Abstract

Lentinus squarrosulus and Psathyrella atroumbonata, two edible indigenous mushroom species, were dried, ground and used in nutritional studies. According to the results L. squarrosulus and P. atroumbonata had significantly lower protein efficiency ratio (PER) values than the standard casein diet but gave rise to net protein retention (NPR) values which were at par, but slightly higher than that of the standard casein diet. In addition, the mean albumin and bilirubin levels were significant at p<0.01 while the total serum protein level was significant at p<0.05. The animals fed the protein free andP. atroumbonata diets produced comparable total serum protein levels that were significantly higher than the comparable total serum protein levels produced by the animals fed L. squarrosulus and the standard casein diet. The albumin levels produced by mice fed the protein free diet were at par with those of the P. atroumbonata diet, but significantly higher than the albumin levels of animals fed L. squarrosulus and the standard casein diets, which were similar.

Key words: Lentinus squarrosulus, P. atroumbonata protein efficiency ratio, net protein retention ratio, total serum protein, albumin, bilirubin.