Phyto-Chemical Study of Termite’s Mushroom in Nepal: An Ethnomycological Approach

This paper reports on the qualitative phytochemical analysis of Termitomyces mammiformis R. Heim belongs to family Tricholomataceae found in Tarai and Midhill of Nepal. It was collected from the termite nest of the forests in West, Centre and East of tropical, subtropical and temperate region. The sample was harvested fresh, sundried, pulverized and analyzed according to standard procedures. Screening revealed the presence of alkaloid, carotenoid, steroid, triterpenoids, fatty acid, emodins, flavonoid and coumarin in ethereal, anthracene glycoside, anthocyanadine glycoside in methanolic and tannins, saponins, glycosides, polyurenoid and polyoses in the aqueous extracts respectively. There were significant differences in the phytochemical composition of the samples collected from three ecological belts and three phytogeographic regions among the west Siwalik was the best. Its ethno mycological knowledge of different ethnic groups was also incorporated. There was definite co-relation between the traditional application of Termite’s mushrooms and possession of secondary metabolites, which supports the scientific basis for the traditional medicinal system. Results showed that the consumption of wild edible mushroom that act as a good dietary supplement and it may be valuable in drug development.