Bioaccumulation of heavy metals in the sporocarps of some wild mushrooms

The fruiting bodies of wild mushrooms show high concentrations of heavy metals due to their efficacious mechanism of accumulation of these elements from soil.In accordance with this ability, three wild macrofungi viz., Macrolepiota procera (edible species), Amanita augusta (non-edible species), Boletus subvelutipes (poisonous species) and their respective soil samples collected from different forest areas of Jammu Province were analysed for the presence of six heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Mn, Fe, Cd, Pb).The metallic content was established by Atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS) and Inductively coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission spectrometry method (ICP AES).The results of heavy metals concentration are given in mg of metal per kg of dry matter and demonstrate important variation between the level of concentration in edible, non edible and toxic species.Moreover, the mean element distribution varied depending upon the part of fruiting body of macrofungi.In A. augusta these elements were detected under permissible limits for consumption.On the contrary, high ratio of zinc, copper, manganese, iron, lead and cadmium were found in A. augusta and B. subvelutipes indicating that these elements are accumulated at much higher levels in these wild growing mushrooms.Thus, it is worthwhile to evaluate the metal content in the wild macrofungi to assess their contribution to the daily intake of several toxic elements so that it would adjudicate the mushrooms for its nutritive value in terms of minerals and also define the limits of safety.As mushrooms have been known to possess good nutraceutical and pharmaceutical potential, a detailed analysis of their sporocarps is desirable before their incorporation into routine diet, drugs and medicine.