Poisonous and Hallucinogenic Fungi

From BIOL 2P96 Jan 2013 Group 02

Although used extensively to heighten flavor and nutritional value, not all mushrooms are harmless. Some mushroom species produce/contain toxic and/or hallucinogenic compounds that have negative effects on individuals when ingested. Hallucinogens are substances that change or produce false perceptions of the senses. Toxins are poisonous compounds produced in living cells. Some compounds produced by mushrooms are capable of causing severe serious illness, and in some cases even death.

Illness or symptoms caused by toxins and/or hallucinogens in mushrooms include: ^[1]

• Amanitin poisoning - possibly the most deadly amatoxin, found in several species of Amanita genus including Death Cap and Destroying Angel. This toxin causes initial symptoms of cramps and diarrhea, this is followed by severe effects on the liver and kidneys which is followed by total system failure and death.
• Monomethylhydrazine poisoning - Monomethylhydrazine acts on the central nervous system and can interfere with normal use of vitmain B6. Poisoning causes symptoms of nausea, cramps and diarrhea, with severe poisoning resulting in convulsions, jaundice, coma and death.
• Orellanine poisoning - orellanine is a mycotoxin that causes symptoms of nausea, vomiting, stomach pains, headache, and myalgia, this is then followed by renal failure and will lead to death if left untreated.
• Muscarine poisoning - Early symptoms include headache, nausea, vomiting, and pharynx constriciton. This is followed by salivation, lacrimation (production and shedding of tears), and extreme perspiration, also with signs of pupil constriction, and reduced vision. Diarrhea, painful urination urge, circulatory shock can also be seen in victims. If not treated, death con occur within 8 hours.
• Psilocybin-Psilocin 'poisoning' - initial symptoms are dizziness, nausea, weakness, giddiness, muscle aches, shivering, anxiety, restlessness and abdominal pain. This is followed by hallucinations, increased body temperature, facial flushing, increased heart rate (tachycardia), pupil dilation, sweating, feelings of depersonalization, panic, incoordination, schizophrenoid state. Finally during detox there are sympotms of headache, extreme fatique, depression, and decreased appetite.
• Gastro-Intestinal irritants - cause symptoms of nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain, fatigue, drowsiness, headache and chills.

The key to seeking mushrooms for purposes of ingestion is identification. Due to the vast array of potentially harmful mushrooms, many individuals will only eat those species that are easily identifiable.

Contents 1 Amanita virosa “Destroying Angel” 1.1 Habitat 1.2 Poisons 1.3 Symptoms 1.4 Edibility 2 Psilocybe cubensis "Magic Mushrooms" 2.1 Edibility 2.2 Side Effects 2.3 Legality 3 References

[edit] Amanita virosa “Destroying Angel”

Amanita virosa is commonly referred to as Destroying Angel belongs to the Phylum Eumycophyta, Class Basidiomycetes, Order Agaricales and Family Amanitaceae. The name ‘amanita’ is derived from the Greek meaning ‘a kind of fungus’, and ‘virosa’ is derived from the Latin ‘virosus’ meaning a ‘fetid’ or ‘poisonous’. ^[2]

The name Destroying Angel is referred to the fact that A. virosa is pure white like an angel’s veil but it is poisonous. ^[2] Destroying Angle is white, shinny and has convex cap; Destroying Angle is sticky when it’s wet. Underneath the cap there is lots of that is pure white. Also the stipe is rough but has delicate cotton-like shaggy tufts. ^[2]

Its cap is a bell-shaped and slimy surface. It has a very strong unpleasant odour. As Destroying Angle matures, it becomes drier with a silky sheen, still white but becomes more tinged with yellow or brown colour in the center of its cap. A. virosa spores are white and about 8-9 mm in diameters with a length-to-width being less than 1.25mm. ^[2]

[edit] Habitat

Destroying Angel is often found in hardwood, mixed or/and leafy woods. It is found in principally in coniferous forests and in hardwood forests. It is also found on poor soil and its characteristic occurrence is sporadic and solitary. Destroying Angle appears in midsummer to autumn and is less common in cold season. ^[2]

[edit] Poisons

The toxic peptide found in ‘’A. virosa’’ is the Virotoxins. Virotoxins are monocyclic heptapeptides, which contains D-serine instead of L-cysteine. ^[2] Virotoxins has six toxic elements which are: Viroidin, Viroisin, Deoxoviroisin, Ala-viroidin, Ala-desoxoviroidin and Deoxoviroidin. Also another toxin found in A. virosa is Amaninamide. ^[2] These toxins are very complex polypeptides molecules, which are composed of amino acids. These amino acids cause the breakdown of liver cells. ^[2]

[edit] Symptoms

The affects on these toxins on individuals can be very severe. The symptoms usually start after 12 hours of consumption, such symptoms includes vomiting, nausea, pale skin, drowsiness, abdominal pain, diarrhea, spasm in legs and fever. When these symptoms return it is due to the action of ‘’A. virosa’’, which starts to concentrate more on blood cells, kidneys and liver. Without treatment coma or death may occur. ^[2]

[edit] Edibility

It is poisonous due to the toxins it contains. Therefore, it is not edible. ^[2]

[edit] Psilocybe cubensis "Magic Mushrooms"

Kingdom: Fungi
Phylum: Basidiomycota
Class: Agaricomycetes
Order: Agaricales

Psilocybin mushrooms are more commonly known as 'shrooms' or 'magic mushrooms'. These mushrooms are ingested in Western countries for their psychoactive effects, however they have been used since prehistoric times for religious practices. ^[3] There are approximately 190 documented species of psilocybin mushrooms, with majority falling within the genus Psilocybe^[4]. However, other genera that contain psilocybin mushrooms include^[4]:

• Agrocybe
• Conocybe
• Copelandia
• Galerina
• Gerronema
• Gymnopilus
• Hypholoma
• Inocybe
• Mycena
• Panaeolus
• Plutes

[edit] Edibility

Although deemed edible, ingestion of these mushrooms is not recommended due to the psychoactive effect of psilocybin, which is a hallucinogen produced by psilocybin mushrooms. There are no documented health benefits from taking these mushrooms, and are ingested solely for the euphoria caused. Use of these mushrooms is usually ingestion; however it may also be stewed into a tea, usually being cooked together with other ingredients because of their very bitter taste ^[5]. Potency varies throughout species of Psilocybin mushrooms, and therefore dosage determines euphoria ^[5].

[edit] Side Effects

Fatal side effects or overdose from use of psilobycin mushrooms is relatively nonexistent; however there are side effects which include^[5]:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Muscle weakness
• Dizziness
• Lack of coordination
• Derealisation
• Hallucination
• Panic reactions
• Anxiety
• Psychosis

There are documented negative effects and experiences which include depression, anxiety, intense fear, disturbing hallucinations, as well as nightmares^[5]. These effects subside one the potency of the drug wears off^[5]. Long term abuse of these mushrooms can cause hallucinogen persisting perception disorder (HPPD), where hallucinations are seen long after the ingestion of mushrooms, however this is relatively rare in psilocybin users^[5].

[edit] Legality

Although selling spores is allowed, mushrooms are illegal to possess, buy, sell, import or trade in Canada and other countries such as the United States^[6].

[edit] References

1. Konno, K. 1995. Biologically active components of poisonous mushrooms. Food Reviews International, 11(1): 83-107.
2. Bonnet, MS and PW Basson. 2004. The toxicology of Amanita virosa: the destroying angel. Homeopathy. 93:216-220
3. Samorini, G. 1992. The oldest representations of hallucinogenic mushrooms in the world (Sahara Desert, 9000-7000 B.P.). Integration 2 (3): 69–78.
4. Moncalvo, J.M., Vilgalys, R., Redhead, S.A., Johnson, J.E., James, T.Y., Catherine Aime, M., Hofstetter, V., Verduin, S.J., Larsson, E., Baroni, T.J., Greg Thorn, R., Jacobsson, S., Clémençon, H., and Miller, O.K. Jr. 2002. One hundred and seventeen clades of euagarics. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 23 (3): 357–400.
5. van Amsterdam, J., Opperhuizen, A., and van den Brink, W. 2011. Harm potential of magic mushroom use: a review. Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology 59 (3): 423–9.
6. Government of Canada Website. From: http://www.canada.gc.ca/home.html.