Edible mushrooms as a source of valuable nutritive constituents

An overview of Polish and foreign literature concerning the chemical composition of edible mushrooms both cultivated and harvested in natural sites in Poland and abroad is presented. 100 g of fresh mushrooms contains 5.3-14.8 g dry matter, 1.5-6.7 g of carbohydrates, 1.5-3.0 g of protein and 0.3-0.4 g of fat. Mushrooms are a high valued source of mineral constituents, particularly potassium, phosphorus and magnesium and of vitamins of the B group, chiefly vitamins B2 and B3 and also vitamin D. The aroma of the discussed raw materials is based on about 150 aromatic compounds. The mushrooms can be a source of heavy metals and radioactive substances. They are also characterized by the occurrence of numerous enzymes.