Phytochemical analysis of cultivated medicinal mushroom- Ganoderma sp.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the phytochemical contents of indigenous cultivated Ganoderma sp. (Curt.) P. Karst. in comparison to other mushrooms found in literature. The cultivated indigenous medicinal mushroom (Ganoderma sp.) can be available all-year round, as compared with the wild or imported/foreign Ganoderma sp. which are scarce, seasonal and expensive. Phytochemical analysis was carried out using Methanol, Ethanol, Dichloromethane and Aqueous extracts. Preliminary tests indicated the presence of secondary metabolites (alkaloids, tannins, phenols, terpenoids, flavonoids, steroids) and high carbohydrate contents in the cultivated Ganoderma fruiting bodies. Results of the quantitative analysis showed the highest value of phenol in aqueous extract, with the least value in Dichloromethane extract for flavonoids. The results obtained from this study reveals that the cultivated indigenous medicinal mushroom, Ganoderma sp. is a potential source of secondary metabolites which are beneficial as nutraceuticals in industries and pharmaceuticals

Nigerian Mushrooms: Underutilized Non-Wood Forest Resources

Mushroom resources have been exploited in most developed economies because of their huge agro-industrial, medicinal and commercial benefits. Nigerians utilized mushroom-forming fungi only for food and folk medicine for many decades. Auricularia auricular Judae (Bull.) Qu\ue9l, Lentinus squarrosulus Mont., Pleurotus tuberregium (Fr.) Singer and Volvariella volvacea (Bull.) Singer was some of the common edible mushrooms that were successfully cultivated in Nigeria on small-scale basis. The mushroom resources in Nigeria are grossly under-studied and their attractive potentials under-exploited for addressing economic and industrial development. Resourceful biotechnological approach in the application of mushrooms in agriculture, medicine, industry and environment is inchoate and uncommon in the country. @ JASE