НАУЧНИ ТРУДОВЕ ТОМ LX “ХРАНИТЕЛНА НАУКА, ТЕХНИКА И ТЕХНОЛОГИИ – 2013“ 18-19 октомври 2013, Пловдив SCIENTIFIC WORKS VOLUME LX „FOOD SCIENCE, ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY 2013“ 18-19 October 2013, Plovdiv MINERAL CONTENT OF WILD EDIBLE MACROFUNGI LAETIPORUS SULPHUREUS AND SUILLUS FLURYI FROM MACEDONIA Daniela Nikolovska Nedelkoska 1 , Gorica Pavlovska 1 , Dragan Damjanovski 1 , Mitko Karadelev 2 1 Faculty of Technology and Technical Sciences, University “St. Kliment Ohridski”-Bitola, Veles, Macedonia 2 Institute of Biology, Faculty of Natural Science and Mathematics, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, Skopje, Macedonia Abstract The aim of this study was to determine the contents of mineral elements and heavy metal accumulation in two edible macrofungi species Laetiporus sulphureus and Suillus fluryi. Specimens were analyzed for six elements (iron, copper, zinc, selenium, cadmium and lead) contents using atomic emission spectroscopy with inductively coupled plasma (AES-ICP). Suillus fluryi demonstrated much higher contents of selenium (0.85 mg/kg dry weigh), zinc (47.7 mg/kg dry weigh) and copper (44.97 mg/kg dry weigh), essential trace elements that are related to the antioxidant potential of the specimen. Only small amounts of toxic metals, such as cadmium and lead, were found in both tested species. The results confirmed that the investigated wild macrofungi Suillus fluryi may be a functional component of the human diet. Keywords: edible macrofungi, ICP-AES, mineral elements, Laetiporus sulphureus, Suillus fluryi Introduction The fungal kingdom includes many species with diverse morphological and ecological characteristics that support their survival in the environment. Mushrooms are macrofungi that are characterized by the production of visible fruit bodies which generate and distribute their spores [1]. Wild-growing mushrooms are valued due to their taste and aroma, as well as their nutritional quality (rich protein and low fat contents) and they are considered as sources of a wide range of biologically active secondary metabolites [1-6]. Mushrooms also accumulate high concentrations of metallic elements, metalloids and non-metals even when growing above soils with low concentrations of these elements [7]. The genotype of the mushrooms and the soil conditions where the mushrooms are found are main factors influencing the bioaccumulation of elements in macrofungi [6,7]. Human organism requires trace amounts of some essential elements, including iron, copper, zinc and selenium, which play an important role in biological processes. Since macrofungi have ability to bioaccumulate the essential trace elements from the growth medium into the fruiting body, their consumption can make an important contribution to nutrition intake and overall health. Apart from the abundance of essential minerals in mushrooms, potentially toxic elements including Cd and Pb also occur sometimes at elevated concentrations [7]. It is known that the concentration of essential or non- essential trace elements above threshold concentration levels can cause morphological abnormalities, reduce growth and increase mortality and mutagenic effects in humans [8]. In the present paper focus is given to the elements that are of health promoting and toxicological importance: Se, Zn, Cu, Fe, Cd and Pb in two edible mushroom species growing widely throughout the Balkan region, Laetiporus sulphureus and Suillus fluryi. The data derived would serve as a useful basis to assess the nutritional value of the selected mushrooms, along with the limits of toxic metals. Materials and Methods Fruiting body selection. Wild fruiting bodies of the samples Laetiporus sulphureus and Suillus fluryi were collected in autumn 2011. Geographical location and natural habitat of the mushroom specimens are shown in Table 1. Taxonomic identification was made in the Mycological Laboratory at the Institute of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics in Skopje, by implementing standard methods of microscopic and chemical techniques (coloring of fruit bodies and spores), as well appropriate literature [9-14]. The representative voucher specimens were deposited at 832