Assessment of Metal Elements and Biochemical Constituents of Wild Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor) Mushrooms Collected from the Shivalik Foothills of the Himalayas, India

Abstract

Wild medicinal mushrooms are known to contain significant amounts of essential biochemical compounds with potential health benefits. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the metal elements and biochemical constituents of wild turkey tail (Trametes versicolor) mushrooms collected from the Shivalik foothills of the Himalayas, India. Mushroom samples were purposefully collected from eleven (11) sampling sites located in three (3) districts of North Indian states (Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand). The results of this study indicated that wild T. versicolor showed the presence of eight metal elements (Cd: 0.011–0.139, Cr: 0.225–0.680, Cu: 1.073–3.108, Fe: 4.273–8.467, Mn: 2.157–3.892, Zn: 3.069–4.478, Ni: 0.065–0.186, and Co: 0.035–0.120 mg/kg). The samples also showed a significant presence of total phenolics (51.81–70.13 mg GAE/g), flavonoids (9.02–14.01 mg QE/mg), lycopene (0.02–0.08 mg/g), and β-carotene (0.31–0.72 mg/g). The proximate analysis also showed that T. versicolor is a good source of carbohydrate (38.33%–41.94%), protein (8.12%–11.06%), fat (0.93%–1.26%), moisture (63.80%–70.64%), dietary fiber (9.59%–14.30%), and total ash (2.42%–3.48%). In addition, gas chromatography (GC-FID) analysis revealed the presence of the five most dominant fatty acids, including linoleic acid (18:2n6c), palmitic acid (C16:0), oleic acid (18:1n9c), linolenic acid (18:3n3), and stearic acid (C18:0). Principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) were helpful in identifying variations and similarities among different constituents of T. versicolor at selected sampling sites. Due to its low metal element content and rich biochemical profile, T. versicolor was highlighted in this research for its significant potential as a functional food or nutraceutical ingredient. This work promotes its sustainable use in the healthcare and food industries and lays the groundwork for further research into its therapeutic applications.

Effect of Fungal Solid-State Fermentation on the Profile of Phenolic Compounds and on the Nutritional Properties of Grape Pomace

“…The basidiomycete T. versicolor is a filamentous fungus that belongs to the white rot fungi and is known for its ability to degrade the complex structure of lignocellulosic biomass thanks to a complex system of enzymes it produces during its growth [17]. T. versicolor can be cultivated on various substrates in a wide temperature range, even between 15 and 32 °C [38,39]. Substrate properties such as particle size and chemical composition have a major influence on the performance of the SSF process, as do numerous parameters such as moisture content, temperature, availability of nutrients and fermentation time [40].…”

“…Fluctuations in ash content are caused by various metal elements in the substrate that have been absorbed by the fungal mycelium and then transferred to the upper body parts of T. versicolor. Mostafa et al [38] also reported that T. versicolor has an average content of protein of 8.12%-11.06%, fat of 0.93%-1.26% and total ash of 2.42%-3.48%.…”

“…Mostafa et al [38] investigated the composition of wild T. versicolor collected from different locations in northern India and reported that this fungus can accumulate metals element from the environment in which it grows and found the presence of eight metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, Ni and Co). Fluctuations in ash content are caused by various metal elements in the substrate that have been absorbed by the fungal mycelium and then transferred to the upper body parts of T. versicolor.…”

Ecological and public health risk assessment of potentially toxic elements in the surface sediments of the Pasur river estuary, Bangladesh

“…The major sources of these metals in aquatic ecosystem are anthropogenic activities, uncontrolled industrialization, and excessive usage of chemicals [ 9 ]. Moreover, excessive used of organic and inorganic fertilizers besides non-managed pesticide application aggravate the situation [ [10] , [11] , [12] ].…”

Bacillus sp. alone or combined with salicylic acid inhibited Trichoderma spp. infection on harvested white Hypsizygus marmoreus

“…Mushrooms contain a variety of biologically active ingredients that are beneficial to health, including polysaccharides, vitamins, gamma-aminobutyric acid, ergothioneine and minerals, and hence have formed an integral aspect of the human diet for centuries, both as food and as traditional medicinal supplements ( Hu et al, 2021 ). Other compounds like phenolics ( Atila et al, 2023 ), flavonoids and beta-carotene ( Mostafa et al, 2023 ), amino acids ( Sassine et al, 2021 ), and fatty acids ( Abou Fayssal et al, 2021 , 2023 ) found in mushrooms play major roles in the improvement of antioxidant and cardiovascular properties. Moreover, their global consumption has grown significantly in recent years.…”