Influence of Amanita muscaria (class Agaricomycetes, fam. Amanitaceae) and Flammulina velutipes (class Agaricomycetes, fam. Physalacriaceae) on the growth and development of seedlings of Picea abies (class Pinophyta, fam. Pinaceae) and Abies sibirica (class Pinophyta, fam. Pinaceae)

The article presents studies of the influence of Amanita muscaria and Flammulina velutipes on the growth and development of seedlings of species of the Pinaceae family. The positive effect of mycorrhization by these fungi species on the growth and development of Picea abies and Abies sibirica was established. Thus, the presence of Flammulina velutipes and Amanita muscaria in the substrate accelerated the appearance of the first shoots by 4–8 days. Mycorrhization of Amanita muscaria influenced the morphometry of the seedlings of Picea abies and Abies sibirica. The main root length changed: in Picea abies it increased by 17.2%, in Abies sibirica it decreased by 12.9%, compared with the control group. In the presence of Amanita muscaria, the length of lateral roots increased by 51.0% in Picea abies seedlings, and by 32.4% in Abies sibirica seedlings, compared with the control group. The height of the aerial part in the presence of Flammulina velutipes increased in comparison with the control group in Picea abies seedlings by 52.2% and in Abies sibirica seedlings by 18.3%. Mycorrhization of Amanita muscaria seedlings caused an increase in the stem diameter at the root collar of Picea abies seedlings by 13.6%, and Abies sibirica seedlings by 12.1%.

Amanita muscaria: Ecology, Chemistry, Myths

Amanita muscaria is the most emblematic mushroom in the popular representation. It is an ectomycorrhizal fungus endemic to the cold ecosystems of the northern hemisphere. The basidiocarp contains isoxazoles compounds that have specific actions on the central nervous system, including hallucinations. For this reason, it is considered an important entheogenic mushroom in different cultures whose remnants are still visible in some modern-day European traditions. In Siberian civilizations, it has been consumed for religious and recreational purposes for millennia, as it was the only inebriant in this region.

Mercury and selenium in developing and mature fruiting bodies of Amanita muscaria

Both mercury (Hg) and selenium (Se) occur in many mushroom species, but the morphological distribution of these elements during different developmental stages of the fruiting bodies is not known. Although Amanita muscaria can be consumed after suitable processing, they are often ignored by mushroom foragers, leaving an abundance for investigative study. Multiple specimens in each of six developmental stages (button to fully mature) were collected in excellent condition during a single morning from the same forested location and composited. With an average of 30 specimens per composite, and low temporal, spatial, and measurement uncertainty, the data are likely to be representative of the typical concentrations of Hg and Se for each developmental stage. Hg (range 0.58–0.74 mg kg-1 dry weight cap; 0.33 to 0.44 mg kg-1 dw stipe) and Se (range 8.3–11 mg kg-1 dw cap; 2.2 to 4.3 mg kg-1 dw stipe) levels were observed to vary during the developmental stages, and the variability may relate to the demands in growth. In common with some other species, the lower stipe concentrations may be consistent with nutrient/contant transport and support functions. Both Hg and Se levels were lowest during periods of maximum sporocarp growth. Selenium occurs at almost an order of magnitude greater levels than Hg. Due to its role in mitigating the effects of Hg toxicity, this property is of significance to those who consume the species either for nutritional, medicinal, or recreational purposes, although the losses of both these elements during processing are not known.

The Deceptive Mushroom: Accidental Amanita muscaria Poisoning

Amanita muscaria is considered to be one of the most remarkable and beautiful mushrooms. It has a red or orange cap covered with small white plaques and its distinctive appearance makes accidental and severe intoxication very rare. Its consumption is sometimes used as a means of suicide or it can be consumed for its psychedelic effects, and in some cases, it can be mistaken for edible species. In this paper, we will discuss a patient who fell into a coma after accidental Amanita muscaria poisoning. Rapid identification of the mushroom allowed the regression of symptoms and discharge from the hospital on the fourth day after consumption.

In vitro effects of synthetic muscimol and an extract from Amanita muscaria on human recombinant MAOB enzyme

The effects of synthetic muscimol and an extract from Amanita muscaria, containing this compound on the activity of human recombinant MAOB enzyme (hMAOB) were studied. Muscimol had statistically significant inducing effect on hMAOB at concentrations 0.25–5 μM, while A. muscaria extract did not influence the enzyme activity at all.

Determination of the naturally occurring vanadium-complex amavadin in Amanita muscaria with HPLC-ICPMS

The determination of the two isomers of amavadin and other V species in Amanita muscaria with HPLC-ICPMS.

Toxicological and pharmacological profile of Amanita muscaria (L.) Lam. – a new rising opportunity for biomedicine

Amanita muscaria, commonly known as fly agaric, is a basidiomycete. Its main psychoactive constituents are ibotenic acid and muscimol, both involved in ‘pantherina-muscaria’ poisoning syndrome. The rising pharmacological and toxicological interest based on lots of contradictive opinions concerning the use of Amanita muscaria extracts’ neuroprotective role against some neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, its potent role in the treatment of cerebral ischaemia and other socially significant health conditions gave the basis for this review. Facts about Amanita muscaria’s morphology, chemical content, toxicological and pharmacological characteristics and usage from ancient times to present-day’s opportunities in modern medicine are presented.

Development of a RP-HPLC Method for Separating and Quantifying Muscimol in Different Developmental Stages of the Fungus Amanita muscaria

A simple RP-HPLC method was designed for the quantification of muscimol (5-(aminomethyl)-isoxazol-3-ol) present in five aqueous extracts of Amanita muscaria each from a different developmental stage. Results show that the maximum concentration of muscimol (1,210 mg/ml) was found in the young mushroom stage of development. Moreover, it was also found that this concentration progressively decreases as the fungus ages. The developed method is a simple but effective method for the quantification of muscimol, a widely important metabolite for the pharmaceutical industry as a possible treatment for tardive dyskinesia and Parkinson’s disease.