Magic Mushrooms

Psilocybin is a member of the tryptamine family.

Chemical Formula: C₁₂H₁₇N₂O₄P

Other names: Psilocybin, 4-Hydroxy-N,N-dimethyl-tryptamine-4-phosphate

Layman's explanation: Psilocybin is the psychoactive drug that is found in the Psilocybe mushrooms. This fungus was used widely in Central and South America until the Spaniards arrived and spread Catholicism. Psilocybin is of the tryptamine family, and is dephosphorylated by the enzyme alkaline to psilocin, another, even stronger, hallucinogen. Then the compound inhibits uptake of the neurotransmitter serotonin by acting as a 5-HT2A post-synaptic agonist, where HT stands for hydroxytryptamine. The toxicity of the mushroom is minimal, thus, being poisoned is unlikely.

Keywords: mushroom, tryptamine, hallucinogen

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