Amanita muscaria

Amanita muscaria (also known as fly agaric or fly amanita Figure 1) is a psychoactive mushroom that grows widely in the northern hemisphere. The fly agaric is a large white-gilled, white-spotted, usually red mushroom that is one of the most recognizable and widely encountered in popular culture 🍄. The mushroom is arguably the Soma-plant in Vedic religion as it is noted for its hallucinogenic properties, which derive from its primary psychoactive constituents ibotenic acid and muscimol.

Figure 1. Amanita Muscaria aka: Fly Agaric, Soma, Toadstool

Figure 2. Amanita muscaria lookalikes.

Although classified as poisonous, reports of human deaths resulting from its ingestion are extremely rare. This is further compounded by several recorded cases of low dose ingestion without issue. The key to its safety is differentiation from the Destroying Angel and the Death Cap, parboiling—which weakens its toxicity and breaks down the mushroom's psychoactive substances and careful dosage. To this day, the dried mushroom is used as a medicinal ingredient, and as a substitute for alcohol in parts of Russia as a narcotic by the Koryak people.

Differentiation

One of the major dangers of amanita muscaria is misidentifying it as a different species of mushroom. Several other mushrooms in the genus amanita are toxic and cause 90% of all fatal mushroom poisonings see figure 2. One such mushroom, the amanita phalloides, better known as the death cap, contains α-amanitin and β-Amanitin, both of which are extremely potent RNA polymerase II and RNA polymerase III inhibitors which damage virtually every tissue in the body. As the name suggests, the amanita muscaria contains the chemical muscarine, a muscarinic acetylcholine agonist which is known to cause seizures; however, the mushroom contains very low amounts that are highly unlikely to pose any significant harm.

Identification

Found in forests from July to October, this Amanita has a symbiotic relationship with various trees, and is most often found under pines, spruces, and birches. The problem with the identification of the Amanita (and this is a general mushroom rule) is that rain may alter its appearance considerably by washing away its patches or draining its vibrant red to a paler shade. With these more superficial characteristics erased, it can easily be mistaken for an innocuous or edible look-alike. Beware of look-alikes!

Non Pharmacological Edibility

There is a long history of edibility of the prepared mushroom in Japan. Traditional knowledge highlighted that in its raw state this mushroom is toxic and inebriating and therefore did not ingest it as such. They consumed it only after certain preparations: "Dried, soaked in brine for 12-13 weeks, rinsed in successive washings until the water became clear. They came out alabaster white and indeed are translucent like alabaster. Prepared thus for savouring during the long winter evenings, they are delicious, excellent as hors d'oeuvres"

Pharmacology

The active ingredients of the Amanita muscaria are ibotenic acid, muscimol, and muscarine. The first two ingredients act on the nervous system as GABAA agonists within thirty minutes to two hours after ingestion, causing dizziness, lack of coordination, delirium, spasms, and muscular cramps. These symptoms are temporary and subside within four to twenty-four hours.

Toxicity

It may be harmful to combine Amanita muscaria constituents with other GABAergic depressants such as alcohol, benzodiazepines or barbiturates. Ibotenic acid is also known to be a neurotoxin, acting via the NMDA receptor and metabotropic glutamate receptor. It is wise to dry amanita muscarias in the oven or purchase pre-dried amanitas to ensure the ibotenic acid concentration is as low as possible.

Amanita muscaria mushrooms are not known to be addictive or dependence-forming, and reports even show that desire to redose goes down with usage, though there is no research on this topic.

References