Deadly Parasol
The deadly parasol (Lepiota brunneoincarnata) is a small wild mushroom with the same amatoxins as the death cap; cooking does not remove them, and symptoms can ease before the liver fails, so early help matters.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Safety first. Supplements can cause side effects and interact with medicines. Read mushroom safety and interactions before you use any mushroom product.
Documented analytical data
Each group below is one study's measurement of the stated specimen or preparation. It is not a typical value for the species or product, varies between specimens, and says nothing about effects or safety. 13 values from 13 sources.
Long P, et al. Determination of amatoxins in Lepiota brunneoincarnata and Lepiota venenata by HPLC coupled with mass... (1 value)
Source: Long P, et al. Determination of amatoxins in Lepiota brunneoincarnata and Lepiota venenata by HPLC coupled with mass spectrometry. Mycobiology 2020;48(3):204-209. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10635234/ (Table 3, open access, CC BY-NC). Laboratory: Hunan Normal University / Academy of Military Medical Sciences. Method: HPLC-QTOF MS/MS. Date: collected 2017-08-16.
| Specimen or preparation | Analyte | Value | What it is | Sample size and scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| L. brunneoincarnata MHHNU 31026, Shandong, China (poisoning site) | Alpha-amanitin | 0.85 mg per g (dry weight, pileus pieces) | reported value (reported) | 1 sample. single sample, +/-0.05 reported |
Long P, et al. Determination of amatoxins in Lepiota brunneoincarnata and Lepiota venenata by HPLC coupled with mass... (1 value)
Source: Long P, et al. Determination of amatoxins in Lepiota brunneoincarnata and Lepiota venenata by HPLC coupled with mass spectrometry. Mycobiology 2020;48(3):204-209. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10635234/ (Table 3, open access, CC BY-NC). Laboratory: Hunan Normal University / Academy of Military Medical Sciences. Method: HPLC-QTOF MS/MS. Date: collected 2017-08-16.
| Specimen or preparation | Analyte | Value | What it is | Sample size and scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| L. brunneoincarnata MHHNU 31026, Shandong, China | Beta-amanitin | 0.72 mg per g (dry weight, pileus pieces) | reported value (reported) | 1 sample. single sample, +/-0.02 reported |
Long P, et al. Determination of amatoxins in Lepiota brunneoincarnata and Lepiota venenata by HPLC coupled with mass... (1 value)
Source: Long P, et al. Determination of amatoxins in Lepiota brunneoincarnata and Lepiota venenata by HPLC coupled with mass spectrometry. Mycobiology 2020;48(3):204-209. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10635234/ (Table 3, open access, CC BY-NC). Laboratory: Hunan Normal University / Academy of Military Medical Sciences. Method: HPLC-QTOF MS/MS. Date: collected 2017-09-06.
| Specimen or preparation | Analyte | Value | What it is | Sample size and scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| L. brunneoincarnata MHHNU 31030, Dalian, China | Alpha-amanitin | 0.72 mg per g (dry weight, pileus pieces) | reported value (reported) | 1 sample. single sample, +/-0.05 reported |
Long P, et al. Determination of amatoxins in Lepiota brunneoincarnata and Lepiota venenata by HPLC coupled with mass... (1 value)
Source: Long P, et al. Determination of amatoxins in Lepiota brunneoincarnata and Lepiota venenata by HPLC coupled with mass spectrometry. Mycobiology 2020;48(3):204-209. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10635234/ (Table 3, open access, CC BY-NC). Laboratory: Hunan Normal University / Academy of Military Medical Sciences. Method: HPLC-QTOF MS/MS. Date: collected 2017-09-06.
| Specimen or preparation | Analyte | Value | What it is | Sample size and scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| L. brunneoincarnata MHHNU 31030, Dalian, China | Beta-amanitin | 0.57 mg per g (dry weight, pileus pieces) | reported value (reported) | 1 sample. single sample, +/-0.02 reported |
Long P, et al. Determination of amatoxins in Lepiota brunneoincarnata and Lepiota venenata by HPLC coupled with mass... (1 value)
Source: Long P, et al. Determination of amatoxins in Lepiota brunneoincarnata and Lepiota venenata by HPLC coupled with mass spectrometry. Mycobiology 2020;48(3):204-209. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10635234/ (Table 3, open access, CC BY-NC). Laboratory: Hunan Normal University / Academy of Military Medical Sciences. Method: HPLC-QTOF MS/MS. Date: collected 2017-09-06.
| Specimen or preparation | Analyte | Value | What it is | Sample size and scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| L. brunneoincarnata MHHNU 31030, Dalian, China (lowest of three) | Total of alpha- and beta-amanitin | 1.29 mg per g (dry weight, pileus pieces) | reported value (reported) | 1 sample. single sample |
Long P, et al. Determination of amatoxins in Lepiota brunneoincarnata and Lepiota venenata by HPLC coupled with mass... (1 value)
Source: Long P, et al. Determination of amatoxins in Lepiota brunneoincarnata and Lepiota venenata by HPLC coupled with mass spectrometry. Mycobiology 2020;48(3):204-209. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10635234/ (Table 3, open access, CC BY-NC). Laboratory: Hunan Normal University / Academy of Military Medical Sciences. Method: HPLC-QTOF MS/MS. Date: collected 2017-09-06.
| Specimen or preparation | Analyte | Value | What it is | Sample size and scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| L. brunneoincarnata MHHNU 31032, Sichuan, China (poisoning site) | Alpha-amanitin | 1.73 mg per g (dry weight, pileus pieces) | reported value (reported) | 1 sample. single sample, +/-0.01 reported |
Long P, et al. Determination of amatoxins in Lepiota brunneoincarnata and Lepiota venenata by HPLC coupled with mass... (1 value)
Source: Long P, et al. Determination of amatoxins in Lepiota brunneoincarnata and Lepiota venenata by HPLC coupled with mass spectrometry. Mycobiology 2020;48(3):204-209. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10635234/ (Table 3, open access, CC BY-NC). Laboratory: Hunan Normal University / Academy of Military Medical Sciences. Method: HPLC-QTOF MS/MS. Date: collected 2017-09-06.
| Specimen or preparation | Analyte | Value | What it is | Sample size and scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| L. brunneoincarnata MHHNU 31032, Sichuan, China | Beta-amanitin | 0.94 mg per g (dry weight, pileus pieces) | reported value (reported) | 1 sample. single sample, +/-0.01 reported |
Long P, et al. Determination of amatoxins in Lepiota brunneoincarnata and Lepiota venenata by HPLC coupled with mass... (1 value)
Source: Long P, et al. Determination of amatoxins in Lepiota brunneoincarnata and Lepiota venenata by HPLC coupled with mass spectrometry. Mycobiology 2020;48(3):204-209. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10635234/ (Table 3, open access, CC BY-NC). Laboratory: Hunan Normal University / Academy of Military Medical Sciences. Method: HPLC-QTOF MS/MS. Date: collected 2017-09-06.
| Specimen or preparation | Analyte | Value | What it is | Sample size and scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| L. brunneoincarnata MHHNU 31032, Sichuan, China (highest of three) | Total of alpha- and beta-amanitin | 2.67 mg per g (dry weight, pileus pieces) | reported value (reported) | 1 sample. single sample |
Zhong J, et al. Acute hepatic and kidney injury after ingestion of Lepiota brunneoincarnata: report of 2 cases. Toxic... (1 value)
Source: Zhong J, et al. Acute hepatic and kidney injury after ingestion of Lepiota brunneoincarnata: report of 2 cases. Toxicon 2024. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38184282/ (abstract read via Europe PMC). Laboratory: not stated in abstract. Method: LC-MS/MS. Date: published 2024.
| Specimen or preparation | Analyte | Value | What it is | Sample size and scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| L. brunneoincarnata, Chuxiong, Yunnan, China (mushrooms from a 2-person poisoning) | Alpha-amanitin | 123.5 micrograms per g (fresh weight, fruiting body) | mean (reported) | not stated in abstract. mean reported in abstract |
Zhong J, et al. Toxicon 2024. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38184282/ (abstract read via Europe PMC). (1 value)
Source: Zhong J, et al. Toxicon 2024. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38184282/ (abstract read via Europe PMC). Laboratory: not stated in abstract. Method: LC-MS/MS. Date: published 2024.
| Specimen or preparation | Analyte | Value | What it is | Sample size and scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| L. brunneoincarnata, Chuxiong, Yunnan, China | Beta-amanitin | 45.7 micrograms per g (fresh weight, fruiting body) | mean (reported) | not stated in abstract. mean reported in abstract |
Sgambelluri RM, et al. Profiling of amatoxins and phallotoxins in the genus Lepiota by liquid chromatography combined... (1 value)
Source: Sgambelluri RM, et al. Profiling of amatoxins and phallotoxins in the genus Lepiota by liquid chromatography combined with UV absorbance and mass spectrometry. Toxins 2014;6(8):2336-2347. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4147585/ (Table 2, open access). Laboratory: not stated in source. Method: HPLC, absorbance at 305 nm against alpha-amanitin standard curve. Date: published 2014.
| Specimen or preparation | Analyte | Value | What it is | Sample size and scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| L. brunneoincarnata sample 1, Italy | Alpha-amanitin | 0.82 mg per g (dry weight, fruiting body) | reported value (reported) | 1 sample. single sample |
Sgambelluri RM, et al. Profiling of amatoxins and phallotoxins in the genus Lepiota by liquid chromatography combined... (1 value)
Source: Sgambelluri RM, et al. Profiling of amatoxins and phallotoxins in the genus Lepiota by liquid chromatography combined with UV absorbance and mass spectrometry. Toxins 2014;6(8):2336-2347. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4147585/ (Table 2, open access). Laboratory: not stated in source. Method: HPLC, absorbance at 305 nm against alpha-amanitin standard curve. Date: published 2014.
| Specimen or preparation | Analyte | Value | What it is | Sample size and scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| L. brunneoincarnata sample 2, Italy | Alpha-amanitin | 0.69 mg per g (dry weight, fruiting body) | reported value (reported) | 1 sample. single sample |
Kose M, et al. A Case Study: Rare Lepiota brunneoincarnata Poisoning. Wilderness Environ Med 2015. https://pubmed.ncb... (1 value)
Source: Kose M, et al. A Case Study: Rare Lepiota brunneoincarnata Poisoning. Wilderness Environ Med 2015. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25771029/ (abstract read via Europe PMC). Calculated intake from the mushrooms the patient claimed to have eaten, not a measurement in the patient. Laboratory: not stated in abstract. Method: reversed-phase HPLC; 10.59 mg alpha, 9.18 mg beta and 0.16 mg gamma-amanitin. Date: published 2015.
| Specimen or preparation | Analyte | Value | What it is | Sample size and scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| L. brunneoincarnata, Turkey, single poisoning case | Amatoxin taken in (alpha + beta + gamma) | 19.9 mg (in nearly 30 g of the mushrooms the patient said he ate) | calculated (calculated) | 1 case. calculated intake for one patient |
What is Deadly parasol good for?
What the body uses it for, and how strong the evidence is. A normal job in the body is not proof that extra supplements add benefit; each card says which.
Connected topics
Open a group to see how each topic connects and how strong the evidence is.
Body systems (4)
- Hepatic / Liver SystemDocumented risk
The main organ harmed is the liver, with a delayed course over days.
- Liver & DetoxDocumented risk
Liver injury and failure after eating the mushroom; it is a poison, not a detox aid.
- Digestive SystemDocumented risk
The first phase is severe stomach and bowel symptoms with dehydration.
- Kidney & UrinaryDocumented risk
Same kidney injury reports; amatoxin-poisoned patients can need dialysis if kidney failure is severe.
Body parts (3)
- LiverDocumented risk
Amatoxins destroy liver cells and can cause acute liver failure; explanted livers in the Iranian series showed massive necrosis.
- GutDocumented risk
Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhoea come first, typically 6 to 24 hours after eating.
- KidneysDocumented risk
Raised urea and creatinine in several Iranian patients, and acute tubular necrosis in a Chinese case, show kidneys can be hurt too; evidence is case reports.
Root causes (1)
- Environmental ToxinsDocumented risk
A natural toxin ingested by mistake from wild-picked mushrooms.
Conditions & symptoms (3)
- Liver FailureDocumented risk
Death in severe cases follows liver failure with bleeding and confusion.
- Liver Failure, AcuteDocumented risk
Amatoxin poisoning can end in acute liver failure; about half of people in amatoxin liver failure need a transplant (review), and 3 of 18 Iranian patients died.
- Kidney Failure, AcuteDocumented risk
Kidney injury was reported in Iranian patients and acute tubular necrosis in a Chinese case; evidence is case reports.
Documented risks and interactions (9)
- Amatoxin liver poisoning. Deadly parasol (Lepiota brunneoincarnata) contains amatoxins (alpha- and beta-amanitin, amanin, amaninamide). They block an enzyme cells need to make protein and destroy liver cells, which can lead to acute liver failure and death.
- Delayed symptoms and false recovery. Stomach symptoms usually start 6 to 24 hours after eating (6 to 12 hours in the Iranian series), then can ease before liver damage shows around day 3 to 4.
- Cooking, drying and freezing do not make it safe. Amatoxins are heat-stable; boiling and discarding the water does not remove them, and drying does not destroy them.
- Kidney injury reported. Case reports from Yunnan (China) and the Iranian series describe kidney injury, in one patient acute tubular necrosis and chronic kidney insufficiency 11 months later.
- Mistaken for an edible parasol. A French case report describes a patient who ate L. brunneoincarnata having mistaken it for the edible parasol (Macrolepiota procera). Iranian poisonings followed collecting from the wild or buying at local markets.
- Toxin content varies several-fold. Measured alpha-amanitin was 0.69 to 1.73 mg per g dry weight across samples (Italy, China); a Chinese fresh-weight mean was 123.5 micrograms per g. Total amatoxin in three Chinese samples ranged 1.29 to 2.67 mg per g dry weight.
- Treatment is hospital-based. No antidote with proven benefit; care is supportive (fluids, activated charcoal, drugs such as penicillin G, silibinin and N-acetylcysteine used with limited evidence) and liver transplant for liver failure. About half of people in amatoxin liver failure need a transplant (review).
- Among the most reported deadly Lepiota. L. brunneoincarnata is the most frequently reported fatal Lepiota; L. helveola and L. subincarnata are other small Lepiota named in fatal poisonings. In Iran in April and May 2018 about 1,200 people went to hospital emergency rooms after wild mushroom poisoning with L. brunneoincarnata named as the species responsible.
- No food or supplement use. There is no safe preparation and no health product.
Safety first. The deadly parasol contains amatoxins and can cause serious liver damage and death. If anyone may have eaten it, or any wild or unknown mushroom, call Poison Help now at 1-800-222-1222 (US), or your local poison centre or emergency number, and do not wait for symptoms. [1] Call 911 (US) if the person collapses, has a seizure, has trouble breathing or cannot be woken. [1] Stomach symptoms usually start 6 to 24 hours after eating (6 to 12 hours in a series of 18 patients in Iran). They can then ease while the liver is still being damaged, so feeling better is not a sign of safety. [3][8] This page gives no identification help, on purpose. See mushroom poisoning: warning signs and urgent help and the mushroom safety quick reference.
The short version. Lepiota brunneoincarnata is a small wild mushroom that has caused deaths in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. It makes the same family of toxins as the death cap. [4][5] Two other small Lepiota, L. helveola and L. subincarnata, are named in fatal poisonings too. [5][6] It is not a food, not a supplement and not psychoactive. Nothing in the kitchen makes it safe. [3] Treatment is hospital care, and sometimes a liver transplant. [7]
Do not identify wild mushrooms from text, photos or apps
Many wild mushrooms are hard to identify even for trained mycologists, and poisonous and harmless ones often grow side by side. [8] The authors of the Iranian case series note that most mushrooms are hard to tell apart even for experts. [8] The same advice appears on the site: see cooking edible mushrooms safely. Several small Lepiota are toxic, so treat any wild mushroom of unknown identity as unsafe. [5]The toxin and how it acts
- What it is. Amatoxins are ring-shaped peptides. In L. brunneoincarnata, laboratory work found alpha-amanitin, beta-amanitin, amanin and a compound matching amaninamide in every sample tested, and no phallotoxins. [4][5]
- How it harms. Amatoxins block an enzyme (RNA polymerase II) that cells need to make proteins. Liver cells are hit hardest, and the cells lining the kidney tubules and the gut can also be damaged. [8][3]
- How it compares. The first modern analysis found alpha-amanitin in two Italian samples at 0.69 and 0.82 mg per g dry weight, in the same range as Amanita phalloides samples in that study (0.88 and 1.33). [4] This shows potency. It is not a safe-amount guide, and no amount is safe.
- Relatives. Sources list L. helveola and L. subincarnata among fatal species, and L. helveola is named in the older toxin monograph. [5][6][3] We did not find an open measurement of their toxin content.
Cooking, drying and freezing do not make it safe
The international poisons monograph states that amatoxins are heat-stable: boiling and throwing away the water does not remove them, and drying does not destroy them. [3] The Iranian case series also says cooking or freezing does not change their toxicity. [8]Symptom timeline
| Phase | When | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Quiet period | about 6 to 24 hours after eating (series of 18: 6 to 12 hours) | No symptoms. [3][8] |
| Stomach phase | begins 6 to 24 hours, lasts 2 to 3 days | Colicky stomach pain, vomiting, watery diarrhoea, dehydration. [3] |
| Apparent recovery | around 36 to 48 hours | Stomach symptoms ease while liver tests are worsening. [3][8] |
| Liver phase | clear by day 3 to 4 | Jaundice, bleeding problems, confusion and, in the worst cases, coma and death within about a week or two. [3][8] |
In the Iranian series (18 patients, 2018, ages 18 to 67), every patient had raised liver enzymes (ALT peaked at 9,140 IU/L), four were drowsy or confused on arrival, one died on day 2, three had a liver transplant (two died afterwards, one recovered fully) and the others recovered. [8] The same series came from an outbreak in April and May 2018 in which about 1,200 people from western Iran went to hospital emergency rooms with symptoms of wild mushroom poisoning, and L. brunneoincarnata was named as the species responsible. [8]
A Turkish patient who ate a sublethal amount reached an ALT of 5,124 IU/L at 90 hours and was sent home on day 8. [9] A family poisoning report warns that the first stomach illness can be mistaken for gastroenteritis, which delays treatment. [10]
Treatment as described by authorities
There is no simple antidote. The review of amatoxin poisonings (2018) says that apart from liver transplant every treatment is supportive and has not been tested in randomised trials, and that about half of people in amatoxin liver failure need a transplant. [7] Doctors commonly give fluids, activated charcoal, penicillin G, silibinin and N-acetylcysteine; the Iranian authors say none has been shown clearly effective, and quote a death rate of 10 to 30%. [8] An Argentine patient who reached hospital 36 hours after eating was treated with charcoal, N-acetylcysteine, vitamin K and penicillin G and went home after 11 days. [11] People with liver failure should be moved to a hospital with a liver transplant centre. [8] Follow the poison centre. Do not try home remedies and do not make the person vomit.Kidney injury
Two Chinese patients (a mother and son) had both liver and kidney injury after eating the species. One needed repeated kidney replacement therapy for acute tubular necrosis and had chronic kidney insufficiency 11 months later. [12] In the Iranian series four of 18 patients had a raised blood urea and three a raised creatinine. [8] These are case reports, so how often it happens is not known.Edible mushrooms it has been confused with
A French case report describes a patient who ate L. brunneoincarnata in the belief that it was the edible parasol (Macrolepiota procera). The patient recovered with supportive treatment. [13] See the site's parasol mushroom page, which warns that the parasol has poisonous look-alikes, and the shaggy parasol page. This is naming, not teaching: the safe rule is never to eat a wild mushroom on the strength of a description. In the Iranian outbreak people had picked the mushrooms from suburban areas, farms, gardens, hillsides and forests or bought them at local markets. [8] This is a different poison from the green-spored lepiota (Chlorophyllum molybdites), which the parasol page covers.Where it occurs
Papers report poisonings from France, Italy, Turkey, Iran, China and Argentina, where it was found for the first time in 2024. [11][13][8][12][9] A review names it as the most frequently reported fatal Lepiota (the Iranian authors say most reported fatal cases were L. helveola, so the sources differ), but notes that Amanita species cause more fatal mushroom poisonings overall. [7] The Iranian authors call Lepiota poisoning rare compared with Amanita. [8]Lab data and chemistry
Wikidata, the open knowledge base behind the LOTUS natural-products project, has entries for L. brunneoincarnata (Q2375450) and L. helveola (Q2720057) but lists no compounds for either. [14] The compounds below therefore come from the papers we read. A listing means "reported in at least one study of this species", not "present in every mushroom".A. What the laboratory literature reports in this mushroom
| Compound or group | Class | Where in the mushroom / form | Identity | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpha-amanitin | Amatoxin (ring peptide), main toxin | Fruiting body | Wikidata Q110185013 and Q136709147 (as listed on the death-cap page) | [4][5] |
| Beta-amanitin | Amatoxin | Fruiting body (absent from the relative L. venenata) | Wikidata Q104387387 and Q136709148 | [4][5] |
| Amanin | Amatoxin | Fruiting body | Wikidata Q136709153 | [4][5] |
| Amaninamide (or gamma-amanitin, same mass; assigned amaninamide) | Amatoxin | Fruiting body | Wikidata Q136709151 | [4][5] |
| Gamma-amanitin | Amatoxin | Small amount reported in one Turkish case's mushrooms (0.16 mg of about 19.9 mg total) | Wikidata Q104391861 | [9] |
| Phallotoxins (phalloidin, phallacidin) | Weakly toxic when swallowed | Not detected in the species | not applicable | [4] |
The Wikidata identifiers above were taken from the compound list on the death cap page and were not re-checked on Wikidata for this page.
B. Measured values. USDA FoodData Central has no entry for this species. Toxin content is given per gram of dry weight unless stated.
| Measure | Value | Basis | Sample | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpha-amanitin | 0.82 and 0.69 mg per g | dry weight | Two Italian samples, LC-UV-MS | [4] |
| Alpha-amanitin | 0.72, 0.85 and 1.73 mg per g | dry weight, cap pieces | Three Chinese samples (two from poisoning sites), HPLC-HRMS | [5] |
| Beta-amanitin | 0.57, 0.72 and 0.94 mg per g | dry weight, cap pieces | Same three Chinese samples | [5] |
| Total alpha plus beta | 1.29 to 2.67 mg per g | dry weight | Same three Chinese samples | [5] |
| Alpha- and beta-amanitin | 2.38 and 1.97 mg per g | dry weight | Turkish samples, quoted second-hand by Long et al.; original not opened | [5] |
| Alpha-amanitin | 123.5 micrograms per g (mean) | fresh weight | Mushrooms from a 2-person poisoning, Yunnan, China, LC-MS/MS | [12] |
| Beta-amanitin | 45.7 micrograms per g (mean) | fresh weight | Same | [12] |
| Amatoxin taken in | about 19.9 mg (10.59 alpha, 9.18 beta, 0.16 gamma) from nearly 30 g | calculated for one patient | Turkish case; calculated from the mushrooms he said he ate | [9] |
No open measured value was found for L. helveola or L. subincarnata.
C. What the numbers do and do not mean
- Even in three Chinese samples total amatoxin differed twofold (1.29 versus 2.67 mg per g), so no single mushroom can be called mild or strong. [5]
- Different methods and papers do not agree, and dry-weight and fresh-weight figures cannot be compared directly. We show both and pick neither.
- A lab value measures toxin in a sample. It cannot tell anyone how safe a bite is.
- The patient-intake figure is a calculation from leftover mushrooms, not a blood measurement. [9]
- These are clinical-toxicology numbers. The species has no supplement or health use.
Related pages
Frequently asked questions
What do I do if someone ate a deadly parasol or any wild mushroom?
Call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 (US), or the local poison centre or emergency number, right away. Do not wait for symptoms. Call 911 for collapse, seizure or breathing trouble. [1]
How long until symptoms start?
Usually 6 to 24 hours, with a quiet period first, then an easing of stomach symptoms while the liver is failing. [3][8]
Does cooking or drying remove the poison?
No. Amatoxins are heat-stable and survive boiling and drying. [3]
Is it the same poison as the death cap?
Both make amatoxins, mainly alpha- and beta-amanitin. Toxin levels vary a lot in both. See death cap. [4][5]
Can I tell it from the edible parasol with an app or a description?
No. Do not identify wild mushrooms from text, photos or apps. A French report describes a poisoning after exactly this mix-up. [13]
Is it psychoactive?
No. It is a liver poison. [3]
References
- America's Poison Centers. Need immediate assistance?. Read 2026-10-23.
- Kose M, et al. A Case Study: Rare Lepiota brunneoincarnata Poisoning. Wilderness Environ Med 2015. PubMed 25771029. Abstract read via Europe PMC 2026-10-23 (sublethal case; patient reached hospital 12 hours after eating).
- Jaeger A, Flesch F, Sauder P, Kopferschmitt J. Amatoxins, Poisons Information Monograph G021. IPCS INCHEM, 1989 (peer reviewed 1990). Read 2026-10-23. Old; used for the timeline, heat stability and the species list only, not for treatment details.
- Sgambelluri RM, et al. Profiling of amatoxins and phallotoxins in the genus Lepiota by liquid chromatography combined with UV absorbance and mass spectrometry. Toxins 2014;6(8):2336-2347. PMC4147585. Read 2026-10-23 (open access; results section).
- Long P, et al. Determination of amatoxins in Lepiota brunneoincarnata and Lepiota venenata by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Mycobiology 2020;48(3):204-209. PMC10635234. Read 2026-10-23 (open access).
- Anbardar 2024, as in [8] (discussion section): says most reported fatal Lepiota poisonings involved L. helveola and that Lepiota toxicity was first noted in 1891. Original reports behind it were not opened. The introduction of [5] likewise names L. subincarnata; those originals were not opened either.
- Amatoxin-containing mushroom poisonings: species, toxidromes, treatments, and outcomes. Wilderness Environ Med 2018;29(1). PubMed 29325729. Abstract read 2026-10-23 via Europe PMC.
- Anbardar MH, et al. Severe hepatotoxicity in mushroom poisoning by Lepiota brunneoincarnata from complete recovery to liver transplantation: a case series. Int J Hepatol 2024. PMC10824578. Read 2026-10-23 (open access).
- Kose M, et al. 2015, as in [2]: toxin analysis of the mushrooms the patient said he ate (HPLC) and ALT course. Abstract only.
- Amatoxin-containing mushroom (Lepiota brunneoincarnata) familial poisoning. Pediatr Emerg Care 2015. PubMed 25831030. Abstract only, read via Europe PMC.
- Successful treatment of Lepiota brunneoincarnata poisoning in Argentina. Medicina (B Aires) 2024. PubMed 38907978. Abstract only, via Europe PMC (the journal PDF would not open).
- Zhong J, et al. Acute hepatic and kidney injury after ingestion of Lepiota brunneoincarnata: report of 2 cases. Toxicon 2024. PubMed 38184282. Abstract only, via Europe PMC.
- Delacour H, et al. Intoxication phalloidienne par consommation de Lepiota brunneoincarnata. Immunoanalyse & Biologie Specialisee 2009;24(1):50-55. DOI 10.1016/j.immbio.2008.11.003. Abstract page only; full text is behind a paywall.
- Wikidata (CC0): Lepiota brunneoincarnata, Q2375450 and Lepiota helveola, Q2720057, via the LOTUS project; read from
docs/research/mushroom-lab-sources/lotus-deadly-parasol.json, retrieved 2026-10-23 (no compounds listed).