Amaropostia stiptica

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Amaropostia stiptica
Postia.stiptica.-.lindsey.jpg
Fruit body of Amaropostia stiptica
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Basidiomycota
Class: Agaricomycetes
Order: Polyporales
Family: Fomitopsidaceae
Genus: Amaropostia
Species:
A. stiptica
Binomial name
Amaropostia stiptica
(Berk. & M.A.Curtis) Rajchenb. (1995)
Synonyms

Polyporus stipticus Berk. & M.A.Curtis (1853)

Amaropostia stiptica is a rare, bitter-tasting species of polypore fungus in the family Fomitopsidaceae. It is known for being one of the most bitter-tasting substances ever tested, surpassing denatonium benzoate in sensory assays. [1] [2] This fungus forms woody, shelf-like fruiting bodies and typically grows on dead or decaying hardwood in tropical and subtropical forests.

Contents

Description

Amaropostia stiptica produces perennial, sessile, bracket-like fruiting bodies that are hard and woody. The upper surface is typically greyish to brownish and concentrically zoned, while the underside features fine pores. The taste is extraordinarily bitter and immediate, reportedly unbearable in sensory evaluations. [1]

Chemistry and bitterness

According to a 2025 study, A. stiptica contains multiple secondary metabolites that activate human bitter taste receptors TAS2R14 and TAS2R46 with remarkable potency. [1] These compounds elicit responses up to 10 times greater than denatonium benzoate, previously considered the most bitter known substance. Researchers suggest that the extreme bitterness is likely a chemical defence against herbivory.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Schmitz, Lea M.; Lang, Tatjana; Steuer, Alexandra; Koppelmann, Luisa; Di Pizio, Antonella; Arnold, Norbert; Behrens, Maik (26 February 2025). "Taste-Guided Isolation of Bitter Compounds from the Mushroom Amaropostia stiptica Activates a Subset of Human Bitter Taste Receptors". Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 73 (8): 4850–4858. Bibcode:2025JAFC...73.4850S. doi:10.1021/acs.jafc.4c12651. PMC   11869282 . PMID   39945763.
  2. ↑ Olias, Gisela. "Mushroom study identifies most bitter substance known to date". Phys.Org. Science X Network. Retrieved 9 April 2025.
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