Muscimol (agarin, pantherine) is the main psychedelic compound present in the mushrooms Amanita muscaria, Amanita pantherina, and Amanita gemmata. It is the decarboxylized product of ibotenic acid. It is a specific agonist of GABA_A receptors. GABA is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the nervous system. For that reason, Muscimol is routinely used in neuroscience to study the way nerve cells work. It effectively allows turning off the activity of a part of the brain. It is classified as a zwitterion. Consumption of carbonated beverages with mushrooms containing muscimol will only convert (or sometimes, revert) into ibotenic acid.

See also: muscazone

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Mycotoxins

Muscimol | ムッシモール | Muskimol | Muscymol | Muskimoli | Müsimol