Nutritive value of some Nigerian edible mushrooms

Samples of Termitomyces robustus, T. clypeatus and Pleurotus tuber-regium were analysed for their nutrient and toxic substances. The Termitomyces spp. contained as much as 31% proteins and about 32% carbohydrates, of which at least 26% were reducing sugars. Pleurotus tuber-regium contained 14·6% protein and 18·6% carbohydrates, of which only about 2·9% were reducing sugars. There was little difference in their crude fibre and ash content, while the fat content of T. robustus was a little higher than those of the other samples. The ascorbic acid content of each of the Termitomyces spp. (10 mg% and 14·3 mg%) was much higher than that of Pleurotus sp. (3·3 mg%). All the mushroom samples were low in hydrocyanic acid (HCN) and oxalate contents.