There was a significant decrease in the TDF content of
the CS-M, whereas the RS-M had a higher TDF content
relative to other mushrooms, such as Agaricus and Volvariella
(Zakia Bano & Rajarathnam, 1988; Rajarathnam
& Zakia Bano, 1991).
The free amino acid content in CS-M showed about
125% increase, compared to RS-M (Table 3). Possibly,
this is linked to the contribution of several amino acids
from the cotton seed powder supplement and any desired
protease and trans-aminase activities, necessary
in this regard to convert substrate proteins, are well
known to be operating in Pleurotus species (Rajarathnam
& Zakia Bano, 1989). A most noteworthy feature
and point of practical importance is that the increase
in the amino acids is contributed by most of the essential
amino acids necessary for the human body. This result
underlines the biotransformation implications of
employing a mushroom culture for transforming the
substrate amino substances.
The total lipid showed about a 35% increase in CS-M
(Table 4). Linoleic acid was the predominant unsaturated
fatty acid that increased considerably in CS-M
(Table 5). One of the main reasons why mushroom is
a favoured item for human nutrition is its abundance
of unsaturated fatty acids and its hypocholesterolemic