Characterization of the Proximate and Amino Acid Composition of Edible Wild Mushroom Species in Abakaliki, Nigeria

Mushrooms are important food resources valued for its high quality protein content, health promoting properties and potential to enhance food palatability. There is little or no information in the literature particularly on the amino acid composition of mushrooms in the study area. Hence, the objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the basic nutritive constituents as well as amino acids composition of four wild edible mushroom species in Abakaliki, Nigeria. The mushroom species investigated are Auricularia auricula-judae (wood ear mushroom), Pleurotus ostreatus (oyster mushroom), Lentinus connatus and Lentinus sajor-caju . Carbohydrate was the predominant nutrient (34.71 - 57.03%) followed by protein (8.36 - 24.62%), while the least occurring nutrient was crude fats (2.29 - 4.12%). All essential amino acids (EAA) in man were found in all the mushrooms and comprised 33.04%, 30.96%, 29.49% and 29.88% of the total protein in Auricularia auricula-judae , Lentinus connatus, Lentinus sajor-caju and Pleurotus ostreatus respectively. The most abundant amino acid across the mushroom species was glutamic acid (5.53 - 11.10 g) followed by arginine (3.37 - 6.39 g), while cysteine (0.30 - 0.43 g) and proline (0.20 - 0.46g) were the least in abundance per 100g of protein. Lentinus connatus appeared to be the richest of the mushroom species in terms of protein and amino acid contents, while Auricularia auricula- judae was the poorest. Therefore, commercial cultivation of Lentinus conatus in particular and popularization of its consumption would contribute meaningfully to ameliorating the problem of protein malnutrition in the region.