Physicochemical Characterization of Two Species of Wild Edible Mushrooms: Lentinus brunneofloccosus pegler and Auricularia auricularia judae

In tropical Africa, mushrooms play an important role for people in rural areas as a source of food, medicine and income. In order to promote the mycology sector in Côte d’Ivoire, a study was carried out on the determination of the biochemical parameters of the mushroom Lentinus brunneofloccosus pegler and Auricularia auricularia judae found in the localities of Daloa and Yamoussoukro. The samples were purchased in the markets of Daloa and Yamoussoukro. The dry matter, ash and lipid contents were determined by the AOAC method. Those of proteins, total sugars, reducing sugars were carried out respectively by the methods of Kjeldahl, Bernfeld and Dubois, and six minerals (potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, iron and sodium) were quantified by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS). The results showed that the ash (3.46 - 7.74%) and protein (6.10 - 12.40%) levels were high, but the lipid contents (4% to 6.60%), total sugars (1.34 - 5.16%) and reducing sugars (0.01 to 0.27%) are low. The major minerals are calcium (898 to 1006 mg/100g), potassium (1182 to 2433 mg/100g) and phosphorus (2091 - 4375 mg/100g). Magnesium (270 - 433 mg/100g) is represented in average proportion. Iron (2.83 to 46.17 mg/100g) and sodium (4.87 to 5.99 mg/100g) are in low amounts. The mushrooms Lentinus brunneofloccosus pegler and Auricularia auricularia judae are low in fat, high in ash, and are good sources of protein and minerals.