Mycochemical and Nutritional Analysis of Selected Wild Mushrooms from Gaurishankar Conservation Area, Nepal

Abstract

Wild mushrooms are the major supplement of culinary in rural parts of developing world including Nepal and are often praised for their medicinal and nutritional properties. Wild mushrooms in various parts of the world have been studied for their antioxidant, nutritional and biochemical properties. However, such information is lacking in case of Nepalese wild mushrooms. In this study antioxidant activity and nutritional composition of six wild mushrooms from Gaurishankar conservation area of eastern Nepal was carried out. Radical scavenging activity, total flavonoid, total phenolic, β carotene, lycopene, Vitamin C and protein content of the samples were analyzed following established protocols. Stereum ostrea and Geoglossum cookeanum showed higher scavenging activity among all tested mushroom samples. Total flavonoid content, β carotene and lycopene were the highest in Daldinia concentrica. Total protein content was the highest in Trichaptum abietinum. Low amount of Vitamin C, β carotene and lycopene was observed in all samples.