Nutritional, Phytochemical and Therapeutic Attributes of Edible Wild Mushrooms as Influenced by Substrates in Humid Tropical Environment

Edible wild mushrooms (EWM) help low-income families maintain their food security and nutrition. Information on the nutritional and phytochemical compositions of EWM is needed due to their contribution to food security, nutrition and therapeutic values to millions of people in Africa and Asia. The objective of this study was to assess the proximate, mineral, vitamin, and phytochemical compositions of therapeutic importance in edible wild mushrooms. Seven EWM species were gathered, identified, and analyzed for physical, nutritional, and phytochemical composition. The data were statistically analysed. The EWMs' proximate, mineral, vitamin and phytochemical contents varied significantly. Protein concentrations ranged from 3% to 19.48%. The ranges for fibre, ash, and carbohydrate were 0.83-5.25%, 1.77–12.25%, and 1.42–9.08%, respectively. K, Na, and P were the most abundant minerals in this study, followed by Mg and Ca. Vitamin A was the most abundant vitamin in the wild mushrooms studied, followed by vitamin C and vitamin E. Phenols, alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, and saponin were also found in the EWM. The mean performance and stability analysis indicated that Termitomyces le-testui ranked higher than the population mean in mineral, vitamins and phytochemical compositions. Ganoderma lucidum was the least ranked mushroom for mineral, vitamins and phytochemical compositions. The results of this study can aid dieticians, nutritionists and pharmacists in identifying mushrooms with high nutritional and therapeutic values while foraging in the wild. Exploring these differences in mushroom content will be helpful in the pharmaceutical industry, in clinical settings for human therapeutic applications, and in reducing hidden hunger.