A 30-year-old with bipolar disorder tried an unusual new method to get high: boiling mushrooms into tea and injecting it directly into his veins. Unfortunately, this caused multiple organ failure in his body.

This study revealed that hot water extracts of Auricula-judae and P. eryngii inhibited platelet P2Y12 ADP receptors just like 140 umol/L of ASA would.

Effects

Recent research suggests that some edible species of eukaryotic mushrooms, including some edible varieties, might exhibit antiplatelet effects. This might be caused by compounds in these mushrooms which inhibit activation of platelets via P2Y12 receptors or by inhibiting activity of mitositide 3-kinase, an important pathway in platelet activation pathways – activities which could help lower coronary artery disease risk.

Researchers employed a prothrombin time (PTT) assay to accurately gauge blood clotting factor activity levels in human plasma. This assay proved more reliable than activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), which is frequently affected by non-clotting factors, like protein C and factor VIII. Their results showed that extracts of Auricula judae, G. lucidum, and P. ostreatus significantly prolonged PTT time while P. ostreatus extract increased AA-induced platelet aggregation; thus showing there are variations among mushroom species regarding antiplatelet properties between these species.

As well as conducting the PTT assay, investigators also carried out a lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay using platelet-rich plasma and isolated leukocytes. LDH serves as an excellent indicator of cell viability because dead cells lose membrane integrity and release LDH into their environment – unlike dead cells which release it directly into extracellular fluids such as lymph fluid. No human platelets and leukocytes showed an increase in LDH release due to any extract.

Researchers then measured the total antioxidant capacity of each extract using an assay known as 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonate) (ABTS). This assay measures substances’ ability to scavenge oxidized radicals of ABTS, with all extracts except A. auricula-judae methanol extract showing high antioxidant capacities; only its lower capacity could be seen here.

In a related experiment, researchers investigated whether hot water extracts of A. auricula-judae, P. eryngii and G. lucidum can prevent ADP-induced platelet aggregation via P2Y12 receptor. All four extracts showed strong inhibitory effects that were comparable to that produced by 140 umol/L of ASA; this finding supports their hypothesis that edible mushroom aqueous extracts provide dual antiplatelet actions.

Dosage

The dosage of mushroom tea can have an enormous effect on how a person experiences the drug. While small doses may lead to feelings of euphoria, higher dosages may cause hallucinations – such as seeing colors or hearing sounds that seem out-of-place – or alter a person’s sense of time resulting in altered perception of space.

An individual brewed mushroom tea and injected it directly into his bloodstream, landing him in intensive care at a hospital for 22 days and receiving long-term antibiotic and antifungal therapy regimens. A report of his case was published Jan 11 in Journal of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry.