Mushrooms play an important social, economic and ecological role in the world. In this study, the
proximate compositions, minerals and amino acids contents of Russula alveolata, Russula cf.
compressa, Russula flavobrunnea var. aurantioflava and Russula ochrocephala from Burkina Faso
were investigated. The chemical analysis showed the presence of volatile oil, sterols and triterpenes,
carotenoids, saponosides, reducing compounds and cardenolides. Several amino acids including
aspartate, glutamic acid, serine, glycine, arginine, threonine, alanine, proline, tyrosine, valine,
methionine, isoleucine, leucine, phenylalanine and lysine were identified in mushroom species. Among
the identified amino acids, seven are essential for human body: Phenylalanine, valine, threonine,
isoleucine, methionine, leucine and lysine.

Chemical composition, amino acids, Russula, mushrooms, Burkina Faso.