1. food and drink
2. food
3. salads

Asemota Uwem Kelly, Salisu Abubakar, Okereke Omoaruemike Ebele, Etim Veronica Archibong and Onyenekwe Paul Chidozie, Ethnomycology:
Edible and Medicinal Mushrooms of the Indigenous Gbagyi People of Nigeria, Int.J.Curr.Biotechnol., 2015, 3(3):1-7.
International Journal of Current
Biotechnology
ISSN: 2321 - 8371
Journal Homepage : http://ijcb.mainspringer.com
Ethnomycology: Edible and Medicinal Mushrooms of the Indigenous Gbagyi People of
Nigeria
Asemota Uwem Kelly*, Salisu Abubakar, Okereke Omoaruemike Ebele, Etim Veronica
Archibong and Onyenekwe Paul Chidozie
Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering Advanced Laboratory, Sheda science and Technology Complex
(SHESTCO), P.M.B 186, Garki. Abuja. FCT. Nigeria.
A R T I C L E
I N F O
Article History:
Received 09 March 2015
Received in revised form 12 March 2015
Accepted 25 March 2015
Available online 30 March 2015
Key words:
Edible and Medicinal mushrooms,
Ethnomycology, Gbagyi people, Federal
Capital Territory, Nigeria.
A B S T R A C T
Structured questionnaires were prepared in Gbagyi language and administered to about 100
respondents randomly selected from twelve Gbagyi settlements in the Federal Capital Territory, with the aid of interpreters who are indigenes. This study reveals that the Gbagyi people
of Nigeria are mostly mycophagists. 93% of the respondents have used at least seven species
of mushrooms as food. 92% consume edible mushrooms for taste and consider some species
a great delicacy, 90% use mushrooms as a substitute for meat or fish, 20% for soup thickening, 40% still prefer to use mushrooms as medicine or as a component of medicinal preparations believing they are cheaper and with less side effects than orthodox medicine. 2% consume mushrooms for cultural reasons. The findings of this investigation indicate that about 28
species of mushrooms are known and used by the Gbagyi people for food, medicine, commercial and cultural reasons. However, the younger the respondent the less the knowledge and
use of mushrooms. Ganoderma lucidum, Ganoderma applanatum, Trametes versicolor, Fomes
fomentarius, Laetiporus sulphurus and various species of Polypores are among the mushrooms used as medicine or components of herbal preparations in the treatment of various
ailments including pile, eye problem, ulcers, cancer, tumors, fever, stomach ache, pregnancy
related ailments, management of HIV/AIDS and also as immune system boosters.
Introduction
As an ethnic nationality, the Gbagyi people originated
from Kaduna state in the Northern part of Nigeria. They
are one of the most widespread and numerous peoples
with settlements in Plateau, Kaduna, Niger, Kogi States
and the Federal Capital Territory (Roger and Musa, 1989).
However, the Gbagyi people in this study are those in
the Federal Capital Territory. They are the original settlers
of Gwagwalada in Abuja, they are the most populated
and indigenous ethnic groups in the Federal Capital
Territory and their major occupation is farming (Chigudu,
2008; Mefor, 2008). The Gbagyi people believe that the
head is sacred so they put their load including their
harvest after a mushroom-hunt on their shoulders instead
of the head. The majority are illiterate and peasant and
can hardly afford meat and fish, therefore there is a great
dependence on mushrooms as a replacement for meat
and fish. The rainy season runs from April to October
and is about 1,500mm (59.1in). The vegetation falls within
Guinean forest savannah mosaic zone of the West African
subregion. However patches of rainforest occur in some
parts of the territory (wikipedia). These features make
the region favourable for the growth of mushrooms. The
Gbagyi word for mushroom is ‘munu’, Gbagyi language
*Corresponding author.
Email address: [email protected]
1
is rich in expressions and terminologies that reflect their
ethnomycological usage of mushrooms (Roger and
Musa, 1989). The Gbagyi or Gbari people have known
and used mushrooms for food, medicine, commercial and
cultural purposes from time immemorial. Among the
Gbagyi, mushroom collection is mainly for household
consumption, only a relatively small quantity is taken to
market for sale and this is usually done by the women.
They are also sold as medicine or as components of
medicinal preparations in dried solid or powder form. For
example in Gwagwalada and Kwali markets, dried
mushrooms believed to be polypores are sold as medicine
for the treatment of malaria and stomach problems. Fresh
edible mushrooms are sold in the Kwali and Gwagwalada
markets during the rainy season at very cheap rates.
Gbagyi people consider mushrooms a great delicacy,
sometimes more than one specie of mushroom is used at
the same time in making soup, stew or pepper soup, this
is in agreement with the observation of (Jonathan, 2002)
that in Nigerian villages exposed to natural vegetation, a
variety of mushrooms are used in the preparation of a
dish. In the preparation of some mushroom – herbal
medicines more than one specie of mushrooms could
also be used. Mushrooms are usually preserved by airdrying, sun-drying and smoking for use during the dry
season when mushrooms become scarce.
Int.J.Curr.Biotechnol.
Volume 3; Issue 3; Mar, 2015
The ethnomycology of mushrooms by other tribes have
been reported by various authors in Nigeria.
Ethnomycology of edible and medicinal mushrooms is
reported among the Igbos (Akpaja et al., 2003), Yorubas
(Oso, 1975; Alabi 1994), Igalas (Ayodele et al., 2011) Binis
(Akpaja et al.,2005), and Hausas (Okhuoya et al., 2010).
A catalogue and identification of some wild edible
macrofungi occuring in Nigeria has also been carried out
(Nwordu et al., 2013). In other countries of the world
ethnomycology of edible and medicinal mushrooms is
well documented. They include among others : Zambia
(Pegler and Pierce, 1980), Ghana (Obodai and Apetorghor,
2010), Benin (Dekessel et al., 2002), Guatemala (De Leon,
2002) and India (Purukayastha and Chandra, 1985). There
is a paucity of documented information on the indigenous
use of mushrooms for food, medicine and other purposes
by the Gbagyi people of Nigeria. This work is therefore
an attempt to highlight and document the indigenous
knowledge and usage of mushrooms among this people.
It is also to encourage the cultivation and
commercialization of mushrooms to improve food security
and go a long way in improving the general wellbeing of
the peasant and illiterate among them; especially the
women. This work also seeks to encourage further
investigation into the rich array of mushrooms in Gbagyi
farmlands as a potential cheap source of antibacterial,
antifungal and antiviral drugs.
Materials and Methods
Mushrooms were randomly collected from different
Gbagyi farmlands over three rainy seasons (April October, 2010 ; April - October, 2011 and April - October,
2012). Photographs of the mushrooms growing in their
natural habitat were taken before they were carefully
uprooted holding the stipe gently but firmly close to the
rhizomoph thus carrying some soil along with it to avoid
damaging the tissues and obstructing identification. The
mushroom samples were shown to the indigenes for
identification by their local names. They were
immediately taken to the Department of Biotechnology
and Genetic Engineering, Sheda Science and Technology
Complex for identification, storage and further studies.
The mushrooms were identified using standard
conventional methods, coloured picture books and
internet. Representative samples of some of mushrooms
were dried in the oven at 40°C and taken to the Mushroom
Science Unit, Plant Pathology and Biotechnology
Department, University of Benin, Benin for confirmation.
Study Area
Abuja lies between latitudes 8°25‘ N and 9°20‘ and
Longitude 6°39‘. It is bordered on the North by Kaduna
State, East by Nassarawa State, to the South west by
Kogi State and to the West by Niger State. The Territory
is located just north of River Niger and Benue River and
geographically in the center of the country. It has a land
mass of approximately 7,315km² of which the actual city
occupies 275.3km². It is situated within the savannah with
moderate climatic conditions. The peasant people of
Gbagyi are traditionally farmers. Two farmland settlements
of Gbagyi people from each of the Six Area Councils of
the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja were randomly
selected as study area. They include Sheda, Kilankwa 1
and 2 villages in Kwali Area Council, Mpape and Ushafa
villages in Bwari Area Council, Pegi and Tika villages in
Kuje Area Council, Gwako and Tungan-maje villages in
Gwagwalada Area Council, Chegbeche and Rimba villages
in Abaji Area Council, Garki and Dangaza villages in Abuja
Municipal Area Council.
Volume 3; Issue 3; Mar, 2015
Sampling Frame
The target population was the Gbagyi also spelled as
Gbari or Gwarri people residing in various settlements in
the six Area Councils in the Federal Capital Territory.
About a hundred respondents were used for the study.
Results and Discussion
Information for this study was obtained from the use of
structured questionnaires, interviews and personal
communication with the indigenes, traditional medicine
practitioners and hawkers. This investigation shows that
there are about twenty eight (28) mushrooms known
and used by Gbagyi people for food, medicine and
culture.
The edible and medicinal mushrooms of the Gbagyi
people of Nigeria are similar to those known and used
by Igala, Bini and Yoruba speaking people respectively
(Ayodele et al., 2011; Akpaja et al., 2005; Adhikar, 1999).
Personal communication with the indigenes indicates that
due to the high cost of meat and fish, more people are
turning to mushrooms as an alternative source of
proteins. It was also observed that many of the indigenes
still resort to traditional medicine especially in cases
relating to fertility, antenatal and post natal care. They
attribute this to the fact that their traditional herbal
medicine is more natural, safer, more accessible and more
economical, considering the cost of transportation to the
nearest hospital and also the cost of orthodox drugs
(Dania, 2010).
Gbagyi people name mushrooms based on their uses,
the substrate on which they grow, their growth pattern,
and in most cases their physical features. However, many
of the indigenes have forgotten the names and uses of
the mushrooms especially in the younger age group.
Figure 1 depicts the location of the Federal Capital
Territory on the map of Nigeria, showing that it is an area
with a good climate and rich vegetation favourable for
the growth of mushrooms. Plates 1-6 shows pictures of
edible mushrooms known and utilized by Gbagyi people
while Plate 1-21 shows pictures of medicinal mushrooms
known and utilized by them. Some of the mushrooms are
potential sources of nutraceuticals as they can be used
as food and medicine. The most frequently occuring
mushroom among Gbagyi people is "Sumbo munu",
Figure - 1: Map of Nigeria showing the location of Abuja
in the centre of Nigeria. Coordinates: 9°42 03 N 7°292
03 E (http://www.fct.gov.ng).
Int.J.Curr.Biotechnol.
2
PLATES 1-21: EDIBLE MUSHROOMS KNOWN AND UTILIZED BY GBAGYI PEOPLE (pictures taken by
Asemota, U.K)
1
2
6
7
11
8
12
16
3
18
KEY: Edible mushrooms
1. Pleurotus florida
5
9
13
17
21
4
10
14
15
19
20
11. Lentinus squarrosulus
12. Volvarealla volvocea
2. Pleurotus ostreatus
13. Termitomyces letuisti
3. Agaricus bisporus
14. Scientically unidentified
4. Auricularia auricular
15. Panus fulvus
16. Lepisda flacida
5. Boletus sp
6. Daeldina concentric
17. Chlorophyllum molybdates
18. Lactarius deliciosus
7. Boletus edulis
19. Daedalea elegans
8. Polyporus squamosus
9. Coprinus sp
20. Laetiporus sulphurus
21. Russula sp
10. Macrolepiota procera
3
Int.J.Curr.Biotechnol.
Volume 3; Issue 3; Mar, 2015
TABLE - 1: SOME EDIBLE MUSHROOMS KNOWN AND UTILIZED BY GBAGYI PEOPLE
S.NO
LOCAL
NAME
Munu
MEANING OF
LOCAL NAMES
Mushrooms
TIME
OF
APPEARANCE
May - October
Sumbo munu
4
Pleurotus ostreatus
Yingba
–
yingba munu
5
Pleurotus Florida
Yingba
–
yingba munu
6
Auricular auricularia
judae
Kpunbwa
munu
7
Agaricus bisporus
Pyise
munu
8
Daedina concentric
Cheke munu
Widespread
mushroom
Mushroom
in
clusters
Mushrooms
having Meat – like
texture
Mushrooms
having Meat – like
texture
Mushrooms
having
ear-like
structure
Mushrooms
Resembling fowl
egg
Sweet mushroom
May - October
3
SCIENTIFIC
NAME
Lentinus squarossulus
Mont
Macrolepiota
procera
Volvariella volvacea
9
Coprinus sp
Kula munu
Not known
10
Termitomyces letestui
Zachukakpa
munu
11
Russula vesca
Knyari munu
12
Daedalea elegans
Not known
13
Laetiporus sulphurus
Chuari munu
Not known
April - October
Found on dead wood
14
Boletus edulis
Nakwo munu
May - October
Open grasslands and
fields
15
Polyporus squamosus
Not known
Mushrooms
occuring on cow
dung
Not known
May - October
Open grassland and
fields
16
Chlorophyllum
molybdates
Not known
Not known
May - August
17
Pavus fulvus
Not known
Not known
June - August
Found on lawns and
open fields
Decaying trees
18
Lacterius deliciousus
Kpebe munu
June - August
Decaying trees
19
Lepisda flacida
Not known
Brings
out
a
breast- milk like
substance
when
fresh
Not known
June - October
Found
trees
1
2
Volume 3; Issue 3; Mar, 2015
Chugu munu
-ezhi
April – October
May- November
HABITAT
Found on decaying
wood
Usually found on wet
soil under trees.
Found occuring in
clusters on open fields
Found growing on
decaying or dead tree
May - November
Found
on
hardwood
May – October
Found
wood.
June – October
Found on fields in the
farmland
April – October
April - October
Found on fields in the
farmland
Found on fields.
Mushrooms
resembling a Dead
man’sleg
June - October
Found in termite holes
Red mushrooms
June - October
Not known
April - October
Found in clusters on
decaying and fallen
tree.
Fallen and decaying
tree
Int.J.Curr.Biotechnol.
on
on
rotting
decaying
decaying
4
PLATES 1-6: PICTURES OF MEDICINAL MUSHROOMS (Pictures taken by Asemota, U.K).
1
2
4
3
5
KEY: Medicinal mushrooms
1. Ganoderma lucidum
2. Ganoderma applanatum
3. Polypore sp 1
4. Polypore sp 2
6
5. Trametes versicolor
6. Fomes fomentariu
TABLE - 2 : MEDICINAL MUSHROOMS KNOWN AND USED BY THE GBAGYI PEOPLE.
S/NO
SCIENTIFIC
NAME
GBAGYI
NAME
HABITAT
PREPARATION AND
PARTS USED
MEDICINAL
USES
1
Ganoderma
lucidum
Gogwoi munu
Found on felled
decaying trees.
Matured fruit bodies are
steeped in hot boiling
water to make tea.
2
Ganoderma
applanatum(artist
conk)
Dnayi munu
Found growing
on dead or
dying
hardwoods
Boil dried slices in water
to make a strong tea mixed
with honey.
3
Polypore spp1
Nyipekna - zhi
munu
Dead tree
trunks
4
Polyporus spp 2
Pari munu
5
Fomes
fomentarius
Napwi munu
6
Trametes
versicolor
Not known
Found on dead
and decaying
wood
Mushroom
found on burnt
firewood
Not known
The powder is mixed with
shea butter and is applied
externally to treat piles. It
can be heated and inhaled
to treat fever.
Usually cooked with other
herbs and drunk as tea.
Diarrhea, dysentery,
hypertension,
anaemia and
fertilityproblems in
women.
Strenthens the
immune system,
treatment of
diabetes, piles,
cancer and tumors.
Treatment of piles
and fever.
5
As a component of other
herbal preparations
Cook with other herbs and
drink as tea
Int.J.Curr.Biotechnol.
Diarrhea,dysentery
and fertility
problems in women
Fever
Fever, Health
strenthening
Volume 3; Issue 3; Mar, 2015
scientifically identified as Macrolepiota procera.
"Sumbo munu" occurs from May to October on wet soil
under large trees. It is very tasty with good flavour and
is a common substitute for meat and fish and is also used
as a thickener in soups and stews. The mushroom
considered as one of the most delicious is "Chugu munu",
identified as Volvoriella volvocea, occurs in clusters at
the root of banana trees from April to October. It is used
in making soups, stews and pepper soup. Pleurotus
ostreatus and Pleurotus florida are all identified locally
as "Yingba" – yingba and are very versatile. They are
delicious, tasty and meat – like in texture, they occur on
rotten and sometimes dead wood from May to November.
They are common substitutes of meat and fish in soups
and stews. They can be used as nutraceuticals as they
are also used in the treatment of headaches, stomach
ache and asthma.
Another mushroom used by the Gbagyis is "Kpunbwa
munu", identified as Auricularia auricular - Judae. This
mushroom derives it’s name from it’s resemblance to
human ear. It is very delicious and versatile. It is found
occuring on decaying wood from May to October. "Pyise
– zhe munu" is Agaricus bisporus and is used as a
substitute for meat and fish in making soup. It has good
flavour and is very tasty. It derives it’s name from it’s
resemblance to fowl eggs. "Chuari munu" identified as
Laetiporus sulphurus is useful in soup making as a
thickener and as a substitute for meat and fish but if not
parboiled before use it could be poisonous. It can also
be used for all manner of stomach problems and is usually
found on dead wood and hence another good source of
nutraceuticals. "Zachukakpa munu" is identified as
Termitomyces letestui. It derives it’s name from it’s
resemblance to a dead man’s leg, it is usually found
embedded in the soil and according to some mushroom
hunters who are indigenes, digging out the mushroom
makes them feel as if they have dug out a dead man’s leg.
Pepper soup made with this mushroom along with other
herbs cures malaria, fever and the dried powder is also
effective in healing boils. It is large but rare. Boletusedulis
("Nakwo munu") is usually found growing on cow dung
from April to October. It is a condiment in various dishes.
"Gogwoi munu", Identified scientifically as Ganoderma
lucidum, occurs abundantly from April to November on
decaying or dead wood. Even though this mushroom is
generally considered inedible worldwide, some indigenes
claim it is edible, it’s tough texture not withstanding. This
is because they are aware that it is highly medicinal
especially among the older people. Among the Gbagyis,
it is popularly used for treating fertility problems in
women, diarrhea, dysentery, hypertension, anaemia,
stomach ache, eye problems, cancer, tumors, management
of HIV/AIDS and also to boost immunity. It is known
that hot tea made from boiling the fungus or the dried
powder mixed with pap is health strenthening. This is
not surprising as rural people long ago discovered that a
boiled tea from this mushroom is health strenthening with
anti-microbial and stimulatory properties. The dried form
of it is usually sold in the market with it’s identity kept a
close secret by traditional medicine practitioners. "Dnari
munu", identified as Ganoderma applanatum is inedible
but highly medicinal. It occurs on dead or decaying wood.
Strong tea made from it is known to boost the immune
system, it is therefore useful in the management of HIV
patients. Children usually pick it and draw or write on
them because it has a characteristic white surface.
"Nyipeknazhi munu", identified as Polypore spp is found
on dead tree trunks. The powder mixed with shea butter
is applied externally for the treatment of piles and stomach
Volume 3; Issue 3; Mar, 2015
ailments. "Kpebe munu", scientifically identified as
Lactarius deliciousus occurs on dead wood. When it is
fresh it brings out a breastmilk - like liquid. It can be
eaten without cooking. The powder mixed with kwomi
(shea butter) is used in the treatment of ulcer and eye
problems. "Napwi munu" is identified as Fomes
fomentarius. It is found occuring on burnt firewood and
is a medicinal mushroom. It was also found that "Etsu
munu", not yet identified scientifically is now rare in the
region but it is interesting to note that whenever the
mushroom is found by a man it enhances his chances of
been given a chieftaincy title. Other mushrooms which
were known and used but are now very rare and was not
found in the course of this study includes "Ciju munu"
which was usually found at the base of rotting trees
during rainy season and is a good condiment in making
okra soup (Dania, 2010). Other mushrooms which seem
to be going extinct are : "jeje munu", "lei munu" and
"dwori jiji munu" (Dania, 2010). From personal
communication with indigenes especially traditional
medicine practitioners it was found that medicinal
mushrooms known and used by the Gbagyi do not have
any side effects.
Recommendation
From the information obtained in this investigation, it is
recommended that more research should be done on the
ethnomycology of edible and medicinal mushrooms in
the country as information on thse mushrooms are fast
getting extinct, since it is mostly people in the older age
bracket that have this information. Cultivation of these
mushrooms especially the ones with nutraceutical
potentials should be done using Solid State Fermentation
and also submerged fermentation. There should also be
proper documentation of these as there is paucity of
documented information on most medicinal mushrooms
in Nigeria.
Conclusion
In conclusion, mycophagy should be encouraged to
promote food security and reduce the protein and mineral
deficiences prevalent in the diet of the people. This will
also go a long way to improve the economic wellbeing of
the peasant people of Gbagyi. It is therefore pertinent to
conclude that Gbagyi farmlands hold a rich array of
unexplored and untapped mushrooms which can be used
in the production of nouveu nutraceuticals, mycodisinfectants and myco-coagulants.
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