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. 2023 Feb 5;11(2):461. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines11020461

Table 4.

Analytical methods for detection and quantification of psychedelic indole alkaloids in mushrooms.

Indole Type Sample
(Alkaloids Detected)
Analytical
Technique
Method Ref.
Tryptamines P. cubensis and Copelandia spp.
(Psilocin, psilocybin)
HPLC-DAD Symmetry RP C18 column (150 × 2.1 mm, 5 µm). MP 10 mM ammonium formate buffer (pH 3.5) and ACN (95:5, v/v), at a flowrate of 0.2 mL/min for 20 min. Detection at 220 nm. [61]
P. cubensis
(Psilocin, baeocystin, psilocybin, aeruginascin)
HPLC-ESI-MS Zorbax Eclipse Plus RP C18 column (100 × 2.1 mm, 1.8 μm). MP 10 mmolL−1 ammonium formate with 0.1% (v/v) formic acid and 10 mmolL−1 ammonium formate with 0.1% (v/v) formic acid in methanol. Flow rate 0.25 mL min−1 for 7 min.
For MS detection, a triple quadrupole 6460 spectrometer was used with positive ESI ionization in the dynamic multiple reaction monitoring (dMRM) acquisition mode.
[56]
P. mexicana
(psilocin, baeocystin, psilocybin)
HPLC-ESI-HRMS RP C18 column (250 × 4.6 mm, 3 μm) with MP 0.1% C18 column TFA in water and ACN in gradient mode. Flow rate of 0.4 mLmin−1. Detection with HRMS using an exact Orbitrap spectrometer and electrospray ionization in positive mode. [50]
Psilocybe spp. and Panaeolus cyanescens
(psilocybin)
HPLC-FL C18 column (150mm × 4.6 mm, 3 μm). MP 50mM ammonium acetate (AcONH4)–CH3CN (73:27). Isocratic elution and rate flow 1.0 mLmin−1. FL detector at 39 nm (excitation at 321 nm). [72]
β-carbolines P. mexicana
(Harmane, harmine, harmol)
HPLC-ESI-MS RP C18 column (250 × 2.1 mm, 10 mm ID). MP 0.1% TFA in water and ACN.
Flow 2 mLmin−1 with linear gradient with an increase from 10 to 100% ACN for 20 min.
[50]
Mycena metata
(Metatacarbolines)
HR-MALDI-MS MALDI-MS imaging of the caps saturated solution in 80% MeOH and 1% TFA, ImagePrep device (Bruker Daltonics). [71]
Cortinarius brunneus (Brunneins) HPLC-ESI-MS RP C18 column (ODS 150 × 2.0 mm i.di, 5 μm). MP water and ACN with FA 0.2% (10:90). Using an isocratic mode for 15 min with flow 0.5 mLmin−1. [65]
Ergot C. purpurea
(Lysergic, isolysergic, and paspalic acids)
CE-UV P/ACE 2200 CE system with capillary (37 cm × 50 μm ID, 360 μm). The voltage applied was 25 kV, time for the separation was 12 min, and UV detection at 214 nm. [67]
C. purpurea
(Ergometrine, ergotamine, ergosine, ergocryptine)
LC-MS/MS RP C18 column (150 × 2.1 mm, 3.5 μm). MP water/0.2 M ammonium bicarbonate and methanol/0.2 M ammonium bicarbonate pH 10 at a flow rate of 0.15 mL/min in gradient mode.
Detection with MS using triple quadrupole mass spectrometer with positive electrospray ionization.
[73]