Horse Mushroom
Horse mushroom (Agaricus arvensis) is a wild relative of the shop button mushroom; here is what is measured in it, the dangerous look-alikes reported in poisoning literature, metals, and why there is no supplement evidence.
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. 29 values from 29 sources.
Chemical, Bioactive, and Antioxidant Potential of Twenty Wild Culinary Mushroom Species. Biomed Res Int 2015. https:/... (1 value)
Source: Chemical, Bioactive, and Antioxidant Potential of Twenty Wild Culinary Mushroom Species. Biomed Res Int 2015. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4496587/ (open access). Laboratory: study authors. Method: proximate analysis as in paper. Date: not stated.
| Specimen or preparation | Analyte | Value | What it is | Sample size and scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agaricus arvensis, wild, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India, 2300 m | Ash | 0.96 percent (basis not stated in the paper's table) | mean (reported) | triplicate; sample count not stated. single study sample set |
Chemical, Bioactive, and Antioxidant Potential of Twenty Wild Culinary Mushroom Species. Biomed Res Int 2015. https:/... (1 value)
Source: Chemical, Bioactive, and Antioxidant Potential of Twenty Wild Culinary Mushroom Species. Biomed Res Int 2015. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4496587/ (open access). Laboratory: study authors. Method: proximate analysis as in paper. Date: not stated.
| Specimen or preparation | Analyte | Value | What it is | Sample size and scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agaricus arvensis, wild, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India, 2300 m | Carbohydrate (by difference) | 57.12 percent (basis not stated in the paper's table) | mean (reported) | triplicate; sample count not stated. single study sample set |
Chemical, Bioactive, and Antioxidant Potential of Twenty Wild Culinary Mushroom Species. Biomed Res Int 2015. https:/... (1 value)
Source: Chemical, Bioactive, and Antioxidant Potential of Twenty Wild Culinary Mushroom Species. Biomed Res Int 2015. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4496587/ (open access). Laboratory: study authors. Method: proximate analysis as in paper. Date: not stated.
| Specimen or preparation | Analyte | Value | What it is | Sample size and scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agaricus arvensis, wild, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India, 2300 m | Crude fat | 0.22 percent (basis not stated in the paper's table) | mean (reported) | triplicate; sample count not stated. single study sample set |
Chemical, Bioactive, and Antioxidant Potential of Twenty Wild Culinary Mushroom Species. Biomed Res Int 2015. https:/... (1 value)
Source: Chemical, Bioactive, and Antioxidant Potential of Twenty Wild Culinary Mushroom Species. Biomed Res Int 2015. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4496587/ (open access). Laboratory: study authors. Method: proximate analysis as in paper. Date: not stated.
| Specimen or preparation | Analyte | Value | What it is | Sample size and scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agaricus arvensis, wild, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India, 2300 m | Dietary fibre | 2.11 percent (basis not stated in the paper's table) | mean (reported) | triplicate; sample count not stated. single study sample set |
Chemical, Bioactive, and Antioxidant Potential of Twenty Wild Culinary Mushroom Species. Biomed Res Int 2015. https:/... (1 value)
Source: Chemical, Bioactive, and Antioxidant Potential of Twenty Wild Culinary Mushroom Species. Biomed Res Int 2015. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4496587/ (open access). Laboratory: study authors. Method: proximate analysis as in paper. Date: not stated.
| Specimen or preparation | Analyte | Value | What it is | Sample size and scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agaricus arvensis, wild, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India, 2300 m | Protein | 22.63 percent (basis not stated in the paper's table) | mean (reported) | triplicate; sample count not stated. single study sample set |
Quantification of Minerals in Edible Mushrooms via Optimized Microwave-Assisted Digestion. Foods 2024. https://pmc.nc... (1 value)
Source: Quantification of Minerals in Edible Mushrooms via Optimized Microwave-Assisted Digestion. Foods 2024. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11728415/ (open access). Laboratory: study authors. Method: acid digestion; FAAS (Mg, Fe), ICP-OES (Na, K, Ca). Date: 2019.
| Specimen or preparation | Analyte | Value | What it is | Sample size and scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agaricus arvensis (sample W6), wild, Bouhachem, Tangier, Morocco | Calcium | 831 mg per kg (dry weight, freeze-dried whole fruiting body) | mean (reported) | 2 analytical runs (24 specimens collected). single study sample set |
Quantification of Minerals in Edible Mushrooms via Optimized Microwave-Assisted Digestion. Foods 2024. https://pmc.nc... (1 value)
Source: Quantification of Minerals in Edible Mushrooms via Optimized Microwave-Assisted Digestion. Foods 2024. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11728415/ (open access). Laboratory: study authors. Method: acid digestion; FAAS (Mg, Fe), ICP-OES (Na, K, Ca). Date: 2019.
| Specimen or preparation | Analyte | Value | What it is | Sample size and scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agaricus arvensis (sample W6), wild, Bouhachem, Tangier, Morocco | Iron | 580 mg per kg (dry weight, freeze-dried whole fruiting body) | mean (reported) | 2 analytical runs (24 specimens collected). single study sample set |
Quantification of Minerals in Edible Mushrooms via Optimized Microwave-Assisted Digestion. Foods 2024. https://pmc.nc... (1 value)
Source: Quantification of Minerals in Edible Mushrooms via Optimized Microwave-Assisted Digestion. Foods 2024. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11728415/ (open access). Laboratory: study authors. Method: acid digestion; FAAS (Mg, Fe), ICP-OES (Na, K, Ca). Date: 2019.
| Specimen or preparation | Analyte | Value | What it is | Sample size and scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agaricus arvensis (sample W6), wild, Bouhachem, Tangier, Morocco | Magnesium | 1369 mg per kg (dry weight, freeze-dried whole fruiting body) | mean (reported) | 2 analytical runs (24 specimens collected). single study sample set |
Quantification of Minerals in Edible Mushrooms via Optimized Microwave-Assisted Digestion. Foods 2024. https://pmc.nc... (1 value)
Source: Quantification of Minerals in Edible Mushrooms via Optimized Microwave-Assisted Digestion. Foods 2024. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11728415/ (open access). Laboratory: study authors. Method: acid digestion; FAAS (Mg, Fe), ICP-OES (Na, K, Ca). Date: 2019.
| Specimen or preparation | Analyte | Value | What it is | Sample size and scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agaricus arvensis (sample W6), wild, Bouhachem, Tangier, Morocco | Potassium | 44130 mg per kg (dry weight, freeze-dried whole fruiting body) | mean (reported) | 2 analytical runs (24 specimens collected). single study sample set |
Quantification of Minerals in Edible Mushrooms via Optimized Microwave-Assisted Digestion. Foods 2024. https://pmc.nc... (1 value)
Source: Quantification of Minerals in Edible Mushrooms via Optimized Microwave-Assisted Digestion. Foods 2024. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11728415/ (open access). Laboratory: study authors. Method: acid digestion; FAAS (Mg, Fe), ICP-OES (Na, K, Ca). Date: 2019.
| Specimen or preparation | Analyte | Value | What it is | Sample size and scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agaricus arvensis (sample W6), wild, Bouhachem, Tangier, Morocco | Sodium | 1052 mg per kg (dry weight, freeze-dried whole fruiting body) | mean (reported) | 2 analytical runs (24 specimens collected). single study sample set |
Phenolic-Rich Wild Edible Macrofungi: Antimicrobial Activity and Antioxidant Potential. Molecules 2026. https://pmc.n... (1 value)
Source: Phenolic-Rich Wild Edible Macrofungi: Antimicrobial Activity and Antioxidant Potential. Molecules 2026. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13028678/ (open access). Laboratory: study authors. Method: colorimetric assays; LC-MS/MS for phenolics. Date: not stated.
| Specimen or preparation | Analyte | Value | What it is | Sample size and scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agaricus arvensis, wild; collection site in table not seen | ABTS antioxidant capacity | 1.9 mmol Trolox equivalents per g (dry weight, methanol extract) | mean (reported) | not stated. single study sample set |
Phenolic-Rich Wild Edible Macrofungi: Antimicrobial Activity and Antioxidant Potential. Molecules 2026. https://pmc.n... (1 value)
Source: Phenolic-Rich Wild Edible Macrofungi: Antimicrobial Activity and Antioxidant Potential. Molecules 2026. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13028678/ (open access). Laboratory: study authors. Method: colorimetric assays; LC-MS/MS for phenolics. Date: not stated.
| Specimen or preparation | Analyte | Value | What it is | Sample size and scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agaricus arvensis, wild; collection site in table not seen | Catechin | 16.359 microgram per g (dry weight) | mean (reported) | not stated. single study sample set |
Phenolic-Rich Wild Edible Macrofungi: Antimicrobial Activity and Antioxidant Potential. Molecules 2026. https://pmc.n... (1 value)
Source: Phenolic-Rich Wild Edible Macrofungi: Antimicrobial Activity and Antioxidant Potential. Molecules 2026. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13028678/ (open access). Laboratory: study authors. Method: colorimetric assays; LC-MS/MS for phenolics. Date: not stated.
| Specimen or preparation | Analyte | Value | What it is | Sample size and scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agaricus arvensis, wild; collection site in table not seen | Cinnamic acid | 65.178 microgram per g (dry weight) | mean (reported) | not stated. single study sample set |
Phenolic-Rich Wild Edible Macrofungi: Antimicrobial Activity and Antioxidant Potential. Molecules 2026. https://pmc.n... (1 value)
Source: Phenolic-Rich Wild Edible Macrofungi: Antimicrobial Activity and Antioxidant Potential. Molecules 2026. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13028678/ (open access). Laboratory: study authors. Method: colorimetric assays; LC-MS/MS for phenolics. Date: not stated.
| Specimen or preparation | Analyte | Value | What it is | Sample size and scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agaricus arvensis, wild; collection site in table not seen | DPPH antioxidant capacity | 4.92 mmol Trolox equivalents per g (dry weight, methanol extract) | mean (reported) | not stated. single study sample set |
Phenolic-Rich Wild Edible Macrofungi: Antimicrobial Activity and Antioxidant Potential. Molecules 2026. https://pmc.n... (1 value)
Source: Phenolic-Rich Wild Edible Macrofungi: Antimicrobial Activity and Antioxidant Potential. Molecules 2026. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13028678/ (open access). Laboratory: study authors. Method: colorimetric assays; LC-MS/MS for phenolics. Date: not stated.
| Specimen or preparation | Analyte | Value | What it is | Sample size and scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agaricus arvensis, wild; collection site in table not seen | FRAP antioxidant capacity | 11.16 mmol ascorbic acid equivalents per g (dry weight, methanol extract) | mean (reported) | not stated. single study sample set |
Phenolic-Rich Wild Edible Macrofungi: Antimicrobial Activity and Antioxidant Potential. Molecules 2026. https://pmc.n... (1 value)
Source: Phenolic-Rich Wild Edible Macrofungi: Antimicrobial Activity and Antioxidant Potential. Molecules 2026. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13028678/ (open access). Laboratory: study authors. Method: colorimetric assays; LC-MS/MS for phenolics. Date: not stated.
| Specimen or preparation | Analyte | Value | What it is | Sample size and scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agaricus arvensis, wild; collection site in table not seen | Total phenolics | 27.14 mg gallic acid equivalents per g (dry weight, methanol extract) | mean (reported) | not stated. single study sample set |
Family and species as determinants modulating mineral composition of selected wild-growing mushroom species. Environ... (1 value)
Source: Family and species as determinants modulating mineral composition of selected wild-growing mushroom species. Environ Sci Pollut Res 2021. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7782397/ (open access). Laboratory: study authors. Method: dried 65 C, acid digestion, ICP-OES. Date: Sept-Oct 2018.
| Specimen or preparation | Analyte | Value | What it is | Sample size and scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agaricus arvensis, wild, Wielkopolska Province, Poland, 2018 | Arsenic | 1.43 mg per kg (dry weight, whole fruiting body) | mean (reported) | 9 sites, 3 fruiting bodies per sample. single study sample set |
Family and species as determinants modulating mineral composition of selected wild-growing mushroom species. Environ... (1 value)
Source: Family and species as determinants modulating mineral composition of selected wild-growing mushroom species. Environ Sci Pollut Res 2021. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7782397/ (open access). Laboratory: study authors. Method: dried 65 C, acid digestion, ICP-OES. Date: Sept-Oct 2018.
| Specimen or preparation | Analyte | Value | What it is | Sample size and scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agaricus arvensis, wild, Wielkopolska Province, Poland, 2018 | Cadmium | 1.19 mg per kg (dry weight, whole fruiting body) | mean (reported) | 9 sites, 3 fruiting bodies per sample. single study sample set |
Family and species as determinants modulating mineral composition of selected wild-growing mushroom species. Environ... (1 value)
Source: Family and species as determinants modulating mineral composition of selected wild-growing mushroom species. Environ Sci Pollut Res 2021. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7782397/ (open access). Laboratory: study authors. Method: dried 65 C, acid digestion, ICP-OES. Date: Sept-Oct 2018.
| Specimen or preparation | Analyte | Value | What it is | Sample size and scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agaricus arvensis, wild, Wielkopolska Province, Poland, 2018 | Calcium | 340 mg per kg (dry weight, whole fruiting body) | mean (reported) | 9 sites, 3 fruiting bodies per sample. single study sample set |
Family and species as determinants modulating mineral composition of selected wild-growing mushroom species. Environ... (1 value)
Source: Family and species as determinants modulating mineral composition of selected wild-growing mushroom species. Environ Sci Pollut Res 2021. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7782397/ (open access). Laboratory: study authors. Method: dried 65 C, acid digestion, ICP-OES. Date: Sept-Oct 2018.
| Specimen or preparation | Analyte | Value | What it is | Sample size and scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agaricus arvensis, wild, Wielkopolska Province, Poland, 2018 | Copper | 23.8 mg per kg (dry weight, whole fruiting body) | mean (reported) | 9 sites, 3 fruiting bodies per sample. single study sample set |
Family and species as determinants modulating mineral composition of selected wild-growing mushroom species. Environ... (1 value)
Source: Family and species as determinants modulating mineral composition of selected wild-growing mushroom species. Environ Sci Pollut Res 2021. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7782397/ (open access). Laboratory: study authors. Method: dried 65 C, acid digestion, ICP-OES. Date: Sept-Oct 2018.
| Specimen or preparation | Analyte | Value | What it is | Sample size and scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agaricus arvensis, wild, Wielkopolska Province, Poland, 2018 | Iron | 103 mg per kg (dry weight, whole fruiting body) | mean (reported) | 9 sites, 3 fruiting bodies per sample. single study sample set |
Family and species as determinants modulating mineral composition of selected wild-growing mushroom species. Environ... (1 value)
Source: Family and species as determinants modulating mineral composition of selected wild-growing mushroom species. Environ Sci Pollut Res 2021. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7782397/ (open access). Laboratory: study authors. Method: dried 65 C, acid digestion, ICP-OES. Date: Sept-Oct 2018.
| Specimen or preparation | Analyte | Value | What it is | Sample size and scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agaricus arvensis, wild, Wielkopolska Province, Poland, 2018 | Lead | 1.76 mg per kg (dry weight, whole fruiting body) | mean (reported) | 9 sites, 3 fruiting bodies per sample. single study sample set |
Family and species as determinants modulating mineral composition of selected wild-growing mushroom species. Environ... (1 value)
Source: Family and species as determinants modulating mineral composition of selected wild-growing mushroom species. Environ Sci Pollut Res 2021. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7782397/ (open access). Laboratory: study authors. Method: dried 65 C, acid digestion, ICP-OES. Date: Sept-Oct 2018.
| Specimen or preparation | Analyte | Value | What it is | Sample size and scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agaricus arvensis, wild, Wielkopolska Province, Poland, 2018 | Magnesium | 827 mg per kg (dry weight, whole fruiting body) | mean (reported) | 9 sites, 3 fruiting bodies per sample. single study sample set |
Family and species as determinants modulating mineral composition of selected wild-growing mushroom species. Environ... (1 value)
Source: Family and species as determinants modulating mineral composition of selected wild-growing mushroom species. Environ Sci Pollut Res 2021. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7782397/ (open access). Laboratory: study authors. Method: dried 65 C, acid digestion, ICP-OES. Date: Sept-Oct 2018.
| Specimen or preparation | Analyte | Value | What it is | Sample size and scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agaricus arvensis, wild, Wielkopolska Province, Poland, 2018 | Mercury | 0.421 mg per kg (dry weight, whole fruiting body) | mean (reported) | 9 sites, 3 fruiting bodies per sample. single study sample set |
Family and species as determinants modulating mineral composition of selected wild-growing mushroom species. Environ... (1 value)
Source: Family and species as determinants modulating mineral composition of selected wild-growing mushroom species. Environ Sci Pollut Res 2021. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7782397/ (open access). Laboratory: study authors. Method: dried 65 C, acid digestion, ICP-OES. Date: Sept-Oct 2018.
| Specimen or preparation | Analyte | Value | What it is | Sample size and scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agaricus arvensis, wild, Wielkopolska Province, Poland, 2018 | Phosphorus | 15800 mg per kg (dry weight, whole fruiting body) | mean (reported) | 9 sites, 3 fruiting bodies per sample. single study sample set |
Family and species as determinants modulating mineral composition of selected wild-growing mushroom species. Environ... (1 value)
Source: Family and species as determinants modulating mineral composition of selected wild-growing mushroom species. Environ Sci Pollut Res 2021. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7782397/ (open access). Laboratory: study authors. Method: dried 65 C, acid digestion, ICP-OES. Date: Sept-Oct 2018.
| Specimen or preparation | Analyte | Value | What it is | Sample size and scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agaricus arvensis, wild, Wielkopolska Province, Poland, 2018 | Potassium | 19000 mg per kg (dry weight, whole fruiting body) | mean (reported) | 9 sites, 3 fruiting bodies per sample. single study sample set |
Family and species as determinants modulating mineral composition of selected wild-growing mushroom species. Environ... (1 value)
Source: Family and species as determinants modulating mineral composition of selected wild-growing mushroom species. Environ Sci Pollut Res 2021. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7782397/ (open access). Laboratory: study authors. Method: dried 65 C, acid digestion, ICP-OES. Date: Sept-Oct 2018.
| Specimen or preparation | Analyte | Value | What it is | Sample size and scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agaricus arvensis, wild, Wielkopolska Province, Poland, 2018 | Selenium | 8.55 mg per kg (dry weight, whole fruiting body) | mean (reported) | 9 sites, 3 fruiting bodies per sample. single study sample set |
Family and species as determinants modulating mineral composition of selected wild-growing mushroom species. Environ... (1 value)
Source: Family and species as determinants modulating mineral composition of selected wild-growing mushroom species. Environ Sci Pollut Res 2021. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7782397/ (open access). Laboratory: study authors. Method: dried 65 C, acid digestion, ICP-OES. Date: Sept-Oct 2018.
| Specimen or preparation | Analyte | Value | What it is | Sample size and scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agaricus arvensis, wild, Wielkopolska Province, Poland, 2018 | Sodium | 43.1 mg per kg (dry weight, whole fruiting body) | mean (reported) | 9 sites, 3 fruiting bodies per sample. single study sample set |
Family and species as determinants modulating mineral composition of selected wild-growing mushroom species. Environ... (1 value)
Source: Family and species as determinants modulating mineral composition of selected wild-growing mushroom species. Environ Sci Pollut Res 2021. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7782397/ (open access). Laboratory: study authors. Method: dried 65 C, acid digestion, ICP-OES. Date: Sept-Oct 2018.
| Specimen or preparation | Analyte | Value | What it is | Sample size and scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agaricus arvensis, wild, Wielkopolska Province, Poland, 2018 | Zinc | 252 mg per kg (dry weight, whole fruiting body) | mean (reported) | 9 sites, 3 fruiting bodies per sample. single study sample set |
What is Horse mushroom 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.
As a food (nutrition)
Preliminary or mixedHorse mushroom is a wild culinary mushroom. Dry-weight potassium was 19,000 to 44,130 mg per kg in two studies, and selenium 8.55 mg per kg in a Polish study. USDA has no entry.
Supplements: No supplement product or study was found; this page covers it as food.
Laboratory antioxidant activity and phenolics
Lab or animal research onlyA methanol extract had total phenolics of 27.14 mg gallic-acid equivalents per g dry weight and the highest FRAP score of four wild mushrooms in one study.
Supplements: Not a supplement question.
Liver-damage markers in rats
Lab or animal research onlyAn extract moved liver-damage markers toward normal in rats given carbon tetrachloride (abstract only).
Supplements: Not a supplement question.
Medicinal or supplement use
Not enough evidenceNo human trial and no supplement products were found.
Supplements: No evidence.
Connected topics
Open a group to see how each topic connects and how strong the evidence is.
Body systems (1)
- Hepatic / Liver SystemDocumented risk
Same look-alike risk: amatoxin poisoning damages the liver and is not made safe by cooking.
Body parts (1)
- LiverDocumented risk
The deadly death cap, reported to be confused with horse mushroom, causes liver failure after a delay of many hours.
Root causes (2)
- Environmental ToxinsDocumented risk
As a wild mushroom it takes up metals from the soil; the origin of the mushroom matters.
- Heavy Metal ExposureDocumented risk
Wild horse mushroom from one Polish study held cadmium, lead, mercury and arsenic at about 0.4 to 1.8 mg per kg dry weight; place of growth matters.
Conditions & symptoms (4)
- Cadmium PoisoningDocumented risk
Mushrooms can take up cadmium (1.19 mg per kg dry weight in one Polish sample set); no case of harm from horse mushroom was found.
- Food PoisoningDocumented risk
Yellow-staining Agaricus relatives cause stomach and bowel poisoning.
- Lead PoisoningDocumented risk
Lead 1.76 mg per kg dry weight in one Polish sample set; no case of harm was found.
- Liver Failure, AcuteDocumented risk
Acute liver failure follows death cap poisoning; the death cap has been reported to be mistaken for horse mushroom.
Documented risks and interactions (4)
- Look-alike risk: death cap. A 2024 toxin review says the deadly death cap can easily be confused with the edible horse mushroom. Symptoms can be delayed 6 to 48 hours, then liver failure can follow; amatoxins survive boiling and drying.
- Look-alike risk: yellow-staining Agaricus. A review links yellow-staining Agaricus species to stomach and bowel poisoning.
- Cooking and agaritine-type compounds. A review lists agaritinal, a relative of agaritine, in significant amounts in A. arvensis and advises cooking Agaricus; no number is given for this species.
- Metals in wild horse mushroom. In a Polish study of nine sites, A. arvensis held cadmium 1.19, lead 1.76, mercury 0.421 and arsenic 1.43 mg per kg dry weight.
Safety first. If anyone has eaten a wild mushroom and you are worried, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 (US) right away; other countries, call your local poison centre or emergency number. Poison centres say it is never safe to eat a wild mushroom unless a mushroom identification expert says so, and that cooking does not make a poisonous mushroom safe. [5] This page does not help anyone identify or gather mushrooms. Do not identify wild fungi from text, photos or an app.
The short version. The horse mushroom (Agaricus arvensis) is a wild relative of the button, cremini and portobello mushroom. It is eaten as a food in parts of Europe and elsewhere. We found no human trial of any kind and no supplement products for it. Its main place in the safety literature is as an edible mushroom that the deadly death cap has been reported to be mistaken for. [4] The numbers measured in it come from a handful of small studies and vary a great deal from place to place.
Two separate questions. Eating the mushroom as food is one question (nutrition, cooking, safety). Taking an extract or powder as a supplement is another. For this species there is nothing to say about the second.
What it is
Agaricus arvensis Schaeff. is an accepted species in the family Agaricaceae. [1] It is a cousin of the cultivated button mushroom, A. bisporus; for that mushroom read button, cremini and portobello mushrooms, and for another wild cousin, the field mushroom. Results for one Agaricus species cannot be assumed for another. Only the fruiting body is eaten.Traditional use
Proper evidence not found for a documented traditional medicinal use. The sources we read treat it as a food, and a laboratory paper on it suggests only that it might be used in nutritional food products. [10]What research shows
| Question | What the source found | Strength of evidence | Form studied |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health effects of eating it, in people | Proper evidence not found. We searched Europe PMC for Agaricus arvensis; the results were about chemistry, metals, ecology and lab extracts, not human outcomes. | No good evidence either way | Not applicable |
| Antioxidant tests | A 2026 study of four wild mushrooms found a methanol extract of A. arvensis had a high iron-reducing (FRAP) score, the highest of the four. [8] | Laboratory test only | Methanol extract of dried fruiting body |
| Protection of rats from a liver poison | A 2018 Turkish study reported that an A. arvensis extract moved liver-damage blood markers toward normal in rats given carbon tetrachloride. We read the abstract only. [10] | Animal study; not a result in people | Extract, rats |
| Supplements | Proper evidence not found. | Not assessed | Not applicable |
A result in a test tube or in rats does not tell us what happens when a person eats a cooked mushroom.
Do not identify wild fungi from text or an app
This page gives no identification help, on purpose. What the published literature says:- **Death cap (Amanita phalloides).** A 2024 review of mushroom toxins says the death cap can easily be confused with the edible horse mushroom (and with a second edible species). [4] The poisoning has a delay: the review describes a first quiet period of about 6 to 48 hours before severe stomach symptoms, and says that a start of severe stomach symptoms 8 to 24 hours after a mushroom meal suggests amatoxin poisoning. Death can occur up to 6 to 8 days after eating. It also says amatoxins are heat-stable, so boiling or drying does not reliably inactivate them. [4] Liver transplant may be the only option once the liver has failed. [4] For this toxin see the mushroom poisoning page.
- **Yellow-staining Agaricus.** A review links the yellow-staining A. xanthodermus and a relative to stomach and bowel poisoning. [3] The field mushroom page gives hospital figures for that group. We did not find a source we could open that gives safe rules for telling these apart, so we give none.
- If anyone may have eaten a wild mushroom they could not name, call Poison Help or your local emergency number, and do not wait for symptoms. Symptoms can be delayed for many hours, and some mushrooms cause no immediate effects but still damage the liver. [5]
As a food
- Cook it. A French toxicology review lists the compound agaritinal, a relative of agaritine, in "significant amounts" in A. arvensis, and notes that the species has been among those reported to a North American poisoning registry. It gives no number for this species. [3] For Agaricus mushrooms in general, the same review says cooking lowers agaritine, and advises cooking for at least 10 minutes in boiling water and discarding the water for the morel and button-mushroom groups it covers. [3] We did not find a source with a rule written for horse mushroom alone, so cooking is the cautious choice. See cooking edible mushrooms safely and the agaritine section on the button mushroom page.
- Nutrition. USDA FoodData Central has no entry for this mushroom (checked in the files we hold), so we cannot give a tested nutrient table. The measured values from papers are under "Lab data" below. See mushroom nutrition for tested shop mushrooms.
- Fresh and dried. Fresh mushrooms are mostly water, so a dried amount holds much more of everything per gram. See fresh vs dried mushrooms.
Fruiting body, mycelium and grain products
The mushroom is eaten as a fruiting body. We found no mycelium-on-grain product and no study of its mycelium. See fruiting body vs mycelium.Forms you may see
- Fresh wild fruiting body, cooked: the food; everything above applies to this form.
- Dried: soak and cook as for any dried wild mushroom; drying does not remove poisons of look-alikes. [4]
- Laboratory extract: made in research with methanol or similar; not a food and not a product we could find.
- Powders, capsules, tinctures, coffee blends: none found for this species.
Lab data and chemistry
This section is about what laboratories have measured in the horse mushroom. It does not show that eating it improves any health condition.A. What the laboratory literature reports in this mushroom. Wikidata (the open knowledge base behind the LOTUS natural-products project) lists 6 compounds for Agaricus arvensis (taxon Q690801), none with a paper attached, so they are identities only. [2] Two are drimane sesquiterpenoids and four are benzaldehyde-hydrazine compounds, the chemical family that also includes the agaritine-type compounds discussed above. A presence entry means "reported in at least one study of this species", not "present in every product".
| Compound or group | Class | Where in the mushroom / form | Identity | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11,12-Dihydroxy-15-drimeneoic acid | Drimane sesquiterpenoid | Not stated | ChEBI 202431; Wikidata Q77371296 | [2] |
| 3,11,15-Trihydroxydrimene | Drimane sesquiterpenoid | Not stated | ChEBI 201180; Wikidata Q77281522 | [2] |
| 4-[2-(Phenylmethylidene)hydrazin-1-yl]benzaldehyde and its (2E) form | Benzaldehyde hydrazine | Not stated | Wikidata Q105176531, Q105176532 (no ChEBI) | [2] |
| Two 4-hydroxyphenyl analogues of the above | Benzaldehyde hydrazines | Not stated | Wikidata Q105350352, Q105350353 (no ChEBI) | [2] |
| Agaritinal-type hydrazine compounds | Hydrazine derivatives | Fruiting body; no value given | not single compounds | [3] |
| Cinnamic acid; catechin | Phenolics | Methanol extract, dried fruiting body | not looked up | [8] |
| Protocatechuic acid; p-hydroxybenzoic acid | Phenolic acids | Extract | not looked up | [10] |
| Beta-carotene; lycopene; tocopherols (alpha, beta, gamma) | Pigments and vitamin E forms | Mushroom from Shimla, India | not single compounds | [9] |
| Glucose, rhamnose, xylose, mannose | Sugars in the carbohydrate fraction | Same | not single compounds | [9] |
B. Measured values. Each row is one study's measurement, not a property of every horse mushroom. No ergothioneine, vitamin D2 or beta-glucan value for this species was found in an open source.
| Measure | Value | Basis | Sample | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Potassium | 44,130 mg/kg (Morocco); 19,000 mg/kg (Poland) | dry weight | Morocco: wild, Bouhachem near Tangier, 2019, freeze-dried, mean of 2 runs; Poland: 9 sites, 3 fruiting bodies each, 2018, ICP-OES | [6] [7] |
| Magnesium | 1,369 mg/kg (Morocco); 827 mg/kg (Poland) | dry weight | same | [6] [7] |
| Iron | 580 mg/kg (Morocco); 103 mg/kg (Poland) | dry weight | same | [6] [7] |
| Calcium; sodium | 831 and 1,052 mg/kg (Morocco); 340 and 43.1 mg/kg (Poland) | dry weight | same | [6] [7] |
| Phosphorus | 15,800 mg/kg | dry weight | Poland | [7] |
| Zinc; copper | 252 mg/kg; 23.8 mg/kg | dry weight | Poland | [7] |
| Selenium | 8.55 mg/kg | dry weight | Poland (the highest of the species in that paper) | [7] |
| Cadmium; lead | 1.19 mg/kg; 1.76 mg/kg | dry weight | Poland | [7] |
| Mercury; arsenic | 0.421 mg/kg; 1.43 mg/kg | dry weight | Poland | [7] |
| Protein | 22.63% | basis not stated in the table | Shimla, India, 2300 m altitude | [9] |
| Crude fat; fibre; ash | 0.22%; 2.11%; 0.96% | basis not stated | same | [9] |
| Carbohydrate (by difference) | 57.12% | basis not stated | same | [9] |
| Total phenolics | 27.14 mg gallic-acid equivalents per g | dry weight, methanol extract | one study of four wild mushrooms | [8] |
| FRAP (antioxidant test); DPPH; ABTS | 11.16 mmol AAE/g; 4.92 mmol TE/g; 1.90 mmol TE/g | dry weight, methanol extract | same | [8] |
| Cinnamic acid; catechin | 65.178; 16.359 microgram per g | dry weight | same (LC-MS/MS) | [8] |
The two potassium figures differ by more than twofold and iron by about fivefold, which shows how much place, soil and method matter. In the Moroccan paper, only the iron row of its intake table agrees with the table of concentrations, so we report concentrations only. [6]
C. What the numbers do and do not mean
- Ranges are wide. Strain, soil, harvest time, drying and method change them; treat each number as one measurement. [6][7]
- A compound found in the lab, or active in a test tube or in rats, is not shown to do anything in people who eat the mushroom. [8][10]
- The antioxidant scores come from solvent extracts, which are not the same as a cooked portion. We read no study that compares them.
- The proximate figures from India do not say whether they are fresh or dry weight, so do not compare them with USDA tables; the very low fat and high protein suggest dry weight, but that is our guess, not a statement from the paper. [9]
- No fruiting-body versus mycelium comparison exists for this species in what we read.
Related pages
Frequently asked questions
Is the horse mushroom safe to eat?
It is eaten as a wild food, but the danger is in mistaking it for something else. A 2024 review says the deadly death cap can easily be confused with it. Do not pick wild fungi from a description. [4]
Can I eat it raw?
We found no safety rule for the raw horse mushroom. A review lists an agaritine-type compound in it and says cooking lowers such compounds in related mushrooms; cooking is the cautious choice. [3]
Does it have health benefits?
Extracts show antioxidant activity in test tubes, and one rat study reported liver markers moving toward normal after a chemical injury. We found no human study. [8][10]
Does it contain heavy metals?
Wild mushrooms can. A Polish study found a mean 1.19 mg cadmium and 1.76 mg lead per kg dry weight. [7]
What if I ate a wild mushroom and feel ill, or might have?
Call Poison Help (1-800-222-1222 in the US) or your local emergency number right away. Symptoms can be delayed for many hours. [5]
Can I take it as a supplement?
We found no supplement products and no studies of any. See mushroom supplements.
More details: evidence, limits and cautions
The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.
Safety and limits of the evidence
- Look-alikes are the main danger; see above.
- Metals. Wild mushrooms take up metals from soil. A Polish study of nine sites in one province found a mean cadmium of 1.19 mg per kg dry weight, lead 1.76, mercury 0.421 and arsenic 1.43 in A. arvensis. [7] The numbers are dry weight; legal limits are written for fresh mushroom, and a fresh mushroom is mostly water and holds far less per gram, so do not compare them directly. The Polish authors do not tell us whether these particular samples exceeded a limit, and we did not check. See mushroom heavy metals and contamination. Roadsides, old industrial land and other polluted ground are worse places for any wild mushroom to grow; we did not read a source that tests this for horse mushroom specifically.
- Allergy. We found no allergy reports for this species. See mushroom allergy.
- Medicines, pregnancy, breastfeeding, children, liver and kidney. Not described in the sources we read for horse mushroom as food. That is not proof of safety; ask a pharmacist or clinician about medicines.
- Conservation. We did not read a conservation assessment for this species.
References
- GBIF Secretariat. Agaricus arvensis Schaeff., GBIF Backbone Taxonomy, accepted species, family Agaricaceae (read through the GBIF API). Read 2026-10-24.
- Wikidata (CC0), compound-in-taxon statements (property P703) for Agaricus arvensis (Q690801), the data used by the LOTUS initiative; retrieved 2026-10-23 from the project's source file. USDA FoodData Central bulk files checked: no horse mushroom entry.
- Lagrange E, Vernoux JP. Warning on False or True Morels and Button Mushrooms with Potential Toxicity Linked to Hydrazinic Toxins: An Update. Toxins 2020. Full text read 2026-10-24 (via Europe PMC; the first part of the text).
- Gouvinhas I, Silva J, Alves MJ, Garcia J. The most dreadful mushroom toxins: a review of their toxicological mechanisms, chemical structural characteristics, and treatment. EXCLI J 2024. Full text read 2026-10-24 (via Europe PMC; the first part of the text).
- National Poison Control (poison.org). Mushroom poisoning: Don't invite "the death angel" to dinner. Read 2026-10-24.
- Quantification of Minerals in Edible Mushrooms via Optimized Microwave-Assisted Digestion. Foods 2024. PMC11728415. Full text read 2026-10-24 (via Europe PMC; the first part of the text).
- Family and species as determinants modulating mineral composition of selected wild-growing mushroom species. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2021. PMC7782397. Full text read 2026-10-24 (via Europe PMC; the first part of the text).
- Phenolic-Rich Wild Edible Macrofungi: Antimicrobial Activity and Antioxidant Potential. Molecules 2026. PMC13028678. Full text read 2026-10-24 (via Europe PMC; the first part of the text).
- Chemical, Bioactive, and Antioxidant Potential of Twenty Wild Culinary Mushroom Species. Biomed Res Int 2015. PMC4496587. Full text read 2026-10-24 (via Europe PMC; the first part of the text).
- Investigation of the protective effects of horse mushroom (Agaricus arvensis Schaeff.) against carbon tetrachloride-induced oxidative stress in rats. Mol Biol Rep 2018. PubMed 29931536. Abstract read 2026-10-24 (via Europe PMC).