Curative potencies against -amanitin poisoning by cytochrome c.

The fatalities occurring after ingestion of the poisonous mushroom Amanita phalloides are thought to be due to alpha-amanitin. Cytochrome c provided antidotal effects against a lethal dose of this toxin in mice. Significant survival was obtained even when the treatment was withheld for 8 hours. The enzyme was superior to a previously explored therapeutic regimen consisting of penicillin and its combination with chloramphenicol and sulfamethoxazole.