Towards Standardized Products Containing Biomass of Psilocybe cubensis Fungi

Abstract Background The consumption of dried fruiting bodies of Psilocybe cubensis can be traced over centuries, guided by Mesoamerican curanderas, Western medical practitioners, and fungal enthusiasts, all seeking mental wellbeing. There’s a notable resurgence in interest both in the fungal biomass and psilocybin, the psychoactive tryptamine, albeit the global regulatory restrictions, following enlistment in the UN convention on psychotropic substances. Objectives To evaluate consistency in psilocybin potency and to determine levels of microbial, pesticidal and heavy metal content, in products encompassing biomass of uniformly cultivated P. cubensis. Methods In a legally sanctioned, unique lab in Jamaica, we cultivated P. cubensis according to published methods, then dried, pulverized, extracted and tested fruiting bodies for tryptamine content using an Agilent HPLC 1290 Infinity assembly. Colony counting was employed for E. coli, yeast, mold, coliform presence, while a Neogen’s Veratox® ELISA assay assessed mycotoxin content. Agilent GCMS and LC assemblies evaluated for pesticidal content while heavy metals (As, Cd, Pb, Hg) were determined using instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA), energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (ED-XRF, and direct mercury analysis (DMA) by thermal decomposition-amalgamation-atomic absorption spectrometry (TDA-AAS), respectively. Results Mean psilocybin and psilocin content in dried cultivated P. cubensis was 1.14 ± 0.17% by weight, however there was batch variability, potentiating significant differences in projected dosage, particularly for and above 3 g. The homogenized biomass was deemed safe, with acceptable levels of microbial, mycotoxin, pesticidal, and heavy metal contents, and no significant carcinogenic or other health hazards. Encapsulated biomass stably maintained tryptamine content for 11 months. Conclusion Standardized, safe biomass suitable for human consumption can be achieved using P. cubensis cultivated under stringent, aseptic conditions. Given the observed variability, it is highly recommended that each batch is tested for tryptamine content. Our results may be useful for policy makers, cultivators, clinicians and consumers. Highlight The present study provides a basis for regular potency testing of P. cubensis biomass and substantiates their potential use in clinical trials as a high quality, standardized and safe product.