John Miller
Mushrooms have been consumed by humans since prehistory, and they are a recognised component of the human diet. They contain functional food properties like antioxidants and provide beneficial health-promoting properties. However, out of the approximately 100,000 species of mushrooms in the world, more than 100 species are poisonous to humans. Eating poisonous wild mushrooms can cause symptoms ranging from mild, such as an upset stomach, to more serious ones, including organ failure and death. Poisonous mushrooms contain toxic chemicals known as mycotoxins, such as cycloprop-2-ene carboxylic acid, which is found in the Asian toxic mushroom Russula subnigricans. These toxic chemicals cannot be destroyed by cooking methods such as peeling, soaking in saltwater, or boiling.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of poisonous mushroom species | 100+ out of 100,000 total species |
| Types of toxins | Mycotoxins, muscimol, ibotenic acid, muscarine, coprine, gyromitrin, illudins, psilocybin, psilocin |
| Effects of poisoning | Hallucinations, anxiety, panic, paranoia, gastrointestinal upset, liver failure, kidney failure, anemia, seizures, death |
| Preventative measures | Sourcing mushrooms from a reliable supplier, foraging with a qualified expert, public education |
| Treatment | Supportive care, activated charcoal, rehydration, antiemetics, supplemental pyridoxine |
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What You'll Learn
- Hallucinogenic mushrooms can cause neurotoxic effects like hallucinations and agitation
- Some mushrooms contain mycotoxins, poisonous chemicals that deter predators
- Mushroom poisoning can cause severe gastrointestinal upset
- Some mushrooms can cause seizures due to the presence of gyromitrin
- The active ingredients in magic mushrooms are chemicals called psilocybin and psilocin
Hallucinogenic mushrooms can cause neurotoxic effects like hallucinations and agitation
Mushrooms have been consumed by humans since prehistory and are a recognised component of the human diet. They contain functional food properties like antioxidants and can provide beneficial health-promoting properties. However, some species are dangerous because they contain toxic chemicals that can cause serious harm to humans.
Hallucinogenic mushrooms, also known as magic mushrooms, contain the hallucinogenic chemical psilocybin. Eating these mushrooms can lead to a range of effects, from euphoria and sensory distortion to disturbing hallucinations, anxiety, and panic. While the risk of addiction is low, psilocybin is a Schedule I substance, meaning it has a high potential for abuse and serves no legitimate medical purpose.
The hallucinogenic effects of psilocybin occur when it binds to and activates serotonin receptors in parts of the brain such as the prefrontal cortex and amygdala, which affect mood, cognition, and perception. Hallucinations caused by psilocybin can be visual or auditory, and they may distort how a person perceives objects and people in their environment. The quantity of psilocybin consumed, a person's past experiences, and their expectations can all influence their reaction to the drug.
In addition to psilocybin, some hallucinogenic mushrooms contain other toxins such as muscimol and ibotenic acid, which are associated with the Amanita muscaria ("Alice in Wonderland" mushroom) and related species. While fatalities from these mushrooms are rare, they can cause neurotoxic effects like hallucinations and agitation, and severe cases can lead to paranoid psychosis.
It is important to note that mushroom poisoning can occur due to the misidentification of poisonous species as edible ones. Accurate recognition of mushrooms is crucial to avoid toxicity and enable successful treatment. Public education and careful experimental and clinical investigations are essential to enhance knowledge about mushroom toxins and their effects.
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Some mushrooms contain mycotoxins, poisonous chemicals that deter predators
Mushrooms have been consumed by humans since prehistory and are a recognised component of the human diet. They contain various functional food properties like antioxidants and can provide beneficial health-promoting properties. However, some species of mushrooms are toxic and dangerous to humans. Of the approximately 100,000 species of mushrooms in the world, more than 100 species are poisonous. Eating poisonous wild mushrooms can result in mild symptoms like an upset stomach, to much more serious ones including organ failure and death.
Mushroom poisoning is often caused by the misidentification of a poisonous species as edible. For example, foragers looking for morel (Morchella esculenta) may mistakenly consume Gyromitra, which contains the toxin gyromitrin. Toxicity from gyromitrin stems from a metabolite, monomethylhydrazine, that leads to pyridoxine (B6) and ultimately GABA depletion. Other mushrooms that contain toxins include Chlorophyllum molybdites, which causes acute gastroenteritis, and Omphalotus spp., commonly known as "Jack-o-lantern mushrooms", which contain toxins known as illudins.
Some mushrooms contain hallucinogenic toxins, such as psilocybin and muscimol. Psilocybin is a Schedule I substance, meaning that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) believes it has a high potential for abuse and serves no legitimate medical purpose. However, current research does not consider psilocybin addictive, and out of 9233 magic mushroom users, only 19 (0.2%) reported having sought emergency medical treatment in the past year.
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Mushroom poisoning can cause severe gastrointestinal upset
Mushrooms are a recognised component of the human diet, with versatile medicinal properties. However, some species are toxic and can cause mushroom poisoning. Mushroom poisoning can occur due to misidentification of a poisonous species as edible, or through accidental ingestion. It is important to note that cooking methods do not eliminate the toxic chemicals in poisonous mushrooms.
Amanita pantherina, also known as "Alice in Wonderland" mushrooms, has been associated with severe gastrointestinal upset due to the presence of hallucinogens like ibotenic acid and muscimol. Another cause of significant toxicity is Omphalotus spp., commonly known as "Jack-o-lantern" mushrooms, which can be mistaken for chanterelles due to their similar appearance and growth patterns. These mushrooms contain illudins, toxins that cause gastrointestinal symptoms.
In addition to gastrointestinal issues, mushroom poisoning can lead to liver failure, seizures, renal failure, and even death in rare cases. Some mushrooms, such as Gyromitra species, contain the toxin gyromitrin, which can cause diarrhoea, vomiting, fatigue, and more severe complications like hemolysis and hepatic disease. It is crucial to seek medical attention immediately if mushroom poisoning is suspected, and public education plays a vital role in prevention.
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Some mushrooms can cause seizures due to the presence of gyromitrin
Mushrooms have been consumed by humans since prehistory, but they can also be toxic and even implicated in the deaths of historical figures like the Roman Emperor Claudius. Poisoning can occur due to misidentification or intentional ingestion. While some mushrooms are mildly toxic, others can cause severe toxicity and even death.
Gyromitra, Paxina, and Cyathipodia micropus species of mushrooms contain the toxin gyromitrin, which can cause seizures. Foragers looking for morel (Morchella esculenta) may mistakenly consume Gyromitra, which has the common name 'false morel'. Gyromitrin is a hydrazone that quickly breaks down into N, N methyl formyl hydrazine (MFH) when heated or exposed to stomach acid. This process releases acetaldehyde, leading to toxicity.
The metabolites of gyromitrin competitively inhibit pyridoxal phosphate and lower GABA levels, resulting in a lower seizure threshold. GABA, or gamma-aminobutyric acid, is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain, and its deficiency can lead to seizures. The toxin can also cause hepatic necrosis and is carcinogenic.
Symptoms of gyromitrin poisoning typically develop within 6-8 hours and sometimes up to 24 hours. They include vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain, hypoglycemia, and neurological symptoms such as coma, headache, ataxia, delirium, and seizures. Treatment includes activated charcoal if administered within 60 minutes of ingestion, and pyridoxine to prevent or minimize the recurrence of seizures.
While Gyromitra esculenta poisoning is not a significant issue in Western Europe, it is a concern in Central and Eastern Europe, where these mushrooms are commonly sold in markets and occasionally exported. Consuming these mushrooms is always risky due to the variable concentration of the toxin in each mushroom, and the potential for cumulative poisoning.
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The active ingredients in magic mushrooms are chemicals called psilocybin and psilocin
Mushrooms are a recognised component of the human diet, with versatile medicinal properties. They are a significant food source and an integral part of the local culture for many rural populations. However, out of the approximately 100,000 species of mushrooms in the world, more than 100 species are poisonous to humans. Eating poisonous wild mushrooms can result in mild symptoms like an upset stomach or much more severe symptoms, including organ failure and death.
Some mushrooms contain compounds of lower toxicity and are not severely poisonous. The active ingredients in magic mushrooms are chemicals called psilocybin and psilocin. Psilocybin is a hallucinogenic chemical found in certain mushrooms, known as magic mushrooms. Eating mushrooms that contain psilocybin can lead to a range of effects, from euphoria to hallucinations and sensory distortion. It is a Schedule I substance, meaning the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) believes it has a high potential for abuse and serves no legitimate medical purpose. However, current research does not consider psilocybin addictive.
Psilocybin works by binding to and activating serotonin receptors in parts of the brain, such as the prefrontal cortex and amygdala, which affect mood, cognition, and perception. The hallucinogenic effects of psilocybin usually occur within 30 minutes of ingestion and last between four and six hours. The quantity of the drug consumed, the user's past experiences, and their expectations of the experience will all affect their reaction to psilocybin.
While magic mushroom ingestion is relatively safe, adverse side effects can occur and may be mild or moderate, resolving with time. However, some people may require medical treatment. Hallucinogenic drugs can cause unpredictable and potentially dangerous behaviour, leading to injuries. Magic mushrooms have a low risk of addiction, but poisoning is possible if the wrong types of mushrooms are picked. Psilocybin mushrooms are often grown and abused for recreational purposes but may also grow naturally in warm, moist climates.
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Frequently asked questions
No, out of the approximately 100,000 species of mushrooms in the world, more than 100 species are poisonous to humans.
The symptoms of mushroom poisoning range from mild symptoms like an upset stomach to more serious ones including organ failure and death. The symptoms of poisoning can manifest within 1-3 hours of ingestion and may include nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramping, diarrhoea, delirium, muscle cramps, loss of coordination, tremors, seizures, and/or hallucinations.
Examples of toxic mushrooms include the death cap, yellow-staining mushrooms, Chlorophyllum molybdites, Gyromitra, Paxina, Cyathipodia micropus, and the Asian toxic mushroom Russula subnigricans.
Toxic chemicals found in mushrooms include muscimol, ibotenic acid, cycloprop-2-ene carboxylic acid, gyromitrin, and coprine.
