Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42693701›Full record

ReviewHuman psychopharmacology2026

Psilocybin, From Ancestral Use to Therapeutic Potential: A Multidimensional Review of Its Pharmacological Basis and Current Perspectives.

José Norberto Vásquez-Bonilla

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Human psychopharmacology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

1 author.

José Norberto Vásquez-BonillaDepartamento de Biotecnología, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, Mexico City, Mexico.ORCID 0000-0003-1310-7846

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveThis review critically examines psilocybin, with particular emphasis on its pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, including its serotonergic, neuroplastic, and anti-inflammatory mechanisms. It integrates historical context, preclinical and clinical evidence, and evaluates emerging therapeutic potential, safety, microdosing practices, and pharmacological interactions.

methodsA literature search was conducted in PubMed and Google Scholar using the keywords "Psilocybin," "Psilocin," "Psychedelic therapy," "Psilocybe cubensis," and "Psychedelic microdosing," supplemented by manual searches of cross-references. All study types were included, from randomized trials to case reports.

resultsPsilocybin is metabolized into psilocin, which predominantly interacts with serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) receptors. These interactions contribute to enhanced synaptic plasticity, modulation of large-scale brain networks, and regulation of immune responses via microglial activity and suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Preclinical and clinical evidence supports its efficacy in depression, anxiety, substance use disorders, neuropathic pain, epilepsy, and neuroinflammation. Psilocin also inhibits cytochrome P450 enzymes, raising concerns about drug interactions. Microdosing, though popular, remains inconclusive due to methodological limitations.

conclusionsCurrent findings suggest psilocybin offers sustained therapeutic effects and a favorable safety profile. However, uncertainties remain regarding long-term safety, individualized responses, and optimal dosing. Ethical and regulatory challenges require rigorous, standardized research for responsible clinical integration.

Indexed as

HallucinogensPsilocybinAnimalsAnti-Inflammatory AgentsHumansAnti-Inflammatory AgentsHallucinogensPsilocybinpsilocinpsilocybinpsychedelic microdosingpsychedelicspsychedelic therapy

Identifiers

PMID42693701
PMCPMC13542626

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.