Molecular Identification, Proximate Composition and Functional Properties of Lentinus Species in Keana Local Government Area, Nasarawa State, Nigeria

Abstract

Despite the extensive study on plant and animal biodiversity in Nasarawa state, our knowledge of microbial diversity in general and macrofungal diversity in particular is very limited. Lentinus species collected from Keana Local Government Area, Identification was based on morphological characteristics and ITS region rRNA sequences. Based on the phylogenetic analyses the Lentinus species collected was Lentinus squarrosulus. The proximate composition, phytochemical and functional properties were investigated using standard analytical techniques. The nitrogen from soil were Lentinus squarrosulus was harvested ranging from 10.1114 ± 2.01 mg/g, phosphorus 8.9562 ±1.11 mg/g, potassium2.1202 ±0.20 mg/g), calcium 1.6423 ±0.13 mg/g and magnesium 0.3415 ±0.21 mg/g. The nutritional compositions of Lentinus squarrosulus were moisture 7.54 %, ash 4.15 %, fat 2.52 %, crude protein 21.61 %, crude fiber 5.22 % and carbohydrate 58.96 %. The functional properties were foaming capacity 131.6 %, foaming stability 56.1 %, water absorption 262.0 %, oil absorption 460.2 %, oil emulsion 61.3 mLg–1, Oil emulsion stability 41.0 mLg–1 gelation concentration 14.0 % and bulk density 413.5 gL–1. The phytochemical components were flavonoids 12.67mg/g, saponins 0.95mg/g, proteins 9.41 mg/g, alkaloids 7.57 mg/g, tannins 6.55 mg/g, steroids (1.43 mg/g), glycosides 2.99 mg/g, terpenoids 3.11 mg/g, phenols 6.11 mg/g, carbohydrates 8.78 mg/g, inorganic acid 1.34mg/g, and organic acid 9.41 mg/g. The results showed that these nutrients rich mushroom studied may prove useful in the formulation of different food products.