Bioactive Potential of Lentinus squarrosulus and Termitomyces clypeatus from the Southwestern region of India

The antioxidants derived from biological sources are generally regarded as safe than synthetic ones owing to their less or no adverse effects. Wild mushrooms being a potential source of nutrients as well as antioxidants, bioactive properties of uncooked and cooked wood-inhabiting Lentinus squarrosulus andtermite mound-inhabiting Termitomyces clypeatus have been compared. Both mushrooms showed appreciable antioxidant potential, which is influenced by their bioactive principles (total phenolics, tannins, flavonoids and vitamin C) and proximal properties (crude protein, crude lipid, crude fibre and carbohydrates). These mushrooms were devoid of trypsin inhibition and hemagglutinin activity. Uncooked as well as cooked mushrooms with adequate nutritional components serve as sources of potential antioxidant to combat many human ailments. The present study and recent perspectives on nutraceuticals of macrofungi denote L. squarrosulus and T. clypeatus as the high-value nutraceutical sources in Southwestern India.