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Psilocybin Produced in Yeast

phys.org

61–70 of 214 posts

Re: Psilocybin Produced in Yeast

#61
post #30
post #8

Psilocybin may be an underrated chemical precursor. 4-substituted indoles are notoriously difficult to synthesize. Psilocin is a rare example of a natural one. (LSD is another.) For example, a milliliter of 4-bromoindole costs a whopping $75: https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/catalog/product/aldrich/524336?... Presumably this technique could produce psilocybin for much less than $75 per milliliter.

Are you sure that these precursors aren't just expensive because so many of the compounds that go into them, or which come from them, are controlled substances? There are a lot of bulk reactants that I'd like to buy for chemistry experiments, but can't (because they're controlled, because they can be used to make illegal things), so I have to make them myself from even earlier precursor chemicals; this adds (via labo…

If you're curious go search.

Sigma sells cocaine, heroin, and LSD, for example, nevermind precursors. They won't sell them to you, but they will sell them to organizations with the correct permissions to buy them. Regulatory compliance might add to the cost, but for a company like Sigma I'd expect doing things in-house to lower costs not raise them.

Re: Psilocybin Produced in Yeast

#62
post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I mean it sounds like if you could get your hands on this yeast you could actually make psychedelic beer (or bread).

I think the method uses some special enzymes that can only be really be used with yeast. So yeast is just a supporting role in the operation and the enzyme is the star. They say they tried to get E. Coli to operate the enzyme (E. Coli is used often to make all kinds of drugs, like insulin) but it didn't work and got yeast to work with it.

By my reading the yeast does the whole job, short of purification, meaning getting the yeast, sugar, and alcohol out of it afterward.

Why even a 50% loss of product would be debilitating is a mystery. It's not like the yeast collects a salary, or like sugar is expensive. The author doesn't seem to realize how little of the stuff is needed for a dose.

Re: Psilocybin Produced in Yeast

#63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As far as I understand it's too inconsistent, i.e. very unevenly distributed within one fruiting body. Not sure if that's the reason, but: if you ever bought mushrooms/truffles in the Netherlands, there is no psylocibin content on the box. And if you try googling, the estimates vary pretty wildly (although it's possible that it's just a lack or proper research) Also not everyone enjoys the taste of mushrooms or truff…

With regards to the taste, grinding them up and mixing them into melted chocolate will negate all taste issues (or consistency, I find the getting bits stuck in your teeth is what really sucks).

Doesn't work with me, unfortunately.

Last time I did this, I could barely hold it down long enough to have some effects. I felt 100x better when it exited my body, but I only had some mild "breathing walls" effects.

It doesn't help that I tell restaurants I'm allergic to mushrooms because I really, REALLY hate them, and they won't take me seriously otherwise. (And they're in almost everything, especially "vegan" stuff (which I like, without being vegan))

I have been blessed with a good source on.. ahem.. another source of psilocybin, without any taste. That works!

Re: Psilocybin Produced in Yeast

#64
post #5

> "It's unfeasible and way too expensive to extract psilocybin from magic mushrooms and the best chemical synthesis methods require expensive and difficult to source starting substrates...” This is one of those situations where I feel like we (humans) are approaching it all wrong. Why over complicate it by trying to “extract” the psilocybin instead of treating it like marijuana and growing the mushrooms in highly con…

There are negative side effects from consuming the mushrooms which you don't get from purified psilocybin. Dosage is important. There isn't a way to test for potency which would ensure a reliable dose. Argument fallacies: * your anecdotal positive experiences * suggesting superiority because something is "from nature" * referring to "mistakes from the past" without naming any * suggesting superiority that "has been (…

Couldn’t dosage be averaged out by simply drying, “powdering”, and mixing the mushrooms as batches? I think similar is used in winemaking.

Re: Psilocybin Produced in Yeast

#65
post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In Norway you can get up to 6 months in prison for selling alcohol that is over 60% ethanol by volume. Up to 2 years if the offense is "particularly serious".

Oh yeah, I forgot about Norway. I have a (Czech) friend there, they have to pull down the sunblinds when they want to drink a beer. Seems insane to me, also a Czech guy.

As a Norwegian I can tell you that your friend is pulling your leg. You are free to drink on private property. I have never heard about anyone being arrested for responsible drinking in public parks, beaches and places like that.

It's not allowed to serve people that is "visibly intoxicated" but almost no one cares. At a normal Friday and Saturday night, Oslo is a battlefield of shitfaced people.

Re: Psilocybin Produced in Yeast

#66
post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are negative side effects from consuming the mushrooms which you don't get from purified psilocybin. Dosage is important. There isn't a way to test for potency which would ensure a reliable dose. Argument fallacies: * your anecdotal positive experiences * suggesting superiority because something is "from nature" * referring to "mistakes from the past" without naming any * suggesting superiority that "has been (…

Couldn’t dosage be averaged out by simply drying, “powdering”, and mixing the mushrooms as batches? I think similar is used in winemaking.

This is what people do exactly.

Re: Psilocybin Produced in Yeast

#67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are negative side effects from consuming the mushrooms which you don't get from purified psilocybin. Dosage is important. There isn't a way to test for potency which would ensure a reliable dose. Argument fallacies: * your anecdotal positive experiences * suggesting superiority because something is "from nature" * referring to "mistakes from the past" without naming any * suggesting superiority that "has been (…

Fair you pointed out but with no implied criticism, those are the exact arguments one should expect from a psilocybin user.

Why is that? Do you think they are less sensical than non-users? Or are you implying that the author was under the influence at the time of writing?

Re: Psilocybin Produced in Yeast

#68
post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People with psychiatric disorders need spiritual journeys. Spiritual journeys heal and cleanse the mind, heal and cleanse the soul. Do not try to strip that away. The commodification of medicine troubles me--I prefer the perspective of sacred medicine. It goes roughly definitionally / tautologically: if something heals you, is it not sacred? And likewise, if something is sacred, it heals you. By definition. The idea…

> People with psychiatric disorders need spiritual journeys. Spiritual journeys heal and cleanse the mind, heal and cleanse the soul. Do not try to strip that away. No opinion on the article or yours but where are you getting this opinion? Why or how, do psychiatric disorders need spiritual journeys. Not all people believe in spiritual journeys or are capable of it. There is noting scientific about what you're sugges…

Many (most?) people taking this substance report having some sort of mystical/spiritual experience. I doubt they are actually convening with the divine, but whether/how/why the substance causes that affect in people is certainly a part of "science".

I also don't think the spiritual journey aspect should be dismissed so lightly. Its being investigated to help depression. Perhaps inducing a "spiritual" state in people is part of the cause of action of the drug.

Re: Psilocybin Produced in Yeast

#70
post #5

> "It's unfeasible and way too expensive to extract psilocybin from magic mushrooms and the best chemical synthesis methods require expensive and difficult to source starting substrates...” This is one of those situations where I feel like we (humans) are approaching it all wrong. Why over complicate it by trying to “extract” the psilocybin instead of treating it like marijuana and growing the mushrooms in highly con…

They were doing it in Amsterdam for years for the recreational market, and still do with truffles. Is it just profit making motive that is coming into play here?
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