Strauss Dominique, Ghosh Soumya, Murray Zurika, Gryzenhout Marieka
Department of Genetics, Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein, 9301 South Africa.
3 Biotech. 2022 Dec;12(12):339. doi: 10.1007/s13205-022-03355-4. Epub 2022 Nov 4.
Humans have collected and used hallucinogenic mushrooms for ethnic medicinal, recreational, and religious purposes since before recorded history. Currently, the use of these mushrooms is illegal in most countries, but where their use is legal they are applied as self medication. Psilocybin and psilocin, two psychoactive alkaloids, are naturally synthesized by hallucinogenic mushrooms. The chemical structure of these compounds are similar to the neurotransmitter serotonin. Activation of this system by psilocybin and psilocin may produce temporary changes in the brain that induce hallucinations and feelings of euphoria. Adjustment of the serotonin system in this way can moderate symptoms of related mental disorders. This review summarizes relevant and current information regarding the discovery of hallucinogenic mushrooms and their contained psychoactive compounds, the events that lead to their criminalization and decriminilization, and the state of knowledge of psilocybin, psilocin, and derivatives. Last, research on the psychoactive properties of these mushrooms is placed in perspective to possible applications for human dysfunctions.
自历史记载之前起，人类就已采集并使用致幻蘑菇用于民族医药、娱乐及宗教目的。目前，在大多数国家，使用这些蘑菇是非法的，但在其使用合法的地方，它们被用作自我治疗药物。裸盖菇素和脱磷酸裸盖菇素这两种精神活性生物碱是由致幻蘑菇自然合成的。这些化合物的化学结构与神经递质血清素相似。裸盖菇素和脱磷酸裸盖菇素对该系统的激活可能会在大脑中产生暂时变化，从而诱发幻觉和欣快感。以这种方式调节血清素系统可以缓解相关精神障碍的症状。本综述总结了有关致幻蘑菇及其所含精神活性化合物的发现、导致其被定罪和非刑事化的事件以及裸盖菇素、脱磷酸裸盖菇素及其衍生物的知识现状的相关及最新信息。最后，对这些蘑菇精神活性特性的研究与人类功能障碍的可能应用进行了展望。
