A REVIEW OF TOXIC EFFECTS AND APHRODISIAC ACTION OF MORCHELLA ESCULENTA (WILD MOREL- GUCHHI MUSHROOM) - A HIMALAYAN DELIGHT

Dr. Vd. Sushant Sud* and Vd. Khyati S. Sud

ABSTRACT

Morchella, the true morel, is a genus of edible mushrooms closely related to anatomically simpler cup fungi. These distinctive mushrooms appear honeycomb-like in that the upper portion is composed of a network of ridges with pits between them. Morels, also known as sponge mushrooms, Morchella Esculenta (L) also known as Himalayan wild mushroom. They are some of the most desirable edible mushrooms known in the Himalayan regions. The taxonomy of morels is poorly known. Even the number of morel species is a matter of debate. Though Morchella as a genus is fairly easy to recognize, species differentiation within genus is markedly difficult, and a variable number of species are therefore recognized. India is one of the major producing countries of dry morels throughout the world and one among such morels is “Morchella Esculenta” (Guchi Mushroom) is said to be poisonous if eaten raw and produces so many adverse reactions if not used properly. This family of Mushroom is excellent and edible, it is very complex as more than twenty varieties of them are identified some do contain toxic substances which might cause fatigue, dizziness, difficult to breath and even ultimate death once mistakenly consumed. There is a reference of a drug named Chhatrak (kumbhi-guchhi) in the Sutrasthana of Charak Samhita, under the Chaturtha Shakvarga dravya which is taken to be as a variety of Mushroom. Hence proper evaluation of Morchella esculenta (Wild Morel- Guchhi Mushroom) would serve as an important tool for better understanding of both the drugs and its toxicity, so as to provide scientific data and statistical validation of its safety and efficacy. An attempt will be made with this project on “A Review of Toxic Effects and Aphrodisiac Action of Morchella Esculenta (Guchhi).

Keywords: Guchhi, Morchella Esculenta, Toxic Effects and Aphrodisiac Action.