Evaluation of nutritional and nutraceutical potentials of three wild edible mushrooms from Similipal Biosphere Reserve, Odisha, India

A variety of edible mushrooms are growing in Similipal Biosphere Reserve (SBR), some of which are used as ethno-medicine by indigenous tribals. In the present study, three wild edible mushrooms viz., Russula vesca, Russula delica and Termitomyces eurrhizus of SBR were analyzed for their nutritional and mineral contents along with antioxidant and antibacterial potential. The results showed that these three mushrooms are rich sources of nutrients (protein, carbohydrate, starch, reducing sugars and low fats), micronutrients (vitamins and carotenoids) and minerals (P, K, Mn, Co, Ni, Cd, Fe) with promising bioactive properties (antioxidant and antibacterial potentials). In general, these mushrooms revealed high amounts of proteins (22.82-35.17 g/100 g) and carbohydrates (45.68-63.27 g/100 g) and low contents in fats (2.03-4.62 g/100 g), while micronutrients (vitamins and carotenoids) and minerals were present in significant amounts. The antioxidant potentials of three different solvent extracts (ethanol, methanol and aqueous) of studied wild mushrooms showed strong antioxidant properties (ABTS, DPPH, H₂O₂ and metal chelating activities) with scavenging potential up to 89 % at concentration 100 μg/ml. Total phenol content was found between 21.92-41.99 mg catechol/g extract and flavonoid 2.53-7.52 mg quercetin/g extract. The studied mushrooms possess moderate antibacterial properties with zones of inhibition ranging from 13 to 30 mm against six human pathogenic bacteria which are comparable with Amphoxyllin standard. Being a source of nutrients and molecules with medicinal potential, the studied mushrooms can be used in human diet as nutraceuticals/functional foods for maintaining and promoting health, longevity and life quality.