Amanita muscaria contains several biologically active agents, at least one of which, muscimol, is known to be psychoactive. Ibotenic acid, a neurotoxin, serves as a prodrug to muscimol, with approximately 10–20% converting to muscimol after ingestion. An active dose in adults is approximately 6 mg muscimol or 30 to 60 mg ibotenic acid; this is typically about the amount found in one cap of Amanita muscaria. Spring and summer mushrooms have been reported to contain up to 10 times more ibotenic acid and muscimol than autumn fruitings.

Kwas ibotenowy – organiczny związek chemiczny, alkaloid o działaniu toksycznym i odurzającym. Występuje głównie w blaszkach i miąższu niektórych grzybów z rodzaju Amanita (np. muchomora plamistego lub czerwonego.