Studies to exploit wild mushrooms as a source of biologically active compounds are gaining importance in the recent years. In that view, the present study was carried out to evaluate the bioactive compounds of six wild edible mushrooms: Lentinus squarrosulus Mont., Auricularia auricular-judae (Bull.) Wettst., Mycetinis copelandii (Desjardin) A.W. Wilson & Desjardin, Baeospora myosura (Fr.) Singer, Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq. ex. fr) Kummer and Volvariella volvacea (Bull. ex. Fr.) Singer. The specimen was subjected to phytochemical screening using gas chromatography mass spectrometer (GCMS) with the view to identify the important volatile constituents. The dried sporocarp was subjected to methanol extraction using a Soxhlet extractor and rotatory evaporator. This led to the identification of 14, 26, 33, 5, 49 and 32 different compounds in L. squarrosulus, A. auricular-judae, M. copelandii, B. myosura, P. ostreatus and V. volvacea respectively. n-Hexadecanoic acid; 9,12-Octadecadienoic acid (Z,Z)- and 2(3H)-Furanone where the most frequently occurring compounds across the studied mushrooms. The identified compound reportedly shows diverse bioactive activities, including antiviral, anticancer, antimicrobial, antioxidant, hypocholesterolemic, anaphylactic, narcotic, neurostimulant, emollient, expectorant, laxative, pesticidal, insecticidal and insectifugal activities. This data may provide baseline information about the bioactive constituents of these species from Nigeria, in providing valuable compounds of substantial medicinal and agricultural importance.

Background and Objectives:Toxicity is fast becoming a major cause of infertility in this century unknowingly and researchers can no longer be mute over this situation. In this work, we aimed at exploring the potency of the bark of Ficus vogelii as an herbal product in protecting against female toxicity. Methods:The twenty 25 female Wistar rats used weighed between 140 -180g and were randomly assigned into five groups of five rats per group with group A servicing as control which received normal saline. Groups B and C received 3.5 mg/kg of Lead acetate 14 days and later received low and high dose of extract respectively. Group D served as lead acetate group while group E received extract only.Results: There were changes in body, uterine and ovarian weight (P > 0.01). Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) enzyme levels were reduced significantly in B and C (P > 0.01) group animals while there was an increase in its levels in group D. Several alterations were seen in the ovary and uterus which includes reduced folliculogenesis with a marked increase in the number of atretic follicles, oedema and necrotic zones. These effects were seen to be restored near normal in the groups that were administered with extract. Conclusions:This work showed that the bark of Ficus vogelii could be a good herbal remedy for infertility.