Abstract

Mushrooms play an important social, economic and ecological role in the world. In this study, the proximate compositions, minerals and amino acids contents of Russula alveolata, Russula cf. compressa, Russula flavobrunnea var. aurantioflava and Russula ochrocephala from Burkina Faso were investigated. The chemical analysis showed the presence of volatile oil, sterols and triterpenes, carotenoids, saponosides, reducing compounds and cardenolides. Several amino acids including aspartate, glutamic acid, serine, glycine, arginine, threonine, alanine, proline, tyrosine, valine, methionine, isoleucine, leucine, phenylalanine and lysine were identified in mushroom species. Among the identified amino acids, seven are essential for human body: Phenylalanine, valine, threonine, isoleucine, methionine, leucine and lysine.

Key words: Chemical composition, amino acids, Russula, mushrooms, Burkina Faso.