reaction and was not ca used by the acid alone. purpuratus by using an aqueous solution of acetic acid For example the phosphoric acid ester psilocybin, baeocystin versus pure methanol (Table 2). and aeruginascin in these acidic extracts from I. By using the new solvent mixtures containing aeruginacens were stable during heating in contrast to the ethanol and methanol for extraction it was found that more behaviour of the same alkaloids in solutions of P. cubensis a psilocin could be detected in extracts of every species but nd P. cyanescens. It seems that active enzymes of the always smaller amounts of psilocybin than with pure phosphatase type could be extracted with aqueous acetic methanol (Table 3). acid only in these two species in contrast to water containing Additionally, a high activity of enzymes of the alcohols as extraction method. In the past attempts at the phosphatase type could be detected in these aqueous sparation of psilocybin and psilocin simply using mixtures solutions from all species. In contrast to these results only of organic solvents and water were also unsatisfactory the extracts of P. cubensis and P. cyanescens showed a (THOMSON 1980). significant enzymatic activity b y using acetic acid as This investigation shows that the high percentage of solvent. In these cases psilocybin was completely psilocin detected in P. bohemica (Kysilka and Wurst 1990, dephosphorylated to psilocin by heating the acid extracts and Wurst et al. 1992) and not found earlier (Gartz and Mueller no baeocystin could be detected in P. cyanescens. 1989) was an artificial phenomenon casued by enzymatic destrucion of psilocybin w hich is common in different Discussion species by using water containing organic solvents. It is well known that an extraction procedure with Extraction with pure methanol is the safest method to obtain methanol needs much time (up to 12 hours) at room the genuine indole derivatives from mushroom species of temperature (Beug and Bigwood 1982, Gartz 1987, various genera. Semerdzieva et al. 1986) or one hour at 45 C (SCOTTOLANO and Lurie 1983) for complete extrraction. Acknowledgements In our investigations psilocin could be found in The author thanks the following persons: G. high concentrations as well as psilocybin after simple Drewitz, J. Allen, G.K. Mueller and M. Semerdzieva who extraction with methanol from various species (Gartz 1987, geneously supplied herbarium material and/or valuable 1989c, 1991). When undertaking quantitave analysis of information. levels of indole derivatives after biotransformation of tryptamine and similar compounds in fruiting mycelia of P. References # Beug MW, Bigwood J. 1982. Psilocybin and psilocin levels in twenty species from several cubensis the highest concentrations of psilocin in every genera of wild mushrooms in the Pacific Northwest, U.S.A. J. Ethnopharm, 5, 271-289. Bocks SM. 1968. The metabolism and psilocin and psilocybin by fungal enzymes. Biochem. J., mushroom for example could be detected by using methanol 106, 12-13. (Gartz 1989a, b). By using aqueous methanol and ethanol as Casale JF. 1985. An aqueous-organic extraction method for the isolation and identification of psilocin from hallucinogenic mushrooms. J. Forensic Sci., 30, 247-250. so lvent for analysis of P. bohemica the Czech analysts have Gartz J. 1985. Zur Isolierung des Baeocystins aus den Fruchtkoerpern einer Psilocybe-Art. Pharmazie, 40, 274. not always analyzed the same batch of mushrooms during Gartz J. 1987. Variation deer Indolalkaloide von Psilocybe cubensis durch unterschiedliche their comparative study of extraction methods (Kysilka, Kultivierungsbedingungen. Beitraege z. Kenntnis d. Pilze Mitteleuropas, 3, 275-281. Gartz J. 1989a. Biotransformation of tryptamine derivatives in mycelial cultures of Psilocybe. J. pers. communication 1989). Basic Microbiol., 29, 347-352. Gartz J. 1989b. Biotransformation of tryptamine in fruiting mycelia of psilocybe cubensis. We generally found variations from one mushroom Planta Med., 55, 249-250. to another in every species even within P. bohemica from a Gartz J. 1989c. Occurence of psilocybin, psilocin and baeocystin in Gymnopilus purpuratus. Persoonia, 14, 19-22. single location (Gartz and Mueller 1989) and also in Gartz J, Mueller GK. 1990. Analysis and cultivation of fruit bodies and mycelia of Psilocybe bohemica. Biochem. Physiol. Pflanzen, 184, 337-341. controlled cultures (Gartz 1991). Additionally, the high Gartz J, Mueller GK. 1990. Versuche zur Kultur von Gymnopilus purpuratus, activity of enzymes of the phosphat ase type in the aqueous Purpurflaemmling. Myk. Mitt. blatt (Halle), 33, 29-30. Gartz J. 1991. Further investigations on psychoactive mushrooms of the genera Psilocybe, solutions of alcohols was already described in aqueous Gymnopilus and Conocybe. Ann. Mus. civ. Rovereto (Italy), Sez. sc. nat.,7, 265-274. Gartz J. 1992. New aspects of the occurance chemistry and cultivaion of European mycelial extracts of P. cubensis and other psilocybin hallucinogenic mushrroms. Ann. Mus. civ. Rovereto (Italy), Sez. sc. nat., 8, 107-124. containing mushrooms many years ago (BOCKS 1968, Gartz J. 1993. Narrenschwaemme. Psychotrope Pilze in Europa in Europa. Herausforderung an Forschung und Wertsystem. Editions Heuwinkel. Genf/Neuallschwill. Gartz 1993, Weber and Horita 1963). These enzymes were Kysilka R, Wurst M. 1990. A novel extraction procedure for psilocybin and psilocin determination in mushroom samples. Planta Med., 56, 327-328. also extracted wit h the water containing solvents and caused Semerdzieva M, Wurst M, Koza T, Gartz J. 1986. Psilocybin in Fruchtkoerpern von Inocybe a partial dephosphorylation of psilocybin to psilocin (Tables aeruginascens. Planta Med., 47, 83-85. Sottolano SM, Lurie IS. 1983. The quantitation of psilocybin in hallucinogenic mushrooms 1 and 3). By using these aqueous soluions it was also using high performance liquid chromatography. J. Forensic Sci., 28, 931-935. Thomson BM. 1980. Analysis of psilocybin and psilocin in mushroom extracts by reversed- observed that in some cases bluish mixtures have been phase high performance liquid chromatography. J. Forensic Sci., 25, 779-785. resulted after extraction as a sign of par tial oxydation of Weber LJ, Horita A. 1963. Oxydation of 4 and 5-hydroxy-indole derivatives by mammalian cytochrome oxydase. Life Sciences 1, 44-49. psilocin (BOCKS 1968, Gartz 1989a, Weber and Horita Wurst M, Kysilka R, Koza T. 1992. Analysis and islolation of indole alkaloids of fungi by high- 1963). It is also interesting that most of the baeocystin was performance liquid chromatography. J. Chromatogr., 593, 201-208. Table 1. Amount of indole alkaloids in fruiting bodies of different species by using pure methanol as solvent (%, dry weight).

Species Psilocybin Psilocin Baeocystin P. semilanceata 0.98 - 0.34 P. bohemica 0.85 0.02 0.04 P. bohemica (cultivated) 0.93 0.04 0.02 P. cubensis 0.63 0.11 0.02 G. purpuratus 0.34 0.29 0.05 I. aeruginacens 0.40 - 0.21 P. cyanescens 0.32 0.51 0.02

Table 2. Concentraction of alkaloids by using acetic acid for extraction of the dried mushrooms (%, dry weight).

Species Psilocybin Psilocin Baeocystin P. semilanceata 0.97 0.15 0.11 P. bohemica 0.60 0.21 - P. bohemica (cultivated) 0.65 0.28 - P. cubensis 0.45 0.25 - G. purpuratus 0.24 0.35 0.01 I. aeruginacens 0.32 0.05 0.15 P. cyanescens 0.20 0.61 -

Table 3. Results of the mushroom extraction of six species using aqueous mixtures of methanol and ethanol (%, dry weight).

Species Psilocybin Psilocin Baeocystin P. semilanceata 0.80 0.15 0.11 P. bohemica 0.60 0.21 - P. bohemica (cultivated) 0.65 0.28 - P. cubensis 0.45 0.25 - G. purpuratus 0.24 0.35 0.01 I. aeruginacens 0.32 0.05 0.15 P. cyanescens 0.20 0.61 - PF TEK SHROOM EXTRACTION

This technique describes how to extract psilocybin mouth of a drinking glass. Squeeze the filter and slurry to from magic mushrooms with pure 190 proof ethyl alcohol extract the alcohol. There are many details to deal with, but and make a magic mushroom liqueur of concentrated doing it once reveals them all. Experience is the best teacher. psilocybin to effect a powerful psychedelic dose as potent as Store the extracted alcohol in a fresh bottle. desired. The entire process involves only the shrooms and alcohol. The alcohol is untainted with chemicals and poisons EVAPORATION AND CONCENTRATION because it can be easily acquired from a liquor store (United Combine the alcohol extracts into a glass. Place a States) either over the counter (in some states) or with a small electric fan (small desk clip on fans are perfect) near special permit (most states - see end of article section - the glass and point the air flow directly down into the glass "procuring 190 proof ethyl alcohol from a liquor store"). until the surface of the alcohol ripples. This will speed the evaporation and concentration. The process will take several ALCOHOL EXTRACTION hours. The more alcohol extract - the longer the evaporation 1. Acquire quality psilocybe cubensis shrooms time. As the alcohol evaporates and the level recedes down (harvested before or just as the veils open and cool dried into the glass, wash the residue that adheres to the inside of with desiccant). The more shrooms used in the beginning, the glass back into the solution. Any fumes that are the more potent the concentration can be when finished. Use generated will be harmless because the alcohol is a non at least several grams of dried shroom material to make the poisonous drinkable spirit. Keep flames away from the process worthwhile and effective. The shrooms need to be solution - pure alcohol is very flammable. thoroughly dry (rock hard) to allow pulverization. To One can also use heat to evaporate and concentrate pulverize the shrooms, put them into a small strong zip lock the elixir. Use a double boiler type of set up to heat and plastic bag (freezer bag), cover the bag with a magazine (for evaporate off the alcohol to concentrate the elixir. protection of the bag) and pound it with the rubber heel of a The concentrated shroom liqueur will have a large shoe. Or, powder them in a small canister type coffee pungent mushroomy aroma (like fungi perfume). Also, a bean grinder. white crystalline kind of precipitate will form in the alcohol In a heat resistant soaking vessel (pyrex glass), elixir (see above photo). Store it in small screw cap bottles combine the shroom powder with several times its volume or vials in the freezer. Alcohol doesn't freeze solid and will with 190 proof Everclear (ethanol). This is the "slurry". remain liquid. Place the soaking vessel in a pan of boiling water. Raising the soaking vessel off the bottom of the hot water pan is a SUPPLY LIST good idea for preventing serious sticking of the good extracts. The slurry will start to boil. Turn the water boiling shrooms pan heat down and let the slurry sit for a few hours at a 190 proof ethyl alcohol (GOLDEN GRAIN - warm-hot temp. Alcohol boils at a lower temp than water. EVERCLEAR ect) Watch the temperatures closely. Things can get totally out of Pyrex glass wide mouth slurry soaking vessel hand and ruined very quickly without close attention paid. funnel and filtering set up - or While the slurry is still hot, filter it through filter dust-pollen masks paper. This is probably the most important part. A good small desk fan filtration will be efficient and will keep most of the shroom material out, making for a clean extraction (clean of shrooms that is - but heavy on psilocybin). A small lab type vacuum Here are some important guidlines for right now! pump powered bottle top filtering funnel with filter disk There is one thing about magic shrooms that is holder makes it all really easy and fast, with little waste. universal. Anyone that you know that has taken magic That is why this extraction idea is really only for the shrooms will tell you one thing, if asked, and that is that the fanatics. shrooms were were hard on the stomach. They make most Collect and save the filtrate liquids. Heat the slurry people sick, at the least, temporarily, and some get very sick. (the mush in the filter paper) one or two more times with the What makes for the sickness, is that these magic shrooms are 190 proof as before, filter, and accumulate the liquids of the not easy to digest. It is the stomachs reaction to difficult to extractions. The photos at the top are of extractions done digest food that is the sickness. So they goal would be to twice. elliminate the stomach, or by pass it. These extraction teks Inexpensive dust-pollen masks make excellent can do that. By making the extract very potent and using filters for the slurry. These are available at hardware, drug good filtration technique, the product can be consumed by and paint stores. They are usually white or tan colored, fit mouth so that the saliva and the mucous membranes in the over the nose and mouth and are held on to the face by a mouth do most of the job. So when anything of the extract rubber band attached to the filter. Fashion the filter over the reached the stomach, it is basically digested leaving the stomach with nothing to do which results in no stomach most of the liquid out. To complete the drying, desiccant is upset - just the trip. This is the greatest idea in magic shroom recommended. Place the small vessel of liquid extract into history. To elliminate the ugly physical effects is a real a larger jar with quality desiccant. It takes several days to godsend. It makes it all totally superb and beyond any complete drying, but the final crystalline substance is very known psychedelic in entheogenic quality and potency. dry, loose, and can be weighed and worked with very 1. Use warm-hot temps when soaking the initial slurry easily. (shroom-alki). Use the hot water bath idea from the 7. TEK personalization through experience is what happens Gottlieb tek below. Avoid hot bottomed slurry soak to anyone trying this. vessels. The good stuff can bake on and stick very easily. 2. A good filter is a must. Lab quality filter paper helps for a DOSAGE and STORAGE cleaner extract (less shroom stuff). The fanatic should get Getting crystals is really moot. I think the following a little bottle top vacuum filtering funnel with a hand scheme for dosing and storage is the only way to go. With squeeze vacuum pump and fine slow flow filtering papers. this way, one doesn't have to deal with the problems of (science supply - not cheap - but affordable for the crystalization and other things related. Plus, the dry crystals fanatics - look for the 47 millimeter filter sized set ups - would be much more prone to potency loss if left dry. If they small but perfect for this). are in an alcohol solution, that would be better for 3. When filtering the slurry, do it while it is hot. preservation. 4. The crystals when heated in the initial slurry are free base As an example, one can start with 20 grams of dried molecules. In the final liqueur on cool down, the free base shrooms. After the filtration of the hot slurry, the resultant molecules will coalesce and form crystals. It takes a day liqueur should be put into an evaporation vessel and with a or two for the process to be complete. The smaller the fan blowing air across the mouth of the vessel, the liqueur final amount of liqueur, the easier it is for the molecules to should be evaportated down to about 50 milliliters. Then, in meet each other and combine. When you get your final a double boiler, heat the small amount of liqueur to put the magic liqueur, the free base psilocybin will coaslesce and crystals and extract back into a cloudy solution. Then while form whitish crystals. At first they might look like whitish it is hot, dispense 10 cc of the liqueur into waiting small glue, but they transform in solution to hard crystals. storage jars with watertight caps. Each small jar is allowed 5. The final elixir will have a layer of crystals on the bottom to cool, the cap is put on and the jar is placed into the freezer of the storage vessel. The freebase Psilocybin molecules for storage. Then when it is time to trip, the desired jars are come together fast in the cool alcohol. When it is time for removed from the freezer, allowed to warm to room temps, dosage, reheat the crystal liqueur in its storage vessel in a the lids taken off, a small fan set up blowing air across the pot of hot water. Boil the liqueur and stir and scrape jars mouths and the liquere evaporated off to a manageble deposits from the glass as the liqueur boils lightly. Alcohol "hit". The small jars then become adminstration "spoons" - boils at a lower temperature than water. Keep the storage where the entire contents (alcohol - water - and extract) can vessel off the bottom of the boiling water pot. Direct heat be polished off with the tongue. is very bad for the elixir, making it stick. As the liqueur boils, the crystals will remelt with time. The large particles By Searcher (Novice) on Sunday, December 22, 2002 - 07:46 am: of the crystals can be crushed with a long needle probe to Almost any liquid will extract something from the shrooms hurry up the process. When the crystals are gone, themselves or the mycelium. Even water will work, producing a brown administer the magic liqueur while it is HOT. Using a syrup that can be dried into a sticky tar. Only the acetone was a bust in syringe enables uniformity and accuracy of the doseages. extracting the magic - but it does extract some other crud that might make it a good pre-wash for more serious extractions. Recapping the results of the The hot liqueur quickly becomes cloudy on slight cooling. tests using other spirits, 99% isopropyl, 151 proof ethyl alcohol, and 99.9% So a hot temp of the liqueur with remelted crystals is methanol - methanol was the hands down winner for getting the crystals. important for accurate dosage administration. Or the Once the pretty white crystals have dried, they can be re-dissolved in grain crystals can be dried and used as they are! alcohol for a potent elixer. The crystals tend to absorb water from the air unless they are kept in a heavily dessicated chamber. 6. Or, the crystalline extract can be completely dried by Miscellaneous notes on the methanol: You'll note that this placing the elixir container in front of a small fan to get residue us lighter in color than residue gleaned from the water soaks. Also, this residue comes out dryer - no intermediate "tar" stage. An Aqueous-Organic Extraction Method for Isolation and Identification of Psilocin from Mushrooms J. F. Casale J. Forens. Sci. 30(1), 247-250 (1985)

Abstract 70°C. The beaker is removed and cooled to room temperature under running water. The acid mixture is separated from the mushroom powder by suction filtration using glass wool. The filtrate is brought to pH 8 with concentrated A simple aqueous extraction method for the isolation and identification of ammonium hydroxide and quickly extracted with two 50-mL portions of psilocin from Psilocybe Cubensis mushrooms is reported. This method diethyl ether. Gentle mixing instead of shaking should be used to prevent an employs a dephosphorylation of the phosphate ester to psilocin, which emulsion. The ether is dried over sodium sulfate, filtered, and evaporated facilitates a greater product yield and simplifies identification. Psilocin under nitrogen with no applied heat. extracted by this method is sufficiently concentrated and free of co- contaminants to allow identification by infrared spectroscopy and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Crude psilocin will appear as a greenish residue. Recrystallization from chloroform/heptane (1:3) yields white crystals. The resulting powder can then be submitted to infrared and mass spectral analyses. The tryptamines are one of four categories of hallucinogenic indoles in more than 20 classes of indole compounds comprising approximately 600 alkaloids1. Considerable research has been conducted with psilocin and Results and Discussion psilocybin since their isolation by Hofmann et. al.2 Several extraction techniques1,3-6 have been used to isolate psilocin and psilocybin from more This method permits rapid isolation of psilocin from hallucinogenic than two dozen species of mushrooms in four genera (Conocybe. mushrooms by co-extraction of both psilocin and psilocybin. Dilute acetic Panaeolus, Psilocybe, Stropharia). The techniques that use methanol co- acid is an excellent solvent for this purpose, because both compounds are extract other compounds such as urea, ergosterol, ergosteral peroxide, α,α- very soluble in acetic acid11 and very little of other interfering substances trehalose, baeocystin, and norbaeocystin3,4,7. At present, a useful aqueous are extracted, It is most likely some other compounds are co-extracted but extraction procedure has not been reported for psilocin and psilocybin. are removed from psilocin in the ether extraction from the aqueous base. Psilocybin is completely dephosphorytated to psilocin by heating the acid The dephosphorylation of psilocybin to psilocin in vivo has been well extract. After addition of the base, extraction into ether should be performed documented1,8,9 and is thought to account for most or all of its central promptly, because of decomposition of psilocin at a greater pH than 712. The nervous system activity8. Conversion of psilocybin to psilocin is also extraction and dephosporylation steps produce reasonably pure psilocin necessary for aqueous extraction with organic solvents because of the very from a small amount of mushroom material. Two grams of mushrooms will low lipid solubility of psilocybin. Extraction of only one compound also often be sufficient to obtain an infrared spectrum of psilocin (Fig. 1). permits infrared analysis of the extract. Smaller mushrooms exhibits provide ample psilocin for mass spectral analysis (Fig. 2). Concentration and detectability of psilocin and psilocybin are dependent on several variables, including: This method has been used in our laboratory for six months and has given excellent results in separating psilocin from methanol-soluble compounds. Other identification techniques such as gas chromatography and 1. The absence of glucose, which will prevent the production of microcrystalline tests are possible on psilocin extracted by this method. psilocybin10. 2. Low levels of ammonium succinate, which will give poor yields of psilocybin10. 3. The growing medium, which requires a pH of less than 710. References 4. Timing: maximum production of psilocybin occurs on the seventh day after germination, while maximum production of the 1. Schultes, R. E., "Indole Alkaloids in Plant Hallucinogens" Journal of Psychedelic mycelium is reached by the ninth day10. Drugs, Vol. 8, No. 1, Jan.-March 1976, pp. 7-25. 2. Hofmann, A., Heim, R., Barck, A., Kobel, H., Frey, A., et al, "Psilicybin [sic] and 5. Temperature: complete loss of psilocin and psilocybin will occur Psilocin" Helvetica Chimica Acta, Vol. 42, No. 2, pp. 1557-1572 (1959) in harvested mushrooms left at room temperature for an 3. Beug, M. W. and Bigwood, J., "Quantitative Analysis of Psilocybin and Psilocin in 3 Psilicybe Baeocystis (Singer and Smith) by High-Performance Liquid extended period of time . Chromatography and by Thin-Layer Chromatography" Journal of Chromatography, 6. Oxidation: psilocin will oxidize to a blue product (possibly Vol 207, No. 3, pp. 379-385 (1981) 4. Koike, Y., Wada, K., Kusano, G., Nozoe, S., and Yokoyama, K., "Isolation of accounting for the bluing color in the four genera containing Psilocybin from Psilocybe Argentypes and Its Determination in Specimens of Some 9 psilocin and psilocybin) . Mushrooms" Journal of Natural Products, Vol. 44, No. 3, May-June 1981, pp. 362- 365. 5. Ott, J. and Guzmán, G., "Detection of Psilocybin in Species of Psilocybe Panaeolus Because of the increasing popularity of these mushrooms and kits available and Psathyrella" Lloydia, Vol. 39, No. 4, July-Aug. 1976, pp. 258-260. from drug oriented publications for growing mushrooms containing psilocin 6. Guzmán, G. and Ott, J., "Description and Chemical Analysis of a New Species of and psilocybin in cow manure a simple aqueous extraction procedure has Hallucinogenic Psilocybe from the Pacific Northwest" Mycologia, Vol. 68, No. 6, been developed that extracts reasonably pure psilocin from mature Nov. 1976, pp. 1261-1267. 7. Lenny, A. W. and Paul, A. G., "Baeocystin and Norbaeocystin: New Analogs of mushrooms. This extraction method greatly simplifies the identification of Psilocybin form Psilocybe Baeocystis" Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Vol. 57, psilocin from those mushrooms by infrared spectroscopy and gas No. 10, Oct. 1968, pp. 1667-1671. chromatography/mass spectrometry (GS/MS). 8. Horita, A. and Weber, L. J., "Dephosphorylation of Psilocybin in the Intact Mouse" Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, Vol. 4, No. 6. Nov. pp. 730-737. 9. Horita, A. and Weber, L. J., "The Enzymatic Dephosphorylation and Oxidation of Experimental Psilocybin and Psilocin by Mammalian Tissue Homogenates" Biochemical Pharmacology, Vol. 7, No. 1, 1961, pp. 47-54. 10. Catalfomo, P. and Tyler, V. E., "The Production of Psilocybin in Submerged Culture by A representative sample of 2 to 10g of dried mushrooms is ground to a fine Psilocybe Cubensis" Lloydia, Vol. 27, No. 1, pp. 53-63 (1964) powder by mortar and pestle. The powder is mixed with 100 mL of dilute 11. Clarke, E. G. C., Isolation and Identification of Drugs, Pharmaceutical Press, acetic acid in a 250-mL beaker. The pH is readjusted to pH 4 with glacial London, 1974, p. 526. acetic acid. After standing 1 h, the beaker is placed in a boiling water bath 12. Agurell, S. and Eilsson, L., "Biosynthesis of Psilocybin Part II. Incorporation of Labeled Tryptamine Derivatives" Acta Chemica Scandinavica, Vol. 22, No. 4, pp. for 8 to 10 min or until the internal temperature of the acid mixture reaches 1210-1218 (1968) The Psilocybin Production Guide by Adam Gottlieb 1976

EXTRACTION DOSAGE Crumble and pulverize the dried mycelial material The standard dose of psilocybin or psilocin for a 150 lb and combine each 100 mg of this material with 10 person is a 6-20 mg dose. We will figure the average dose as 10 mg. The crude alkaloid extraction process given here ml of methanol. Place the flask in a hot water bath yields a brownish crystalline powder that is at least 25 for four hours. Filter the liquids with suction percent pure. Each mason jar should contain at least 50 through a filter paper in a buchner funnel with grams of wet mycelium. After drying this would be about 5 Celite to prevent clogging. Collect and save the grams of material. The crude material extracted from this filtrate liquids. Heat the slurry (the mush in the should contain 25-30 mg of psilocybin/ psilocin or roughly filter paper) two more times in methanol as before, 2-3 hits. This yield may very to some extent depending upon several factors. Many of these species contain less of these filter, and accumulate the liquids of the three alkaloids than dose Psilocybe cubensis and the alkaloidal extractions. To be certain that all of the alkaloids content of this species may very in different strains. have been extracted do a small extraction with a Cultivation conditions have alot to do with yield too. Higher portion of the used slurry and test with Keller's temperatures (75 degrees F.) cause more rapid growth but reagent (glacial acetic acid, ferrous chloride, and lesser psilocybin content than do lower temperatures (70 degrees F.) One must test each new batch of extracted concentrated sulfuric acid). If there is a violet material to determine the proper distribution of dosages. indication, alkaloids are still present and further Depending on the potency of the mycelia and how well the extraction is in order. extraction was conducted the dose may range between 25 and 100 mg. Also bear in mind that the dose varies for In an open beaker evaporate the liquids to total dryness with different individuals. a hot water bath or by applying a hair dryer. Be certain that all traces of methanol have been removed. The remaining residue should contain 25-50 percent psilocybin/psilocin mixture. Greater purification can be achieved, but would require other solvents and chromatography equipment and is hardly necessary.

Each 100 grams of dried mycelium should yield about 2 grams of extracted material. This should contain at least 500 mg of psilocybin/psilocin mixed or about fifty 10 mg doses. Theoretically psilocin should have the same effect upon the user as psilocybin. The only difference between the two is that the later has a phosphate bond which disappears immediately after assimilation in the body. In other words, in the body psilocybin turns into psilocin. Psilocybin is a fairly stable compound, but psilocin is very susceptible to oxidization. It is best to keep the extracted material in a dry air tight container under refrigeration. A sack of silica-gel can be placed in the container to capture any moisture that may enter.