NCJ Number
212915
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 51 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2006 Pages: 45-51
Date Published
January 2006
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This paper describes a procedure for determining the presence of psilocin and psilocybin in hallucinogenic mushroom extracts by using high-performance liquid chromatography with postcolumn chemiluminescence detection.
Abstract
Psilocin and psilocybin are naturally occurring indoles in hallucinogenic mushrooms that belong to the genera of Psilocybe (1,2). Using the procedure described in this paper, psilocin and psilocybin were detected in extracts of Psilocybe subaeruginosa, Hypholoma aurantiaca, and Panaeolina foenicsecii. Chemiluminescence detection provided improved detection limits compared to ultraviolet absorption detection. Psilocin and psilocybin were isolated from the hallucinogenic mushroom in greatest amounts when methanol was used as the extraction solvent. This was the simplest extraction method of the four tested; an extraction time of at least 24 hours was required to produce maximum results. The analytes were separated on a C12 column using a 95.5 percent v/v methanol:10 mm ammonium formate, pH 3.5 mobile phase with a run time of 5 minutes. Detection was achieved through a dual reagent chemiluminescence detection system of acidic potassium permanganate and tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II). Three Australian species of hallucinogenic mushrooms were used in the testing. 5 tables, 8 figures, and 38 references