False Morel

Gyrometrin toxin is produced by the false morel (Gyromitra esculenta), a short-stalked mushroom with a brain-like cap of dark brown color. Fruiting bodies of this mushroom appear mostly in spring and are valued as edible, even as delicacies. While many people consume the mushroom without any troubles, others become ill, some of them severely. It has been shown that the toxin content may vary with growth conditions, such as altitude and temperature. More probably, however, the variation is caused by differences in handling or cooking as the toxic components are volatile. The toxin has been detected in cooked, frozen, and dried specimens. 

Common mushrooms, false morels, shiitake Hydrazines, including N-methyl-N-formyl... 

N-methyl-N-formylhydrazine (from edible false morel mushroom)... 

I. S. Kulaev, A. N. Belozersky, M. S. Kritsky andN. A. Kokurina (1960b). Polyphosphates of the Muting bodies of the mushroom and false morel (in Russian). Dokl. Akad. Nauk SSSR, 130, 667-670. 

O Donnell K, Cigelnik E, Weber NS, Trappe JM Phylogenetic relationships among ascomycetous truffles and the true and false morels inferred from 18S and 28S ribosomal DNA sequence analysis. Mycologia 1997 89 48-65. 

Synonyms False morel Beefsteak mushroom Elephant ears mushroom... 

Braun R, Greeff U, and Netter KJ (1979) Liver injury by the false morel poison gyromitrin. Toxicology 12 155-163. Giusti G and Camevale A (1974) A case of fatal poisoning by Gyromitra esculenta. Archives of Toxicology 33 49-54. 

False morels grow almost everywhere that morels grow. This makes hunting for morels in the spring a risky caworraca enterprise, despite the fact that... 

Common Name(s) Brown False Morel Poison Gyromitrin... 

On the occurrence of N-methyl-N-formylhydrazones in fresh and processed false morel, Gyromitra esculenta, M. Pyysal and A. Niskanan, J. Agric. Food Chem., 1977, 25, 644. 

The False Morel mushroom Gyromitra esculenta) is easily confused... 

Figure 4. Gyromitrin, toxin of the False Morel mushroom.

Mushrooms from Psilocybe and Panaeolus species contain psilocybin and related derivatives of tryptamine that cause short-lasting hallucinations. Gyromitra species (false morels) produce G1 disorders and a delayed hepatotoxicity. The toxic substance, acetaldehyde methylformylhydra-zone, is converted in the body to reactive hydrazines. Although fatalities from liver and kidney failure have been reported, they are far less frequent than with amatoxin-containing mushrooms. 

Hg at 20°C (68°F). Flammable. In addition to potential industrial uses, exposure to methylhydrazine can occur from ingestion of false morel mushrooms. 

Griseofulvin (produced by Saffrole (from N-methyl-N-formylhydrazine PeniciUiumgriseojulvum ) sassafras (from edible false morel mushroom)... 

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