Toxic and Psychoactive Fungi in Forensic Toxicology: Analytical Challenges and Postmortem Interpretation
Applied Sciences February 13, 2026 Miłosz Badach, Jakub Kleinrok, Weronika Pająk et al.
Mushroom-related poisonings are difficult for forensic medicine because early symptoms are nonspecific, effects can be delayed, and other substances may confuse the cause of death. This review describes toxic and psychoactive mushrooms and their compounds, including organ-damaging toxins (amatoxins, orellanine) and those causing temporary psychiatric effects (psilocybin, ibotenic acid). It proposes a diagnostic approach combining exposure history, organ injury markers, mushroom identification, and confirmatory toxicology. Special attention is given to interpreting postmortem samples, as toxins can degrade, transform, or redistribute after death, and fungi may colonize the body, altering results.