Wild and commercial mushrooms as source of nutrients and nutraceuticals.
In order to promote the use of mushrooms as source of nutrients and nutraceuticals, several experiments were performed in wild and commercial species. The analysis of nutrients included determination of proteins, fats, ash, and carbohydrates, particularly sugars by HPLC-RI. The analysis of nutraceuticals included determination of fatty acids by GC-FID, and other phytochemicals such as tocopherols, by HPLC-fluorescence, and phenolics, flavonoids, carotenoids and ascorbic acid, by spectrophotometer techniques. The antimicrobial properties of the mushrooms were also screened against fungi, Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria. The wild mushroom species proved to be less energetic than the commercial sp., containing higher contents of protein and lower fat concentrations. In general, commercial species seem to have higher concentrations of sugars, while wild sp. contained lower values of MUFA but also higher contents of PUFA. alpha-Tocopherol was detected in higher amounts in the wild species, while gamma-tocopherol was not found in these species. Wild mushrooms revealed a higher content of phenols but a lower content of ascorbic acid, than commercial mushrooms. There were no differences between the antimicrobial properties of wild and commercial species. The ongoing research will lead to a new generation of foods, and will certainly promote their nutritional and medicinal use.
Barros
Lillian
L
CIMO/Escola Superior Agrária, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, Apartado 1172, 5301-855 Bragança, Portugal.
Cruz
Telma
T
Baptista
Paula
P
Estevinho
Letícia M
LM
Ferreira
Isabel C F R
IC
D000363:Agaricales / Q000737:chemistry*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000032:analysis; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000032:analysis; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000032:analysis; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005502:Food; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009753:Nutritive Value; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000032:analysis; D014815:Vitamins / Q000032:analysis
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002241:Carbohydrates; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D014815:Vitamins; D014810:Vitamin E