Hallucinogenic mushrooms on the German market - simple instructions for examination and identification

Forensic Sci Int. 2000 Sep 11;113(1-3):389-95. doi: 10.1016/s0379-0738(00)00211-5.

Abstract

'Magic mushrooms' is the name most commonly given to psychoactive fungi containing the hallucinogenic components psilocybin and psilocin. Material confiscated by local authorities was examined using morphologic, microscopic, microchemical, and toxicological methods. Psilocybe cubensis was the most popular mushroom in the sample collective, followed by Psilocybe semilanceata, Panaeolus cyanescens and Psilocybe tampanensis. The alkaloid content was determined with <0.003-1.15% of psilocybin and 0.01-0.90% psilocin. Panaeolus cyanescens was the mushroom with highest levels of psilocybin and psilocin.

MeSH terms

  • Agaricales / chemistry*
  • Agaricales / classification
  • Chromatography, Liquid
  • Drug and Narcotic Control
  • Germany
  • Hallucinogens / analysis*
  • Humans
  • Psilocybin / analogs & derivatives*
  • Psilocybin / analysis*
  • Substance Abuse Detection / methods*
  • Substance-Related Disorders / diagnosis
  • Substance-Related Disorders / etiology
  • Toxicology / methods*

Substances

  • Hallucinogens
  • Psilocybin
  • psilocin