Anti-epileptic effect of Amanita muscaria metabolites
Affecting millions worldwide, epilepsy is a prevalent neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures, with many patients unresponsive to current medications. Our study sought to identify novel therapeutic agents for epilepsy by investigating the psychoactive fungus Amanita muscaria. Using a pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced seizure model, we found that the whole extract of A. muscaria displayed significant anti-epileptic activity in mice. By fractionating the extract and subsequently refractionating it, we identified a subfraction that retains this activity, which was profiled via mass spectrometry, revealing both known anti-epileptic metabolites and previously uncharacterized compounds. Together, these findings identify A. muscaria as a promising source of novel anti-seizure compounds.
