Constituents of Agaricus xanthodermus Genevier: The First Naturally Endogenous Azo Compound and Toxic Phenolic Metabolites

Abstract

Extraction of fresh sporophores of the fungus Agaricus xanthodermus yields 4, 4'-dihydroxy-azobenzene, phenol, p-quinol and 4, 4/-dihydroxybiphenyl. This is the first report of an azo compound arising endogenously in nature, while phenol, p-quinol and 4, 4'-dihydroxybiphenyl have not previously been isolated from higher fungi. Phenol is present in fruitbodies in sufficiently high concentration to account for the toxicity of A. xanthodermus. © 1984, Walter de Gruyter. All rights reserved.