The recently released  World’s Top 2% Scientists List by Stanford University recognizes researchers making world class contributions in their respective fields.

Among them was Dr Marieka Gryzenhout (pictured above), senior lecturer in the Department of Genetics at the University of the Free State, who's work in the field of Mycology & Parasitology, was acclaimed.

Dr Gryzenhout, who describes herself as passionate about mushrooms and other fungi is author of the Pocket Guide to Mushrooms of South Africa, of which a new version with 10 more species hast been published that includes these magic mushrooms. 

She has also co-published the Field guide to mushrooms & other fungi of South Africa. 

Currently she is working on the first-ever formal study on magic mushrooms in South Africa.

“Never has there been a study published identifying these species, including the local species Psilocybe natalensis, and where they are to be found in South Africa,” she says.

According to the University of the Free State, her study group is helping amateur mycologists to verify identities of the various psychedelic mushroom species, and others found throughout the country, and to build the biodiversity knowledge regarding magic mushrooms for South Africa, based on scientific evidence. 

She believes that in the future these fungi will be further characterised to study the compounds they produce for possible pharmacological use. 

She is also very excited about the help they received from a large network of enthusiastic amateur mycologists across South Africa, who provided them with their first samples to typify. “In the process, two possible new species have already been discovered that awaits description. We learn what these fungi look like, what their unique DNA sequence is, and we name the new ones,” she says.

Dr Gryzenhout and her co-workers decided to study magic mushrooms because of their potential to treat neurological disorders and other health problems. Potential uses are for conditions such as depression, addictions therapy and migraine treatment. 

They also believe that the effects they produce in the brain have tremendous probability to treat psychological disorders and other physiological problems.

She says her inclusion on the Stanford Top 2% list was a ‘surprise because there are truly prolific and renowned researchers out there with impressive publication records and impactful research”.

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