Why Do Magic Mushrooms Bruise Blue? Science Solves The Mystery
This article was originally published on Psychedelic Spotlight and appears here with permission.
Psilocybin mushrooms, commonly known as magic mushrooms, have fascinated both the scientific community and psychedelic enthusiasts for ages. One of the most intriguing aspects of these fungi is their tendency to turn blue when bruised or mishandled.
This article dives deep into this phenomenon, exploring the science behind it, its impact on potency, and how it influences the way we handle and consume these mind-bending fungi.
The Science Behind Shrooms’ Blue Coloration
The blue coloration of magic mushrooms is a chemical reaction triggered by damage or stress. This process, similar to how an apple turns brown when cut, is due to the oxidation of psilocybin, the psychoactive compound in these mushrooms.
Source: © 2019 Claudius Lenz et al | Proposed reaction scheme for the conversion of psilocybin into blue pigments
When the psychedelic mushroom’s cell walls are broken, enzymes within it interact with psilocybin, converting it into psilocin. Once psilocin is exposed to air, it oxidizes and leaves deep blue spots where the bruising occurs.
Other non-psychedelic mushrooms bruise blue, too, when the gyrocyanin or pulvinic acid inside them oxidizes, but this explanation didn’t fit the unique composition of psilocybin mushrooms. The following Reddit video illustrates how boletes mushrooms instantly turn blue when bruised.
Claudius Lenz et al. set out to discover the composition of this blue pigment and its utility, publishing a paper with their findings in late 2019. The group found this blue pigment is actually a blend of compounds resulting from the breakdown of psilocybin.
After isolating the compound with various analytical methods, they discovered that it …