Physicochemical And Toxicological Characterization Of Five Mushroom Species And Their Potential Application In The Bioremediation Of Trace Metal Contaminated Soils

Five mushroom species—Termitomyces robustus, Agaricus bisporus, Pleurotus tuber-regium, Amanita phalaoides, and Amanita verosa—were collected from eleven locations in Anambra State, Nigeria, between 2024 and 2025. The mushrooms were identified, dried at 75°C for 4 hours, and stored for chemical analysis. Some were cultivated by scrapping mature mushroom seeds into substrates from their natural habitats and refuse dumps. After 14 days of cultivation, mushrooms were harvested, cleaned, and dried for further analysis. The chemical analysis re-vealed that moisture content ranged from 81.79% to 97.84%, with Amanita phalaoides showing the highest. Dry matter ranged from 2.63% to 18.36%, indicating high roughage content. Crude protein ranged from 8.16% to 24.67%, comparable to seeds and legumes. Ash content ranged from 3.26% to 14.33%, indicating high mineral presence, while lipids were low (1.00% to 6.68%), making the mushrooms suitable for diabetic and heart disease diets. Carbohydrates were between 32.00% and 35.40%. Vitamin C levels were low (0.01-0.37 mg/100g). Heavy metal concentrations like Na, K, Ca, Mg, and Fe were within WHO guidelines, while trace metals such as Cd, Co, Cu, and Zn showed significant differences between wild and cultivated mushrooms. Bioaccumulation factors for metals were higher than acceptable limits, particularly for Cd and Ni, indicating potential risks from polluted substrates