Exploring the Antioxidant Potential of Methanolic Extracts of Wild Medicinal and Edible Mushrooms from Darma Valley, Pithoragarh, Kumaun (Himalaya, India)

This study presents a comprehensive analysis of the methanolic extracts of nine species of wild edible mushrooms (WEM) native to the Darma Valley in the Kumaun Himalaya region. The investigation encompasses the assessment of various biochemical attributes, including total phenolics (TP), total flavonoids (TF), total tannins (TT) contents, the ABTS assay, and the DPPH radical scavenging assay. Among the nine WEM species examined, Clavatia craniiformis stands out for displaying the highest antioxidant capacities, indicated by exceptional TP (54.94 +/- 0.54 mg gallic acid equivalenta/g dry weight) and TT (4.23 +/- 0.17 mg tannic acid equivalents/g dry weight) contents, along with noteworthy ABTS (10.44 +/- 0.34 mg abscorbic acid equivalents/g dw) and DPPH activity (0.335 +/- 0.001 mg abscorbic acid equivalents/g dry weight). Subsequent antioxidant potential are mushrooms Ramaria fennica, Ramaria botrytis, Ramaria sanguinea, Ramaria flava, Gomphus. clavatus, Clavaria zollingeri, Pleurotus ostreatus, and Kuehneromyces mutabilis. Variations in antioxidant capacities align with distinct phenolic content. This study underscores as a remarkable source of antioxidants, suggesting its potential suitability for nutraceutical applications. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the antioxidant properties inherent in wild edible mushrooms, particularly emphasizing the prominence of C. craniiformis.