## 3 Results and Discussion
### Phenols with Nutraceutical Activity  
The seven mushrooms analyzed contained four phenolic acids with known antioxidant activity. _p_-Hydroxybenzoic acid (4-hydroxybenzoic acid) was significantly abundant in _A. jacksonii_ (approximately 50 mg 100 g\({}^{-1}\) DW), whereas its levels in _R. brevipes_ slightly surpassed 20 mg 100 g\({}^{-1}\) DW (Figure 6a). The other five mushrooms studied contained less than 10 mg 100 g\({}^{-1}\) DW _p_-hydroxybenzoic acid. These amounts were tenfold higher than those reported in _Agaricus arensis_, _A. bisporus_, and _A. ronganesii_ consumed in Portugal [26]. Beyond its known antioxidant activity, this compound has shown potent antimicrobial, anti-algal, anti-mutagenic, anti-estrogenic, hypoglycemic, anti-inflammatory, anti-platelet aggregating, nematicidal, and antiviral activities [27]. On the other hand, _p_-couramic acid (4-couramic acid) was more abundant in _R. brevipes_ and _C. squammusa_ (15 mg 100 g\({}^{-1}\) DW) than in the other mushrooms studied (Figure 6b), which presented low (<3 mg 100 g\({}^{-1}\) DW) or undetectable levels (_R. delica_) of this phenolic compound. Nevertheless, the levels of _p_-couramic acid found in these edible mushrooms consumed in the NHP were higher than those reported in _Agaricus arrensis_, _A. silivicola_, and _A. bisporus_[28]. \(p\)-Coumaric acid showed low toxicity in mice (LD50 = 2850 mg kg\({}^{-1}\) body weight) and is a precursor of other phenolic compounds [28]. \(p\)-Coumaric acid is a well-known nutraceuticall with anti-cancer, antimicrobial, antivirus, anti-inflammatory, antiplatelet aggregation, anxiolytic, antipyretic, analgesic, and anti-arthritis activities [28]. It ameliorates diabetes, obesity, and hyperlipaemia under in vivo and in vivo conditions [28]. Protocatechuic acid was abundant in _L. indigo_ (approximately 50 mg 100 g\({}^{-1}\) DW), whereas low levels (<10 mg 100 g\({}^{-1}\) DW) were detected in _C. muda_ and _C. subclavipes_ (Figure 6c). Traces or negligible levels of this phenolic acid were determined in _R. delica_, _R. brevipes_, _C. squamulosa_, and _A. jacksonii_. Previous studies have reported detectable levels of protocachuic acid in _L. muda_ consumed in Portugal [26]; however, the levels of this compound were threefold higher in the same species harvested in the NHP. Protocatechuic acid has shown in vitro antiproliferative activity and in vivo chemopre properties against different types of cancer [29]. In addition, this natural product has shown antifungal, antibacterial, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, and antiatherosclerotic properties [29]. Cinnamic acid was abundant in _R. delica_ (approximately 15 mg 100 g\({}^{-1}\) DW) and levels below 10 mg 100 g\({}^{-1}\) DW were detected in _L. indigo_, _C. muda_, _C. subclavipes_, _C. squamulosa_, and _A. jacksonii_ (Figure 6d). These levels were higher than those reported in _A. arrensis_, _A. silivicola_, and _A. bisporus_[26]. Undetectable levels of cinnamic acid were observed in _R. brevipes_. Cinnamic acid and its derivatives have shown antibacterial, antimalarial, and anticancer activity under in vivo conditions as well as exhibited inhibitory potential for acetylcholinesterasease and butyrylcholinesterasease as neuroprotective agents [30].  
Figure 5: Contents of potassium (**a**), calcium (**b**), iron (**c**), sodium (**d**), zinc (**e**), and magnesium (**f**) in seven edible mushrooms consumed in the northeastern highlands of Puebla, Mexico. 1, _Lacarius indigo. 2, Clitocybe nuda. 3, Clitocybe subclavipes. 4, Russula delica. 5, Russula brevipes. 6, C. squamulosa. 7, Amantia jacksonii_. Different letters indicate means (\(n\) = 10) with statistically significant differences by ANOVA-Tukey (\(p\) < 0.05). Raw data are presented in Table S3. The concentrations are presented in dry weight.