Oudemansiella cubensis an Edible Mushroom from the Neotropics with Biological and Nutritional Benefits

Abstract

In this work, we evaluated the antioxidant, toxicological, mutagenic, antigenotoxic and nutritional properties of Oudemansiella cubensis, which is a mushroom found in neotropical regions worldwide and native to Paraguay. Nutritional content analyses revealed that O. cubensis is a rich source of protein, dietary fiber, and fats. Antimicrobial analyses showed antimicrobial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterococcus faecalis. Additionally, the species resulted to be nontoxic for human consumption with an LD50 value of 37.1 mg.mL-1. The ethanolic extract of O. cubensis showcased an important antimutagenic activity at a concentration of 20 mg.mL-1, which promotes the prevention of genotoxic damage. Regarding its chemical profile, Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry confirmed the presence of compounds such as l-(+)-ascorbic acid 2,6-dihexadecanoate, octacosanol and cyclo(l-leucyl-l-prolyl), which stood out for antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. This study provided further evidence that Oudemansiella cubensis is a valuable species because of its potential for biotechnological applications.