Micropsalliota is a genus of small to relatively medium-sized saprotrophic mushrooms, with fibrillose-squamulose pileus surface, ellipsoid to amygdaliform or cymbiform basidiospores, usually with capitate cheilocystidia, and encrusted pileus hyphae. In this study, two new species, namely Micropsalliota latiumbonata and M. striata are described from Oman, based on morphology and multigene (ITS-28S-rpb2-tef1-α) phylogenetic analysis. Micropsalliota latiumbonata is characterized by a broadly umbonate pileus disc with fibrillose-squamulose surface, fibrils dark-brown and more or less recurved, cheilocystidia capitate with olivaceous capitulum, broadly fusiform to amygdaliform basidiospores measuring 6.0-7.0 × 4.0-4.5 µm, and occurring gregariously around termite mounds. Micropsalliota striata is another small-sized species with an acute papillate pileus disc with appressed fibrils, striate-appendiculate pileus margins, utriform cheilocystidia without a capitate apex, clavate to subglobose pileocystidia, and comparatively larger basidiospores (6.5-7.5 × 3.7-4.1 µm). Both the new species belong to Clade megaspora. A detailed description, photographs of basidiomata, illustrations of anatomical characteristics, a multigene phylogenetic tree, and morphological comparison with similar species are provided. With the description of these two species, the number of known species in Micropsalliota rises to 108.

Understanding the distribution of agaric fungi through molecular phylogeny is critical for biodiversity assessment. This comprehensive investigation documented the presence of Panaeolus subbalteatus, a previously unreported agaric fungus, addressing a significant gap in the country's knowledge of fungal diversity. This psilocybin-containing mushroom species, known for its neurotoxic properties, was collected from humus-rich soil in the Gujranwala district of Punjab province. The study employed integrated morpho-anatomical and molecular approaches, including detailed microscopic examination of basidiospores, cystidia, and hyphal structures, coupled with DNA extraction and PCR amplification of the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) region. Phylogenetic analysis using the Maximum Likelihood method with 23 nucleotide sequences of related members confirmed the specimen's identity as P. subbalteatus, with strong clustering with reference sequences from China, the Netherlands, and GenBank. The species exhibited characteristic features, including a creamy white to light brown pileus with a broad umbo, greyish-black lamellae, an absent annulus, and basidiospores measuring 10.8-14.2 × 5.7-8.5 µm with truncate germ pores. This first molecular record of P. subbalteatus from Pakistan expands the known geographical distribution of this psychoactive fungal species. It adds to the six previously documented Panaeolus species in the country. The findings underscore the importance of integrating morphological and molecular techniques for accurate fungal identification and provide a foundation for future investigations into the diversity, ecology, and toxicological significance of Panaeolus species in South Asian mycobiota, with implications for public health awareness regarding hallucinogenic mushrooms in the region.

Micropsalliota is a genus of small, slender agaric fungi predominantly distributed in tropical and subtropical regions. To explore the species diversity of Micropsalliota in southern China, we carried out both Maximum likelihood and Bayesian phylogenetic analyses based on multi-locus sequence data (ITS, nrLSU, rpb2, and tef1-α), combined with detailed morphological observations. Based on these analyses, six new species are described: Micropsalliota alboglobulata, M. fuanensis, M. meilinensis, M. minutispora, M. pulvericlavata, and M. shenzhenensis. In addition, M. albosericea, M. gracilis, and M. purpureobrunneola are reported for the first time in China. Detailed morphological descriptions, color photographs, line illustrations, and phylogenetic trees are provided.

The rapid evolution of the novel psychoactive substances market has blurred the boundaries between synthetic "designer drugs" and other emerging psychoactive products distributed outside traditional regulatory frameworks. Recently, increasing recreational and self-therapeutic interest in Amanita muscaria has led to its growing presence within the broader landscape of substances used in patterns similar to novel psychoactive substances. Widely available through online platforms and social media, it is promoted for stress reduction, mood improvement, sleep enhancement, and analgesic purposes, despite limited clinical evidence and established toxicity risks. This narrative review synthesizes available clinical and toxicological evidence on A. muscaria and its reported adverse health outcomes. Emerging reports indicate increasing intentional consumption, heterogeneous dosing practices, and presentations ranging from mild neurological symptoms to severe intoxication requiring hospitalization. Online narratives and informal harm reduction advice contribute to normalization of use and potential underestimation of risks. Within the context of novel psychoactive substances research, A. muscaria represents a regulatory and public health challenge: a non-synthetic psychoactive substance integrated into digital drug markets and self-experimentation cultures. The absence of standardized management guidelines and systematic surveillance complicates clinical response. Greater awareness of its toxicological profile, patterns of misuse, and emergency management strategies is needed to inform clinicians, toxicologists, and public health authorities.

Natural products are vital sources for drug discovery, offering greater structural diversity than synthetic chemicals. They have historically contributed to the identification of bioactive molecules and continue to play a crucial role in the discovery of new therapeutics. Citrus species, members of the Rutaceae family, represent one of the most economically important fruit tree crops worldwide, with a global yield of approximately 123 million tons in 2010. grapefruit peels were collected, dried and their active ingredients were extracted with 70% ethanol. The resulting extracts underwent phytochemical screening. The anticancer activity of the extracts was evaluated using the MTT assay, with cell viability assessed and IC₅₀ values determined. Promising fractions were further analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results Phytochemical screening revealed high phenolic and flavonoid content, with naringenin being the most abundant compound, followed by chlorogenic acid and ferulic acid. The extract exhibited significant anticancer activity against HepG2 cells, with an IC50 of 230.63 ± 1.61 µg/ml. Molecular docking analysis of sixteen phytochemicals against the AFP protein (PDB ID: 7YIM) identified several compounds with strong binding affinities toward the predicted active site. Ellagic acid showed the highest binding affinity (-8.9 kcal/mol), followed by rutin (-8.8 kcal/mol), quercetin (-8.5 kcal/mol), and naringenin (-8.4 kcal/mol). Interaction analysis revealed multiple hydrogen bonding and π-interactions with key AFP residues, including LYS228, CYS224, PHE172, GLU489, and MET490. These findings highlight polyphenolic compounds, particularly ellagic acid and rutin, as promising lead molecules for AFP-targeted anti-hepatocellular carcinoma therapy. Grapefruit peel extract exhibits promising antioxidant and anticancer activities, demonstrating concentration-dependent cytotoxicity against HepG2 cells. Despite its lower potency compared to doxorubicin, it represents a valuable natural source of bioactive compounds. Further studies are required to elucidate its mechanisms, safety, and potential application in hepatocellular carcinoma therapy.

This study aimed to enhance the production of hydrogen (H2) from anaerobic digestion of banana peels (BP) using the synergistic interaction between the ruminant bacterial strains. Seven ruminant bacterial consortia were designed from sixteen hydrogen producing ruminant bacterial strains. MOST2 (Pediococcus acidilactici, Streptococcus lutetiensis and Bacillus cereus) was the most highly producer giving 398.00 ± 21.67 ml/L on 25% banana peels. The used optimization strategy in this study resulted in maximum H2 (HMax) of 1446.67 ± 60.64 ml/L with a significant improvement of 363.48%. The maximum hydrogen production rate (Rmax) and lag time (λ) were 47.52 ml/L/h, 2.91 h by MLM, respectively, and 35.99 ml/L/h and 5.05 h by MGM, respectively. GC-MS analysis of the fermentation effluent indicated the presence of butyric acid (3.58%), acetic acid (1.81%), and agaric acid (1.70%). The study reveals the feasibility of utilizing banana peel waste as a sustainable feedstock for hydrogen production by the ruminant bacterial consortia.

The agaric fungus Hebeloma radicosum was observed fruiting on a badger nest in Arendal, Norway, in the years 2004-2006, 2020, and 2021. This species is typically associated with mole (Talpa) nests in Europe; however, moles are not present in Norway. Fruiting occurred both just outside the nest and on the tunnel floor at the nest entrance. Observations, supported by literature on badger nesting habits, suggest that excrement (dung and/or urine) deposited either in latrines outside the nest or on the tunnel floor was likely responsible for the occurrence of H. radicosum. There was no evidence to suggest involvement of other mammal species. This is the first documented case of H. radicosum fruiting on badger excrement. The observed pattern resembles long-term mole nesting in Japan, which is associated with repeated occurrences of H. sagarae. Additionally, H. birrus was also found fruiting on badger excrement.

BACKGROUND: Amanita muscaria (fly agaric) is a poisonous mushroom containing ibotenic acid (IBA) and muscimol (MUS), two neuroactive alkaloids capable of causing severe or fatal intoxication. While human poisoning is well documented, information on fatal intoxication in birds is limited. This report presents the first documented case of fatal poisoning of Old Polish ducks following ingestion of A. muscaria, confirmed by anatomopathological and toxicological analyses. METHODS: Post-mortem specimens, including blood, heart, brain, kidney, liver, lung, pectoral and femoral muscles, and gastrointestinal contents, were subjected to LC–MS/MS analysis for the determination of IBA and MUS. Tissue samples were homogenized, extracted, derivatized, and quantified using multiple reaction monitoring. Mushroom caps and stems collected from the environment were analyzed using the same analytical approach. To exclude alternative toxicological etiologies, liver, muscle, kidney, and gastric contents were screened for rodenticides, pesticides, mycotoxins, and other chemical toxicants by LC–MS/MS. Viral infections were excluded by PCR and RT-PCR assays targeting DNA and RNA viruses commonly affecting waterfowl. In addition, comprehensive bacteriological, mycological, and parasitological examinations were conducted. RESULTS: Post-mortem examination revealed lamellar mushroom fragments in the glandular stomach and congestion in the caeca and brain. Ibotenic acid (IBA) concentrations across tissues ranged from 4 to 1987 µg/kg, while muscimol (MUS) ranged from 2 to 66 µg/kg. In gastrointestinal contents, IBA and MUS concentrations ranged from 16.2 to 1110.5 µg/g and from 2 to 41.3 µg/g, respectively. Analysis of environmental mushroom material showed higher toxin levels in caps (871.7 µg/g IBA; 197.5 µg/g MUS) than in stems (206.6 µg/g IBA; 15.3 µg/g MUS). Screening of liver, muscle, kidney, and gastric contents excluded the presence of rodenticides, pesticides, mycotoxins, and other chemical toxicants, while PCR/RT-PCR and comprehensive bacteriological, mycological, and parasitological examinations ruled out viral, bacterial, fungal, and parasitic infections. CONCLUSION: The presence of IBA and MUS in all organs confirms A. muscaria poisoning as the cause of death. This case highlights the toxicological risk of fly agaric ingestion in waterfowl and indicates that meat and tissues from affected birds are unsafe for consumption.

Panaeolus is a genus of small, dark-sporeda agarics within the family Galeropsidaceae. Based on the majority of specimens collected from China, this study investigated the genus Panaeolus and identified 17 species. These include four new species: Panaeolus bambusicola, Panaeolus latifolius, Panaeolus praecox, and Panaeolus ovinus; and one new record for China: Panaeolus fraxinophilus. The new species and the newly recorded species for China are morphologically described and illustrated. A multi-locus phylogenetic analysis (ITS, nrLSU, tef1-α, rpb2) was conducted using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference. Combined morphological and phylogenetic evidence supports the reduction in the genus Crucispora to a subgenus within Panaeolus, accommodating P. rhombispermus.

Plants and soils have been moved around the world for centuries, but invasive mushrooms receive scant attention. The Amanita muscaria species complex was introduced to South Africa in the context of forestry, but its origins, ecology and recent evolution are unstudied. We sequenced the genomes of 24 Northern and Southern Hemisphere A. muscaria, built phylogenies and reconstructed its South African history. We identified the biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) encoding specialized metabolites (SMs). We subsequently extracted mushrooms' metabolites and used mass spectrometry data to group SMs into unique molecular families (MFs). We tested metabolites for bioactivity against diverse microbes and animals. We identify Europe as the origin of South African A. muscaria. A highly conserved group of BGCs is found in nearly all European and African genomes, and only 13 of 273 MFs are unique to South Africa. Metabolites extracted from all mushrooms kill nematodes, while microbes and flies appear unaffected. The nearly global distribution of the fly agaric results from multiple introductions of a single European clade to the Southern Hemisphere. Despite its long history in South Africa, the fungus has not lost any of its BGCs, suggesting a conservation of function(s) across multiple continents.

Single-metal hydroxides, which are low-cost and readily synthesized, exhibit a well-defined crystalline structure, rendering them an ideal model system for mechanistic studies of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in alkaline environments. The unique organic-inorganic hybrid interactions between metal hydroxide layers and aromatic carboxylate species have been demonstrated to enhance electrocatalytic OER activity by effectively modulating electronic and interfacial characteristics. The precise engineering of the local microenvironment is achieved through the intercalation of aromatic dicarboxylates with systematically varied conjugation lengths into the two-dimensional interlayers of Ni(OH)2 nanoarrays (Ni(OH)2 NAs). Experimental results demonstrate that this intercalation strategy preserves the morphological integrity of pristine "agaric-like" Ni(OH)2 NAs while significantly enhancing the OER performance. Notably, the Ni(OH)2 NAs intercalated with the longest π-conjugated spacer achieve an exceptionally low overpotential of 187 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm-2, highlighting the critical role of interlayer architecture in determining catalytic efficiency.

Transitions between saprotrophic and biotrophic lifestyles represent pivotal evolutionary events in fungal ecology; however, the genomic and physiological mechanisms underlying such shifts remain poorly understood. The agaric genus Clitopilus (Basidiomycota, Entolomataceae) offers a valuable model system, with most species being soil saprotrophs. Clitopilus cf. baronii Consiglio & Setti exhibits genomic signatures suggesting incipient biotrophic capacity. Here, we investigated the genomic and eco-physiological properties of seven strains representing five Clitopilus species to identify traits associated with lifestyle transitions. ITS-based phylogeny combined with ecological metadata revealed potential facultative biotrophy in multiple taxa from the section Scyphoides. Physiological profiling showed that all strains utilized mannitol and sucrose poorly, preferred organic nitrogen compounds, and produced variable amounts of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) in vitro in a strictly tryptophan-dependent manner. Enzymatic assays revealed substantial variations in the nitrogen and phosphorus acquisition capabilities among the strains. Comparative genomics of high-quality assemblies identified a pleuromutilin biosynthetic gene cluster (BGC) across all strains, although synteny analysis revealed considerable structural variation and putative gene loss, indicating that genomic plasticity potentially affects antibiotic production. Principal component analysis of carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) across 25 fungal genomes partitioned Clitopilus strains into two distinct groups: one resembling saprotrophic white-rot basidiomycetes, the other matching biotrophic ectomycorrhizal and endophytic taxa. This first comprehensive genomic analysis of Clitopilus revealed that nutritional specialization, phytohormone production, and CAZyme repertoire remodeling collectively signal an ongoing evolutionary transition from saprotrophy to plant-associated lifestyles in multiple lineages. These findings provide a rare genomic window into the early stages of symbiosis evolution, offering insights into how free-living fungi acquire the molecular toolkit for mutualistic partnerships.

Amanita muscaria (L.) Lam., commonly known as fly agaric, remains an uncommon yet clinically important cause of acute mushroom intoxication. Although typically associated with mild to moderate neuropsychiatric disturbances, the mushroom's toxic profile is highly variable and continues to attract scientific, toxicological, and public health interest. This work provides an integrative review of the biochemical composition, toxicodynamics, and clinical manifestations associated with A. muscaria exposure, with particular emphasis on the pharmacological actions of its principal constituents, ibotenic acid and muscimol. The review is complemented by two contemporaneous cases of severe intoxication in elderly individuals, illustrating the real-world clinical expression of the toxidrome and the challenges in diagnosis and management. Both cases presented with rapid-onset gastrointestinal symptoms, profound central nervous system depression, and cholinergic features, requiring intensive supportive therapy, atropine infusion, and continuous monitoring. Full recovery was achieved in both patients. These clinical observations contextualize the broader toxicological framework discussed in the review and underscore the need for increased clinical vigilance, improved public education, and strengthened diagnostic and therapeutic preparedness regarding psychoactive wild mushroom exposures.