Occurrence of Psilocybin in Various Higher Fungi from Several European Countries

Abstract

Using high performance liquid and thin-layer chromatographic methods more than 100 species of fungi from Europe belonging to 18 genera were analysed for the hallucinogenic compound psilocybin and for some related tryptamine derivatives. Psilocybin, psilocin and/or baeocystin were found in 3 Psilocybe 1 Panaeolus, 5 Inocybes and one Pluteus.

Psilocybe semilanceata and Panaeolus subbalteatus proved to be the only psilocybin-containing fungi that can be gathered in Middle and Northern Europe in sufficient quantities to permit abuse.