Mushroom
consumption is a global tradition that is still gaining
popularity. However, foraging for wild mushrooms and accidental ingestion
of toxic mushrooms can result in serious illness and even death. The
early diagnosis and treatment of mushroom poisoning are quite difficult,
as the symptoms are similar to those caused by common diseases. Chemically,
mushroom poisoning is related to very powerful toxins, suggesting
that the isolation and identification of toxins have great research
value, especially in determining the lethal components of toxic mushrooms.
In contrast, most of these toxins have remarkable physiological properties
that could promote advances in chemistry, biochemistry, physiology,
and pharmacology. Although more than 100 toxins have been elucidated,
there are a number of lethal mushrooms that have not been fully investigated.
This review provides information on the chemistry (including chemical
structures, total synthesis, and biosynthesis) and the toxicology
of these toxins, hoping to inspire further research in this area.
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