Muscarine

• L-( )- muscarine
• (2S, 4R, 5S) - (4- hydroxy-5 -methyl- tetrahydro-furan- 2-ylmethyl) - trimethyl -ammonium

• 300-54-9
• 2936-25-6 (chloride )

Hygroscopic needles

From 181.5 to 182 ° C

• Very slightly soluble in water and ethanol
• Moderately soluble in chloroform, diethyl ether and acetone

Attention

As chloride

0.23 mg · kg -1 ( LD50, mouse, i.v.)

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Muscarine is a mushroom poison.

Effect

Muscarine acts on the muscarinic acetylcholine receptors of synapses such as acetylcholine. It is not degraded by the enzyme acetylcholinesterase. This then leads to a continuous excitation. Its effects include increased salivation and lacrimation, pupillary constriction ( miosis ), sweating, vomiting, diarrhea, and circulatory collapse. A poisoning can also lead to paralysis of the heart and thus to death.

In a muscarinic poisoning Atropine is an antidote available.

Occurrence

Muscarine was originally (1869 ) in the fly agaric (Amanita muscaria ) mushroom poison first discovered and named after this and made ​​responsible for its Gift-/Rauschwirkung. According to later findings, it is there but only in trace amounts (2-3 mg / kg; comparison: about 500 mg / kg muscimol ) before, for the effect of the fly agaric are other substances ( ibotenic acid and muscimol ) responsible. In larger amounts, it comes in different funnel Lingen and crack mushrooms before (crack mushrooms contain up to 200 times Muscarinmenge a toadstool ) and is responsible for its toxic effects.