Current Nutrition & Food Science   Daily Arias-Ramos 1 , Idelsy Chil-Núñez 1 , Humberto J. Morris 2,* , Miladis Camacho-Pozo 2 , Yamila Lebeque-Pérez 2 , Gabriel Llauradó-Maury 2 , Paul Cos 3 and Chris Vervaet 4 1 Pharmacy Department, Faculty of Natural and Exact Sciences, Universidad de Oriente, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba; 2 Center for Studies on Industrial Biotechnology (CEBI), Universidad de Oriente, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba; 3 Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmaceutical, Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Belgium; 4 Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium Abstract: Background: Mushroom-based products can serve as superior nutraceuticals in both preventing and alleviating human diseases. Dehydrated powder of Pleurotus ostreatus grown in Cuba has a rich nutritional composition and a large number of therapeutic properties. However, technological parameters (e.g. rheological), as well as biochemical and microbiological quality control standards for its use as a raw material in the manufacture of solid dosage forms with nutraceutical and biopharmaceutical applications have not been established yet. Objective: The study aims to determine the technological, biochemical and microbiological qual- ity parameters of dehydrated Pleurotus ostreatus powder. Methods: Rheological properties (Carr´s index, Hausner´s ratio, angle of repose and flow rate) were determined in seven batches of mushroom powder. Biochemical and microbiological anal- yses were performed using standard methods. Other physicochemical properties (mean particle size, pH and moisture) were also determined. Results: Technical parameters showed a mean particle size of 224.08±7.96 µm, Carr´s compress- ibility index (23.08-26.58%), Hausner´s ratio (1.30-1.36), angle of repose (36.6-41.90°) and flow rate (3.69-6.93 g cm -2 s -1 ), typical of materials with poor flowability. Biochemical analyses indi- cated significant nutraceutical composition: protein (25.0-30.4%), carbohydrate (45-60%), ash (6.1-9.8%), fiber (5-9%), β-D-Glucans (1.47-1.61%), iron (21-50 mg/100 g), zinc (3.8-8.0 mg/100 g), and polyphenols (123-160 mg/100 g). Moisture content was ≤3.50% and microbio- logical analyses were in agreement with ISO standards. Conclusion: Dehydrated P. ostreatus powder exhibits good nutraceutical composition and mi- crobiological quality. Technological parameters evidenced poor flow properties, suggesting the need to include excipients to improve the rheological properties for applications as an active in- gredient in solid dosage forms for health benefits. A R T I C L E H I S T O R Y Received: August 16, 2021 Revised: December 04, 2021 Accepted: December 21, 2021 DOI: 10.2174/1573401318666220211101143 Keywords: Biopharmaceutical, dehydrated powder, microbiological analysis, mushrooms, nutraceuticals, Pleurotus ostreatus, rheological properties. 1. INTRODUCTION Recent basic and applied studies on mushroom metabo- lism, biotechnology, and clinical trials represent a large con- tribution to the expansion of mushroom potentialities for the development of innovative products, such as functional foods, nutraceuticals, and novel drugs, with a positive impact on human quality of life [1]. In addition, the possibilities of *Address correspondence to this author at the Center for Studies on Indus- trial Biotechnology (CEBI), Universidad de Oriente, Ave. Patricio Lumum- ba s/n, Altos de Quintero, Santiago de Cuba, Zip Code 90500, Cuba; Tel: +53-22632095, +53-58015274; E-mail: jquevedo@uo.edu.cu edible/medicinal mushrooms as effective prophylactic or therapeutic add-on remedies against COVID-19 infection may seem promising [2]. In this context, Pleurotus spp. comprises some of the most popular edible mushrooms whose cultivation has in- creased greatly throughout the world during the last few dec- ades. In Cuba, the implementation of technologies for the cultivation of Pleurotus spp. on a large or small scale on agricultural substrates, in addition to food generation for human consumption opened new research activities towards mushroom nutraceuticals. Its popularity has been expanded 2212-3881/22 $65.00+.00 © 2022 Bentham Science Publishers Send Orders for Reprints to reprints@benthamscience.net Current Nutrition & Food Science, 2022, 18, 507-514 507 RESEARCH ARTICLE Technological, Biochemical and Microbiological Evaluation of Dehydrated Pleurotus ostreatus Powder for Nutraceutical Applications