Opioids in Mushrooms

[Paregoric Kid]

I've been reading about Erinacine E which is a kappa opioid agonist from the mushroom Hericium ramosum. there was also a report that suggests that the mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus may have opioid effects. anyone know of any other opioids from mushrooms/fungi?

Erinacine E as a kappa opioid receptor agonist and its new analogs from a basidiomycete, Hericium ramosum.

Saito T (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22Saito%20T%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsP anel.Pubmed_RVAbstract), Aoki F (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22Aoki%20F%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsP anel.Pubmed_RVAbstract), Hirai H (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22Hirai%20H%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsP anel.Pubmed_RVAbstract), Inagaki T (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22Inagaki%20T%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsP anel.Pubmed_RVAbstract), Matsunaga Y (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22Matsunaga%20Y%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsP anel.Pubmed_RVAbstract), Sakakibara T (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22Sakakibara%20T%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsP anel.Pubmed_RVAbstract), Sakemi S (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22Sakemi%20S%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsP anel.Pubmed_RVAbstract), Suzuki Y (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22Suzuki%20Y%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsP anel.Pubmed_RVAbstract), Watanabe S (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22Watanabe%20S%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsP anel.Pubmed_RVAbstract), Suga O (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22Suga%20O%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsP anel.Pubmed_RVAbstract), Sujaku T (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22Sujaku%20T%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsP anel.Pubmed_RVAbstract), Smogowicz AA (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22Smogowicz%20AA%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsP anel.Pubmed_RVAbstract), Truesdell SJ (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22Truesdell%20SJ%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsP anel.Pubmed_RVAbstract), Wong JW (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22Wong%20JW%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsP anel.Pubmed_RVAbstract), Nagahisa A (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22Nagahisa%20A%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsP anel.Pubmed_RVAbstract), Kojima Y (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22Kojima%20Y%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsP anel.Pubmed_RVAbstract), Kojima N (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22Kojima%20N%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsP anel.Pubmed_RVAbstract).
Natural Product & Lead Discovery Laboratory, Central Research Division, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Inc., Taketoyo, Aichi, Japan.
A kappa opioid receptor binding inhibitor was isolated from the fermentation broth of a basidiomycete, Hericium ramosum CL24240 and identified as erinacine E (1). Three analogs of 1 were produced by fermentation in other media and by microbial biotransformation. Of these compounds, 1 was shown to be the most potent binding inhibitor. Preliminary SAR studies of these compounds indicated that all functional groups and side chains were required for the activity. Compound 1 was a highly-selective binding inhibitor for the kappa opioid receptor: 0.8 microM (IC50) for kappa, >200 microM for mu, and >200 microM for delta opioid receptor. Compound 1 suppressed electrically-stimulated twitch responses of rabbit vas deferens with an ED50 of 14 microM. The suppression was recovered by adding a selective kappa opioid receptor antagonist nor-binaltorphimine, indicating that 1 is a kappa opioid receptor agonist.



Antinociceptive Activity of Pleurotus ostreatus., an Edible Mushroom, in Rats

N.S. Vasudewahttp://informahealthcare.com/entityImage/?code=200B*, D.T.U. Abeytungahttp://informahealthcare.com/entityImage/?code=200B* and W.D. Ratnasooriyahttp://informahealthcare.com/entityImage/?code=200B*Department of Chemistry, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Department of Zoology, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Department of Chemistry, University of Colombo, Colombo 3, Sri Lanka thusitha@chem.cmb.ac.lk (http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.1080/thusitha@chem.cmb.ac.lk)



Abstract
The antinociceptive potential of Pleurotus ostreatus. (Jacquin: Fries) P. Kummer (Tricholomataceae) was investigated in rats (doses used: 125, 500, and 1000 mg/kg). Male rats and female rats in proestrous, estrous, and diestrous stages were orally administered 1000 mg/kg of freeze-dried P. ostreatus. and the reaction times on hot-plate and tail-flick tests were recorded. In the hot-plate test, the reaction time was significantly prolonged in male rats and diestrous female rats. Marked and significant prolongation in the reaction time at 1 h in males (28% mid and 32% high dose) and up to 2 h in diestrous females (57% mid and 79% high dose after 1 h) were observed on the hot-plate test. This effect was dose-dependent. In contrast, none of the rats showed increases in reaction time in the tail-flick test. In the formalin test, in rats administered a 1000 mg/kg dose of P. ostreatus., pain was significantly suppressed in both phases (females: licking time, 23%, 48%; licking frequency, 28%, 28%; males: licking time, 32%, 43%; licking frequency, no significant change). P. ostreatus. possessed antihistamine activity (histamine wheal test). Naloxone blocked the antinociceptive activity in the hot-plate test; however, metochlopramide did not abolish the activity. P. ostreatus. also showed mild antioxidant activity. Further, a 1000 mg/kgdose of P. ostreatus. did not induce sedation (hole-board test). This dose did not cause mortality or show signs of acute toxicity or stress. It is concluded that P. ostreatus. shows antinociception against neurogenic and continuous inflammatory pain possibly by opioid mechanisms, antioxidative and antihistamine activities.

[Opiyum]

Oyster Mushrooms...that's interesting.

Just after looking through a few pages of results from "antinociceptive potential in fungi" and "opioid activity in mushrooms" It seems there are thousands of mushrooms out there that have potential in this arena.
It seems that it would be easier to find animals and plants in nature that don't have forms of venom and sap and whatever else that contain opioid agonists.

[jacky]

Jonathan Ott detected tricholomic acid in the oyster mushrooms...which is a compound that might have similiar psychoactivity as ibotenic acid.
both are flavor enhancers.

Hericium ramosum is related to a medicinal species of mushrooms known as lions mane.....and from what I can tell, they are edible as well.

so its possible that these two mushrooms you list could be researched orally.

I take medicinal mushroom tonics on a daily basis.
amazing stuff really....works great for keeping away sickness, especially lung problems.

ibotenic acid is a very interesting substance when smoked.....at least in the form of amanita mushrooms.

this is the first that I have heard of opioid activity in mushrooms. very interesting.

also of interest is that the kappa opioid agonist in that mushroom is a diterpenoid type compound..similiar to the kappa opioid agonist in salvia divinorum.

I would be very interested to source this kappa agonist as a pure compound.

[Indy]

Somebody needs to do some gene splicin' and make a bacterium or a yeast or fungus that produces opiates like they do with insulin. Imagine that, as long as you kept a starter culture you'd have an unlimited supply, just have a big tank in the basement, add agar or sugar once in a while, and in a week or two you'd have a few grams of morphine.

[trainwrecker]

I have grown literally tons of oyster mushrooms over the past few years. My wife and I grow gourmet mushrooms for farmer's markets, stores and restaurants.

Oysters are one of the easiest mushrooms to grow. Especially on a hobby scale, it is pretty fool proof.

I am in a unique position to test this out. I am clean now and I have a steady supply of oyster mushrooms. Funny thing is though, I rarely eat oysters, I prefer shiitake or enoki.

I do feel a little bit funny about selling these at the market now, no wonder we have so many repeat customers.

[port rhombus]

electrically-stimulated twitch responses of rabbit vas deferens

Ouch.

I wonder where the idea to search for opioids in these locations came from. Anyone know?

[trainwrecker]

I forgot to post about this but I ate a huge plate of oyster mushrooms(nearly 1/2lb) cooked in bacon grease with oinions and peppers. At the time I was feeling a little post acute withdrawlish and did feel some relief after eating, but it may just be because it was delicious and fatty.

[jacky]

that is very interesting trainwrecker...
do you grow any other medicinal mushrooms?

[trainwrecker]

Sure, we do reishi, shiitake, a number of different oysters. We have grown lions mane, miatake, pioppino, and experimented with many others. We stick mostly to shiitake and oysters though, easiest to grow and sell.

One medicinal mushroom that I use daily is chaga. You can't grow it but it is very prolific where I live. Makes a wonderful mild tea that makes you feel good. Not euphoric or awake, but contributes to a general sense of well being.

If you live where there are birch trees you should go out and find chaga.

[Uncle Wiggly]

It's so fascinating. We've been given everything we need for health, healing, nutrition and pleasure right at our feet. Yet the human animal does its best to extinguish and/or discourage its use.

We're destroying 2.5 acres of Brazilian Rain Forrest every second. How many cures for disease have we irrevocably lost? The rate this is happening at is so great that it staggers the imagination.

[Paregoric Kid]

are the oyster mushrooms easy to grow? is it similar to growing psilocybin shrooms? might be fun to try and grow some. where do you get your spores?

uncle wiggly- well a lot of that destruction is being done to house and feed people that live there and as valuable as the rainforrest is those people need places to live and food to eat. its a complicated issue but I agree it does suck that we may be losing unknown species that may hold medicinal value. I've been reading a lot about HIV inhibitors found in nature and it really is amazing how we can go to nature to heal us of anything. one thing that pisses me off is that a lot of plants that aren't even endangered, and especially ones that are, are nearly impossible to find a source for their germplasm, even the ones that hold medical potential.

[Indy]

Reminds me of that episode of Cowboy Bebop about the mushrooms. It was my favorite episode actually..."Guess you folks really love shiitake mushrooms!"

[Uncle Wiggly]

uncle wiggly- well a lot of that destruction is being done to house and feed people that live there and as valuable as the rainforrest is those people need places to live and food to eat. its a complicated issue but I agree it does suck that we may be losing unknown species that may hold medicinal value. I've been reading a lot about HIV inhibitors found in nature and it really is amazing how we can go to nature to heal us of anything. one thing that pisses me off is that a lot of plants that aren't even endangered, and especially ones that are, are nearly impossible to find a source for their germplasm, even the ones that hold medical potential.

This is an excellent point. We do need to provide for the earth's ever-expanding population. I wish I had the answers but I'm probably not the only one. It just seems to me that there should be some kind of middle-ground where we can protect and provide for our species without destroying others. I think of this often. I also wonder how much of this valuable resource is being used for the common good and how much is lost due to pure exploitation.

[trainwrecker]

Oyster mushrooms are VERY easy to grow. About the same level as the common p. cubensis, and you can use the same substrates; straw or compost. We use straw, but actually on the hobby level you can use just about anything; cardboard or any other sort of paper product, uncomposted compost(bannana peels,etc)(as long as you properly pasteurize/sterilize.

We don't grow from spores, too complicated. We order the actual mycelium or the 'roots' of the mushroom colonized on grain. The advantage of the spore is it is legal in the case of psilocybes, where the mycelium is illegal.

I would hate to name our supplier here, but just do a search for 'oyster mushroom spawn' and you will find many. You might even find us, since we do some resale too.

[Paregoric Kid]

interesting, have you grown Hericium ramosum?
any search terms for finding that one online? found the oyster spawn but couldn't find Hericium ramosum. I just read somewhere that its name has been changed to Hericium coralloides. even more confusing is that the mushroom formerly known as Hericium coralloides is now Hericium americanum. this is confusing, I hope if I try ordering ramosum/coralloides I get the right one.

[trainwrecker]

Ha, mushroom taxonomy is so muddied. There really needs to be more DNA research done and use that to base it off of. I would guess if they actually did DNA studies they would find a mushroom like pleurotus ostreatus could be divided up into at least 10 or maybe more unique species, maybe even new genera.

Also you have to understand that only something like 5 or 10% of fungi even have names, mycology is a very poorly studied field, in this country anyway.

The only Hericium you are going to find spawn for is hericium erinaceus the common Lion's mane. And they are not nearly as easy to grow as oyster mushrooms. You actually need a sterilized substrate(sawdust) as opposed to a pasteurized one(straw or compost) which means you need a pressure cooker and some sort of sterile area to innoculate(a 'glove box' or laminar flow hood).

You may be able to find a H. ramosum culture from a culture library(try Penn State) but it will cost a great deal of money and you only get a single petri dish, with which you would need some basic skills to turn it into actual mushrooms.

[nycjrt]

We're destroying 2.5 acres of Brazilian Rain Forrest every second. How many cures for disease have we irrevocably lost? The rate this is happening at is so great that it staggers the imagination.
Whatever happened to this cause (protecting/preserving the rainforests) - it was such a popular topic in the late 80s/early 90s, nobody seems to discuss, or seem concerned about it anymore - I suppose Sting and Bono moved onto saving Tibet, then Africa, maybe Haiti for a few months...

Reminds me of that episode of Cowboy Bebop about the mushrooms. It was my favorite episode actually..."Guess you folks really love shiitake mushrooms!"
'Mushroom Samba' - glad to see another Bebop fan here, that is one of my favorite shows (of any genre) ever.

[Papa Verine]

I can make a fortune some Springs collecting Morels in the wild and selling them. $20/lb. all day long. I have a few spots that it seems nobody else knows about. Anybody find any opioids in Morels? The way people buy them up is beyond crazy.

[trainwrecker]

You only get 20/lb for morels? That is a wholesale price, retail here in Michigan even where they grow everywhere is 40/lb.