Effects and safety of Psilocybe cubensis and Panaeolus cyanescens magic mushroom extracts on endothelin-1-induced hypertrophy and cell injury in cardiomyocytes

Sci Rep. 2020 Dec 18;10(1):22314. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-79328-5.

Abstract

Prevalence of major depression in people with chronic heart failure is higher than in normal populations. Depression in heart failure has become a major issue. Psilocybin-containing mushrooms commonly known as magic mushrooms, have been used since ancient times for their mind healing properties. Their safety in cardiovascular disease conditions is not fully known and may pose as a risk for users suffering from these illnesses. Study investigates the effects and safety of Psilocybe cubensis and Panaeolus cyanescens magic mushrooms use from genus Psilocybe and Panaeolus respectively, in a pathological hypertrophy conditions in which endothelin-1 disorder is a contributor to pathogenesis. We examined the effects of the mushrooms extracts on endothelin-1-induced hypertrophy and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF- α)-induced cell injury in H9C2 cardiomyocytes. Mushrooms were oven dried and extracted with cold and boiling-hot water. H9C2 cardiomyocytes were induced with endothelin-1 prior to treatment with extracts over 48 h. Cell injury was stimulated with TNF-α. Results proposed that the water extracts of Panaeolus cyanescens and Psilocybe cubensis did not aggravate the pathological hypertrophy induced by endothelin-1 and also protected against the TNF-α-induced injury and cell death in concentrations used. Results support medicinal safe use of mushrooms under controlled conditions and cautioned use of higher concentrations.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Agaricales / chemistry*
  • Animals
  • Endothelin A Receptor Antagonists / pharmacology
  • Endothelin-1 / genetics*
  • Hallucinogens / chemistry
  • Hallucinogens / pharmacology
  • Heart Failure / drug therapy
  • Heart Failure / genetics
  • Heart Failure / pathology
  • Humans
  • Hypertrophy / chemically induced
  • Hypertrophy / drug therapy*
  • Hypertrophy / pathology
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / drug effects
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / pathology
  • Phenylpropionates / pharmacology
  • Psilocybe / chemistry*
  • Psilocybin / chemistry
  • Psilocybin / pharmacology
  • Pyridazines / pharmacology
  • Rats
  • Receptor, Endothelin A / drug effects
  • Receptor, Endothelin A / genetics*
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / genetics

Substances

  • Endothelin A Receptor Antagonists
  • Endothelin-1
  • Hallucinogens
  • Phenylpropionates
  • Pyridazines
  • Receptor, Endothelin A
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Psilocybin
  • ambrisentan

Supplementary concepts

  • Panaeolus cyanescens
  • Psilocybe cubensis