Determination of Proximate, Mineral Ion, and Amino Acid Contents and Phytochemical Properties of a Wild Species of Tricholoma Caligatum of Nigerian Savannah

摘要

The aim of this study is to examine a wild edible mushroom for nutritional and antibacterial substances. An edible wild mushroom speciesTricholoma caligatum (Fries) growing in the tropical Savannah grasslands of Nigeria was in this case obtained and analyzed for its proximate and mineral ion contents. Amino acid concentrations were also estimated as well as investigated for phytochemical properties. Proximate estimates (in limit values% average) for protein, moisture, crude fat, ash, carbohydrates and crude fiber using the standard AOAC methods were obtained as 26. 25 ±0.25, 8.92 ±0.16, 9.30 ± 0.20, 5.50 ±0.32, 24.78 ± 0. 15 and 25.00 ±0.32 in that order. Mineral ion quantifications (in mg/l) in terms of Calcium, Potassium, Iron, Sodium, Magnesium, Copper, Manganese and Chromium contents of the mushroom were in the ranges of 12.366 ±0.06, 3.202 ±0.18, 3.670 ±0.02, 4.668 ±0.21, 7.990 ±0.14, 2.323 ±0.05, 0.833 ±0.10 and 0. 002 ±0.04 respectively by means of the AAS standard methods. Amino acid analysis done by using the Technicon Sequential Multi Sample Amino Acid Analyser (AAS) revealed the presence of glutamic acid with the highest concentration of 9. 15 g/100 g protein followed by lysine (8. 60 g/100 g protein) then leucine (6.30 g/100 g protein) among others while cystein concentration was lowest (0. 50 g/100 g protein). The phytochemical evaluation revealed the presence of alkaloid, carbohydrate, flavonoid, glycoside and saponin in this edible mushroom. The significance of the results for this study has been carefully discussed with appropriate recommendations. Investigations have shown that the species is rich in food substances, resourceful in mineral substances, valuable as a precursor of essential amino acids with some potency as an antibiotic agent. The results obtained have been discussed and the potentials of Tricholoma caligatum in human applications highlighted. Other further recommendations have also been made.