The aim of the study was to estimate the content of the macroelements (Ca, K, Mg, Na), ergosterol, ascorbic acid, and the profile of phenolic compounds in seventeen wild growing edible mushrooms from Poland. Mean content of Ca, K, Mg, Na in wood-growing mushrooms was 315, 12,402, 597, and 130 mg/kg DM. Soil-growing species contained 246, 15,586, 531, and 114 mg/ kg DM, respectively. The highest total phenolic and flavonoid contents were confirmed for Leccinum scabrum (9.24 and 0.77 mg/g DM). The highest content of ascorbic acid was indicated in Calvatia gigantea (108.11 mg/kg DM). The richest in phenolic compounds were Lepista gilva and L.scabrum. The soil-growing mushrooms possessed a better scavenging activity in comparison to wood-growing varieties, with L. scabrum as the species with the greatest antioxidant properties. EC 50 value was correlated with total phenolic and flavonoid contents. The content of ergosterol reached 0.540 mg/g DM for Laetiporus sulphureus.
Practical applicationsConsumers appreciate wild edible mushrooms mainly because of the taste and aroma. This research on both popular and rare edible wild growing mushrooms shows that they are a good source of bioactive compounds including macroelements, phenolics, and ergosterol. This knowledge influences consumers' awareness by enabling them to better match the products of the daily diet, which in consequence can improve well-being and health quality. The results are also valuable for other applications of mushrooms, for example, as extracts or other forms of supplements. The chemical composition of wild mushrooms growing in Poland is poorly studied. The investigations mainly concern popular and traditionally eaten mushrooms. Among the 5,000 species of fungi that form fruiting bodies only a few are harvested and consumed, mainly because of their taste. However, many more species are edible, but not consumed because of their rarity, size or taste. In our investigation, we collected not only popular, but also very rare edible species of mushrooms from different parts of Poland.The aim of the study was to determine the content of some bioactive compounds including microelement composition (such as Ca, K, Mg, Na), the content of phenolic compounds, as well as ergosterol and ascorbic acid contents in Polish wild edible mushrooms (both soilgrowing and wood-growing species). Additionally, the antioxidant activity of the mushroom extracts was estimated.
| M A TE RI A L S A ND M E TH ODS
| Sample collectionThe fruiting bodies from seventeen species of wild growing edible mushrooms (soil-growing and wood-growing species) were collected from different parts of Poland, including private gardens, and were identified as edible according to Wojewoda (2003) Before extraction mushrooms were dried (45 6 2 8C) to a solid mass and ground.
| Macroelement analysisContents of Ca, K, Mg and Na in mushroom species were analyzed by