Amanita muscaria (fly agaric): from a shamanistic hallucinogen to the search for acetylcholine
Dukan, E., Lee, M. R., Milne, I.
This review (2018) examines the cultural context of the Amanita Muscaria (Fly Agaric) mushroom, from its early shamanistic use in Siberia and the investigation of its pharmacology. The identification of its hallucinogenic alkaloids, muscarine, muscazole, muscazone, and ibotenic acid/muscimole led to the identification of acetylcholine as the mediator of their parasympathetic activity, and the development of anticholinergic medicines for treating asthma and COPD.
Abstract
The mushroom Amanita muscaria (fly agaric) is widely distributed throughout continental Europe and the UK. Its common name suggests that it had been used to kill flies, until superseded by arsenic. The bioactive compounds occurring in the mushroom remained a mystery for long periods of time, but eventually four hallucinogens were isolated from the fungus: muscarine, muscimol, muscazone and ibotenic acid.