LSD can only be synthesized, and while I have no interest in learning how it’s made I can’t find a source that can tell me why it can’t occur on Earth without human intervention
In: Chemistry
>LSD can only be synthesized
That’s not true. Ergot fungus produces a chemical called ergoline, which is what LSD is produced from. The process to convert ergoline to LSD can, and probably does occur within ergot. The reason that ergot fungus does not contain detectible amounts of LSD is because LSD is not a stable molecule.
LSD breaks down on its own under the conditions that are present inside of cells. It is one of the few drugs that does that – most require an enzyme to break them down, but LSD does not.
LSD rapidly degrades in tap water, sunlight, air, and a variety of other seemingly innocuous things. LSD blotters, gelatins, or drops all preserve the LSD by keeping it in a solution that is specifically designed to preserve it.
Any LSD that is produced in ergot survives for such a brief period of time that it never builds up to detectible levels. LSD is only able to survive in your body if you absorb it through your gums, and even then only because that allows it to be absorbed directly by your brain. Once in your brain, LSD has a unique interaction with its target receptor that helps to stabilize the LSD molecule so long as it remains in your brain.
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