Researchers at the Technical University of Munich have identified Amaropostia stiptica as the world's most bitter substance. This mushroom, commonly found in Britain, is not toxic but triggers a severe bitter taste due to compounds that activate bitter receptors in the mouth. Among these compounds, oligoporin D stands out, detectable at a remarkable dilution. The study involved testing these compounds on lab-grown taste cells, revealing their interaction with 25 bitter receptors. Despite understanding the compounds, the reason humans typically react negatively to bitterness remains largely unexplained, particularly since these receptors are found in various body parts beyond the mouth.
According to experts from the Technical University of Munich, a mushroom called Amaropostia stiptica is officially the most bitter thing in the world, activating specialized bitter receptors.
Researchers found three previously unknown bitter chemicals in the mushroom, one of which, oligoporin D, is so potent a gram in 106 bathtubs is detectable.
Bitter is one of the five basic taste sensations, alongside sweet, sour, salty, and umami; however, the reason for our aversion to bitter remains a mystery.
The puzzling aspect of bitterness lies in the fact that bitter receptors are not just in our mouths but also in the stomach, colon, and skin.
Collection
[
|
...
]