Abstract:
The nutritional composition and anti-nutritive contents of wild Ganoderma lucidum fruit bodies were determined and its aqueous extract assessed for subchronic oral toxicity in mice. The matured fruit body contained per 100 g total carbohydrate (42.10 g), crude fibre (32.10 g), moisture (10.80 g), crude protein (7.18 g), ash (6.02 g) and crude fat (3.50 g). The antinutritive factors content per 100 g were cyanide (0.005 mg), oxalate (0.36 mg) and phytate (0.018). Crude aqueous extract of Ganoderma lucidum at 100, 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight for 21 days did not significantly affect the relative liver, kidney and spleen weights compared with control but relative heart weights were significantly higher compared with control in mice administered 100 and 500 mg/kg extract. Hematological indices, serum markers of liver and kidney status and serum lipid profile showed no statistically significant differences in the extract treated mice compared with control. It was therefore concluded that fruit body of G. lucidum contained good nutritional profile and its consumption both for nutritional and pharmaceutical purposes in the short-term could be said to be relatively safe.

Keywords: Proximate Composition, Anti-Nutritive Factors, Medicinal Mushroom, Ganoderma lucidum, Toxicity.