Psychedelics are currently being researched due to their long-lasting antidepressant, anxiolytic and neuroplasticity inducing actions. The mechanism by which they induce these effects remains poorly understood. Here, we decided to investigate a relatively unexplored possibility. A potential interaction of psilocybin administration and sleep and their combined effects on memory consolidation. Memory formation in animals and humans is greatly influenced by sleep manipulation which led us to assess the possibility with spatial memory tasks. We hypothesized that acute psilocybin administration after learning may have a beneficial influence on memory consolidation in rats. To determine whether an interaction with sleep exists we also subjected the rats to combinations of psilocybin and control vehicle with normal sleep and sleep deprivation. Our data did not suggest such an interaction exists. Secondly, we tried to find out if psilocybin and sleep manipulation leads to changes in neuroplasticity-related events. A process that could very likely be the basis of such a proposed beneficial effect. For this purpose, we analysed the expression of the immediate-early gene Arc and the immature neuron marker doublecortin in the rat hippocampus. Doublecortin's expression was not influenced by any of the factors....

The goal of this work was to determine the contents of two main alkaloid types of Psilocybe species occurring in the Czech Republic. Correct identification of species was checked by mycology specialist. Qualitative and quantitative determination of substances contained in three collected species of the genus Psilocybe was carried out by LC-MSn (LIT). Samples were mainly collected in the north and northeast Bohemia. Three species of Psilocybe were found. The most found species were P. serbica var. bohemica then P. semilanceata and only one deposit of P. serbica var. arcana. Total of 35 deposits within eighteen locations. From qualitative point of view, the two main alkaloids were confirmed in all samples. Quantitative results for content of psilocin and psilocybin (in this order) are: P. bohemica 0,005 - 0,152 %, 0,000 - 0,048 %; P. semilanceata 0,087 - 0,337 %, 0,000 - 0,005 %; P. arcana 0,018 - 0,031 %, 0,003 - 0,022 %. Results in all locations are similar and rather dependent on the fungi type. Our results are based on dry mass. This work brought fundamental knowledge for future optimisation of analytical methods and assumptions for the project extension of other locations and determination of content of minority substances alongside the content of majority substances.

Charles University Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové Department of pharmaceutical botany and ecology Candidate: Bc. Andrea Gunčagová Supervisor: prof. RNDr. Luděk Jahodář, CSc. Title of diploma thesis: The analysis of Psilocybe constituents II. The aim of this thesis was to analyse Psilocybe constituents, to plot the places of occurence of chosen Psilocybe brands and also to determinate their water content. The thesis deals with 22 samples that originate in 10 habitats in Slovakia and Moravian- Silesian region. Accuracy of brand specification was supervised by a member of mycological society. Psilocybe serbica var. bohemica was identified in 2, whereas Psilocybe semilanceata in 8 habitats. The average content of H20 in samples was 87,07 % ± 10,91 %. All of the samples were analysed by LC-MS/MS (LIT) method. The qualitative analysis of determinated substances showed the presence of psilocine (PSC) and psilocybine (PSB) in all samples. The results of quantitative analysis (expressed in percentage of dry matter) are similar in particular habitats, but there is a significant difference between two specific brands of Psilocybe mushrooms. The content of determinated alkaloids in P. bohemica was: PSC 0,001-0,011 % a PSB 0,01-0,07%. P. semilanceata contained 0,0005 - 0,011 % PSC a 0,074 - 0,763% PSB....

Il n’est pas rare que souffrir d’un cancer occasionne des symptômes de dépression et d’anxiété. Ces derniers affectent le traitement, entraînant une moins bonne adhérence à celui-ci, une réduction de la qualité de vie ainsi qu’un taux de suicide plus élevé. Les patients se voient alors souvent prescrire des antidépresseurs. Or, leur efficacité est limitée et ils provoquent souvent de nombreux effets secondaires désagréables. Après des années passées sous silence, la psilocybine, à la suite de son inscription dans l’Annexe 1, s’impose comme traitement prometteur pour de nombreuses psychopathologies. Ce mémoire présente une revue systématique de la littérature des études entreprises chez les patients atteints de cancer traités par la psilocybine doublée avec une psychothérapie comme traitement contre leurs symptômes de dépression et d’anxiété. L’objectif est de déterminer si, sur la base de ces études, la psilocybine se révèle un traitement efficace contre les symptômes de dépression et d’anxiété chez cette population, tout en présentant les limites et enjeux de celles-ci. Des recherches supplémentaires sont nécessaires pour évaluer l'efficacité et la sécurité du traitement avec la psilocybine. Cependant, bien que la psilocybine soit une substance non-addictive, elle est illégale dans la plupart des pays, rendant plus complexes et plus coûteux les essais cliniques impliquant son administration à des sujets humains. Néanmoins, la psilocybine, combinée avec une psychothérapie, s’avère être un traitement particulièrement intéressant. Dans un contexte médical, elle n’est pas associée à des effets secondaires importants et permet des améliorations au niveau de la qualité de vie, diminuant les symptômes de dépression et d’anxiété chez les patients atteints de cancer. / It's not uncommon for cancer sufferers to experience symptoms of depression and anxiety. These affect treatment, leading to poorer adherence, reduced quality of life and a higher suicide rate. As a result, patients are often prescribed antidepressants. However, their efficacy is limited, and they often cause numerous unpleasant side-effects. After years of silence, psilocybin is now emerging as a promising treatment for many psychopathologies, following its inclusion in Schedule 1. This dissertation presents a systematic literature review of studies undertaken in cancer patients treated with psilocybin coupled with psychotherapy as a treatment for their symptoms of depression and anxiety. The aim is to determine whether, on the basis of these studies, psilocybin presents an effective treatment for symptoms of depression and anxiety in this population, while presenting their limitations and challenges. Further research is needed to assess the efficacy and safety of psilocybin treatment. However, although psilocybin is a non-addictive substance, it is illegal in most countries, making clinical trials involving its administration to human subjects more complex and costly. Nevertheless, psilocybin, combined with psychotherapy, has proved to be a particularly interesting treatment. In a medical context, it is not associated with significant side-effects and leads to improvements in quality of life, reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety in cancer patients.