Emily Johnson
Hydrazine is a naturally occurring toxin found in certain mushrooms. It is a chemical carcinogen that can cause tumours in the digestive tract, liver, and lungs. While the toxic effects of hydrazine are typically only seen when large quantities are ingested, it is important to cook mushrooms thoroughly before consumption to avoid any potential side effects. Mushrooms known to contain hydrazine include the wild false morel, Gyromitra esculenta, and the commonly cultivated Agaricus bisporus, also known as the button mushroom.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Mushrooms containing hydrazine | Portobello mushrooms, Agaricus bisporus, Gyromitra esculenta, Agaricus blazei Murrill, Agaricus subrufescens, morel mushrooms |
| Hydrazine derivatives | Agaritine, Gyromitrin, Monomethylhydrazine, Methylformylhydrazone, N-methyl-N-formylhydrazine, 4-hydroxymethylphenylhydrazine, N′-acetyl-4-(hydroxymethyl)phenylhydrazine, beta-N-[gamma-L(+)-glutamyl]-4-hydroxymethylphenylhydrazine, 4-hydroxymethylbenzene diazonium ion, 4-hydrazinobenzoic acid |
| Hydrazine effects | Toxicity, carcinogenicity, gastrointestinal distress, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, cramping, central nervous system effects (e.g. headaches, dizziness, confusion, seizures), liver and kidney damage, respiratory distress, cardiovascular effects (e.g. chest pain, irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure) |
| Hydrazine biosynthesis | Requires specific hydrazine-synthesizing enzymes, such as cytochrome P450-dependent mixed-function oxidases and flavin monooxygenases |
| Hydrazine toxicity prevention | Cooking mushrooms thoroughly destroys the toxin |
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What You'll Learn
- Hydrazine is a toxic chemical found in morel mushrooms
- Agaritine is a hydrazine derivative found in Agaricus mushrooms
- Hydrazine can cause gastrointestinal distress, nausea, and vomiting
- Hydrazine is a carcinogen, causing tumours in animal studies
- Hydrazine is created through the breakdown of the chemical compound gyromitrin
Hydrazine is a toxic chemical found in morel mushrooms
Hydrazine is a toxic chemical that occurs naturally in morel mushrooms. It is a mycotoxin, which means it can be harmful to humans if consumed in large quantities. While the toxin is destroyed by cooking, consuming raw or undercooked morel mushrooms can be risky as they contain small amounts of hydrazine, which can cause gastrointestinal distress, including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Hydrazine has also been linked to other serious health issues. It can affect the central nervous system, leading to symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, confusion, and seizures. In addition, hydrazine can cause liver and kidney damage, respiratory distress, and cardiovascular problems, including chest pain, irregular heartbeat, and high blood pressure.
The toxic effects of hydrazine in morel mushrooms have been documented in several cases. In one instance, an outbreak in Bozeman, Montana, resulted in at least 30 people falling sick and two deaths, which were linked to the consumption of raw or undercooked morel mushrooms.
Hydrazine is not just found in morel mushrooms but also in other mushroom varieties. For example, it has been detected in portobello mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus), where it is present as agaritine, a natural mycotoxin. Agaritine is derived from L-phenylalanine and is produced through specific biosynthetic pathways involving hydrazine-synthesizing enzymes. While agaritine is recognized as an experimental carcinogen in high laboratory doses, there is insufficient evidence to classify it as carcinogenic to humans when consumed in typical amounts found in mushrooms.
The presence of hydrazine and its derivatives in mushrooms is a fascinating yet concerning aspect of these fungi. While most people who consume undercooked or raw morels may not experience any significant side effects, it is crucial to be aware of the potential risks associated with hydrazine toxicity and to ensure that morel mushrooms are always thoroughly cooked before consumption.
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Agaritine is a hydrazine derivative found in Agaricus mushrooms
Mushrooms are known to contain compounds related to hydrazine. Hydrazine is a colourless liquid with a highly pungent odour that is used as a rocket fuel component, polymerisation catalyst, and agricultural chemical, among other uses.
Agaritine is an α-amino acid and a derivative of phenylhydrazine. It can be extracted from cultivated Agaricus bisporus mushrooms with water or methanol. Total industrial syntheses of agaritine have been completed with a yield of up to 83%.
While agaritine has been recognised as an experimental carcinogen when used in high laboratory doses, there is inadequate evidence to classify it as carcinogenic to humans in the amounts ingested from consuming mushrooms. However, studies have shown that the methanol extract of fresh Agaricus bisporus mushrooms and synthesized agaritine are significantly carcinogenic to the mouse bladder epithelium. Heating mushrooms containing agaritine before consumption may contribute to the prevention of any potential agaritine hazard.
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Hydrazine can cause gastrointestinal distress, nausea, and vomiting
Consuming raw or undercooked morel mushrooms can be dangerous as they contain hydrazine, a naturally occurring toxin. While hydrazine toxicity is rare and typically only occurs when large quantities are ingested, it can cause gastrointestinal distress, nausea, and vomiting if consumed in sufficient quantities.
Hydrazine is produced in the body when Gyromitrin, a chemical compound found in mushrooms, mixes with stomach acid. This reaction can also occur when the mushroom is heated. The most common edible mushrooms that contain hydrazine are the wild false morel and the cultivated Agaricus bisporus, also known as the button mushroom. Agaricus bisporus is cultivated in over 70 countries and is of socio-economic importance in developed countries.
The highest amount of hydrazine in Agaricus bisporus is found in the cap and gills of the fruiting body, with concentrations as high as 1.7 mg/g in raw mushrooms. The average agaritine content in raw Agaricus bisporus is 0.088%, ranging from 0.033% to 0.173%.
It is important to note that the toxin is destroyed by cooking, so to avoid hydrazine poisoning, it is crucial to always cook morel mushrooms thoroughly before consumption.
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Hydrazine is a carcinogen, causing tumours in animal studies
Mushrooms of the Agaricus genus contain agaritine, an aromatic hydrazine-derivative mycotoxin. Agaricus bisporus, also known as the common button mushroom, is cultivated in over 70 countries and is of significant socioeconomic importance.
Hydrazine is a known carcinogen, causing tumours in animal studies. In one study, methylhydrazine was administered orally to hamsters, resulting in a significant incidence of malignant histiocytomas in their livers. Similarly, oral administration of the N'-acetyl derivative of 4-hydroxymethylphenylhydrazine to mice resulted in lung and liver tumours. These compounds also produced tumours in various other tissues, including benign hepatomas, angiomas, angiosarcomas, and adenomas.
The wild false morel Gyromitra esculenta, an edible mushroom, contains up to 0.3% acetaldehyde methylformylhydrazone and N-methyl-N-formylhydrazine (MFH). Under certain conditions, MFH can yield methylhydrazine. Another commonly consumed mushroom, Agaricus bisporus, contains up to 0.04% beta-N-[gamma-L(+)-glutamyl]-4-hydroxymethylphenylhydrazine and 4-hydroxymethylphenylhydrazine.
While agaritine has been recognised as an experimental carcinogen in high laboratory doses, there is insufficient evidence to conclusively classify it as carcinogenic to humans when consumed in typical amounts found in mushrooms. However, the potential toxicities of agaritine, including carcinogenicity concerns, underscore the critical importance of ensuring safety during its production and handling.
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Hydrazine is created through the breakdown of the chemical compound gyromitrin
Hydrazine is a toxic chemical compound found in mushrooms. It is created through the breakdown of the chemical compound gyromitrin, which is found in mushrooms such as the wild false morel Gyromitra esculenta, also known as "false morels". Gyromitrin is a volatile, water-soluble compound that can be broken down into monomethylhydrazine (MMH) through hydrolysis. MMH is highly toxic to humans, with an estimated median lethal dose (LD50) of 4.8-8 mg/kg in adults.
The toxicity of Gyromitra mushrooms was first described in 1885 by Böhm and Külz, who attributed it to helvellic acid, an oily substance. However, the specific toxic constituent was not identified until 1968 when German scientists List and Luft isolated N-methyl-N-formylhydrazone and named it gyromitrin. Gyromitrin content can vary greatly even within the same species of mushroom, with factors such as altitude and location influencing its concentration. For example, G. esculenta collected from Europe has been found to be "almost uniformly toxic", while specimens from the US west of the Rocky Mountains have less frequent reports of toxicity.
The presence of gyromitrin and its toxic breakdown product, MMH, in certain mushrooms highlights the importance of proper identification and preparation when foraging for wild mushrooms. While Gyromitra esculenta has not been observed to cause cancer in humans, it is possible that there is a carcinogenic risk associated with ingesting these mushrooms due to their hydrazine content.
To reduce the risk of toxicity, several steps can be taken to remove gyromitrin from mushrooms before consumption. Cutting the mushrooms into small pieces and repeatedly boiling them in large amounts of water under good ventilation can help eliminate the toxin. Additionally, prolonged periods of air drying have been found to reduce gyromitrin levels.
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Frequently asked questions
Hydrazine is a toxic chemical that occurs naturally in some mushrooms. It is a carcinogenic compound that can cause gastrointestinal distress, central nervous system effects, liver and kidney damage, respiratory distress, and cardiovascular issues if ingested in large quantities.
Hydrazine has been found in significant amounts in the wild false morel (Gyromitra esculenta) and Agaricus bisporus (commonly known as the button mushroom). It is also present as a natural mycotoxin in fresh samples of at least 24 species of the genera Agaricus, Leucoagaricus, and Macrolepiota.
Consuming raw or undercooked mushrooms containing hydrazine can be risky as it can cause various side effects, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, cramping, headaches, dizziness, confusion, seizures, liver and kidney damage, respiratory distress, chest pain, irregular heartbeat, and high blood pressure. It is important to cook mushrooms thoroughly before consumption to destroy the hydrazine toxin.
