Fatty acid profiles of polar and neutral lipids of ten species of higher basidiomycetes indigenous to eastern Canada.

Neutral and polar lipid contents of ten species of edible mushrooms indigenous to Eastern Canada belonging to the families Agaricaceae, Amanitaceae, Boletaceae, Coprinaceae, Ganodermataceae, and Lycoperdaceae were analysed. The total lipid content of the species analysed ranged from 3.1% (Ganoderma applanatum) to 16% (w/w) d.w. (Amanita vaginata) and averaged 8.6% (w/w) d.w. Polar lipids accounted for more than 50% of the total lipids in most species and differences were observed between neutral and polar lipid contents according to the species analysed. In both lipid fractions, high proportions of unsaturated fatty acids (FAs) ranging from 62.7 to 82.3% (polar lipids) and 59.8 to 82.5% (neutral lipids) of the total FAs were observed. Analysis of FA profiles showed that both neutral and polar lipids were mainly composed of linoleic (18:2 Delta9c,12c), oleic (18:1 Delta9c), and palmitic (16:0) acids. Significant differences (P<0.05) in the contents of specific FAs were observed between mushroom species. Among the 44 FAs detected in the species analysed, the occurrence of cis-11-heptadecenoic (17:1 Delta11c) acid is reported for the first time in basidiomycetes, while elaidic acid (18:1 Delta9t) is reported for the first time in fungi.