Amatoxin

Amatoxins are a subgroup of toxins found in Amanita phalloides and several other members of the genus Amanita, as well as some Conocybe, Galerina and Lepiota mushroom species.

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Their swift intestinal absorption coupled with their thermostability explains why their toxic effects occur in a relatively short period of time. The most severe effects are toxic hepatitis with centrolobular necrosis and hepatic steatosis, as well as acute tubulointerstitial nephropathy, which altogether induce a severe hepatorenal syndrome (with a potentially fatal outcome). The estimated minimum lethal dose is 0.1 mg/kg or 7 mg of toxin in adults. There are eight amatoxins:

• alpha-amanitin
• beta-amanitin
• gamma-amanitin
• epsilon-amanitin
• amanullin
• amanullinic acid
• proamanullin