Comparative Study on the Physio-chemical and Toxicological Properties of Agaricus bisporus (edible) and Amanita phalloides (non-edible) Mushrooms

Abstract

Comparative studies on the physio-chemical and toxicological properties of Agaricus bisporus (edible mushroom) and Amanita phalloides (non-edible mushroom) were carried out in this study. Samples used in this study were air-dried at room temperature for three days. The air-dried samples were then grounded into powder. Twenty grams (20 g) of each sample was extracted using distilled water and ethanol as extraction solvents. Phytochemical and toxicological analyses were carried out on the extracted samples. Results from the study showed that phenols, anthraquinone glycosides, tannins, terpenes, and saponins were present in the ethanolic extract of Amanita phalloides, while alkaloids, flavonoids, and steroids were absent. However, phenols, anthraquinone glycosides, tannins, steroids, and terpenes were absent in Agaricus bisporus, whereas alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, and saponins were present in its ethanolic extract. Anthraquinone glycosides were noted to be present in Amanita phalloides but absent in Agaricus bisporus. The toxicological properties of the two mushrooms showed that Amanita phalloides contain various toxins, such as amatoxins, phallotoxins, phalloidin, phalloin, phallacidin, and phallisin, with phallin B toxin being absent. In contrast, Agaricus bisporus was found to lack these toxins. Evidence from the study indicated that Amanita phalloides possessed several toxic substances capable of causing harm to humans when consumed, whereas Agaricus bisporus contained none of these toxic compounds or substances. This study recommends that further research be carried out on non-edible mushrooms to determine whether their poisonous content can be harnessed for beneficial purposes.