The magic within magic mushrooms comes from the psilocybin and psilocin found within them. These essential compounds are responsible for all the tripping and healing we experience on shrooms.
It’s no wonder that psilocybin and psilocin often get all the attention. But did you know that magic mushrooms also have many other active compounds?
These compounds include baeocystin, norpsilocin, norbaeocystin, and others. Each of these compounds may have unique effects and contribute to the trip you experience.
Yet, most people don’t know that they exist, and some weren’t discovered until very recently.
To find out more about these exciting compounds, continue by reading below.
Psilocybin and Psilocin
Before we jump into the other alkaloids in magic mushrooms, let’s first look at psilocybin and psilocin. When we talk about all the hallucinogenic effects, we typically talk about psilocybin.
The only thing is psilocybin isn’t actually the compound responsible for all the hallucinogenic effects. Instead, psilocybin is something called a pro-drug.
For psilocybin to become active and cause hallucinations, it must turn into psilocin. Psilocybin needs to be chemically broken down or processed by enzymes to change to psilocin.
Psilocin is actually the star of the show. It’s the compound that interacts with serotonin receptors in the brain called 5HT2A receptors.
Once attached to these receptors, we feel the trippy effects of magic mushrooms, like visuals, time dilation, euphoria, and much more.
Baeocystin
Perhaps the most well-known secondary compound in magic mushrooms is known as baeocystin. Baeocystin is an analog of psilocybin.
That means that chemically, both have very similar structures. The only difference between the two is a methyl group.
Although this is literally an atomic difference, it can significantly impact the effects of the compound. Yet, there isn’t too much known about the compound.
Some anecdotal evidence suggests that baeocystin may have similar effects to psilocin. Jochen Gartz, a mycologist who wrote Magic Mushrooms Around the World, says 4 milligrams of the substance caused a gentle hallucination.
But others aren’t so sure because there isn’t a lot of real scientific information about baeocystin. The only study on the compound found that baeocystin has no effect on mice.
However, this study’s authors think baeocystin may play some role with psilocin. The researchers theorize that the compound may have some synergistic effect with psilocin.
Norbaeocystin
Norbaeocystin was discovered at the same time as baeocystin. The compound was first isolated way back in 1968 from Psilocybe baeocystis mushrooms.
It’s thought that this compound is also present in common magic mushrooms like Psilocybe cubensis.
The structure of the compound is a derivative of baeocystin. That means the compound is slightly changed from its parent compound.
Currently, it’s thought that norbaeocystin is non-psychedelic. The only thing is, there’s no scientific or even anecdotal basis for those claims.
This compound is so understudied that no one really knows what it does. One of the only studies has found that it may be an intermediate compound for psilocybin.
Norpsilocin
Norpsilocin is a recently discovered alkaloid found in magic mushrooms. Scientists in Germany found norpsilocin in 2017 by growing Psilocybe cubensis mushrooms.
Norpsilocin has almost the same chemical structure as psilocin, but it’s missing a methyl group. However, it’s theorized that this compound is the metabolite of baeocystin.
A metabolite is a substance that is made when the body breaks another compound down. For example, psilocin is the metabolite of psilocybin.
Much like the other compounds, not much is known about norpsilocin. In the same study mentioned earlier, the scientists found that norpsilocin did not affect mice.
But, they tried another experiment that showed that norpsilocin could stimulate 5HT2A receptors, like psilocin. The exciting part is that norpsilocin could stimulate the receptors better than psilocin.
That means that norpsilocin could be more potent than psilocin. It doesn’t have an effect because it may break down in the body too quickly.
Aeruginascin
German mycologist Jochen Gartz first isolated this compound from Inocybe aeruginascens mushrooms. In these psychedelic mushrooms, Gartz found the concentration of Aeruginascin similar to that of psilocybin.
That’s interesting because aeruginascin is an analog of psilocybin. Like the other compounds, aeruginascin is similar to psilocybin, with only a tiny molecular difference.
Not much is known about aeruginascin, but some of Gartz’s own reporting. In his research, he analyzed 23 cases of accidental mushroom poisoning.
He found that those who accidentally ingested Inocybe mushrooms had euphoric experiences. Others who had different psilocybin mushrooms had gloomy moods.
Gartz theorizes that aeruginascin may increase euphoric feelings in magic mushrooms. Yet, once again, there isn’t much science to back it up.
ß-Carbolines
Recently in 2019, scientists found ß-carbolines in magic mushrooms. This is significant because ß-carbolines are also found in ayahuasca preparations.
In fact, ß-carbolines are crucial to the ayahuasca experience. That’s because these compounds act as MAOIs.
These MAOIs block MAO enzymes in the body from breaking down the DMT in ayahuasca. Yet, why are ß-carbolines in magic mushrooms?
Beta-carbolines might help enhance the effects of psilocin by blocking the MAOs. After all, the alkaloids in magic mushrooms are also broken down by these MAO enzymes.
Is Baeocystin for Sale?
At this time, it’s not possible to find baeocystin or other secondary compounds for sale. While scientists have successfully isolated these substances, they can’t be found online.
Not only because they’re not popular but because they may not be safe. The concentrations of these compounds found in magic mushrooms are minimal.
Taking a larger preparation of them may be dangerous to your health. That’s why it’s best to get the benefits of these compounds from magic mushrooms themselves.
The easiest way to do that is by grabbing a pack of magic mushrooms from Get Magic Mushrooms. GMM is Canada’s one-stop shop for everything psilocybin, whether that’s edibles, microdoses, or dried mushies.
If you’re looking to get all the benefits of baeocystin or norpsilocin, then head over to Get Magic Mushrooms and order a pack of magic mushrooms today.