Toxicological Profiles of Poisonous, Edible, and Medicinal Mushrooms

Mushrooms are valued in the human diet for their nutritional and therapeutic properties, but some species cause toxicity, leading to serious poisoning cases each year, often due to misidentification. Various toxic substances from poisonous mushrooms can cause fatal effects including liver failure, bradycardia, chest pain, seizures, gastroenteritis, intestinal fibrosis, renal failure, erythromelalgia, and rhabdomyolysis. Accurate categorization and understanding of mushroom species are essential for safe consumption as functional foods and for medicinal use.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Mushrooms are a recognized component of the human diet, with versatile medicinal properties. Some mushrooms are popular worldwide for their nutritional and therapeutic properties. However, some species are dangerous because they cause toxicity. There are many reports explaining the medicinal and/or toxic effects of these fungal species. Cases of serious human poisoning generally caused by the improper identification of toxic mushroom species are reported every year. Different substances responsible for the fatal signs and symptoms of mushroom toxicity have been identified from various poisonous mushrooms. Toxicity studies of mushroom species have demonstrated that mushroom poisoning can cause adverse effects such as liver failure, bradycardia, chest pain, seizures, gastroenteritis, intestinal fibrosis, renal failure, erythromelalgia, and rhabdomyolysis. Correct categorization and better understanding are essential for the safe and healthy consumption of mushrooms as functional foods as well as for their medicinal use.