The investigation of physical and chemical properties of edible macrofungi distributed in Osmaniye

Numerous diseases can be seen in the human body, when nutrition and life activities are insufficient for health. But, consuming antioxidant, mineral and protein-rich macrofungi is able to help prevent these diseases. In this thesis study, eight edible macrofungi grown in Amanos mountains (Suillus collinitus, Rhizopogon roseolus, Lactarius sanguifluus, Lycoperdon molle, Ganoderma adspersum, Pleurotus cornucopiae, Lycoperdon perlatum, Macrolepiota procera) were characterized by morphological and molecularly, and colour, texture, moisture, total phenolics, antioxidant activities, protein and mineral contents were determined. According to the results of color and texture analysis, it was seen that, most of the macrofungi samples were in the levels that the consumers can accept. The protein, macro and micro mineral contents of the samples collected and dried were in the range of 11.31-55.31%, 132.75-50844.80 and 0.30-812.05 mg/kg, respectively. Total amounts of phenolics in fresh samples were 10227.13-42216.89 mg GAE/kg KM (in methanolic solution) and 3625.31-28809.99 mg GAE/kg KM (in ethanolic solution), and these values decreased with drying process. Considering the antioxidant activities of raw samples, it was determined that, ABTS method yielded higher results, however DPPH method in ethanol and FRAP method in methanol was superior in dried specimens. This research is important in terms of determining several quality characteristics of various macrofungi grown in Osmaniye.