1. a toxic alkaloid compound found in certain poisonous mushrooms, especially the fly agaric, that acts as a neurotransmitter mimic and causes severe poisoning in humans and animals.
Usage: chemistry; toxicology; scientific term

Examples

• Muscarine is the primary toxic agent responsible for poisoning from certain mushroom species.
• The fly agaric mushroom contains muscarine, which can cause serious illness if ingested.
• Researchers study muscarine to understand how it affects the nervous system.
• Muscarine binds to acetylcholine receptors, disrupting normal nerve function.
• Poisoning from muscarine-containing mushrooms typically causes excessive salivation and sweating.