Compound Monograph
Amatoxin
Amatoxins are a group of highly poisonous bicyclic peptides produced by certain deadly mushrooms, chiefly Amanita species.
Where Does It Come From? (3)
Amatoxin is a naturally occurring bicyclic peptide toxins, found in Death cap, Destroying angels and Some Galerina and Lepiota species. It is flagged as poisonous.
Research & Evidence
Amatoxins are a family of bicyclic octapeptides — including alpha-amanitin, beta-amanitin and related compounds — produced by several deadly mushrooms, most notoriously the death cap (Amanita phalloides). They work by binding and inhibiting RNA polymerase II, shutting down messenger-RNA and protein synthesis in the cells of the liver and kidneys. They are responsible for the great majority of fatal mushroom poisonings worldwide. Despite the “psychedelic mushroom” associations sometimes attached to the genus, amatoxins are lethal toxins with no psychoactive use.
Toxicity & Safety
Amatoxins are among the most dangerous natural poisons known. Symptoms are typically delayed for six to twenty-four hours after ingestion, followed by severe gastrointestinal illness and then liver and kidney failure that can be fatal. Any suspected amatoxin ingestion is a medical emergency requiring immediate hospital care.