Psilocybin Synthesis in 4 Steps & How Magic Mushrooms Rewire Brain Networks (Psychedelic Science)

Psilocybin is emerging as a promising “therapeutic psychedelic“ across various different conditions and diseases. What is the buzz about, and how does psilocybin work? In this video, we dive into psilocybin’s rich history, chemical structure and biochemical mechanism of action. This includes striking effects like dendritogenesis and synaptic rewiring in mice. We will review a large scale synthesis of psilocybin, delivering an impressive 1.2 kg of cGMP material for clinical supply - this works using quite standard chemical reactions that most of you will understand. We then turn to the clinical evidence - where it is strong and where less so - in particular, treatment-resistant depression. This data in published late 2022, has drawn a lot of public attention to psilocybin - but is just one of many interesting reports. Finally, we try to understand psilocybin’s effect on brain network modularity/ connectivity which makes it different from traditional anti-depressants. NOTE: - This video does not lay out the practical synthesis of psychedelics or drugs - This video does not suggest that psilocybin is a “wonder drug“ for everyone - there are important safety precautions and supervision through qualified medical staff is key 🚀 Thanks to all channel supporters on Patreon and YouTube!!! 00:00 Psilocybin - a therapeutic psychedelic? 01:09 Disclaimer and Andrew Huberman psilocybin podcast 01:40 Psilocybin’s history might date back 10’000 years 04:20 Albert Hofmann’s investigations, including self-experiment 07:23 Hofmann’s synthesis and “war on drugs“ 08:19 Psilocybin becomes pislocin which can pass the blood-brain barrier 11:22 Psilocybin literally changes the brain of mice 12:36 Organic chemistry and 1.2 kg synthesis by the Usona Institute 16:16 What is the evidence? What is the entourage effect? 17:48 Psilocybin’s efficacy in alcohol use disorder 18:28 Psilocybin efficacy in treatment-resistant depression 21:42 How brain networks are “changed and re-shuffled“ 25:36 Why do different people experience trips differently? ❤️ Follow me on Instagram to follow updates on videos, other random chemistry research and interesting news! Please drop a like and comment to support the video’s visibility, activate notifications and subscribe to the channel so you do not miss future videos! Key references: - Single-Dose Psilocybin for a Treatment-Resistant Episode of Major Depression | NEJM 2022, 387, 1637 - Therapeutic use of psilocybin: Practical considerations for dosing and administration | Front. Psychiatry, 2022, 13, 1040217 - Psychedelics and Neuroplasticity: A Systematic Review Unraveling the Biological Underpinnings of Psychedelics | Front. Psychiatry, 2021, 12, 724606 - Increased global integration in the brain after psilocybin therapy for depression | Nature Medicine 2022, 28, 844 - Percentage of Heavy Drinking Days Following Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy vs Placebo in the Treatment of Adult Patients With Alcohol Use Disorder | JAMA Psychiatry 2022, 79, 953 - DARK Classics in Chemical Neuroscience: Psilocybin; ACS Chem. Neuroscience 2018, 9, 2438 - Psilocybin acutely alters the functional connectivity of the claustrum with brain networks that support perception, memory, and attention | NeuroImage 2020, 218, 116980 - Seeking the magic mushroom |Wasson’s 1957 publication in Life Magazine | - Die psychotropen Wirkstoffe der mexikanischen Zauberpilze (Albert Hofmann) | Verhandlungen der Naturforschenden Gesellschaft in Basel 1960, 71, 239; - Research on Acute Toxicity and the Behavioral Effects of Methanolic Extract from Psilocybin Mushrooms and Psilocin in Mice; Toxins 2015, 7, 1018 Some recommended books on organic synthesis: - Clayden, Greeves, Warren; Organic Chemistry (basic organic chemistry knowledge) - Wyatt, Warren; Organic Synthesis: The Disconnection Approach (excellent introduction to retrosynthesis) - Kurti, Czako; Strategic Applications of Named Reactions in Organic Synthesis (extensive toolkit of functional group reactions and applications thereof with common conditions) - Nicolaou; Classics in Total Synthesis 1-3 (the ultimate total synthesis trilogy) - Nicolaou; Molecules That Changed the World (the world’s most important molecules and their impact on everyday life) - Carreira, Kvaerno; Classics in Stereoselective Synthesis (compilation of the groundbreaking methods of stereoselective synthesis and application to synthesis of stereochemically complex structures)