Nutrient content of some mushroom species of the genus <i>Termitomyces</i> consumed in Cameroon

Abstract

The nutrient content (water, lipids, proteins, ashes, crude fibres) of six mushroom species (Termitomyces le Testui, T. aurantiacus, T. schimperi, T. mammformis, T. mboudaeïna Mossebo sp. nov., and T. subcypeatus forme bisporus sp. nov.) of the genus Termitomyces from Cameroon was determined. These mushrooms have a high water content (83.3-94.3 g/100 g wet matter) and contain more lipids than species from temperate countries (2.5-5.4 g/100 g dry weight), with high proportions of polyunsaturated fatty acids (45.1-65.1% of total fatty acid methyl esters) and remarkable proportions of crude fibres (17.5-24.7 g/ 100 g dry weight). Their protein content varied between 15.1 and19.1 g/100 g dry weight and ash content between 5.2 and 14.4. The species T. mammiformis was found particularly rich in minerals with 14.4 g ash/ 100 g dry material, that is up to 2.4 g/100 g fresh weight.