Phytochemical screening and antioxidant activity of seven Wild mushrooms species used in Niger

Mushrooms are widely used in the treatment of many chronic diseases such as: hepatitis, chronic bronchitis, hypertension, diabetes and cancer. However, despite the importance of mushrooms in the traditional pharmacopoeia in Niger, this field is very little explored. The aim of this study was to evaluate the phytochemicals screening and antioxidant activity of seven mushrooms species used in Niger. Phytochemical screening was carried out according to colorimetric reactions. The total polyphenols content was determined spectrophotometrically by Folin-Ciocalteau method, total flavonoid content was measured by the aluminium chloride method and condensing tannin content was measured by using vanilic acid method. The antioxidant activity was evaluated using the DPPH method by varying the concentration. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of several secondary metabolites: alkaloids, polyphenols, flavonoids, steroids, terpenoids and quinones. The total phenol contents varied between 03.38±0.36 and 121.57±3.54 mg EAG/g. The tannins content varied from 0.34±0,03 to 2.02±0,042 mg TAE/g and total flavonoids ranged from 1.82±0.12 to 24.95±1.63mg EQ/g. The concentration IC50 ranged from 78.05±2.42 to 8790 ±70.15 µg/mL. The phytochemical and antioxidant activity of Agaricus subsaharianus and Phellinus alardii are reported for the first time in the literature through this study. These secondary metabolites confer therapeutic potentialities to these mushrooms species such as the antioxidant properties.