Molecule of the Week Updates

Psilocybin¹ (Figure 1) was the Molecule of the Week for October 2, 2017. It is a psychoactive prodrug that is primarily found in so-called “magic” mushrooms of the Psilocybe genus. In the body, it converts to psilocin, which has psychedelic properties similar to those of LSD and mescaline.

But psilocybin may have benefits as a therapeutic agent for mental health. In three 2024 US patent applications,

• Michael Bogenschutz at New York University claimed that psilocybin is useful for treating alcohol use disorder and other psychiatric disorders;
• Vivek Pandy and Tamsen Valoir at ATX Pharmers (Austin TX) claimed that low-dose psilocybin can be incorporated into foodstuffs to make its more accessible and socially acceptable; and
• Judith Blumstock, William James Tyler, and Jeffrey Sprouse at Diamond Therapeutics (Toronto) claimed a method for identifying effective doses of psilocybin tailored to individual patients.

In October, Robert B. Kargbo at Usona Institute (Fitchburg, WI) reviewed the three applications with commentary.

Salicylic acid² (Figure 2) was the Molecule of the Week for August 25, 2015. It occurs naturally in willow trees and other plant species; and it is commercially biosynthesized from phenylalanine. It and its esters are used as food preservatives and in cosmetics and topical medicines. It is also a precursor of acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin; see below).

Beginning in the 2000s, salicylic acid and several other key chemicals stopped being produced in the United States because of low-priced competition from China. In October, Michael McCoy at C&EN reported on an initiative by the US Department of Defense to “reshore” 22 of these chemicals. Earlier this year, DOD funded Lacamas Laboratories (Portland, OR) to produce seven of the compounds, including salicylic acid. DOD has additional plans to reshore 28 more chemicals.

Aspirin³ (Figure 3), aka acetylsalicylic acid, was the Molecule of the Week for June 4, 2012. It is a venerable nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication (NSAID) for treating pain and preventing blood clots.

In July, Jiamin Zhang, Wei Wang, Yumin Zhang, Jianfeng Liu, and colleagues at research institutions in Tianjin and Qingdao, China, reported the design of a biomimetic multifunctional glycopeptide hydrogel that can accelerate radiation-induced skin injury repair by scavenging reactive oxygen species, repairing DNA damage, reducing chronic inflammation, and promoting cell proliferation and angiogenesis in different healing stages. The hydrogel was loaded with aspirin to promote the repair of damaged DNA.

1. CAS Reg. No. 520-52-5.
2. CAS Reg. No. 69-72-7.
3. CAS Reg. No. 50-78-2.