BIOCHEMICAL AND ANTIOXIDANT PROPERTIES OF WILD EDIBLE MUSHROOMS USED FOR FOOD BY TRIBAL OF EASTERN INDIA Original Article SUSHRI SHANTA TRIPATHY, ASHUTOSH RAJORIYA, AJAY MAHAPATRA, NIBHA GUPTA Plant Pathology and Microbiology Division, Regional Plant Resource Centre, Nayapalli, Bhubaneswar 751015 Odisha, India Email: sushri27tripathy@gmail.com Received: 05 Jan 2016 Revised and Accepted: 18 Feb 2016 ABSTRACT Objective: The main objective of this research was to analyze some selected indigenous wild edible mushrooms in Eastern India for their novel antioxidant components and their properties specifically used by primitive tribal groups of Eastern India. Methods: The antioxidant components were analyzed by standardized spectrophotometric methods. The antioxidant properties were analyzed by DPPH Free radical scavenging & Reducing power ability assay. Results: The TPC (phenolic content) in the studied edible mushroom varied from 4.55 mg/g (Russula nigricans) to 0.9 mg/g GAE (Lentinus tuberigium). Measured in term of antioxidants Termitomyces group ranked higher than Russula and Volvariella sp. The scavenging effect of studied mushrooms on 1,1 DPPH varied from 61% to as high as 94%. On the other hand, reducing power (RPA) in methanolic extracts were in the order of T. clypeatus (4.21) T. heimi (2.20) ~R. breviceps (1.73) ~ Termitomyces eurrhizus (1.11) ~ T. rufum (1.07). Antioxidant potential inedible wild mushrooms are found to be on account of combinations of biochemicals, rather than any such significant individual components as TPC, AA, or alkaloid. Conclusion: This is for the first time wild edibles such as Termitomyces clypeatus, Termitomyces eurrhizus, Termitomyces heimii, Russula brevipes, Tuber rufum, Russula nigricans, Volvariella volvaceae, Lentinus fusipes, Lentinus tuberigium and R. lepida from eastern India were observed, collected and subjected to nutritional and biochemical analysis. Of significance is the identification of Tuber rufum and Volvariella volvaceae growing wild as edible mushrooms which have not been profiled in the Indian context. The analysed mushroom especially Lentinus fusipes and Lentinus tuberigium was found valuable in terms of iron and calcium, besides having useful phytochemicals such as phenolics, ascorbic acid, carotenoids. Keywords: Deciduous forests, Orissa, Wild food, Phenolics, Ergosterol, Termitomyces © 2016 The Authors. Published by Innovare Academic Sciences Pvt Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) INTRODUCTION Oxidative stress induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS) that are generated by metabolic activity as well as lifestyle factors is responsible for the advancement of several chronic diseases. Many epidemiological studies suggest that consumption of polyphenol- rich food is associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases, strokes and cancer in which the phenolics are linked to antioxidant properties [8, 17]. Availability of antioxidants that can mitigate damaging effects of ROS. Therefore, continue to be the focus of nutrition and health research [15]. A multitude of antioxidants has been isolated from different plant materials such as oilseed, vegetables, fruits, herbs [29]. Many of the indigenous herbs and wild edibles used in India and China reportedly contains medicinal and antioxidant properties. Mushrooms such as Ganoderma lucidum, Ganoderma tsugae and Coriolus versicolor have been widely acclaimed to control a host of diseases, for which it is commercially grown in various countries. But a number of wild mushrooms consumed in tropical countries are yet to be investigated for such values. Mushrooms have also added advantage as an ideal diet, due to high protein content (19-35%) in comparison to traditional food, i.e., wheat (13.3%) and milk (25.2 %) besides having low-fat content and better vitamin C and B level [28, 2, 6]. Mushrooms are now considered as an important source of food and income both in the developing and developed countries as well [39]. Edible mushrooms, in particular, attract attention as functional food and source of natural phytotherapeutic agent, bereft of side effects [32]. Mushrooms have anti-diabetic, cardiovascular and immune- modulating effect in addition to preventing the risk of cancer and controlling blood sugar level [18] with substantive antioxidant activity recorded in both wild and cultivated species [26]. The phenolics, organic acids, and alkaloid contents in mushroom contribute to the antioxidant and free radical scavenging properties of mushrooms on account of their ability to capture metals, inhibit lipo oxydase and scavenge free radicals [34, 1]. The wild edible ones- those consumed by local and tribal communities, in particular, are of interest which could impact the health and nutrition, as because it contains significant protein, flavonoid, β-carotene, lycopene, etc usually not available in a poor man’s diet. However, only a few selected species have been worked out to estimate antioxidant components such as phenols, flavonoid, carotene, etc including its antioxidant properties [34, 30] and a number of such valuable wild species are awaiting evaluation. Biochemical evaluation of mushrooms from Indian Himalayan and wet forest region has been conducted [21]. However, characterization of macrofungal species of dry and deciduous forest region in India is rare. The eastern Indian region has a high tribal concentration and a higher proportion of poverty and hunger compared to the rest of India. Evaluation of food consumed by tribals is, therefore, essential to address malnutrition and for determining the need for dietary supplements from natural sources. Search for low cost and natural ingredients which can provide essential macro and micronutrients could be useful in this context for ensuring access to quality food. The objective of this study was, therefore, to profile the biochemical composition and antioxidant properties often commonly consumed wild mushrooms in tribal dominated areas of Odisha, India. The eastern Indian state of Orissa harbors mainly Shorea robusta along with mixed deciduous forests, with limited patches of moist deciduous and semi-evergreen vegetation. It has a subtropical monsoon and humid climate that receive 1100-1300 mm of average annual rainfall. The diversity of mushroom flora in forests and agroforests of the region is yet to be comprehensively investigated [23], notwithstanding the fact that in tribal dominated districts of Sundargarh, Koraput, Kandhamal, Mayurbhanj, and Keonjhar mushrooms are consumed in many villages during June-September. Selected weekly markets, tribals also sell mushrooms in limited quantity. No attempt has been made so far to estimate the actual International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences ISSN- 0975-1491 Vol 8, Issue 4, 2016