Nutritional composition, phytochemical and antioxidant properties of Trametes versicolor from Central Nepal

Medicinal mushrooms are highly valued due to their high levels of vital bioactive constituents with potential health benefits. Trametes versicolor is a widely known medicinal mushroom utilized as a nutrient source and for therapeutic purposes. Our study was carried out to examine the nutritional content, phytochemicals, antioxidants and antimicrobial activity of T. versicolor. The mushroom, collected from decaying wood at Phulchowki, Godawari, Lalitpur, was identified as T. versicolor based on morphological features and sequence analysis using the NCBI BLAST database. Nutritional analysis indicated that T. versicolor contains carbohydrates (59.64%), protein (11.56%), fat (1.13%), moisture (7.1%), dietary fiber (8.6%), and ash (6.01%). The samples demonstrated notable levels of total phenolics (151.05 ± 0.002 mg GAE/100g), flavonoids (124.48 ± 0.03 mg QAE/100g), tannins (725 ± 0.03 TAE mg/100g), lycopene (0.46 ± 0.015 mg carotenoids/g), β-carotene (1.11 ± 0.02 mg carotenoids/g), and terpenoids (2.78%). The antioxidant activity (IC50) was 198.4 μg/ml. Trametes versicolor also showed the presence of various minerals, including Cu (0.049 ± 0.0027 mg/g), Fe (0.105 ± 0.005 mg/g), Mn (0.035 ± 0.002 mg/g), and Zn (0.03 ± 0.001 mg/g). The mineral constituents and rich nutritional and phytochemical profiles highlight its potential as a functional and nutraceutical food. This study supports its potential long-term utilization in healthcare and food industries, while establishing a basis for additional studies into its therapeutic implications.