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VAPORIZABLE PSYCHOACTIVE ALKALOID COMPOSITION
AND PREPARATION THEREOF
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This application relates to a vaporizable composition. More
specifically, the
present invention relates to a vaporizable composition of psychoactive
alkaloids for
human intake. The present invention also relates to a process for preparing
the
vaporizable composition.
BACKGROUND
[0002] A psychoactive substance is a chemical substance that changes brain
function
and results in alterations in perception, mood, consciousness, cognition, or
behavior.
The psychoactivity of these substances may include sedative, stimulant,
euphoric,
deliriant, and hallucinogenic effects. These substances have been used
recreationally,
to purposefully improve performance or alter one's consciousness, and as
entheogens
for ritual, spiritual, or shamanic purposes. Some categories of psychoactive
compounds
have also shown therapeutic values and are prescribed by physicians and other
healthcare practitioners.
[0003] The active constituents of the majority of psychoactive organisms, such
as
plants, fungi, animals, or yeasts, fall within a class of basic, naturally
occurring,
nitrogen-containing, organic compounds known as alkaloids (e.g. nicotine,
morphine,
cocaine, mescaline, caffeine, ephedrine, psilocin). Alkaloids have a wide
range of
pharmacological activities including antimalarial,
antiasthma, anticancer,
cholinomimetic, vasodilatory, antiarrhythmic, analgesic, antibacterial, and
antihyperglycemic activities. Many alkaloids have found use in traditional or
modern
medicine, or as starting points for drug discovery. Recently, psychotropic and
stimulant
activities of psychoactive alkaloids have been gaining interest from
researchers as
therapeutic agents for treating various conditions such as alcoholism, opioid
addiction
and pain to name a few.
[0004] Psychoactive alkaloids present in natural sources can be broadly
divided into
two categories, which are phosphorylated psychoactive alkaloids and
dephosphorylated
psychoactive alkaloids, although other non-phosphorylatable psychoactive
alkaloids
may also be present in a natural source. Phosphorylated psychoactive alkaloids
are
phosphoric acid esters of dephosphorylated psychoactive alkaloids and are
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biosynthesized in natural sources. Dephosphorylated forms of these
psychoactive
alkaloids are the bioactive forms that are converted from the phosphorylated
form
through phosphatase action or chemical hydrolysis. In the human body, upon
ingestion,
phosphorylated psychoactive alkaloids are dephosphorylated to their
corresponding
dephosphorylated bioactive forms upon the action of endogenous phosphatase
enzymes, which are predominantly found in the gut. For example, to achieve its
desired
effect, psilocybin must be dephosphorylated to psilocin by a phosphatase
enzyme in the
gastrointestinal tract.
[0005] Oral administration of phosphorylated psychoactive alkaloid
compositions via
the human gastrointestinal tract allows the conversion of the phosphorylated
form to the
corresponding biological effective dephosphorylated form. Additionally, the
oral route of
administration is convenient and ensures patient compliance. However,
bioavailability of
active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) via enteric administration is heavily
dependent
on an ingredient's ability to be absorbed across the intestinal epithelium and
first pass
metabolism. Enteric routes of administration also pose challenges such as long
onset of
action, gastric irritation, etc. Further, the ingestion of dosage forms via
the oral route,
which involves chewing or swallowing, is problematic for children and
geriatric patients.
[0006] Often, to overcome these challenges, administration of an API is done
via
parenteral and topical routes. Delivery of APIs via these routes of
administration allows
bypassing the first pass metabolism. Furthermore, onset of action of the API
is faster
than oral ingestion. Dosage forms for administration of psychoactive alkaloids
via
parenteral routes, such as nasal sprays, inhalers, sublingual absorption, and
like have
been considered by researchers.
[0007] International application PCT/US2020/040826 to Arnold discloses
parenteral
methods of delivering psilocin and psilocybin, without distinguishing between
the two.
[0008] However, parenteral routes of administration do not facilitate the
dephosphorylation of phosphorylated psychoactive alkaloids because they are
delivered
to an area of the body where little to no dephosphorylation occurs. Thus,
often only little
to none of the corresponding bioactive dephosphorylated psychoactive alkaloids
are
delivered to the intended site of action.
[0009] Additionally, psychoactive alkaloid extracts are often present in form
of a sticky
tar, which is difficult to handle or standardize into compositions with
specific amounts of
psychoactive alkaloids that can be formulated into desired dosage forms.
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[0010] This background information is provided to reveal information believed
by the
applicant to be of possible relevance to the present invention. No admission
is
necessarily intended, nor should be construed, that any of the preceding
information
constitutes prior art against the present invention.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0011] The inventors have realized that there is a need for a non-ingestive
psychoactive alkaloid composition capable of providing desired levels of
bioactivity in
the systemic circulation. In particular, there is need for a non-ingestive
psychoactive
alkaloid composition that allows for rapid delivery of the psychoactive
alkaloid into the
systemic circulation, and does not adversely affect the bioavailability of the
psychoactive alkaloid, thus allowing the psychoactive alkaloid to achieve the
desired
psychoactive effects. The psychoactive alkaloid composition is a vaporizable
composition made with a predominantly dephosphorylated psychoactive alkaloid,
an
alcohol or polyol carrier, a fatty acid, a fatty alcohol, an optional
antioxidant, optional
flavoring, and optionally one or more further excipients. Use of a
dephosphorylated
psychoactive alkaloid allows for a non-ingestive delivery mechanism, with its
attendant
benefits and without the downside of a lack of an available dephosphorylation
process
within the body. The psychoactive alkaloids may be extracted or synthetic, and
may
initially be provided in either powder or liquid form. The further excipients
may include a
bioavailability enhancer or a sweetener, or both.
[0012] Disclosed is a liquid, vaporizable psychoactive alkaloid composition
made by
mixing, by weight: 0.1-15% of a psychoactive alkaloid component; 5-71.9% of
alcohol,
polyol, or alcohol and polyol mixture; 2-78.1% of fatty acid; 5-40% of fatty
alcohol; 0-
10% of antioxidant; and 0-10% of flavorant.
[0013] Also disclosed is a process for obtaining a liquid, vaporizable
psychoactive
alkaloid composition, the process comprising: extracting psychoactive alkaloid
from a
dried powdered psychoactive alkaloid source, using an acidified solvent with a
pH of 3.5
or lower, to obtain a psychoactive alkaloid liquid; adjusting the pH of the
psychoactive
alkaloid liquid to a pH ranging from 3.5-4.5; evaporating the acidified
solvent from the
psychoactive alkaloid liquid to obtain a psychoactive alkaloid extract; and
mixing, by
weight, 0.1-15% of the psychoactive alkaloid extract, 5-71.9% of alcohol,
polyol, or
alcohol and polyol mixture, 2-78.1% of fatty acid, 5-40% of fatty alcohol, 0-
10% of
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antioxidant and 0-10% of flavorant to form the liquid, vaporizable
psychoactive alkaloid
composition.
[0014] This summary does not necessarily describe all features of the
invention in
detail and is not intended to limit the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0015] The following drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention, which
should not
be construed as restricting the scope of the invention in any way.
[0016] FIG. 1 illustrates the steps of a process for obtaining a psychoactive
alkaloid
extract with dephosphorylation control, according to an embodiment of the
present
invention.
[0017] FIG. 2 illustrates the steps of a process for obtaining a purified
psychoactive
alkaloid extract according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 3 illustrates the key steps of a process for obtaining a
vaporizable
psychoactive alkaloid composition, according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0019] FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic diagram of the apparatus used for
obtaining
vaporizable psychoactive alkaloid compositions according to embodiments of the
present invention.
DESCRIPTION
A. Glossary
[0020] To facilitate the understanding of this invention, a number of terms
are defined
below. Terms defined herein have meanings as commonly understood by a person
of
ordinary skill in the areas relevant to the present invention. Terms such as
"a", "an" and
"the" are not intended to refer to only a singular entity but include the
general class of
which a specific example may be used for illustration. Terms such as
"organism",
"ester", "alcohol" and "alkaloid" are used as uncountable nouns, unless the
context
clearly indicates that a specific type of organism, ester, alcohol or alkaloid
is being
referred to. The terminology herein is used to describe specific embodiments
of the
invention, but its usage does not delimit the invention, except as outlined in
the claims.
[0021] The term "psychoactive alkaloid" used herein refers to alkaloids that
upon
ingestion or other bodily intake are capable of changing brain function, for
example
resulting in alterations in perception, mood, consciousness, cognition, or
behavior. The
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psychoactive alkaloid to which the present invention applies is predominantly
a
dephosphorylated psychoactive alkaloid, rather than a phosphorylated alkaloid
or non-
phosphorylatable alkaloid.
[0022] The term "psychoactive alkaloid source" used herein refers to an
organism such
as a fungus, a mycelium, a spore, a plant, a bacterium, an animal or a yeast,
which has
in it a phosphorylated psychoactive alkaloid, a dephosphorylated psychoactive
alkaloid,
or a combination or both. The source of the psychoactive alkaloid can also be
an extract
or a solution with a phosphorylated psychoactive alkaloid, a dephosphorylated
psychoactive alkaloid, or a combination of both.
[0023] The term "phosphorylatable" refers to psychoactive alkaloids that have
phosphorylated derivatives and includes psychoactive alkaloids in both their
phosphorylated and dephosphorylated forms.
[0024] The term "psychoactive alkaloid composition" used herein can also be
referred
to as "composition" and describes a mixture of a psychoactive alkaloid
possibly with
extracted impurities, and one or more excipients. The composition can be of
pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, or veterinarian grade.
[0025] The term "psychoactive alkaloid liquid" used herein refers to
psychoactive
alkaloid obtained in liquid form after a dried powdered biomass of a
psychoactive
alkaloid source has been extracted using an acidified solvent or a basified
solvent. The
liquid form can be a solution or a slurry, and may or may not be filtered.
[0026] The term "purified psychoactive alkaloid solution" refers to a solution
of one or
more desired psychoactive alkaloids, where the solution is free of impurities
or contains
fewer impurities compared to a similar psychoactive alkaloid solution that has
not
undergone any purification. The purified solution is obtained after a
psychoactive
alkaloid extracted from its source has been purified using a resinous material
as
described herein. Complete or partial evaporation of solvent from the purified
psychoactive alkaloid solution results in a purified psychoactive alkaloid
extract.
[0027] The term "psychoactive alkaloid extract" used herein refers to a
psychoactive
alkaloid extract obtained by an extraction process described herein or other
extraction
process. The extract can be in a powdered, semi-solid or slurry form.
[0028] The term "purified psychoactive alkaloid extract" used herein refers to
a
psychoactive alkaloid extract that has been purified using resinous material
as
described herein or otherwise. The purified psychoactive alkaloid extract has
fewer
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impurities compared to a similar psychoactive alkaloid extract that has not
undergone
any purification. The extract can be in a powdered or a semi-solid or slurry
form.
[0029] As used herein, the expression "standardization of" or "standardizing"
the
psychoactive alkaloid extract refers to adding a measured amount of one or
more
excipients to a psychoactive alkaloid extract or synthetic psychoactive
alkaloid to
achieve a psychoactive alkaloid composition or a vaporizable psychoactive
alkaloid
composition. Addition of a pre-calculated percentage concentration of non-
active
pharmaceutical ingredients to the psychoactive alkaloid extract or synthetic
psychoactive alkaloid results in standardization of the psychoactive alkaloid
composition
or vaporizable psychoactive alkaloid composition. The standardization process
ensures
that the psychoactive alkaloid composition or vaporizable psychoactive
alkaloid
composition has a specific amount of total psychoactive alkaloid content in
the
composition. This specific amount may be accurate up to two or three
significant
figures. This specific amount is defined as a percentage by weight and can be
selected
by a person of skill in the art according to preference.
[0030] The term "resin" as used herein is intended to refer to a solid or
highly viscous
substance of plant, mineral, or synthetic origin that has been typically
converted into a
polymer. Resins are usually mixtures of organic compounds. They are typically
used in
chromatographic techniques as a stationary phase to purify and separate
compounds
depending on their polarity. Resins can be physically or chemically modified
to provide
specificity to bind or repel particular molecules within sometimes very
complex mixtures.
[0031] As used herein, the term "ion exchange resin" refers to an insoluble
organic
polymer containing charged groups that attract and hold oppositely charged
ions
present in a surrounding solution in exchange for counterions previously held.
Suitable
ion exchange resins to be used herein contain cationic groups that attract and
hold
anions present in a surrounding solution and are sometimes referred to as
"anion ion-
exchange resins". Similarly, other ion exchange resins used herein contain
anionic
groups that attract and hold cations present in a surrounding solution and are
sometimes referred to as "cation ion-exchange resins".
[0032] The term "macroporous resin" as used herein refers to a nonionic,
cation or
anion resin with very small, highly cross-linked polymer particles with tiny
channels.
Macroporous resins are generally used for the adsorption of organic
constituents due to
their hydrophobic properties and are thus used to separate and purify
compounds. The
adsorption capacity of macroporous resins not only correlates with the
physical and
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chemical properties of the adsorbent, but also with the size and chemical
features of the
adsorbed substance.
[0033] The term "adsorbed psychoactive alkaloid" refers to one or more
alkaloids that
are adsorbed onto a resinous material.
[0034] The term "purified water" includes deionized water, distilled water,
reverse
osmosis water, or otherwise purified water which is substantially without free
ions.
[0035] As used herein, the term "specific amount" when referring to a total
psychoactive
alkaloid content means a desired percentage, accurate, for example, to one or
two
decimal places or one, two or three significant figures, of total psychoactive
alkaloid
content in a psychoactive alkaloid composition or a psychoactive alkaloid
extract. The
specific amount is defined as a percentage by weight and can be selected by a
person
of skill in the art according to preference.
[0036] The term "specific pH" herein refers to a definite pH value of a
solvent or a
psychoactive alkaloid liquid obtained by adding an acidified solvent or a
basified
solvent.
[0037] The term "desired amount" herein refers to an amount of a
phosphorylated
psychoactive alkaloid or a dephosphorylated psychoactive alkaloid in a total
psychoactive alkaloid content, in the psychoactive alkaloid liquid, extract or
composition. The amount of each of these alkaloids is controlled by the
process for
making the psychoactive alkaloid extract or psychoactive alkaloid composition.
The
amounts can be altered by a person of skill in the art according to
preference. The
amounts are usually percentages by weight that may be accurate up to two or
three
significant figures, or they may be ranges.
[0038] The "impurities" herein are commonly undesired, but not necessarily
harmful,
substances encountered while extracting psychoactive alkaloids from a natural
source.
Impurities may include sugars, carbohydrates, chitin, chitosan, fats,
minerals, waxes,
and/or proteins. The impurities being removed from a psychoactive alkaloid
extract will
vary depending on the source of the psychoactive alkaloid. Their removal
increases the
concentration of the desired psychoactive alkaloids remaining in the extract.
[0039] The term "total psychoactive alkaloid content" used herein refers to
the total
amount of psychoactive alkaloid present in the psychoactive alkaloid
composition. The
amount is usually a percentage by weight that may be accurate up to two or
three
significant figures.
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[0040] The term "active pharmaceutical ingredient" or "API" used herein refers
to an
active ingredient in a pharmaceutical composition or pharmaceutical drug that
is
biologically active.
[0041] The term "non-active pharmaceutical ingredients" used herein refers to
non-
medical ingredients of a composition which do not have any have any effect on
the
body. They are generally used to improve stability of a composition's
formulation, bulk
up formulations, and more. The term as used herein includes a polymer, a
carrier, and
one or more other excipients.
[0042] The term "bioavailability" used herein refers to the fraction of an API
that is
available in the systemic circulation after administration. This fraction of
API in the
systemic circulation is therefore available for delivery to the intended site
of action.
[0043] The term "rapid delivery" means initial immediate rapid release and
delivery of
an API from a composition. The rapid delivery is typically followed by a time-
dependent
reduction in release of the API from the composition or device and delivery of
the drug
to the plasma.
[0044] The term "excipient" means any component added to an active ingredient
to
make a composition. An excipient is inert in relation to the active
ingredient, in that it
essentially does not act in the same way as the active ingredient. An
excipient may be
completely inert, or it may have some other property that protects the
integrity of the
active ingredient or assists its uptake into the human body. There are
multiple types of
excipient, each having a different purpose, and a given excipient may fulfill
more than
one purpose. Examples of types of excipient include permeation enhancers,
mucoadhesive polymers, surfactants, thickening agents, gelling polymers,
flowability
agents, flavoring agents, sweeteners, colorants, palatants, antioxidants,
bioavailability
enhancers, viscosity modifying agents, tonicity agents, drug carriers,
sustained-release
agents, comfort-enhancing agents, emulsifiers, solubilizing aids, lubricants,
carriers,
binders, disintegrants and stabilizing agents. Specific excipients include
pectin, rice
husks, rice, xanthum gum, gum arabic, beta cyclodextrin, alpha cyclodextrin,
microcrystalline cellulose, sorbitol, dextrose, guar gum, acacia gum,
cellulose gum, talc,
magnesium stearate.
[0045] The term "desired psychoactive effects" herein refers to intended
changes in
nervous system function resulting in alterations in perception, mood,
consciousness,
cognition, or behavior that are achieved upon administration of a psychoactive
alkaloid
composition.
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[0046] The term "therapeutic" is intended to qualify the amount of active
ingredients
required in the treatment of a disease or disorder or on the effecting of a
clinical
endpoint.
[0047] Reference to "treatment" of a patient is intended to include
prophylaxis.
Treatment may also be preemptive in nature, i.e., it may include prevention of
disease.
Prevention of a disease may involve complete protection from disease, for
example as
in the case of prevention of infection with a pathogen or may involve
prevention of
disease progression. For example, prevention of a disease may not mean
complete
foreclosure of any effect related to the diseases at any level, but instead
may mean
prevention of the symptoms of a disease to a clinically significant or
detectable level.
Prevention of diseases may also mean prevention of progression of a disease to
a later
stage of the disease.
B. Composition
[0048] The embodiments of the vaporizable psychoactive alkaloid composition
described herein are in the liquid form, made by combining a psychoactive
alkaloid
extract, a C2-C4 alcohol or polyol carrier, a fatty acid, a fatty alcohol, an
optional
antioxidant, optional flavoring, and optionally one or more further
excipients. The fatty
acid reacts with the alcohol or polyol carrier to form a fatty acid ester. The
fatty acid is in
excess of the alcohol or polyol, some or all of which are used up in the
reaction. The
fatty acid also reacts with the fatty alcohol, resulting in a mixture of fatty
acid, fatty
alcohol, alcohol, polyol and/or fatty acid esters.
[0049] In some embodiments, the psychoactive alkaloid extract has a desired
amount
of a phosphorylated psychoactive alkaloid and a desired amount of a
dephosphorylated
psychoactive alkaloid. That is, the proportion of dephosphorylated to
phosphorylated
alkaloids is controlled. In some embodiments, a majority or all of the
alkaloids are
dephosphorylated. In some embodiments, the psychoactive alkaloid extract
additionally
includes other psychoactive alkaloids that are not phosphorylatable. In some
embodiments, a synthetic psychoactive alkaloid is used instead of the
psychoactive
alkaloid extract. In some embodiments, the synthetic psychoactive alkaloid has
no
phosphorylated alkaloid content, i.e. the alkaloid content is entirely
dephosphorylated
psychoactive alkaloid.
[0050] The vaporizable compositions allow the delivery of psychoactive
alkaloids into
the patient's bloodstream while bypassing the gastrointestinal tract and the
hepatic
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metabolism. As such, they result in a higher bioavailability of the
dephosphorylated
psychoactive alkaloids to the patient compared to ingested forms, which may
suffer
degradation en route to the bloodstream. This also allows for lower dosage
requirements of psychoactive alkaloids to achieve the desired psychoactive
effects. Due
to the vapor from the vaporizable composition being taken in through the
mouth, it is
possible but unlikely that some of the psychoactive alkaloid passes into the
body
through the mucosa lining of the mouth and through the gastrointestinal tract.
[0051] The vaporizable psychoactive alkaloid composition is vaporized in a
vaporizer
for oral delivery to the patient or user, who inhales it as a gas, which may
include fine
droplets if vaporization is incomplete or if there is condensation. An example
of a
vaporizer is an electronic cigarette, although there are numerous other types
of
vaporizer that use heat as the energy source for vaporization. The vaporizable
psychoactive alkaloid composition described herein can be used, for example,
in
medical research on the use of psychedelic substances in treatments for mental
illnesses.
[0052] The amounts of the components mixed together to form the vaporizable
composition are summarized in TABLE 1. The resulting make-up of the
composition,
due to the reaction of the fatty acid and carrier to produce fatty acid ester,
for example,
may be different from the make-up of the ingredients as separate components.
Added Component Range / % Example /
%
Psychoactive synthetic or extract 0.1-15 8
Carrier (alcohol/polyol) 5-71.9 60
Fatty acid 20-78.1 20
Fatty alcohol 5-40 10
Antioxidant 0-10 1
Flavoring 0-10 1
TABLE 1
B1. Psychoactive component
[0053] The psychoactive component is either an extract or synthetic, and may
be liquid
or solid.
[0054] When it is an extract, it may be obtained from any psychoactive
organism, such
as a plant, fungus or animal, and the extract may be in solid or liquid form,
the liquid
form being, for example, a slurry or a solution. In some embodiments, the
psychoactive
component is a psychoactive alkaloid extract that forms 0.1% to 15% by weight
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composition. In other embodiments, the psychoactive alkaloid extract forms 6%
to 10%
by weight of the composition.
[0055] In some embodiments, the psychoactive alkaloid extract has a total
psychoactive alkaloid content ranging from 0.1% to 99% by weight of the
extract. In
other embodiments, the psychoactive alkaloid extract has a total psychoactive
alkaloid
content ranging from 1% to 75% by weight of the extract. In yet other
embodiments, the
psychoactive alkaloid extract has a total psychoactive alkaloid content
ranging from
10% to 30% by weight of the extract. In other embodiments, the psychoactive
alkaloid
composition has a total psychoactive alkaloid content ranging from 15.00% to
25.00%
by weight of the composition. The total psychoactive alkaloid content in the
psychoactive alkaloid extract may be defined as a percentage up to two decimal
places.
[0056] In some embodiments, the psychoactive alkaloid extract further includes
naturally occurring substances. The naturally occurring substances are present
in the
psychoactive alkaloid extract in a concentration ranging from 1% to 99.9% by
weight.
These naturally occurring substances may have side effects when inhaled as
part of the
composition. The naturally occurring substances referred to herein include
fats, sugars,
carbohydrates, chitin, chitosan, minerals, waxes, proteins, or any combination
selected
therefrom. The concentration range of the naturally occurring substances in
the
psychoactive alkaloid extract or the purified psychoactive alkaloid extract
will vary due
to various factors for example, but not limited to, the source of the
psychoactive alkaloid
extract, the extraction technique used, the efficiency of the extraction
process, and the
amount of the psychoactive alkaloid in the extract.
[0057] The psychoactive component includes predominantly dephosphorylated
psychoactive alkaloid in comparison to phosphorylated psychoactive alkaloid.
In some
embodiments, the desired amount of the dephosphorylated psychoactive alkaloid
is
over 50% by weight of the total psychoactive alkaloid content in the
psychoactive
alkaloid extract, and the desired amount of the phosphorylated psychoactive
alkaloid is
the remainder. In some embodiments, the desired amount of the dephosphorylated
psychoactive alkaloid is 100% by weight of the total psychoactive alkaloid
content in the
psychoactive alkaloid extract. In some embodiments, the desired amount of the
dephosphorylated psychoactive alkaloid is 100% by weight of the total
phosphorylatable
psychoactive alkaloid content in the psychoactive alkaloid extract.
[0058] In some embodiments, the psychoactive alkaloid extract is present in
its purified
form i.e. as a purified psychoactive alkaloid extract. In some embodiments,
the purified
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psychoactive alkaloid extract has a total psychoactive alkaloid content
ranging from
10% to 99% by weight of the purified psychoactive alkaloid extract. The
naturally
occurring substances are present in the purified psychoactive alkaloid extract
in a
concentration ranging from 1% to 90% by dry weight. In some embodiments, the
purified psychoactive alkaloid extract has a total psychoactive alkaloid
content ranging
from 10.00% to 30.00% by weight of the purified psychoactive alkaloid extract.
[0059] In some embodiments, the desired amount of the dephosphorylated
psychoactive alkaloid is over 50% by weight of the total psychoactive alkaloid
content in
the purified psychoactive alkaloid extract, and the desired amount of the
phosphorylated
psychoactive alkaloid is the remainder. In some embodiments, the desired
amount of
the dephosphorylated psychoactive alkaloid is 100% by weight of the total
psychoactive
alkaloid content in the purified psychoactive alkaloid extract. In some
embodiments, the
desired amount of the dephosphorylated psychoactive alkaloid is 100% by weight
of the
total phosphorylatable psychoactive alkaloid content in the purified
psychoactive
alkaloid extract.
[0060] The composition of the present invention has a total psychoactive
alkaloid
content present in a specific amount. In some embodiments, the specific amount
of the
total psychoactive alkaloid content is accurate to one significant figure. In
other
embodiments, the specific amount of the total psychoactive alkaloid content is
accurate
to two, three or four significant figures. The presence of the total
psychoactive alkaloid
content in a specific amount in the composition is possible despite the
variation of
psychoactive content in different batches of the extract, because the content
in each
batch is known and the amount of each extract used can be chosen accordingly.
[0061] In some embodiments, the phosphorylated alkaloid is psilocybin,
baeocystin,
norbaeocystin, aeruginascin, an alkaloid with similar properties, or any
combination
selected therefrom; and the dephosphorylated alkaloid is psilocin, bufotenine,
bufotenidine, norpsilocin, 4-hydroxytryptamine
(4-HT), N,N,N-trimethy1-4-
hydroxytryptamine, 4-hydroxy-N,N,N-trimethyltryptamine (4-HO-TMT), an alkaloid
with
similar properties, or any combination selected therefrom.
[0062] In some embodiments, the psychoactive component is a synthetic
psychoactive
alkaloid component. In some embodiments, the synthetic psychoactive alkaloid
component has a psychoactive alkaloid content of up to 99%, and the amount of
the
synthetic psychoactive alkaloid component is 0.1-15% by weight of the
composition. In
some embodiments, the amount of synthetic psychoactive alkaloid component is 6-
10%
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by weight of the composition. The psychoactive alkaloid in the synthetic
psychoactive
alkaloid component may be entirely dephosphorylated psychoactive alkaloid, for
example psilocin. In other embodiments, the psychoactive alkaloid in the
synthetic
psychoactive alkaloid component may be partly dephosphorylated psychoactive
alkaloid, for example psilocin and partly phosphorylated, for example
psilocybin.
[0063] Where the psychoactive component is in a liquid form, whether an
extract or
synthetic, the dephosphorylated alkaloid is at its isoelectric point or, in
other words, is in
its freebase form. Where the dephosphorylated alkaloid is psilocin, the liquid
psychoactive component has, for example, a pH of 8.47 0.25, i.e. the
isoelectric point
of psilocin. Where the psychoactive component is in a powder form, it will
have, for
example, a pH of 8.47 0.25 if mixed with pure water. When the fatty acid is
added to
the psychoactive component, the pH of the mixture may be in the range 4-10.
B2. Carrier
[0064] The carrier is a C2-C4 alcohol or polyol, individually chosen from or
is a mixture
of any of ethanol, 1-propanol, isopropyl alcohol, tert-butyl alcohol,
glycerine,
polyethylene glycol (PEG) and propylene glycol (PG). In some embodiments, the
amount of carrier put into the composition is 5-71.9% by weight of the
composition. The
upper limit is based on the requirement to have at least the specified minimum
quantities of other components. The lower limit represents the requirement to
have at
least some alcohol and/or polyol in the composition in order to form the fatty
acid
ester(s). In some embodiments, the amount of carrier added is 50-70% by weight
of the
composition. In some embodiments, the amount of carrier added is 60% by weight
of
the composition. The carrier may, but not always, form the majority of the
vaporizable
composition. Furthermore, it serves to react with the fatty acid to create
fatty acid ester
in the composition. The fatty acid ester helps with the vaporization of the
composition
and also provides stability to the composition.
B3. Fatty acid
[0065] In some embodiments, the fatty acid introduced into the composition is
20-
78.1% by weight of the composition. If there is too little fatty acid, the
quantity of fatty
acid ester in the composition will be too low to aid with vaporization. If
there is too much
fatty acid, vaporization will be hindered. In other embodiments, the amount of
fatty acid
added to the composition is 20% by weight of the composition. The fatty acid
is
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individually chosen from, or is a mixture of any of, palmitic acid, stearic
acid, oleic acid,
linoleic acid, linolenic acid, arachidonic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid,
docosahexaenoic
acid, ascorbyl palmitate, cetyl palmitate, colfosceril palmitate, ehtylhexyl
palmitate,
isopropyl palmitate, palmitoyl-CoA, retinyl palmitate and sucrose
monopalmitate. The
fatty acid reacts with the carrier to produce fatty acid ester in the
composition.
B4. Fatty alcohol
[0066] The composition includes a fatty alcohol, which acts as an adsorption
enhancer
in the mucosa of the mouth and lungs. The amount of fatty alcohol added to the
composition is 5-40% by weight of the composition. If the amount of fatty
alcohol is too
low, then there may be insufficient formation of the beneficial fatty acid
esters. It is not
detrimental, however, if the amount of fatty alcohol is too high. In some
embodiments,
the fatty alcohol is added to the composition in a concentration of 8-12% by
weight of
the composition.
[0067] The fatty alcohol is individually chosen from or is a mixture of any of
capryl
alcohol (1-octanol), 2-ethyl hexanol, pelargonic alcohol (1-nonanol), capric
alcohol (1-
decanol, decyl alcohol), undecyl alcohol (1-undecanol, undecanol, hendecanol),
lauryl
alcohol (dodecanol, 1-dodecanol), tridecyl alcohol (1-tridecanol, tridecanol,
isotridecanol), myristyl alcohol (1-tetradecanol), pentadecyl alcohol (1-
pentadecanol,
pentadecanol), cetyl alcohol (1-hexadecanol), palmitoleyl alcohol (cis-9-
hexadecen-1-
01), heptadecyl alcohol (1-n-heptadecanol, heptadecanol), stearyl alcohol (1-
octadecanol), isostearyl alcohol (16-methylheptadecan-1-ol), elaidyl alcohol
(9E-
octadecen-1-ol), oleyl alcohol (cis-9-octadecen-1-ol), linoleyl alcohol
(9Z,12Z-
octadecadien-1-ol), elaidolinoleyl alcohol (9E,12E-octadecadien-1-ol),
linolenyl alcohol
(9Z,12Z,15Z-octadecatrien-1-ol), elaidolinolenyl alcohol (9E,12E,15-E-
octadecatrien-1-
ol), ricinoleyl alcohol (12-hydroxy-9-octadecen-1-ol), nonadecyl alcohol (1-
nonadecanol), arachidyl alcohol (1-eicosanol), heneicosyl alcohol (1-
heneicosanol),
behenyl alcohol (1-docosanol), erucyl alcohol (cis-13-docosen-1-ol),
lignoceryl alcohol
(1-tetracosanol), ceryl alcohol (1-hexacosanol), 1-heptacosanol, montanyl
alcohol,
cluytyl alcohol (1-octacosanol), 1-nonacosanol, myricyl alcohol, melissyl
alcohol (1-
triacontanol), 1-dotriacontanol, and geddyl alcohol (1-tetratriacontanol). In
other
embodiments it is possible to include one or more fatty alcohols other than
these.
B5. Antioxidant
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[0068] The antioxidant is optionally present in the composition in a
concentration of
about 0-10% by weight of the composition. The antioxidant provides chemical
stability
to the composition so that it has a longer shelf life compared to compositions
without
the antioxidant. The amount of antioxidant should be added in sufficient
quantity to
provide stability to the composition.
[0069] The antioxidant is individually chosen from or is a mixture of any of
citric acid,
butylated hydroxytoluene, ascorbic acid, glutathione, retinol, a-tocopherol,
[3-carotene,
a-carotene, ubiquinone, butylated hydroxyanisole, ethylenediaminetetraacetic
acid,
selenium, zinc, lignan, uric acid, lipoic acid, N-acetylcysteine and ascorbic
acid.
[0070] The particular choice of antioxidant should be compatible with the
selected
carrier. For example, ascorbic acid will only be soluble in polar solvents,
whereas
tocopherol will be more soluble in non-polar solvents.
B6. Flavoring
[0071] The composition optionally includes a flavorant amounting to 0-10% of
the
composition by weight. The flavoring may be menthol, a sweetener or both
menthol and
a sweetener, for example. Other flavorants that are suitable for inhalation
may also be
used in the composition. The flavorant may be natural or synthetic.
B7. Bioavailability enhancer
[0072] Optionally, in some embodiments, the composition includes a
bioavailability
enhancer. Bioavailability enhancers bind to active pharmaceutical ingredients
and either
increase their stability, ability to cross membranes, or prevent the body from
breaking
down the API. In one embodiment, the bioavailability enhancer is present in
the
composition in a concentration ranging up to 5% by weight of the composition.
In
another embodiment, the bioavailability enhancer is present in the composition
in a
concentration ranging from 0.5-2% by weight of the composition. Utilization of
bioavailability enhancers in these relatively small concentrations decreases
the
occurrence of an adverse effect, and only small concentrations are needed to
be
effective. Examples of bioavailability enhancer include, but are not limited
to, beta
cyclodextrin, alpha cyclodextrin, piperine, citric acid, and beta-carbolines
(MA01) such
as harmaline.
[0073] The particular choice of bioavailability enhancer should be made based
on its
compatibility with the carrier. Bioavailability enhancers may work by
different
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mechanisms. For example, all of them except the beta carbolines work by
chelating or
enhancing adsorption in the mucosa. The beta carbolines will prevent or reduce
breakdown of psilocin in vivo.
C. Extraction with dephosphorylation control
[0074] In one embodiment, referring to FIG. 1, a process for obtaining a
psychoactive
alkaloid extract with dephosphorylation control, according to an embodiment of
the
present invention, is shown. Dephosphorylation applies to the psychoactive
alkaloids
that are phosphorylatable.
[0075] The process includes step 10 of obtaining powdered biomass from a
psychoactive alkaloid source, such as a psychoactive organism. The powdered
biomass is obtained by drying and pulverizing the psychoactive alkaloid
source. The
drying is carried out via vacuum desiccation, freeze drying, timed forced air
drying, or
other suitable drying method known to a person of skill in the art, to obtain
a dried
biomass. The pulverization is carried out by milling, grinding, or other
method to reduce
the particle size of the dried biomass.
[0076] In one embodiment, the drying is carried out in a forced air oven
completely
shielded from all light at 20-30 C for a time period of 5-10 hours. However,
there is
room for optimization of the drying step, using different temperatures (e.g.
10 ¨ 50 C)
and different durations.
[0077] In one embodiment, the psychoactive alkaloid source is a mushroom from
the
genus Conocybe, Copelandia, Galerina, Gymnopilus, Inocybe, Panaeolus,
Pholiotina,
Pluteus or Psilocybe, or any combination of mushrooms selected therefrom. In
some
embodiments, gills, caps, stems, or the whole of the fungi is used as the
alkaloid
source. In other embodiments, the psychoactive alkaloid source is another
organism,
such as another fungus, a plant or an animal.
[0078] Step 12 involves extracting the psychoactive alkaloid from the dried
powdered
biomass with an acidified solvent or a basified solvent to obtain a
psychoactive alkaloid
liquid with a specific pH, wherein the specific pH is 3.5 or lower, or 10.5 or
higher.
[0079] When used, the acid in step 12 may be acetic acid, adipic acid,
ascorbic acid,
ammonium aluminum sulphate, ammonium citrate dibasic, ammonium citrate
monobasic, calcium citrate, calcium fumarate, calcium gluconate, calcium
phosphate
dibasic, calcium phosphate monobasic, hydrochloric acid, sulphuric acid
monobasic,
calcium phosphate tribasic, citric acid, fumaric acid, gluconic acid,
magnesium
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fumarate, malic acid, phosphoric acid, potassium acid tartrate, potassium
citrate,
potassium fumarate, sodium citrate, sodium fumarate, sodium gluconate, sodium
lactate, sodium potassium hexametaphosphate, sodium potassium tartrate, sodium
potassium tripolyphosphate, sodium pyrophosphate tetrabasic, sodium
tripolyphosphate, tartaric acid, and any combination of one or more of these.
In some
embodiments, the acid is either only hydrochloric acid or only phosphoric
acid, for
example. It is also envisaged that other acids may be used, for example non-
food-grade
acids that may be used by pharmaceuticals.
[0080] When used, the base in step 12 may be ammonium bicarbonate, ammonium
carbonate, ammonium hydroxide, calcium acetate, calcium carbonate, calcium
chloride,
calcium hydroxide, calcium lactate, calcium oxide, calcium phosphate dibasic,
calcium
phosphate monobasic, magnesium carbonate, potassium aluminum sulphate,
potassium bicarbonate, potassium carbonate, potassium hydroxide, potassium
lactate,
potassium phosphate dibasic, potassium pyrophosphate tetrabasic, potassium
phosphate tribasic, potassium tripolyphosphate, sodium acetate, sodium acid
pyrophosphate, sodium aluminum phosphate, sodium aluminum sulphate, sodium
bicarbonate, sodium bisulphate, sodium carbonate, sodium hexametaphosphate,
sodium hydroxide, sodium lactate, sodium phosphate dibasic, sodium phosphate
monobasic, sodium phosphate tribasic or any combination therefrom. In one
embodiment, the base is solely sodium hydroxide, for example. Other bases may
be
used in other embodiments, for example non-food-grade bases that may be used
by
pharmaceuticals.
[0081] In some embodiments, the acidified solvent is a mixture of an acid and
a C1-C4
primary aliphatic alcohol, a C3-C4 ketone, water, or any combination selected
therefrom. The acid may be, for example, citric acid, ascorbic acid, formic
acid, acetic
acid, hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid, sulphuric acid, or any combination
selected
therefrom. In other embodiments, the basified solvent is a mixture of a base
and a C1-
C4 primary aliphatic alcohol, a C3-C4 ketone, water, or any combination
selected
therefrom. The base may be, for example, sodium hydroxide, potassium
hydroxide,
ammonium hydroxide, sodium bicarbonate, calcium carbonate, or any combination
selected therefrom.
[0082] After adding the acidified solvent, if the acidified solvent used, the
psychoactive
alkaloid liquid has a pH ranging from 0.5-3.5. In an exemplary embodiment, the
pH of
the psychoactive alkaloid liquid obtained after addition of the acidified
solvent is 2. The
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pH is adjusted to lower than 3.5 in the extraction step 12 to promote the
conversion of
phosphorylated psychoactive alkaloid to dephosphorylated psychoactive
alkaloid, thus
allowing the preparation of the psychoactive alkaloid liquid with the
predominantly or
entirely dephosphorylated psychoactive alkaloid. For example, with pH
conditions lower
than 3.5, psilocybin is readily converted to psilocin. In some embodiments,
during the
extraction step the psychoactive alkaloid liquid has a pH lower than 3.5 and
the desired
amount of the phosphorylated psychoactive alkaloid is 0% by weight of the
total
psychoactive alkaloid content in the psychoactive alkaloid extract. The
desired amount
of the dephosphorylated psychoactive alkaloid is 100% by weight of the total
psychoactive alkaloid content in the psychoactive alkaloid extract. Even with
neutral
hydroethanol extraction, a large portion of psilocybin may be converted to
psilocin.
However, the low pH environment (<3.5) protects the psilocin from oxidation.
[0083] If the pH in step 12 were 10.5 or higher, then the conversion of
phosphorylated
alkaloids to dephosphorylated alkaloids would be inhibited, and the result
would be
predominantly or entirely phosphorylated alkaloids. This may be limited by the
initial
amount of alkaloids in the psychoactive alkaloid source that were already
dephosphorylated. As predominantly dephosphorylated alkaloids are more useful
in the
vaporizable composition than phosphorylated alkaloids, then the acidified
solvent would
be chosen in step 12.
[0084] In some embodiments, the extraction is performed at a temperature
ranging
from 5-95 C. In other embodiments, the extraction is performed at a
temperature
ranging from 50-75 C. In other embodiments, the extraction is performed at
room
temperature.
[0085] In some embodiments, the extraction is performed for a time period
ranging from
10-720 minutes. For most cases, a time below 10 min would result in a mostly
incomplete yield, and above 720 min the extraction may be incomplete but would
be
continuing at a negligible rate. In another embodiment, and more usually, the
extraction
is performed for a time period ranging from 30-240 minutes.
[0086] In some embodiments, the extraction is performed at an applied pressure
ranging from 50kPa to 140MPa (7 to 20,000 psi). In yet another embodiment, the
extraction is performed at a pressure ranging from 70kPa to 140kPa (10 to 20
psi).
Application of pressure may be used to increase the rate of extraction.
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[0087] In some embodiments, the extraction is performed with a solvent to
solid ratio in
the range 1L:1kg to 50L:1kg, wherein the solid is the dried powdered biomass.
In one
embodiment, the extraction is performed with a solvent to solid ratio of
20L:1kg.
[0088] After the addition of the acidified solvent or the basified solvent,
the powered
biomass and the solvent may be mixed, continually or intermittently during the
extraction, followed by step 14 of filtration to result in an extracted
filtrate (i.e.
psychoactive alkaloid liquid).
[0089] In step 18 of the process, the pH of the obtained psychoactive alkaloid
liquid is
adjusted to a pH ranging from 3.5-4.5. The pH is adjusted by adding a base or
an acid.
The pH is adjusted to a value in this range as the psychoactive alkaloid
liquid exhibits a
good anti-microbial stability in this pH range. Also, there is no conversion
(or further
conversion, as the case may be) of phosphorylated alkaloids to
dephosphorylated
alkaloids at this pH after the alkaloids are removed from the biomass, which
points to
enzymatic hydrolysis being responsible for conversion in the source of the
psychoactive
alkaloids. In exemplary embodiments for step 18, the base is sodium hydroxide
and the
acid is citric acid. Any other appropriate acid or base can be used to adjust
the pH,
which a person of skill in the art may determine. The selection of the acid or
the base
will depend upon the nature of the pH of the psychoactive alkaloid liquid
prior to
adjusting it to the range of 3.5-4.5.
[0090] In some embodiments, the extraction includes further extracting the
psychoactive alkaloid by repeating the extraction step. Filtrate residue from
step 14 is
collected and to this filtrate residue, the same or a different acidified
solvent, or the
same or a different basified solvent is added, as in step 12. The resulting
mixture is
mixed and followed by filtration to obtain another filtrate. This filtrate and
the previous
filtrate are mixed together to result in a bulk or pooled filtrate. To this
bulk filtrate the
acid or the base is added to adjust the pH to 3.5-4.5 according to step 18. In
some
embodiments, the further extraction of the filtrate obtained after extraction
with the
acidified or the basified solvent is repeated until a required amount of the
phosphorylated psychoactive alkaloid and/or the dephosphorylated psychoactive
alkaloid is extracted. The number of extraction cycles to be repeated will
depend on
various variable factors such as the source of the psychoactive alkaloid and
the
solubility of the psychoactive alkaloid in the acidified or the basified
solvent.
[0091] Step 20 of the process involves evaporating the solvent from the
psychoactive
alkaloid liquid (i.e. the filtrate or bulk filtrate) to obtain the
psychoactive alkaloid extract
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with the desired amount of the phosphorylated psychoactive alkaloid and the
desired
amount of the dephosphorylated psychoactive alkaloid. The solvent is
completely or
partially evaporated to result in the psychoactive alkaloid extract as a
slurry or powder.
The evaporation is carried out by methods such as air-drying, rotary
evaporation, or
other methods known in the art to suitably evaporate solvent from psychoactive
alkaloid
liquid. At this point in time, away from the biomass,
dephosphorylated/phosphorylated
alkaloids are fairly heat resistant, more so under vacuum, and so rotary
evaporation, for
example, is a suitable process.
[0092] Evaporation step 20 may be paused, for standardization in step 21, and
continued after standardization. The evaporation of a portion of the solvent,
before
collection of the psychoactive alkaloid extract, in slurry form, for
standardization, is done
to obtain a quantity of a psychoactive alkaloid extract slurry that is easy to
handle in the
subsequent steps of the standardization process. The quantity of the portion
of the
solvent to be evaporated before pausing the evaporation is not so much as to
make it
too viscous to handle well. The quantity of the portion of the solvent to be
evaporated
will depend on various factors, for example, but not limited to, the contents
of the
psychoactive alkaloid liquid and the quantity of the psychoactive alkaloid
liquid present
at the beginning of the evaporation step.
[0093] For the purposes of the vaporizable composition disclosed herein, the
desired
amount of the dephosphorylated psychoactive alkaloid is generally chosen to be
100%
of the total phosphorylatable psychoactive alkaloid content in the
psychoactive alkaloid
extract, and the desired amount of the phosphorylated psychoactive alkaloid is
0%. As
such, an acidified solvent is selected in step 12. However, it is conceivable
that a
vaporizable composition with 100% or predominantly phosphorylated psychoactive
alkaloids may be made for the purposes of study or other uses, in which case a
basified
solvent is chosen in step 12.
D. Purification
[0094] In one embodiment, referring to FIG. 2, steps of a process for
obtaining a
purified psychoactive alkaloid extract are shown. The main steps are:
adsorbing, in step
34, the psychoactive alkaloid extract obtained in step 18 or 20 (without
standardization)
onto a resin to obtain an adsorbed psychoactive alkaloid, which may include
one or
more adsorbed psychoactive alkaloids; eluting, in step 38, the adsorbed
psychoactive
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alkaloid using a solvent to obtain a purified psychoactive alkaloid solution;
and
evaporating, in step 42, the solvent from the purified psychoactive alkaloid
solution.
[0095] In one embodiment, the psychoactive alkaloid extract obtained in step
18 or 20
is followed by completely or partially concentrating the obtained psychoactive
alkaloid
extract by evaporation of the solvent from the extract in step 22. If the
solvent from the
extract has been completely evaporated in step 22, then reverse osmosis water,
more
solvent or another solvent is added back. Other water may be used in place of
reverse
osmosis water, which is usually selected for its purity.
[0096] In some embodiments, the process includes adding, in step 26, an acid
or a
base to the psychoactive alkaloid extract obtained in step 20 to obtain a
psychoactive
alkaloid solution with a desired pH.
[0097] When used, the acid may be acetic acid, adipic acid, ascorbic acid,
ammonium
aluminum sulphate, ammonium citrate dibasic, ammonium citrate monobasic,
calcium
citrate, calcium fumarate, calcium gluconate, calcium phosphate dibasic,
calcium
phosphate monobasic, hydrochloric acid, sulphuric acid monobasic, calcium
phosphate
tribasic, citric acid, fumaric acid, gluconic acid, magnesium fumarate, malic
acid,
phosphoric acid, potassium acid tartrate, potassium citrate, potassium
fumarate, sodium
citrate, sodium fumarate, sodium gluconate, sodium lactate, sodium potassium
hexametaphosphate, sodium potassium tartrate, sodium potassium
tripolyphosphate,
sodium pyrophosphate tetrabasic, sodium tripolyphosphate, tartaric acid, and
any
combination of one or more of these. In some embodiments, the acid is either
only
hydrochloric acid or only phosphoric acid, for example. It is also envisaged
that other
acids may be used.
[0098] When used, the base may be ammonium bicarbonate, ammonium carbonate,
ammonium hydroxide, calcium acetate, calcium carbonate, calcium chloride,
calcium
hydroxide, calcium lactate, calcium oxide, calcium phosphate dibasic, calcium
phosphate monobasic, magnesium carbonate, potassium aluminum sulphate,
potassium bicarbonate, potassium carbonate, potassium hydroxide, potassium
lactate,
potassium phosphate dibasic, potassium pyrophosphate tetrabasic, potassium
phosphate tribasic, potassium tripolyphosphate, sodium acetate, sodium acid
pyrophosphate, sodium aluminum phosphate, sodium aluminum sulphate, sodium
bicarbonate, sodium bisulphate, sodium carbonate, sodium hexametaphosphate,
sodium hydroxide, sodium lactate, sodium phosphate dibasic, sodium phosphate
monobasic, sodium phosphate tribasic or any combination therefrom. In one
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embodiment, the base is solely sodium hydroxide, for example. Other bases may
be
used in other embodiments.
[0099] In some embodiments, the desired pH psychoactive alkaloid solution has
a pH
ranging from 2.5-4.5, or from 9-10. In other embodiments, the desired pH
psychoactive
alkaloid solution has a pH of 3, 4, or 9.5. A person of skill in the art will
appreciate that
the selection of the pH is chosen in a manner to allow for the efficient
adsorption of the
psychoactive alkaloids onto the resin(s).
[0100] In one embodiment, the process includes adding phosphoric acid to the
psychoactive alkaloid extract to achieve a pH of 4. In another embodiment, the
process
includes adding hydrochloric acid to the psychoactive alkaloid extract to
achieve a pH of
3. In yet another embodiment, the process includes adding sodium hydroxide to
the
psychoactive alkaloid extract to achieve a pH of 9.5.
[0101] The process includes, in step 30, optionally filtering, centrifuging,
or clarifying
the psychoactive alkaloid solution or desired pH psychoactive alkaloid
solution, as the
case may be, and utilizing the obtained filtrate for the following step of
adsorption.
Clarifying may be performed, for example, by adding an agglomeration agent. In
step
34, the process involves adsorbing the psychoactive alkaloid(s) in the
solution onto the
resin to obtain an adsorbed psychoactive alkaloid. This may be done, for
example, by
contacting the psychoactive alkaloid solution with the resin or otherwise
treating the
psychoactive alkaloid solution with the resin.
[0102] In some embodiments, the resin used in step 34 is an adsorbent resin of
the
macroporous type, such as, a cation or anion ion-exchange resin, a non-ionic
resin, or
any combination therefrom. Representative pharmaceutical, nutraceutical or
food-grade
grade resins for use in accordance with the present invention are known to
those skilled
in the art. For example, pharmaceutical grade non-ionic macroporous resins are
commercially available, e.g. Amberlite XAD4. In some embodiments, the resin
is a
cationic ion-exchange resin or an anionic-exchange resin. The cationic ion-
exchange
resin may be selected from commercially available cationic ion-exchange resins
known
in the art, including but not limited to Amberlite MAC-3 H. The cationic ion-
exchange
resin may be in an H+ form or an Na + form. The anionic ion-exchange resin may
be
selected from commercially available anion exchange resins known in the art,
including
but not limited to Amberchrom 50WX8. The anionic ion-exchange resin may be in
an
OH- form or a Cl- form. The resins used may be of any particle size. In some
embodiments, the resins may be gel type resins, with any size of gel bead.
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[0103] In step 36, the process involves washing the resin to remove adsorbed
impurities from the resin. While not all the impurities are adsorbed onto the
resin, some
of them may be. The washing step, substantially, does not remove the adsorbed
psychoactive alkaloids. The washing solvent may be 100% ethanol, 100% reverse
osmosis water, or any other washing solvent used in ion-exchange resin
chromatography, provided that the washing removes impurities or by-products
that are
adsorbed on the resin. Impurities or by-products may include, for example,
sugars,
carbohydrates, chitin, chitosan, fats, minerals, waxes, or proteins. There may
be one,
two or more washing steps depending on the embodiment, and the same or
different
washing solvents may be used for each wash. In other embodiments, the
solvent(s) for
washing may include a primary aliphatic alcohol, a ketone, water, and any
combination
therefrom. In one embodiment, the primary aliphatic alcohol is a C1-4 alcohol.
In one
embodiment, the primary aliphatic alcohol is 5% ethanol. In one embodiment,
the
primary aliphatic alcohol is ethanol. In one embodiment, the ketone is a C3-4
ketone. In
yet another embodiment, the water is selected from deionized, distilled,
reverse
osmosis, or otherwise purified water that is substantially without free ions.
[0104] After the washing, the process involves eluting, in step 38, the
adsorbed
psychoactive alkaloid from the resin using a solvent to obtain a purified
psychoactive
alkaloid solution. The solvent may be an organic solvent, an acid, a base, or
water, a
combination of an organic solvent and a base, or a combination of an organic
solvent
and an acid, a combination of an organic solvent and water, a combination of
water and
a base, or combination of water and an acid. The result of the elution step is
a purified
psychoactive alkaloid solution. Usually, the solvent is different from the
solvent in which
the extract is initially provided, and is either a different type of solvent
or a different
composition of solvent. It may be at a different temperature than the initial
solvent.
[0105] In some embodiments, the solvent used in the elution step 38 may be a
primary
aliphatic alcohol, a ketone, water, and any combination therefrom. In one
embodiment,
the primary aliphatic alcohol is a C1-4 alcohol. In one embodiment, the
primary aliphatic
alcohol is 5% ethanol. In one embodiment, the primary aliphatic alcohol is
ethanol. In
one embodiment, the ketone is a C3-4 ketone. In yet another embodiment, the
water is
deionized, distilled, reverse osmosis, or otherwise purified water, which is
substantially
without free ions. In other embodiments, the water is not purified.
[0106] In one embodiment, the solvent used in the elution step 38 is a
combination of
an organic solvent and an acid. In one embodiment, the combination of an acid
and an
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organic solvent is 2% hydrochloric acid and 80% ethanol, for example. In
general, any
acidic environment will displace some of the ions from the resin, but the rate
and
optimization of desorption will be affected by the acid concentration. In one
embodiment, the solvent used in the elution step 38 is a combination of an
organic
solvent and a base. In one embodiment, the combination of an organic solvent
and a
base is of 2% sodium chloride and 80% ethanol, for example. In general, any
basic
environment will displace some of the ions from the resin, but the rate and
optimization
of desorption will be affected by the concentration of the base.
[0107] All the above solvents and combinations thereof are suitable for the
elution step
because all of the psychoactive alkaloids of interest are soluble therein and,
depending
on the choice of resin, they are all capable of pulling the alkaloids of
interest off a resin.
There are many different resins available, and it is a straightforward matter
to select a
suitable resin and elution solvent pair.
[0108] In one embodiment, the elution step is carried out at a temperature in
the range
of 4-75 C. These temperatures are limited by the boiling point of the solvent
used, as
well as the specifications of allowable food-grade resins, as determined by
the
manufacturers of the resins and governmental food and drug administrations. In
another
embodiment, the elution step is carried out at room temperature for
convenience, i.e. at
21-25 C.
[0109] Optionally, the purified psychoactive alkaloid solution obtained after
elution is
further purified by filtering, in step 39, the obtained purified psychoactive
alkaloid
solution to obtain a filtrate, and then repeating at least steps 34 and 38
with the
obtained filtrate. Steps 34 and 38 can be repeated with the same or a
different resinous
material and the same or a different solvent to obtain a further or twice-
purified
psychoactive alkaloid solution.
[0110] The result of the elution is a purified psychoactive alkaloid solution.
In one
embodiment, the purified psychoactive alkaloid solution has a concentration of
0.07%
by weight of a psychoactive alkaloid, which is the concentration before
removal of some
or all of the solvent. This concentration may be different in other
embodiments,
depending on the amount solvent used for the elution and the potency of the
raw
materials. In one embodiment, the purified psychoactive alkaloid solution is
concentrated by evaporating the solvent to form a purified psychoactive slurry
that has
at least of 5% by weight or more of psychoactive alkaloid. In another
embodiment, the
resulting purified psychoactive alkaloid slurry has 5-68% by weight of
psychoactive
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alkaloid. In yet other embodiments, the purified psychoactive alkaloid slurry
has a
concentration of psychoactive alkaloid outside these ranges, and, when dried,
can be
as low as 0.1% or as high as 99% dry wt/wr/o.
[0111] Following the elution, a further washing step 40 may be employed using
100%
ethanol, for example, to wash the resin. This may be considered to be a
cleaning step,
to refresh the resin and make it ready to be used again in a subsequent step
or in
another process. In other embodiments, the solvent for further washing may be
a
primary aliphatic alcohol, a ketone, water, and any combination therefrom. In
one
embodiment, the primary aliphatic alcohol is a C1-4 alcohol. In one
embodiment, the
primary aliphatic alcohol is 5% ethanol. In one embodiment, the ketone is a C3-
4
ketone. In yet another embodiment, the water is selected from deionized,
distilled,
reverse osmosis, or otherwise purified water that is substantially without
free ions.
[0112] After elution step 38, the obtained purified psychoactive alkaloid
solution
undergoes the evaporation step 42 to completely or partially evaporate the
solvents and
result in the purified psychoactive alkaloid extract (slurry or powder form).
[0113] Step 42 involves evaporating the solvent from the purified psychoactive
alkaloid
solution to obtain the purified psychoactive alkaloid extract with, if
dephosphorylation
control has been used, the desired amount of the phosphorylated psychoactive
alkaloid
and the desired amount of the dephosphorylated psychoactive alkaloid (for
example,
0% and 100% respectively for the composition herein). The solvent is
completely or
partially evaporated to result in the psychoactive alkaloid extract (slurry or
powder
respectively). The evaporation is carried out by methods such as air-drying,
rotary
evaporation, or other methods known in the art to suitably evaporate solvent
from
psychoactive alkaloid liquid.
[0114] Evaporation in step 42 may be paused, for standardization in step 43,
and
continued after standardization. The evaporation of a portion of the solvent,
before
collection of the purified psychoactive alkaloid slurry for standardization,
is done to
obtain a quantity of a psychoactive alkaloid slurry that is easy to handle in
the
subsequent steps of the standardization process. The quantity of the portion
of the
solvent to be evaporated before pausing the evaporation is not so much as to
make it
too viscous to handle well. The quantity of the portion of the solvent to be
evaporated
will depend on various factors, for example, but not limited to, the contents
of the
psychoactive alkaloid solution and the quantity of the psychoactive alkaloid
solution
present at the beginning of the evaporation step.
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E. Standardization
[0115] Standardization may be carried out part way through evaporation step 20
(FIG.
1) or evaporation step 42 (FIG. 2), or it may be done after either of these
steps.
Standardization is more conveniently done when the extract is a slurry than a
powder,
but it is not necessary that it is a slurry. Firstly, for example for a
slurry, the weight
percentage of the psychoactive alkaloids in the psychoactive alkaloid extract
and the
weight proportion of solids in the psychoactive alkaloid extract are measured.
The
psychoactive alkaloid content in the final composition is specified. A
measured amount
of one or more excipients is added to the psychoactive alkaloid extract, such
that, when
the remaining solvent is evaporated, the resultant solid will have the
specified content of
psychoactive alkaloids. The specific amount of the total psychoactive alkaloid
content in
the standardized extract may be accurate to one or two decimal places, or one
or two
significant figures depending on how accurately the measurements are made
during the
mixing of the psychoactive alkaloid extract and the one or more excipients.
The
excipients used in standardizing the extract may be, for example, one or more
of the
excipients that are in the final vaporizable composition, such as a fatty
alcohol or an
antioxidant.
[0116] Standardization results in a standardized, extracted psychoactive
alkaloid
composition or a standardized psychoactive alkaloid extract. The standardized
psychoactive alkaloid extract obtained has a specific amount of total
psychoactive
alkaloid content. Further, the psychoactive alkaloid is made up of a
psychoactive
alkaloid with a controlled amount of dephosphorylation, and possibly other
psychoactive
alkaloids that are not dephosphorylatable.
[0117] In other embodiments, the standardization process occurs at the time of
preparation of the vaporizable composition, in FIG. 3. This is done by
selecting the
quantities of excipients and psychoactive component so that the final,
vaporizable
composition has the specified concentration of psychoactive alkaloids.
F. Preparation of composition
[0118] In some embodiments, referring to FIG. 3, the key steps of a process
for forming
a vaporizable psychoactive alkaloid composition are shown.
[0119] Step 44 involves mixing the carrier (i.e. alcohol, polyol, or both)
with the purified
psychoactive alkaloid extract and the antioxidant (if used) until the mixture
is
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homogenous. After this, the fatty acid and fatty alcohol are added to the
mixture in step
46, and mixed until homogenous. The fatty acid and fatty alcohol may be added
sequentially or together. This particular order of mixing helps with
homogenization; if
other mixing orders are used then layers might be formed. A person of skill in
the art will
appreciate that the mixing steps can be performed by any suitable methods,
which do
not cause any damage to the active pharmaceutical ingredients or the
excipients, as
known in the literature. Following this, in step 48, the flavoring agent (if
used) is added
to the mixture and mixed until homogenous.
[0120] Finally, the mixture is ready to be packaged and stored, in step 50. In
some
embodiments, the mixture is stored in glass jars or vials, between 4-30 C and
in
complete darkness.
G. Examples
[0121] In order to further illustrate the present invention, the following
specific examples
are given with the understanding that these examples are intended only to be
illustrations without serving as a limitation on the scope of the present
invention. All
parameters, dimensions, materials, quantities and configurations described
herein are
examples only and may be changed depending on the specific embodiment. The
process may be scaled up using larger quantities and modified apparatus.
[0122] Although the examples of the present invention have been formulated
specifically using Psilocybe cubensis as a source to obtain a psychoactive
alkaloid
extract, the extract comprising predominantly dephosphorylated psychoactive
alkaloid
(e.g. psilocin), other sources are possible. A person skilled in the art would
appreciate
that the Psilocybe cubensis can be readily substituted by other sources of
psychoactive
alkaloids to obtain a variety of psychoactive alkaloids having similar
properties, such
psilocybin, baeocystin, norbaeocystin, aeruginascin, psilocin, norpsilocin, 4-
hydroxytryptamine, N,N,N-trimethy1-4-hydroxytryptamine, or any combination
therefrom,
to name a few, to result in compositions with similar efficacy and efficiency
as well. For
example, mushrooms from the genus Conocybe, Copelandia, Galerina, Gymnopilus,
Inocybe, Panaeolus, Pholiotina, Pluteus, Psilocybe, or any combination
therefrom may
be used.
Example 1: Extraction process with promotion of dephosphorylation
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[0123] 2.5 kilograms of Psilocybe cubensis were dried in a forced air oven at
25 C for
hours to result in 140 grams of dried biomass. The dried biomass was then
pulverized to a size of 200 mesh with a hammer mill.
[0124] An acidified solvent, i.e. a pH-adjusted, hydro-ethanol mixture, was
prepared.
144 g of anhydrous citric acid was placed into a 5 L vessel with 1.25 L of
reverse
osmosis water, followed by the addition of 3.75 L of ethanol. The contents
were mixed
until completely dissolved. An acidified solvent with a pH of 2 was obtained.
[0125] The dried powdered biomass was placed into an agitated, heat-controlled
vessel
with 5 L of the acidified solvent and mixed for the extraction of psychoactive
alkaloid.
The extraction was controlled to a constant 75 C, and the duration of
extraction was 1
hour. The extraction slurry was then filtered. Filtration resulted in a
filtrate, i.e. the
psychoactive alkaloid liquid, and a filter residue. The filter residue was
placed back into
the extraction vessel and extracted with an additional 5 L of the acidified
solvent. The
temperature of extraction was again 75 C and the time was 1 hour. The
extraction
slurry was filtered. The filtrates from the first and second extraction were
mixed to form
10 L of mixed filtrate. The pH of the mixed filtrate was then increased with 5
M sodium
hydroxide until a pH of 4.5 was achieved. Immediately after adjusting the pH,
the mixed
filtrate was placed into a rotary evaporator at 50 C and 250 torr, and the
solvent was
partially evaporated to obtain a psychoactive alkaloid extract. Final stages
of
evaporation were performed using a freeze dryer, and then the psychoactive
alkaloid
extract was obtained. When dried to a powder, the psychoactive alkaloid
extract had a
total psychoactive alkaloid concentration of 0.86% by weight of the
psychoactive
alkaloid extract. Further, the desired amount of the phosphorylated
psychoactive
alkaloid obtained was 0.00% by weight of the total psychoactive alkaloid
content in the
psychoactive alkaloid extract. The desired amount of the dephosphorylated
psychoactive alkaloid obtained was 100% by weight of the total psychoactive
alkaloid
content in the psychoactive alkaloid extract.
Example 2.1: Purification with a non-ionic macroporous resin
[0126] The pH of the psychoactive alkaloid extract of example 1, in aqueous
form, was
adjusted to pH 4.0 (+1- 0.5) by adding 2 M phosphoric acid and centrifuged for
15
minutes at 3000g to remove any solid precipitate. The pH of 4 corresponds to
the
isoelectric point of psilocybin, and psilocin's polarity is such that it is
partitioned onto the
resin, thus allowing effective binding of the psychoactive alkaloids
psilocybin (if present,
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i.e. dephosphorylation is not used or is incomplete) and psilocin to the
macroporous
resin. Norbaeocystin and baeocystin are phosphorylated and if present would
behave in
the same way as psilocybin. The supernatant obtained was loaded onto a column
of
Amberlite XAD4, a non-ionic macroporous resin (50.34 g of dry resin) at a
flow rate of
2 bed volumes per hour, to allow components in the supernatant to be adsorbed
onto
the macroporous resin. After all 2.5 L of the extract was loaded onto the
column of
macroporous resin, the column was washed in a single pass with 5 bed volumes
of
reverse osmosis water at room temperature. This was followed by elution with 5
bed
volumes of 5% ethanol (by weight), again at room temperature. Finally, the
column was
washed in a single pass with 5 bed volumes of 100% ethanol. The elution was
performed at room temperature. Each of these three fractions was collected
separately.
The particular order for the washing steps and the elution was selected to be
in the
order of the polarity of the solvents. If the order were different, an
inferior result may
have ensued, such as a lower yield. The first fraction using reverse osmosis
water
removed the most polar compounds from the resin. The hydroethanol fraction
eluted
compounds of lesser polarity, and the 100% ethanol solvent removed the least
polar
compounds. Less polar solvents could also be used to elute less polar
compounds.
[0127] The 5% ethanol fraction (i.e. the purified psychoactive alkaloid
solution) was
then concentrated in a rotary evaporator to form 3.90 g of concentrated
aqueous slurry
at 30% solids, containing 195.1 mg of total alkaloids (e.g. psilocin and
possibly other
dephosphorylated psychoactive alkaloids). The result was a purified
psychoactive
alkaloid extract, in slurry form. Further, the desired amount of the
psychoactive alkaloid
obtained was 5.00% by weight of the slurry. Knowing this, it is possible to
replace the
solvent with an equivalent weight of excipients to provide a purified extract
with a
psychoactive alkaloid content of 5.00% dry weight. A greater or lesser amount
of
excipients will result, respectively, in a lower or higher psychoactive
alkaloid content.
[0128] A similar process may be used for purification of extracts that have
been
obtained without the dephosphorylation control.
Example 2.2: Purification with cation exchange and non-ionic macroporous
resins
[0129] The pH of the psychoactive alkaloid extract of example 1, in aqueous
form, was
adjusted to a pH of 3.0 (+1- 0.5) by adding 1M HCI. It was then mixed with 200
g of
Amberlite MAC-3 H, a strong cationic ion-exchange resin in its hydrogen form,
to result
in a filtrate-resin mixture, in which components of the psychoactive alkaloid
filtrate were
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adsorbed onto the cation exchange resin. Psilocin's polarity is such that it
is partitioned
onto the resin. The pH of 3 would also ensure that psilocybin, if present, was
in its
protonated form, and thus also adsorbed onto the cationic exchange resin
efficiently.
The filtrate-resin mixture was agitated for 4 hours at room temperature (21 C
¨ 25 C)
and then filtered. The filtrate was discarded, and the resin was rinsed with
2.0 L of
100% Et0H and then 2.0 L of H20 to remove any impurities. Finally, the
psilocin (and,
in other cases, psilocybin) fraction was eluted with 2.0 L of 2% HC1/80 /0
Et0H, for 4
hours at room temperature.
[0130] The eluted fraction was brought to a pH of 4.0 (i.e. the isoelectric
point of
psilocybin) by adding 2M NaOH. The filtrate was then centrifuged at 3000g to
remove
any solid precipitate. The resultant filtrate, in form of an aqueous solution,
was then
placed into a rotary evaporator and the solvent was removed until the aqueous
solution
reached a volume of 400 mL. The aqueous solution was then again centrifuged
for 15
minutes at 3000g to remove any solid precipitate. The supernatant was loaded
onto a
column of Amberlite XAD4 macroporous resin (45.53 g of dry resin) at a flow
rate of 2
bed volumes per hour. After all the 400 mL of the supernatant was loaded onto
the
column, it was initially washed with 5 bed volumes of reverse osmosis water,
followed
by elution with 5 bed volumes of 5% ethanol (by weight) and then washed with
100%
ethanol. Each of these fractions was collected separately. The 5% ethanol
fraction (i.e.
the purified psychoactive alkaloid solution) was concentrated in a rotary
evaporator to
form 258 mg of solution containing 175 mg of total psychoactive alkaloids
(i.e. psilocin
and other dephosphorylated psychoactive alkaloids). Thus, a purified
psychoactive
alkaloid extract, in slurry form, with a total alkaloid concentration of 68%
dry wt/wt% was
obtained.
[0131] A similar process may be used for purification of extracts that have
been
obtained without the dephosphorylation control.
Example 2.3: Purification with anion exchange and non-ionic macroporous resins
[0132] The pH of the psychoactive alkaloid extract of example 1, which was in
aqueous
form, was adjusted to 9.5 (+1- 0.5) by adding 1 M NaOH and then mixed with
150g of
Amberchrom 50WX8 strong anionic ion-exchange resin in its hydrogen form to
result in
a filtrate-resin mixture, in which components of the psychoactive alkaloid
filtrate were
adsorbed onto the anion exchange resin. The pH of 9.5 (+1- 0.5) ensured that
the
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psychoactive alkaloids (e.g. psilocin) were deprotonated and had a net
negative charge
for efficient adsorption onto the strong anion exchanger.
[0133] The filtrate-resin mixture was agitated for 4 hours and then filtered
out, and the
filtrate was discarded. The resin was rinsed with 2.0 L of 100% Et0H and then
2.0 L of
H20 to remove impurities. Finally, the psychoactive alkaloid fraction was
eluted with 2.0
L of 2% NaCl/80 /0 Et0H for 4 hours.
[0134] The eluted fraction was brought to a pH of 4.0 with the addition 2 M
HCI. The
extract was then centrifuged at 3000g to remove any solid precipitate. The
resultant
extract, in from of a solution, was then placed into a rotary evaporator and
the solvent
was removed to result in a volume of 400 mL.
[0135] The resultant 400 mL aqueous solution was centrifuged for 15 minutes at
3000g
to remove any solid precipitate. The supernatant was loaded onto a column of
Amberlite XAD4 macroporous resin (45.53 g of dry resin) at a flow rate of 2
bed
volumes per hour, to allow components of the supernatant to be adsorbed onto
the
macroporous resin. After all 400 mL of supernatant was loaded onto the column,
the
column was initially washed with 5 bed volumes of reverse osmosis water,
followed by
elution with 5 bed volumes of 5% ethanol (by weight) and then a final wash
with 100%
ethanol was performed. Each of these fractions was collected separately. The
5%
ethanol fraction (i.e. the purified psychoactive alkaloid solution) was
concentrated in a
rotary evaporator to form 325 mg of solution containing 175 mg of total
alkaloids (e.g.
psilocin and other dephosphorylated psychoactive alkaloids). A purified
psychoactive
alkaloid extract, in slurry form, with a concentration of 54% dry wt/wt% of
total alkaloids
was therefore obtained.
[0136] A similar process may be used for purification of extracts that have
been
obtained without the dephosphorylation control.
Example 3.1: First vaporizable composition
[0137] In this example, shown in TABLE 2, the psychoactive component is a 10%
extract, i.e. a purified, standardized extract in the powder form that has a
psychoactive
alkaloid concentration of 10% by weight. In particular, the phosphorylatable
alkaloids in
the extract were dephosphorylated during extraction. The total psychoactive
alkaloid
content in the 10 mg amount of extract used was 1.0 mg.
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Component Specific % g
added Ingredient
Psychoactive 10% extract 2 0.010
component
Carrier Propylene glycol 65 0.325
Fatty acid Oleic acid 20 0.100
Fatty alcohol 2-Ethyl hexanol 10 0.050
Antioxidant Alpha tocopherol 1 0.005
Flavoring menthol 2 0.010
Total = Total =
100 0.500
TABLE 2
Example 3.2: Second vaporizable composition
[0138] In this example, shown in TABLE 3, the psychoactive component is a 30%
extract, i.e. a purified, powdered extract that has a psychoactive alkaloid
concentration
of 30% by weight. In particular, the phosphorylatable alkaloids in the extract
were
dephosphorylated during extraction. The total psychoactive alkaloid content in
the
composition is 1.02 mg.
Component Specific % g
added Ingredient
Psychoactive 30% extract 0.68 0.0034
component
Carrier Ethanol 15 0.075
Fatty acid Linolenic acid 62 0.310
Fatty alcohol Cetyl alcohol 20 0.100
Antioxidant Ascorbic acid 1 0.005
Flavoring menthol 1.32 0.0066
Total Total =
= 100 0.500
TABLE 3
H. Apparatus
[0139] FIG. 4 depicts an apparatus used for obtaining a psychoactive alkaloid
extract
and forming a vaporizable composition. In one example, raw Psilocybe cubensis
mushrooms are added to a hopper 100 and then released in batches into
container 102.
The raw fungal material is then dried in a forced air oven 104 to result in
the dried
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biomass. The dried biomass is placed into a grinder 106 for grinding to result
in dried
powdered biomass.
[0140] The dried powdered biomass is then placed into a heat-controlled vessel
110
and acidified solvent (S) added to the heat-controlled vessel to obtain a
specific pH (e.g.
lower than 3.5). The vessel 110 is surrounded by an insulating wall 108.
Alternately, an
insulating jacket may be wrapped around the vessel. The insulating wall 108 or
jacket
helps to maintain the contents 112 under a constant temperature (T) between 5
¨ 95 C.
The applied pressure (P) inside the extraction vessel 110 may be regulated
from 50kPa
to 140MPa (7 to 20,000 psi). The extraction may be performed with a solvent to
solid
(dried powdered biomass) proportion in the range of 1L:1kg to 50L:1kg.
[0141] After the extraction, the bottom of the extraction vessel 110 may be
opened at
outlet 114 and the extraction slurry collected in a container 120. The
extraction slurry is
then fed into a filter 122 and a first filtrate collected in container 124.
The first filtrate
residue 130 may then be fed back (R) into the agitated, heat-controlled vessel
110 and
more solvent (S) added for a second extraction. After the second extraction,
the
extraction slurry may be collected in the container 120 and then fed into a
filter 132.
After filtration, the obtained second filtrate is collected in container 136.
[0142] After the two filtration stages, the filtrates are mixed in container
140 to obtain a
mixed filtrate i.e. the psychoactive alkaloid liquid. In other embodiments, if
there is only
a single filtration step, this mixing step is not required. By adding a base
to container
140, the pH of the psychoactive alkaloid liquid may be brought to a pH ranging
from 3.5-
4.5.
[0143] The pH-adjusted, mixed filtrate is then placed in a rotary evaporator
142 and
part of the solvent evaporated from the mixed filtrate to form the
psychoactive alkaloid
extract, which is here a slurry.
[0144] The resultant slurry is then transferred to a container 144 where a
measured
quantity of one or more excipients is added to obtain a standardized
psychoactive
alkaloid composition in slurry form. The obtained standardized slurry may then
be then
dried to obtain the standardized psychoactive alkaloid composition.
[0145] In another example, a purified, standardized psychoactive composition
may be
obtained. The resultant slurry from the rotary evaporator 142 is transferred
to the
container 144, where the pH of the extract may be adjusted, followed by
centrifugation
146 to remove the solid precipitates.
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[0146] The resultant supernatant is loaded onto a column 150 of resin. An
initial wash
is given to the column with a solvent to remove impurities from the resin, and
fraction
154 is collected. A second wash is given to the column with another solvent to
elute the
psychoactive alkaloids from the column and result in fraction 156. A final
wash is given
to the column with another solvent to wash any impurities from the column, to
prepare
the column for use again, and the fraction 158 is obtained. The elution
fraction 156 with
the psychoactive alkaloids is then concentrated in a rotary evaporator 160 to
result in
the purified psychoactive alkaloid solution. The solvent from the purified
psychoactive
alkaloid solution is then completely or partially evaporated to result in the
purified
psychoactive alkaloid extract 164. This extract may then be standardized by
adding a
measured amount of excipient to it and mixing, in container 166. If necessary,
the
mixture may then be dried.
[0147] The standardized, purified psychoactive composition 166 or the
standardized
psychoactive composition obtained in container 144 may then be mixed with an
alcohol
carrier and other excipients in container 166 or 144 to form the psychoactive
vaporizable composition. The vaporizable psychoactive composition may then be
stored
in a vial 168, for example.
[0148] In other examples, parts of the apparatus may be reused or duplicated.
For
example, if desired, the elution fraction 156 may be reloaded into the
container 144 for
pH adjustment and the steps from thereon can be repeated to allow for further
purification of the obtained purified psychoactive alkaloid solution.
I. Conclusion
[0149] Throughout the description, specific details have been set forth in
order to
provide a more thorough understanding of the invention. However, the invention
may be
practiced without these particulars. In other instances, well known elements
have not
been shown or described in detail and repetitions of steps and features have
been
omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the invention. Accordingly, the
specification
and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative, rather than a restrictive,
sense.
[0150] It will be clear to one having skill in the art that further variations
to the specific
details disclosed herein can be made, resulting in other embodiments that are
within the
scope of the invention disclosed. Steps in the flowchart may be performed in a
different
order, other steps may be added, or one or more may be removed without
altering the
main outcome of the processes. In some embodiments, the extract may be
replaced
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with a synthetic psychoactive alkaloid source or composition. The process may
be
scaled up using larger quantities and a modified apparatus.
[0151] All parameters, dimensions, materials, quantities and configurations
described
herein are examples only and may be changed depending on the specific
embodiment.
Numbers are given to the nearest significant figure, or to 10%, whichever is
the greater.
Temperatures that have been given to the nearest degree include all
temperatures
within a range of 0.5 C of the given value. Integer values of pH are
understood to be
specified to 0.5 or, when expressed as a decimal, to the nearest significant
digit,
unless specifically indicated otherwise.
[0152] Any of the solvents described herein may be used with any of the
organisms
that have psychoactive alkaloids.
[0153] As will be understood by one skilled in the art, for any and all
purposes, such as
in terms of providing a written description, all ranges disclosed herein also
encompass
any and all possible subranges and combinations of subranges thereof. Any
listed
range can be easily recognized as sufficiently describing and enabling the
same range
being broken down into at least equal halves, thirds, quarters, fifths,
tenths, etc. As a
non-limiting example, each range discussed herein can be readily broken down
into a
lower third, middle third and upper third, etc. For example, if a range is
given as m-q,
then the ranges m-n, n-p and p-q are included each as a separate embodiment,
where
n and p are any values that satisfy m<n<p<q.
[0154] In some embodiments, as the ranges become narrower and more central
compared to the greatest range, the properties of the embodiments generally
become
more balanced, such properties being solubility, viscosity, flowability,
stability, potency,
immediate potency, delayed potency, cost of production, efficiency of
production,
production time, compatibility of the psychoactive alkaloid composition,
psychoactive
efficacy of the psychoactive alkaloid extract, psychoactive efficacy of the
psychoactive
alkaloid composition, vaporability and so on. As the ranges become narrower
towards
one extreme or other of the widest range, a particular property of the
composition or
process generally becomes more pronounced relative to the other properties.
The
specific range is to be chosen depending on how the properties are to be
traded off
against each other. As will also be understood by one skilled in the art, all
language
such as "up to," and the like include the number recited, and any tolerance
explicitly or
implicitly associated with it, and refer to ranges which can be subsequently
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down into subranges as discussed above. Finally, as will be understood by one
skilled
in the art, a range includes each individual member.
[0155] Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be construed in
accordance with the
substance defined by the claims.
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