The National Institute of Forest Science announced on the 7th that the consumption of the highly toxic mushroom Red Stag Antlers should be strictly prohibited. Recently, false information has proliferated online, suggesting that this mushroom can be used for food or medicinal purposes, prompting caution.
The Red Stag Antlers mushroom is visually striking but contains trichothecene toxic substances. These toxins can cause severe damage to the body, including symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, dizziness, breathing difficulties, neurological disorders, and skin necrosis.
The National Institute of Forest Science pointed out that the mushroom has been incorrectly portrayed on AI-based search services and blogs as having benefits such as boosting immunity, anti-cancer properties, and antioxidant effects, without scientific evidence. The spread of such misinformation poses a threat to public health.
Through collaboration with Sungkyunkwan University, it was revealed that a substance found in the Red Stag Antlers mushroom called Roridin E exhibits over 500 times stronger anti-cancer effects than doxorubicin, a drug used for breast cancer treatment. However, this pertains only to the refined compound Roridin E and consuming the mushroom itself is highly dangerous.
Mushrooms collected from the wild should not be consumed, as distinguishing between poisonous and edible mushrooms with the naked eye is difficult. If there is any suspicion about a mushroom, it should not be collected, and if any symptoms occur after consumption, immediate medical attention is necessary.
Park Eung-jun, director of the Forest Microbe Utilization Research Center, stated, “Red Stag Antlers is a deadly toxic mushroom and should never be consumed as food or medicine under any circumstances. Wild mushrooms should never be picked or eaten without a professional’s verification.”
