International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms

ISSN for PRINT: 1521-9437

For Online Access

Best Paper Award Selection - Editorial Board Site

2007, Volume9

Issue 3&4

248 pages

DOI: 10.1615/IntJMedMushr.v9.i34

Issue price - $298.00

Prasad Y. Lamrood
Department of Botany, Ahmednagar College, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, India

Rahul R. Mungikar
Department of Botany, Modern College, Ganeshkhind, Pune, India

The presence of macro- and microelements in 16 Phellinus species were estimated by atomic absorption spectroscopy, and the content of 14 elements were analyzed. Compared to other elements, the calcium content was significant (1000−1100 ppm), followed by sodium (8−17 ppm). The overall ranking of elements for most of the samples was established as Ca > Na > Mg > Fe > Ge > Zn > Mn > Se > Cu > Cr. During the present investigation, toxic elements such as lead, cadmium, arsenic, and cobalt were not detected, but important medical elements, such as germanium and selenium, were detected (0.2−0.5 ppm and 0.1−0.5 ppm, respectively). This is the first report of the presence of germanium and selenium in Indian Phellinus species. Compared with Indian Food Processing Organization (FPO) data, toxic elements in Phellinus species were either absent or in very low amounts, indicating the nontoxicity of the samples. The data suggest that the Indian Phellinus species might be safe to consume as a nutraceutical without posing any serious risk to humans.

DOI: 10.1615/IntJMedMushr.v9.i34.120 Download article, 379-384 pages

Article price - $50.00

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