With psilocybin showing promise for treating conditions such as depression and addiction, a team of scientists from the University of Southern Denmark has set out to understand how the compound works at the molecular level.
The researchers are aiming to understand what happens at the molecular level when psilocybin enters the body, is converted to psilocin and reaches the brain.
Himanshu Khandelia and Ali Asghar Hakami Zanjani from the Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, along with co-authors co-authors are Teresa Quynh Tram Nguyen and Luise Jacobsen, are investigating the mechanism by which the binding of the compounds to the 5-HT2AR serotonin receptor triggers psycho-active responses.
Khandelia stated: ”My interest was piqued when I heard a podcast about treating smoking addiction with psilocybin. And since psilocybin mushrooms grow everywhere in Denmark – I picked some in Svanninge Bakker – it wasn’t difficult to start our research.”
“Previous research has shown that psilocin binds to serotonin receptors in the brain. We show that psilocin binds stronger than serotonin to a 5-HT2AR serotonin receptor. This knowledge can be used if you want to design a drug that acts like psilocybin,” added Asghar Hakami Zanjani.
The researchers highlight that now is a favorable time for research for those who want to explore psilocybin treatments for conditions such as depression, addiction, anorexia and PTSD, as countries such as the United States, England and Denmark are becoming active in the research field.
“I would be very happy if society can use our research. Maybe someone will take this further and create a molecule that can be used in medical treatment for conditions like depression,” says Himanshu Khandelia.
Asghar Hakami Zanjani concluded: “Research shows that you experience something different. It is a form of hallucination.
“The characteristic is that patients may get a whole new perspective on their situation: for example, a terminally ill cancer patient may lose their fear of dying soon and instead experience acceptance of their life situation.
“Such sessions should take place in safe and guiding settings led by trained therapists. Today, no one would recommend just eating some mushrooms at home in their own living room”.
Additional psychedelic research is taking place at the University of Southern Denmark. Assistant Professor Mikael Palner, from the Department of Clinical Research, also researches psychedelic substances.
He and his students focus on testing substances on rats. One line of this research involves studying the pharmacokinetics of different psychedelic substances, such as LSD, psilocybin and DMT in rats.
Another line aims to investigate whether psilocybin can treat rats with various mental disorders such as anxiety, compulsive behaviours or PTSD.
