INTERACTIONS
Conocybe filaris is a posionous fungi that contains the deadly toxin amanitin, the same found in death caps, and death angel mushrooms. Mushrooms containing this toxin are involved in 90 to 95% of mushroom related deaths. (1). This toxin is extremely important to think about when dealing with human interactions as it is extremely toxic.
A few things about amatoxin...
WHERE ARE THE TOXINS LOCATED?
Amatoxins are concentrated in all parts of the mushroom including the stalk, gills, cap, and ring and levels of toxin vary depending on species of mushroom, soil quality, and environmental factors (1).
Ingestion of amatoxin is often fatal and no one specific treatment had proved 100% effective in treating amatoxin poisoning. Current treatment is high dose penicillin, however, there are many different treatments that are considered at least semi-viable the most promising being the use of Silymarin (4). Silymarin is an active component of milk thistle Silybum marinanum. Silymarin accumulates in the liver, which is the main target of amatoxin, and binds to plasma in liver cells, strengthening them and preventing amatoxin from penetrating the cell wall. Liver transplants have also shown to be effective, but spare livers are not always on hand.
HOW TO AVOID AMATOXIN POISONING
The easiest way to avoid amatoxin poisoning is to be wary of what mushrooms you eat. Be knowledgeable when collection mushrooms, and make smart decisions. Know what mushrooms contain this deadly poison, and know that amanitin cannot be cooked, dried, or frozen out of mushrooms.
Conocybe filaris is a posionous fungi that contains the deadly toxin amanitin, the same found in death caps, and death angel mushrooms. Mushrooms containing this toxin are involved in 90 to 95% of mushroom related deaths. (1). This toxin is extremely important to think about when dealing with human interactions as it is extremely toxic.
A few things about amatoxin...
WHERE ARE THE TOXINS LOCATED?
Amatoxins are concentrated in all parts of the mushroom including the stalk, gills, cap, and ring and levels of toxin vary depending on species of mushroom, soil quality, and environmental factors (1).
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF AMATOXIN POSIONING?
The symptoms of amatoxin poisoning are as follows
(5):
- 1. Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea 4 to 16 hours after ingestion.
- 2. Resolution of gastrointestinal symptoms after 12 to 48 hours.
- 3. Hepatic (liver) and often renal (kidney) failure 48 to 72 hours after ingestion.
- 4. Coagulopathy and pancreatitis may be seen with the hepatotoxicity.
Ingestion of amatoxin is often fatal and no one specific treatment had proved 100% effective in treating amatoxin poisoning. Current treatment is high dose penicillin, however, there are many different treatments that are considered at least semi-viable the most promising being the use of Silymarin (4). Silymarin is an active component of milk thistle Silybum marinanum. Silymarin accumulates in the liver, which is the main target of amatoxin, and binds to plasma in liver cells, strengthening them and preventing amatoxin from penetrating the cell wall. Liver transplants have also shown to be effective, but spare livers are not always on hand.
HOW TO AVOID AMATOXIN POISONING
The easiest way to avoid amatoxin poisoning is to be wary of what mushrooms you eat. Be knowledgeable when collection mushrooms, and make smart decisions. Know what mushrooms contain this deadly poison, and know that amanitin cannot be cooked, dried, or frozen out of mushrooms.