Psychotropic mushrooms and plants

There are a lot of medical applications of psychotropic plants. However, there are many more mushrooms and plants with psychotropic effects considered useless by scholar medicine. The resulting regulations make the users criminal law breakers. Depending on the Zeitgeist there had been experiments with hallucinogenics in a medical setting. Normally psychotropic mushrooms and plants play no role in medical practice. However, the use of datura by youths can lead to emergency situations, so this problem will be dealt in more details.     

Plants and mushrooms of abuse

The plants described earlier are only a few of those that can be misused. Most have effects similar to those of more popular synthetic drugs but can cause unpleasant side effects and unpredictable results. Identification of the offending botanic agent can be problematic. These plants are still used because most are legal to possess, and they do produce desired hallucinogenic and stimulant effects. Because the active ingredients are similar pharmacologically to agents such as LSD and amphetamine, required treatment is often similar. The challenge for the Emergency Department physician is to recognize the potential for abuse of these botanic agents, their probable side effects, and the need for appropriate, usually supportive, treatment. There are many more plants with abuse potential than can be discussed in detail in an article of this size. Table 1 lists a number of other agents that might be misused. Phenylamine hallucinogens occur in several species and include N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), N-monomethyltryptamine (MMT), 5-methoxy-N-N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT), 5-methoxy-N-monomethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT), 5-methoxy-N-monomethyltryptamine (5-MeO-MMT), 5-hydroxy-N-N-dimethyltryptamine (bufotenine or 5-H-DMT), and N,N-dimethyltryptamine-N-oxide (DMT-N-oxide).     

Muscarinic poisoning from medications and mushrooms

Mushroom hunting can be a dangerous sport. Certain mushrooms produce potentially fatal muscarinic effects that may be perplexing and misleading to the clinician. Certain medications, too, produce muscarinic effects. Recognition of the unusual but distinct array of signs and symptoms is essential to avoid unnecessary laboratory tests and delay in treatment. The authors report six typical cases and discuss their management.     

The pharmacological potential of mushrooms

This review describes pharmacologically active compounds from mushrooms. Compounds and complex substances with antimicrobial, antiviral, antitumor, antiallergic, immunomodulating, anti-inflammatory, antiatherogenic, hypoglycemic, hepatoprotective and central activities are covered, focusing on the review of recent literature. The production of mushrooms or mushroom compounds is discussed briefly.     

Indian medicinal mushrooms as a source of antioxidant and antitumor agents

Medicinal mushrooms occurring in South India namely Ganoderma lucidum, Phellinus rimosus, Pleurotus florida and Pleurotus pulmonaris possessed profound antioxidant and antitumor activities. This indicated that these mushrooms would be valuable sources of antioxidant and antitumor compounds. Investigations also revealed that they had significant antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic activities. Thus, Indian medicinal mushrooms are potential sources of antioxidant and anticancer compounds. However, intensive and extensive investigations are needed to exploit their valuable therapeutic use.     

Salmonella enterica serovar Kedougou contamination of commercially grown mushrooms

During investigation of an episode of Salmonella enterica serovar Kedougou contamination of mushrooms, multiple closely related isolates were obtained from mushrooms and mushroom-growing materials. Contamination apparently originated from sugar beet lime, an alkaline material used in mushroom growing. No associated cases of human infection were detected.