Norpsilocin has shown psilocin-related peripheral effects in animals, including decreased spinal reflexes such as knee jerk response (opposite effect to psilocin), antiserotonergic activity (14% of that of psilocin), and pressor activity (70% of that of psilocin).[6][7] Surprisingly however, in spite of its serotonin 5-HT2A receptor agonism and psilocin-like effects, norpsilocin failed to induce the head-twitch response, a behavioral proxy of psychedelic effects, in animals.[5] Likewise, norbaeocystin and aeruginascin failed to induce the head-twitch response.[5] Only psilocybin was effective in this regard.[5] In any case, norbaeocystin showed antidepressant-like activity (forced swim test) similarly to psilocybin and fluoxetine in spite of its putative non-hallucinogenic nature.[5] Norpsilocin itself was not tested in this assay.[5]
Norpsilocin is being evaluated under the developmental code name PLZ-1017 for the possible treatment of pervasive developmental disorders in children.[8]
^Sherwood AM, Halberstadt AL, Klein AK, McCorvy JD, Kaylo KW, Kargbo RB, Meisenheimer P (February 2020). "Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Tryptamines Found in Hallucinogenic Mushrooms: Norbaeocystin, Baeocystin, Norpsilocin, and Aeruginascin". Journal of Natural Products. 83 (2): 461–467. doi:10.1021/acs.jnatprod.9b01061. PMID32077284.
^Keeper of the Trout and Friends (2007). "4-Hydroxy-MMT". Some Simple Tryptamines (2 ed.). Austin, Texas: Mydriatric Productions. p. 56. ASINB0041OLXM0. ISBN978-0977087655. OCLC948674100. 4-Hydroxy-MMT [...] Activity: Ott 1996 notes Cerletti 1968 reported psychotropic effects in animals. In comparison to psilocin, Cerletti et al. 1968 determined that 4-Hydroxy-N-methyltryptamine decreased spinal reflexes such as knee jerk response (instead of increasing it as psilocin does), had 14% as much antagonism of serotonin as psilocin, and showed 70% as much pressor activity. [...] In comparison to psilocin, Cerletti et al. 1968 determined it had increased spinal reflexes, such as knee jerk response, had around 11% as much antagonism of serotonin activity, and showed as much pressor activity as psilocin.) [...] Cerletti, A. et al. (1968) Advances in Pharmacology 6B: 233-246. "Pharmacologic Studies on the Structure-Activity Relationship of Hydroxyindole Alkylamines." (A. Cerletti, M. Taeschler & H. Weidmann) [...] Ott, Jonathan (1996) Pharmacotheon. Entheogenic Drugs, their Plant Sources and History. Second Edition Densified. Natural Products Co., Kennewick, WA 639 pp. ISBN 0-9614234-8-x (Hardcover)/ 0-9614234-9-8 (paperback)
^Cerletti A, Taeschler M, Weidmann H (1968). "Pharmacologic studies on the structure-activity relationship of hydroxyindole alkylamines". Adv Pharmacol (1962). 6 (Pt B): 233–246. doi:10.1016/s1054-3589(08)60322-1. PMID5658327. TABLE III: INFLUENCE OF SUBSTITUTION IN POSITION 3 OF INDOLE AND 4-HYDROXYINDOLE: [...] Substituent: R3: CH2—CH2—N(—H,—CH3). R4: OH. [(Norpsilocin/4-HO-NMT).] Knee Jerk: ↓ 20–50 [μg/kg i.v.]. Serotonin antagonism: 14[% of psilocin]. Pressure activity: [+]35 [mm Hg]. [...]
