muscimol

Muscimol is a naturally occurring psychoactive compound found in mushrooms of the genus Amanita, notably *Amanita muscaria*. It is a potent and selective orthosteric agonist for the Gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptor (GABA-A receptor), mimicking the action of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), the principal inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. Muscimol binds to the same site on GABA-A receptors as GABA itself and also acts as a partial agonist at Gamma-aminobutyric acid type C receptor (GABA-C receptor, now known as GABA-A-rho receptor). Its pharmacological effects include sedative-hypnotic, depressant, hallucinogenic, neuroprotective, anti-nociceptive, and anti-epileptic activity. Muscimol has been investigated in clinical trials for epilepsy and Parkinson's disease but is not approved for any medical use. It is considered investigational and has been used recreationally for its psychoactive properties[1][2][3][6].

Other names

5-(aminomethyl)-3(2H)-isoxazolonemuscimol hydrobromide