International Journal of Science and Engineering Invention ISSN: 2455-4286 *Corresponding author - Adedeji Olayinka Adebiyi Volume 04, Issue 09 September 2018 | DOI: 10.23958/ijsei/vol04-i08/87 10 | Page ARTICLE OPEN Distribution of Phytochemicals and Some Anti-nutrients in Selected Edible Mushrooms in Ekiti State, Nigeria Adedeji Olayinka Adebiyi Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria Email id - djadebiyi @ yahoo.com Abstract The present study was carried out to determine the phytochemical and anti nutritional composition of some selected edible mushrooms collected in Ekiti State, Nigeria such as Pleurotus sajor-caju, Termitomyces robustus, Lentinus squarosullus, Termitomyces microcarpous, Termitomyces clypeatus, Lentinus tuber-regium and Polyporus sp. The results of phytochemical analyses revealed the presence of phytochemicals such as alkaloids (0.03-0.17%), saponin (0.03-0.12%), total phenols (0.12-4.32%), flavonoids (0.20-6.04%) and tannins (0.04-2.60%). The least concentration of all the phytochemicals was found in Polyporus sp. Results of anti nutrient screening revealed the presence of phytate (0.17-0.34mg/g), oxalate (1.87-4.04mg/g) and cyanide (0.05-0.27mg/g). Furthermore, results revealed significant differences in the phytochemical as well as anti nutritional composition of the mushrooms though some species had similar compositions. The obtained values of phytochemicals and anti nutrients were significantly lower in all the mushroom species compared to their toxic levels according to World Health Organization stipulated safe limits. Thus, the study suggests that all the mushroom species are very safe for consumption while the presence of alkaloids, saponins, phenols and flavonoids indicate medicinal potentials. Hence, screening and characterization of the secondary metabolites are required. Keywords: phytochemicals, anti nutrients, edible mushrooms, Ekiti State 1. Introduction Mushrooms are regarded as macro fungi with distinctive fruiting bodies which can either be epigeous or hypogenous and large enough to be seen with the naked eyes and to be picked by hand. [1] Mushrooms are saprophytes. They include members of the Basidiomycota and some members of the Ascomycota. They are important constituents of minor forest produce that grow on the most abundant biomolecule of the biosphere and cellulose. [2] Mushrooms offer tremendous applications as they can be used as food and medicines besides their ecological roles. They represent one of the world’s greatest untapped resources of nutrition and palatable food of the future. [2] Mushrooms have been consumed for centuries as food or food supplement due to their delicacy, taste and flavour. [3] They have been proven to possess good quality of protein, unsaturated fatty acids, fibres, minerals and vital vitamins that we need in our daily diet. [4] According to, [5] edible mushrooms contain a spectrum of minerals both macro and micronutrients and non-essential trace elements. They are used traditionally to cure certain diseases. [6] Their polysaccharide content is used as anti-cancer drug. Research reports had it that mushrooms have been used to combat HIV effectively. [7,8] Biologically active compounds from mushrooms possess anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-oxidant and anti-viral properties and have been used as insecticides and nematicides as well. [2] It has been reported that mushrooms have been used as medicine in China since 100 A.D. but it was only in the 1960 that scientists investigated the basic active principles of mushrooms which are health promoting. [9] They have been reported to possess anti-allergic, anticholesterol, anti-tumour and anti-cancer properties. [10] Mushrooms have been used to treat diseases/conditions such as renal failure, epilepsy, wounds, skin diseases, heart ailments arthritis, cholera, diarrhoea, dysentery, liver diseases, gall bladder diseases among others. [11] Despite the nutritional and medicinal values of some mushrooms, it has been reported that mushrooms contain anti-nutrients that may have adverse effect on normal health functioning. [12] On most cases, these anti-nutrients are commonly synthesized by plants to serve as a protective measure for them. However, if plants with high contents of these anti nutrients are consumed, it may lead to adverse health problems. The present study was designed to determine the bioactive compounds and anti nutrients present in some edible mushrooms in Ekiti State, Nigeria. 2. Materials and Methods 2.1 Phytochemical Screening The phytochemical constituents of the mushroom extracts such as alkaloids, saponins, phenols, flavonoids and tannins were identified by standard procedures. [13,14] Test for Alkaloids Dragendroff’s test: Little amount of the sample was treated with the Dragendroff’s reagent; the appearance of reddish brown precipitate indicated the presence of alkaloids. Test for Saponin Foam test: To 1 ml of the extracts 5 ml distilled water was added and shaken vigorously. Formation of foam indicated presence of saponins. Test for Phenols Ferric chloride test: A fraction of the extract was treated with 5% ferric chloride solution and observed for the formation of deep blue or black colour.