Biochemical Profiling and Nutritional Assessment Of Calocybe Indica Cultivated Under Bihar Conditions

Abstract

Calocybe indica (milky mushroom) is an edible tropical mushroom widely recognised for its high nutritional quality, ease of cultivation, and diverse bioactive constituents. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the biochemical composition and phytochemical profile of C. indica cultivated at T. P. S. College, Patna, Bihar, India. Fresh fruiting bodies were harvested, dried, powdered, and analysed using standard biochemical methods. Protein and carbohydrate contents were estimated by the Lowry and phenol–sulphuric acid methods, respectively, while total phenols, flavonoids, alkaloids, and tannins were determined using established phytochemical assays. The results revealed that C. indica contained 23.56 ± 0.42% protein, 34.97 ± 0.44% carbohydrate, 8.10 ± 0.31 mg GAE/g total phenols, 3.74 ± 0.19 mg QE/g flavonoids, 3.36 ± 0.14% alkaloids, and 4.39 ± 0.21 mg/g tannins. The appreciable protein content together with the presence of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, alkaloids, and tannins indicates that C. indica is a nutritionally rich mushroom with promising antioxidant and functional properties. These findings support its potential use as a functional food and nutraceutical ingredient while reinforcing its importance as an economically valuable edible mushroom suitable for commercial cultivation in tropical and subtropical regions. Further investigations on the isolation and characterisation of its bioactive compounds may facilitate the development of mushroom-based therapeutic and value-added food products.