81
that could help prevent malnutrition. Apart from food, they also had therapeutic
uses. Their potential anti-cancer characteristics were believed to promote positive
factors and eliminate negative factors from the body, and thus, could be regarded as
the fourth principal form of conventional cancer treatment (Yang et al. 1993: Wani
et al. 2010). Wild edible mushrooms provide good nutritional values to the indigenous communities besides plants, herbs and animals.
The opening of oil palm plantations had caused the loss of many wild mushroom
species, and it getting harder for the Orang Asli to find them unless they ventured
deep into the forest. Besides, fungi might also be sensitive to changes in physical
and chemical properties of the soil caused by logging, such as compaction, loss of
organic carbon and other labile nutrients and decreased water infiltration (Hartmann
et al. 2012; McGuire et al. 2015). Mushrooms needed a moisture humidity level of
between 95% and 100%, and a substrate moisture level of between 50% and 75% to
grow (Miles and Chang 2004). This traditional knowledge was important and
needed to be preserved and recorded. It was also important to study the mushrooms
in terms of their chemical composition and nutritional values, as they benefited the
consumers, especially the Orang Asli communities that consumed the wild mushrooms. The study of their traditional knowledge was important not only as a reference, but for understanding the chemical and nutrition values of the mushrooms
as well.
Conclusion
This study documents 11 species of wild mushrooms utilised by the Orang Asli in
Kampung Sungai Berua, Hulu Terengganu, for food and medicine. A total of nine
species were consumed as food, namely, Auricularia auricula-judae, Clavulina sp.,
Lentinus sp., Schizophyllum commune, Termitomyces heimii, T. microcarpus, Panus
giganteus, Hygrocybe conica and Cookeina sp. Three species were utilised as traditional medicine, namely, Pycnoporus sp., Cookeina sp. and Lignosus rhinocerus.
From this study, the connection between mushrooms and humans could be reflected
by the relationship between mushrooms and the Orang Asli. Thus, it is important to
document the traditional knowledge on the utilisation of wild mushrooms by the
Orang Asli in Kampung Sungai Berua before they were lost to time. Further studies
on the chemical composition and nutritional contents were required to prove that the
wild mushrooms contained health benefits.
Acknowledgements This research is supported by the Higher Education Ministry and Universiti
Malaysia Terengganu research grant (RAGS2014 Vot No: 57116). The authors extend their gratitude to JAKOA, KETENGAH, Terengganu State Park Management Council and Forestry
Department for their cooperation and the permission to carry out this study. Special thanks also go
to Khairul Abrar Abdul Rahman and Muhammad Abdullah Ibrahim for their help during this study.
A Study of Wild Mushrooms Utilised for Food and Medicine by the Orang Asli…
that could help prevent malnutrition. Apart from food, they also had therapeutic
uses. Their potential anti-cancer characteristics were believed to promote positive
factors and eliminate negative factors from the body, and thus, could be regarded as
the fourth principal form of conventional cancer treatment (Yang et al. 1993: Wani
et al. 2010). Wild edible mushrooms provide good nutritional values to the indigenous communities besides plants, herbs and animals.
The opening of oil palm plantations had caused the loss of many wild mushroom
species, and it getting harder for the Orang Asli to find them unless they ventured
deep into the forest. Besides, fungi might also be sensitive to changes in physical
and chemical properties of the soil caused by logging, such as compaction, loss of
organic carbon and other labile nutrients and decreased water infiltration (Hartmann
et al. 2012; McGuire et al. 2015). Mushrooms needed a moisture humidity level of
between 95% and 100%, and a substrate moisture level of between 50% and 75% to
grow (Miles and Chang 2004). This traditional knowledge was important and
needed to be preserved and recorded. It was also important to study the mushrooms
in terms of their chemical composition and nutritional values, as they benefited the
consumers, especially the Orang Asli communities that consumed the wild mushrooms. The study of their traditional knowledge was important not only as a reference, but for understanding the chemical and nutrition values of the mushrooms
as well.
Conclusion
This study documents 11 species of wild mushrooms utilised by the Orang Asli in
Kampung Sungai Berua, Hulu Terengganu, for food and medicine. A total of nine
species were consumed as food, namely, Auricularia auricula-judae, Clavulina sp.,
Lentinus sp., Schizophyllum commune, Termitomyces heimii, T. microcarpus, Panus
giganteus, Hygrocybe conica and Cookeina sp. Three species were utilised as traditional medicine, namely, Pycnoporus sp., Cookeina sp. and Lignosus rhinocerus.
From this study, the connection between mushrooms and humans could be reflected
by the relationship between mushrooms and the Orang Asli. Thus, it is important to
document the traditional knowledge on the utilisation of wild mushrooms by the
Orang Asli in Kampung Sungai Berua before they were lost to time. Further studies
on the chemical composition and nutritional contents were required to prove that the
wild mushrooms contained health benefits.
Acknowledgements This research is supported by the Higher Education Ministry and Universiti
Malaysia Terengganu research grant (RAGS2014 Vot No: 57116). The authors extend their gratitude to JAKOA, KETENGAH, Terengganu State Park Management Council and Forestry
Department for their cooperation and the permission to carry out this study. Special thanks also go
to Khairul Abrar Abdul Rahman and Muhammad Abdullah Ibrahim for their help during this study.
A Study of Wild Mushrooms Utilised for Food and Medicine by the Orang Asli…