A genetically modified plant capable of producing five psychedelic compounds with therapeutic potential for psychiatric disorders could transform the future of mental health treatments. The discovery, led by researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel, was published in the journal Science Advances and marks a new frontier in the development of medicines for conditions such as treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and substance dependence.

For the first time, scientists have succeeded in combining within a single plant substances that naturally occur separately in plants, fungi, and even animals. Using genetic engineering, the team transformed the species Nicotiana benthamiana into a true “biofactory” capable of producing DMT, psilocybin, psilocin, bufotenin, and 5-MeO-DMT — compounds widely studied for their potential in treating........

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