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Bioactive Alkaloids from Fungi: Psilocybin

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Natural Products

Abstract

Studies on bioactive alkaloids have gained considerable importance in recent years and have been given prominent position in the field of medicine, both with respect to their biological activity and role played in the introduction of new pharmaceuticals. The biotechnological approach has further enhanced their industrial applications. Some specific groups of bioactive alkaloids have been ignored and not been given much attention because of various reasons, including their legal status. The tryptophan-based indole alkaloids, psilocybin and psilocin, are the best examples in this category which have been identified as most attractive bioactive alkaloids in large number of mushrooms, especially of the genus Psilocybe, but waiting since long for more control studies to ascertain their therapeutic role in some other conditions, apart from psychiatry. These alkaloids have long history of association with mankind for their use as sacraments in religious ceremonies along with medical and recreational purposes and thus need more attention to explore their therapeutic role.

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Abbreviations

5HT:

5-Hydroxytryptamine

CNS:

Central Nervous System

DMACA:

Dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde

DMT:

Dimethyltryptamine

GC/MS:

Gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry

INCB:

International Narcotics Control Board

LSD:

Lysergic acid diethylamide

OCD:

Obsessive-compulsive disorders

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  1. Colorcon Limited – UK, Flagship House, Victory Way, Crossways, Dartford Kent, UK

    Zafar Alam Mahmood PhD.

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  1. Zafar Alam Mahmood PhD.
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  1. Botany Department, M.L. Sukhadia University, Durga Nursery Road, Udaipur, 313001, Rajasthan, India

    Kishan Gopal Ramawat

  2. Institute of Vine and Wine Sciences, Biological-Active Plant Substances Study, University of Bordeaux, 210 Chemin de Leysotte CS 50008, Villenave d'Ornon, 33882, France

    Jean-Michel Mérillon

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Mahmood, Z.A. (2013). Bioactive Alkaloids from Fungi: Psilocybin. In: Ramawat, K., Mérillon, JM. (eds) Natural Products. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-22144-6_19

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