ABSTRACT

 Four species of mushrooms were examined, namely Auricularia auricula, Pleurotus squarrosulus, Pleurotus tuber-regium (pileus), Pleurotus tuberregium (stipe), Pleurotus tuber-regium (scierotium). These mushrooms were found to contain alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, phenols in varying quantities and none of them was found to contain tannins. These chemical constituents were quantified to determine the precise amount of the chemicals each mushroom species contain. The findings were discussed in line with the implication of mushrooms in traditional medicine. Proximate and mineral analysis were carried out to determine their nutritional value and equivalence. It was found out that the mushrooms contained an average of crude protein (24.06 — 24.94%), crude fibre (6.08 — 8.82%), ash (5.50 — 8.00%), fats and oil (4.02 — 4.24%) and carbohydrates (359.24 — 391. l2cal). The mineral element contents of the mushrooms were as follows potassium (0.05 — 1.80%), sodium (0.50 — 0.725%),calcium (0.601 — 1.202%), magnessium (0.182 — 0.851%), phosphorus (0.175 — 0.475%), and nitrogen (2.52 — 3.99%). This shows that the mushroom species are highly nutritive. P. squarrosulus however is more nutritious than P. tuber-regium (scierotium). The mushrooms also contained the following vitamins in appreciable quantities ascorbic acid, riboflavin, thiamin and niacin. More studies are suggested for the two species in the area of commercial cultivation and preservation. Their contribution to ethnomedicine of the people needs also to be further investigated.