Pilze – Vielseitige Giftmischer im Wald

Basically, fungal poisonings can be divided into six groups, some with several subgroups. Fungal toxins may be cytotoxic, neurotoxic, or myotoxic, have specific metabolic, endocrine, or simple gastrointestinal effects, or cause allergic reactions. The structure of toxins is also diverse: rare amino acids, hydrazine derivates, azaridine rings, cyclopropenic acids, steroid derivates, heterocycles, macrocyclic trichothecenes, polysaccharides or octopeptides but also polypeptides with a molecular mass of more than 60.000 daltons can exert a toxic effect as a natural component of a fungus. Neither have all poisonous fungus been discovered yet, nor have all toxins of poisonous fungus been identified or the metabolism elucidated. In addition, there is still increased radioactivity in wild mushrooms today due to the Chernobyl nuclear accident in 1986. However, fungal toxins may play a role as psychotropic or cytostatic drugs in the future.