Biological activity of illudin S in Omphalotus guepiniformis : Consideration of its toxicity

Abstract

The poisonous mushroom, Omphalotus guepiniformis, causes symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea. It has been proposed that illudin S, produced in the fruiting bodies of O. guepiniformis, is a cause of these symptoms. However, the effects of illudin S are not completely understood. In this study, we examined the effects of illudin S on bacteria, fungi and nematodes to investigate the significance of illudin S production for the survival of O. guepiniformis. Illudin S exhibited nematicidal activity as well as antibacterial activities, but had no effect on the growth of fungi. This is the first report to describe the nematicidal activity of illudin S.