Double, double toil and trouble.
A mushroom found in Florida sounds like something straight out of a witch’s cauldron, packing an unusual combination of chemicals that could work sorcery on the human body.
“There is no species of mushroom anywhere, in any group, that has been known to produce both at the same time,” author and fungal biology researcher Andrew Kunik told Live Science. “So it’s quite remarkable.”
The Galerina indica has two compounds: psilocybin — the psychedelic compound in “magic mushrooms” — and amatoxin, the deadly toxin that’s responsible for over 90% of mushroom poisonings worldwide.
Normally, these two compounds are found in mushrooms that are distantly related and have never been shown to appear at the same time in the same species.
“Humanity’s cultural infatuation with mushrooms has long been bookended by two categories: mushrooms that induce psychedelic experiences and mushrooms that are deadly toxic,” Kunik told Gizmodo.
“Our discovery of the ‘dark magic mushroom’ represents an unusual convergence of worlds, where we now know of this rare and unusual species that produces the chemistry responsible for both properties.”
The ‘dark magic mushroom’
Kunik’s team wanted to learn more about a large group of mushrooms called “little brown mushrooms,” hoping to find one that could produce amatoxins.
There’s another member of the Galerina family, Galerina marginata or “funeral bell,” that’s known to contain this deadly toxin. The team collected a few specimens in this family, including Galerina indica.
“We noticed that this mushroom’s flesh turned blue when handled, which is sometimes associated with psilocybin production,” Kunik told Gizmodo. A chemical analysis confirmed this.
The researchers believe that amatoxin production was already established, and the mushroom picked up psilocybin genes through “horizontal gene transfer.”
This is when an organism passes genes to another, but not through the typical direct transfer of DNA from a parent to offspring. This is common in bacteria and contributes to antibiotic resistance.
They also say the two compounds could help the mushroom fend off the many animals who want to eat it — including us.
‘Do not eat this mushroom!’
While researchers didn’t test how this particular mushroom will affect humans, we have a pretty good idea. Its toxins can be deadly.
The psilocybin aspect may seem safe enough — but don’t let that fool you. Psilocybin mushrooms have long been used in traditional ceremonies and are even being investigated as medication for mental health issues including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Psilocybin is a psychedelic/hallucinogenic drug that alters a person’s sense of reality, causing them to see, hear, or feel things that aren’t happening in real life or experience reality in a different way.
This happens when psilocybin is consumed, often in dried or powdered form, and is converted into psilocin in the body. It attaches and activates receptors in the brain for the chemical serotonin, changing how brain regions communicate with each other.
Psilocybin on its own can be dangerous. There is some toxicity that has the potential to cause breathing problems or a heart attack. People with altered thinking can also engage in dangerous behavior and experience side effects like vomiting and nausea.
Mushrooms with amatoxins are directly lethal — with names like Death Cap, Destroying Angel, Fool’s Mushroom, and Autumn Skullcap.
These toxins make it impossible for cells in our body to create the proteins they need to function and repair, causing them to die off and shut down major organs — mainly the liver and kidneys.
The first stage happens only six to 12 hours after eating one — people get nausea, cramps and signs of dehydration. The second stage shows improvement, but the liver is still being damaged over the next few days. Then, the liver and kidney function start deteriorating, which can lead to death within three to seven days.
There are some treatments, but there are no antidotes. If the patient seeks help early, doctors can give them charcoal to limit toxicity.
Otherwise, there are a few medicines that can attempt to save the liver. If the poisoning is too advanced, a liver transplant may be needed to save the patient’s life.
Amatoxin mushroom poisonings are fatal in 10% to 20% of patients. That’s why the author of this new study urges anyone tempted to try: “Do not eat this mushroom!”
