INTRODUCTION:

Mushrooms belong to a separate group of organisms called fungi which are very distinct from plants, animals and bacteria. They lack green matter called chlorophyll present in plants so they grow on dead and decaying organic waste materials. A mushroom is the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting bodies of fungi typically produced above ground on soil or on their food sources. The fruiting body of mushroom may be umbrella like or of various other shape, size and color. Commonly it consists of a cap (pileus) and a stalk or (stipe) but others have additional structures like veil (annulus), a cup (volva). Mushrooms are most commonly known for their nutritive and medicinal value (Chocksaisawasdee et al., 2010; Yang et al., 2001). Mushrooms have a capacity to convert huge lignocellulosic biomass waste into human food.

Mushrooms are low in calories but rich in proteins, fibers, minerals, vitamin B12, and folic acid. It contains about 90 percent moisture (Crisian and Sands, 1978). Mushrooms have high amounts of amino acids lysine and tryptophan, which are usually absent in cereals. It is an ideal food for patients suffering from diabetes and obesity. The mushrooms are reputed to promote health and longevity, boost the immune system, and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, hipercholesterol, stress, insomnia, asthma, allergies, diabetes and cancer (Bahl, 1983).

Mushroom also shows therapeutic activities like anti-carcinogenic, anti-cholesterolaemic, anti-inflammatory, immunesuppressor, antibiotic activity and anti-viral properties and also prophylactic properties with regard to coronary heart disease and hypertension (Bobek et al., 1995a, b; Mattila et al., 2000; Turkoglu et al., 2006).

Among these Calocybe indica is rich in protein, lipid, fiber, carbohydrate and vitamin and contains an abundant amount of essential amino acid and low fat product. It is an excellent source of thiamine, riboflavin, nicotinic acid, pyridoxine, biotin, and ascorbic acid. These qualities make it suitable for food supplement in diet and also used in the form of medicines to alleviate various human disorders and diseases. In recent years increasing global demand of this mushroom, peoples are showing great interest towards cultivation of mushroom because from this they can get good revenue. In-spite this very few people are involved in the cultivation of mushroom due to low productivity by using traditional methods. Currently numbers of modern methods are available by which they can increase the production of this mushrooms. Thus keeping in view the tremendous demands and applications of Calocybe indica, the present study reviews different aspects of mushrooms towards improved cultivation and human health benefits such as food, medicine, minerals, drugs etc. The purpose of the present review is to summarize the available information and to reflect the current status of this mushroom in research area.

Calocybe indica:

It has become the third commercially grown mushroom in India after button and oyster mushrooms. Calocybe indica have attractive milky white sporocarp due to which it is commonly known as milky mushroom. It is also known as white summer mushroom (Phutela and Phutela, 2012). In some places it is called “Kuduk”, “dudhichhata” and “dudhachhatu” (Purkayastha and Chandra, 1974). Milky mushroom is robust, fleshy, umbrella like structure and milky white in color even after flattening (Chadha and Sharma, 1995). It has long shelf life and moderate protein content, due to which it has great demand in many countries. It grows in nature on humus soil under the road side trees or in forests.

Calocybe indica belongs to class Basidiomycetes, order Agaricales and family Tricholomataceae. About 20 species of this genus are known all over the world and four species including C. indica from India are known to be edible. This mushroom was first reported in West Bengal (India) in wild form by Purkayastha and Chandra in the year 1974 (Purkayastha and Chandra, 1985). Purkayastha and Nayak introduced the Production technology of Calocybe indica in 1979 which was improved by them in 1981.Calocybe indica occurs in both tropical and subtropical regions of the world. This species is suitable for hot humid climate and can be cultivated indoor in high temperature and high humidity (Saranya et al. 2011). It can be cultivated on wheat / paddy straw at temperature around 25-35° C and 70 to 90% relative humidity, at this condition 70-85 kg fresh mushroom per 100 kg substrate can be obtained within 12-16 week production cycle.

Cultivation of Calocybe indica is an ecofriendly activity by which agricultural/industrial wastes are utilized and recycled (Olfati and Peyvast, 2008; Stamets, 2000). Mushroom contain extensive and efficient enzymes which degrade a wide variety of inexpensive substrates such as lignin, cellulose, hemicelluloses, pectin and other industrial wastes which cannot be easily degraded by microorganisms resulting in the cheapest method of waste disposal as well as production of protein rich food (Pani , 2011; Stamets, 2000).

Cultivation of Calocybe indica:

The cultivation technology is very simple, involves less cost and can be cultivated throughout the year in the entire plains of India. The cultivation process resembles that of oyster mushroom but for the additional process of casing. Calocybe indica can be grown on wide range of substrates like straw of paddy, wheat, ragi, maize/bajra/cotton stalks and leaves, sugarcane bagasse, cotton and jute wastes, dehulled maize cobs, soya bean hay, groundnut haulms, tea/coffee waste etc., containing lignin, cellulose and hemicelluloses.

Straw is chopped in small pieces (2-4cm size) and soaked in fresh water for 8-16 hours to saturate the substrate with water. This period can be reduced when pasteurization (kill harmful microbes) is to be done by steam. The total crop cycle is only 45-50 days and the mushroom can be harvested from 24-28 days after spawning. The milky mushroom has an extended shelf life of 3-5 days compared to other cultivated species. The major advantage of cultivation of Calocybe indica is that it can be best fitted in relay cropping when no other mushroom can be grown at higher temperature.

Paddy straw is reported as the most suitable substrate for cultivation of Calocybe indica (Krishnamoorthy and Muthusamy, 1997; Pani, 2010; Saranya et al., 2011). Maize stalk and sugarcane bagasse have been reported as excellent substrates for milky mushroom cultivation (Krishnamoorthy and Muthusamy, 1997). Sherin et al. (2004) also reported that milky mushroom require dry and sturdy substrate for better anchorage and growth. In a recent study, Chaubey et al. (2010) reported sunflower stalks and sugarcane bagasse producing higher yield of C. indica than paddy straw.

Addition of supplements to the cultivation substrate showed varied effects on economic yield and biological efficiency of C. indica. There was significant increase in the yield of mushroom when supplements were used with paddy straw or other substrate. Pani (2010) reported that the yield potential of C. indica was improved with increase in the proportion of paddy straw in combinations with maize stalk. According to Alam et al. (2010) the highest biological and economic yield and biological efficiency were obtained (maximum diameters of the pileus and stalk were observed with 30% maize powder as a supplement. Amin et al. (2010) found that the cow dung and loamy soil (3 cm thick) was the best casing material and the rice straw was the best substrate for the commercial cultivation of C. indica. Sharma et al. (2013) reported maximum yield of C. indica by supplemented wheat straw with rice bran. According to Pani (2012) the biological efficacy could be improved when cotton waste and sunflower stalks substrate were used in various concentrations with paddy straw (3:1, 1:1 and 1:3 v/v) for sporophore production.

Moreover, nutritional composition and yield is affected by many factors like differences among strains, the method of cultivation, stage of harvesting, portion of the fruiting bodies used for biochemical study (Benjamin, 1995; Kumar et al. 2011). Elaiya et al. (2012) was recorded maximum yield of C. indica in the month of May and June 2012 (460.7 g per bed). Senthilnambi et al. (2011) was observed increase in C. indica yield in summer months (March to July). In addition, during this period, the average weight of individual mushroom was found to be comparatively high. Sharma et al. (2013) reported the maximum amount of Vitamin A present in supplemented sample of Calocybe indica .It was found in rice bran (0.450 mg/ g), followed by gram dal powder (0.358 mg/g) and wheat bran (0.315mg/g) as compared to control sample (0.210 mg/g).

Chemical composition:

Calocybe indica considered as valuable health foods. It is known to contain large amount of protein (32.3%), carbohydrate (64.26%) present in the form of chitin and glycogen, dietary fiber (41%), lipids, essential amino acids (Ruhul et al., 2010) and low amount of fat (4.5%) (Ram, 2004). It contains high proportion of unsaturated fatty acids especially linoleic acid with no cholesterol. Pushpa et al. (2010) reported that amount of carbohydrate were large in Calocybe indica. Similarly Zahid et al. (2010) reported that the total carbohydrate, lipids, dietary fibers, total ash, calcium, phosphorus, magnanese, sodium, potassium, magnessium content of Calocybe indica was found to be relatively high but the moisture content was low compared to Pleurotus species.

Calocybe indica is also good source of vitamins and minerals, especially those of B complex group. Among B complex vitamins, mushrooms are especially rich in thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), and biotin (B7) (Chang and Miles, 1989), nicotinic acid (Mallavadhani et al., 2006). Folic acid and vitamin B12 (cobalamins), an ingredient known for enriching the bloodstream and prevention deficiencies are generally absent in plant food present in mushrooms. It also contains vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and minerals like potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, calcium, zinc, manganese, arsenic and iron in significant quantities. The level of α-tocopherol (Vit. E) was found to be higher in Calocybe indica. (Suganya and Suriyavathana, 2012; Shanmugasundaram et al., 2013; Lakshmipathy et al., 2012; Sharma et al., 2013; Zahid et al., 2010). Maity et al. (2013) isolated water-insoluble β-glucan from hot alkaline extract of the fruiting bodies of an edible somatic hybrid mushroom of Calocybe indica. Mandal et al. (2012) found that this glucans had antioxidant properties and stimulated immune activation of macrophage, splenocytes and thymocytes .

Therapeutic activity:

Alam et al. (2007) reported that Calocybe indica are very effective in reducing the total plasma cholesterol and triglyceride level and thus reduce the chance of atherosclerosis, cardiovascular and artery related disorders. Antioxidants may offer resistance against oxidative stress by scavenging the free radicals, inhibiting lipid peroxidation. Selvi et al. (2007) reported that the non enzymatic- antioxidants include Vitamin A, ascorbic acid , α-tocopherol and reduced glutathione, which scavenge wide variety of free radicals were present in large amount in fresh form compared to their dried form of Calocybe indica.

Sharma et al. (2013) found that the addition of different substrates increases the concentration of different non-enzymatic antioxidant in Calocybe indica. Such as higher concentration of Vitamin A was found in rice bran followed by gram dal powder and wheat bran where as high concentration of ascorbic acid was found in the rice bran followed by pseudomonas and gram dal powder and azobacter. Similarly higher concentration of Vitamin E was found in rice bran followed by pseudomonas, wheat bran and gram dal.

According to Selvi et al. (2012) the ethanolic extract of Calocybe indica showed potent lipid peroxidation inhibition as well as highest antioxidant activity when determined by DPPH and FRAPS assays. Calocybe indica accumulates a variety of secondary metabolites including phenolic compounds, terpenes, polyketides, sterols, ergosterol, flavanoids and steroids. (Shanmugasundaram et al. 2013; Sharma and Lall, 2013); Ishikawa et al. 2001). Shanmugasundaram et al. (2013) reported the antioxidant activity of Calocybe indica in streptozotocin induced rats. The result showed an increase in antioxidant activity and decrease in the production of free radicals. Calocybe indica have shown antidiabetic activity by controlling the blood glucose level, serum insulin level and glycosylation reaction of the Hemoglobin. (Paramasivam and Shanmugasundaram, 2013)

Antioxidants prevent oxidative damage by free radical and reactive oxygen species (ROS) may prevent the occurrence of diseases like carcinogenesis, ageing, physical injury, infection, Obesity, neurodegenerative diseases and cardiovascular disease (Tsukamoto et al. 2003; Sharma et al. 2013).

Selvi et al. (2013) reported anti-tumour potential of Calocybe indica against T24 urinary bladder cancer cell lines when assayed by MTT and DNA fragmentation. Calocybe indica contain vitamin E which reduced the risk of some forms of cancer, like prostate and colon cancer and carotenoids have been shown to help reduce breast cancer risk (Lewis et al. 2003).

Calocybe indica contain maximum amount of Vitamin A which is necessary for clear vision in dim light (Sharma et al. 2013).

Chatterjee et al. (2011) reported hepatoprotective effect of Calocybe indica. The result indicated that the hepatic antioxidant status such as superoxide dismutase, catalase and reduced glutathione levels were reduced. Histopathological studies also confirmed the hepatoprotective effect of ethanolic extract of Calocybe indica.

Mirunalini et al. (2012) reported the antioxidant activities of Calocybe indica. It was found that the ethanolic extract of Calocybe indica shows potent antioxidant activity which is compared to that of standard antioxidant Gallic acid.

Giri et al. (2012) reported the antimicrobial activity of Calocybe indica against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The methanolic extract of Calocybe indica was tested on three gram positive and three gram negative bacteria. It was noticed that Calocybe indica showed activity against only Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

CONCLUSION:

The extensive literature survey on prospects and potential of Calocybe indica, reveales, that it has diverse pharmacological spectrum due to its wide range of chemical entities. Calocybe indica has capacity to convert huge lignocellulosic biomass waste in to human food. Numerous phytochemical and pharmacological studies have been conducted on Calocybe indica but keeping in view about the phytochemical constituents further research can be done to investigate the unexplored and unexploited potential of this mushroom. Thus, systemic research and scientific work should be undertaken for the development of products for their better economic and therapeutic utilization.

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Received on 20.12.2013 Accepted on 19.01.2014

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