1. Mycol. Res. 107 (2): 131–146 (February 2003). f The British Mycological Society 131
DOI: 10.1017/S0953756203007305 Printed in the United Kingdom.
Review
Amanita muscaria : chemistry, biology, toxicology,
and ethnomycology
Didier MICHELOT1* and Leda Maria MELENDEZ-HOWELL2
1
Muse´um National d’Histoire Naturelle, Institut Re´gulation et De´veloppement, Diversite´ Mole´culaire, Chimie et Biochimie des
Substances Naturelles, USM 502 UMR 8041 C.N.R.S., 63 rue de Buffon, F-75005 Paris, France.
2
Syste´matique et Evolution, USM 602, 12, rue Buffon, F-75005 Paris, France.
E-mail : michelot@mnhn.fr
Received 12 July 2002; accepted 14 January 2003.
The fly agaric is a remarkable mushroom in many respects ; these are its bearing, history, chemical components and the
poisoning that it provokes when consumed. The ‘pantherina ’ poisoning syndrome is characterized by central nervous
system dysfunction. The main species