Psilocybin
A naturally occurring psychedelic prodrug found in over 200 species of fungi.
Psilocybin is a naturally occurring prodrug compound found in more than 200 species of fungi, primarily in the genus Psilocybe. The molecule itself is not directly responsible for psychedelic effects. Upon ingestion, the body’s enzymes dephosphorylate psilocybin into its active form, psilocin, which crosses the blood-brain barrier and binds primarily to serotonin 5-HT2A receptors throughout the cortex.
Chemically, psilocybin is 4-phosphoryloxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine, a member of the broader tryptamine class of compounds. It was first isolated from Psilocybe mexicana by Albert Hofmann at Sandoz Pharmaceuticals in 1958 and synthesized in pure form the following year.
Synthetic psilocybin is now the primary form used in clinical research worldwide. The compound has Schedule I status in most jurisdictions, though regulatory pathways for medical use are developing in several countries.