Research on Psychoactive Cacti and Fungi to be Conducted in Asia for Treatment of Mental Ailments

New Psychedelic Research Institute to Study Alkaloids in Cacti and Psilocybin Mushrooms and Develop Consumer and Medicinal Products

Toronto-based Nutritional High International Inc. announced its intent to acquire Kruzo LLC (Kruzo), a subsidiary of Psychedelic Science Corp (PSC). Kruzo has entered into an agreement with Rangsit University (RSU) to develop a cacti-based water beverage, and conduct research on psychoactive cacti and mushrooms.

Kruzo and RSU’s Royal Herbal Co. Ltd will establish the Psychedelic Research Institute in Asia. The Institute will conduct efficacy studies and trials of alkaloids in cacti for treatment of mental ailments including anxiety, depression and addiction, as well as appetite suppression. As psilocybin mushrooms become more progressively legalized, the Institute, in collaboration with PSC, will engage in the research and development of psilocybin-based products targeted towards the same treatments. This cements a significant milestone in PSC’s strategy for psychedelic research and global product development.

John Durfy, CEO of Nutritional High, commented, “Entering into this agreement completes an important milestone in our overall strategy to capitalize on opportunities in the psychedelics space. The establishment of the Institute will serve as our beachhead into this space and a platform to develop high-margin consumer and medicinal products.

Tom Kruesopon, Director at Nutritional High and co-founder of Kruzo, commented, “This is a culmination of a lot of hard work with CBD, herbal medicine and now psychedelics being on the forefront to address a broad range of consumer health and wellness goals. I am proud to be a key facilitator in the establishment of this first ever Psychedelic Research Institute in Asia. This is just the start, and it will be exciting to see where this leads us in the coming years. This is a pivotal step in unlocking the wonders of plant-based medicine.”

Photo: Nathan Dumlao

The goal of the Institute will be to research the efficacy of various psychedelic components found naturally in psychoactive plants such as cacti, mushrooms, and others. In addition, the Institute will investigate the efficacy of various non-psychoactive components found in such plants. Kruzo and RSU will look to develop commercially viable consumer and medicinal products targeting the health and wellness markets.

All research and development will be done in compliance with ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) GMP standards. The Institute seeks to establish a cultivation facility with a view towards the production of cacti for the purpose of extracting mescaline, hordenine, and other alkaloids, and mushrooms for the purpose of extracting psilocybin.

Furthermore, the Institute will develop a commercially viable water-based functional beverage with non-psychoactive cacti as the active ingredient. Functions of the cacti beverage will include appetite suppression and mild pleasure or euphoria. RSU will be responsible for sourcing raw plant material, plant extraction processes, beverage formulation, product testing, and the development of the beverage.

Commercialization of the beverage is not expected to require FDA or Health Canada approval in the non-psychedelic version; future psychedelic versions will require approval.

Read the original release here.

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