Mushroom foraging is very popular in some regions of the world. Sometimes toxic and edible mushrooms are mistaken by mushroom collectors, leading to serious human poisoning. The group of mushrooms highly dangerous for human health includes Amanita phalloides. This mushroom produces a toxic octapeptide called α-amanitin which is an inhibitor of nuclear RNA polymerase II. The inhibition of this p...

On December 5th of 2006 a 72 year old, otherwise healthy man from Asian descent, was admitted to the emergency department of a hospital in central Switzerland with symptoms of acute gastroenteritis. History revealed ingestion of a freshly picked mushroom 24 hours previously. Urine tested positive on α-amanitin. He was started on therapy with activated charcoal, N-acetylcysteine and silibinin. D...

This study examined barium concentrations in the mushroom Trogia venenata, the leading culprit for sudden unexpected deaths in Yunnan, southwest China. We found that barium concentrations in T. venenata from Yunnan were low and comparable to other foods, inconsistent with barium concentrations in this mushroom as a significant contributor to these deaths.

Japanese dermatologists were the first to describe the very characteristic flagellate dermatitis following consumption of undercooked or raw shiitake mushroom (Lentinus edodes). These similar eruptions were also reported in patients treated with bleomycin, in dermatomyositis and adult onset Still's disease. We report a case where a 40 year old chinese female developed flagellate dermatitis foll...

Tyrosinase is a key enzyme in melanogenesis. Generally, mushroom tyrosinase from A. bisporus had been used as a model in skin-whitening agent tests employed in the cosmetic industry. The recently obtained crystal structure of bacterial tyrosinase from B. megaterium has high similarity (33.5%) to the human enzyme and thus it was used as a template for constructing of the human model. Binding of ...

From the poisonous mushroom Clitocybe acromelalga, a new glutamate-containing dipeptide was isolated. Its structure was deduced to be N-(gamma-aminobutyryl)-L-glutamic acid (10) based on spectral data and was confirmed by synthesis.

Mountain Research Center (CIMO), ESA, Polytechnic Institute of Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, Ap. 1172, 5301-855 Bragança, Portugal. University of Belgrade, Department of Plant Physiology, Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”, Bulevar Despota Stefana 142, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia. Plant Research International, Wageningen University and Research, P.O. Box 16, 6700 AA Wageninge...

This article presents a comprehensive review of amatoxin poisoning. The article discusses the biochemistry of amatoxin, as well as the clinical manifestations of amatoxin ingestion. In addition, the evaluation of the patient with amatoxin ingestion is discussed, along with the treatment – including newer therapy – and the ultimate prognosis of the syndrome. *Corresponding author: Bobby Desai, D...