The Amanita phalloides syndrome poisoning

Incubation : long (from 8 to 36 hours). No signs of poisoning before that.

Lethal dose :  about 1/2 g of fresh mushroom per kg of an individual. Half a cap is sufficient to kill a human being.

Toxic compounds involved : more than a dozen multi-cyclic peptides of complex structure with indole nucleus (phallotoxines, among which phalloidine, and amatoxines). Amatoxines alter the normal behaviour of RNA polymerase II enzymes in the liver, blocking the production of proteins and inducing unrecoverable damage to this organ. 90% of deadly poisonings are caused by these toxins.

Signs of intoxication :

Treatment : take to hospital immediately.

Responsible species :



Other intoxications by mushrooms



page updated on 25/06/15