Abstract: A comparative study was carried to analyze the mineral contents of Boletus edulis from different producing areas in Yunnan province and to evaluate the health risk of dietary exposure to mineral elements by consumption of B. edulis, aiming to provide a basis for the development of the edible fungi industry in the province and food safety evaluation of wild B. edulis. A total of 171 samples of B. edulis were collected from 8 producing areas in Yunnan province. The contents of 14 mineral elements were determined by inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). The original data were standardized with SPSS statistical software to eliminate the dimension, and comprehensive scores from principal component analysis were calculated and correlation analysis was carried out. The results showed that 1) B. edulis was rich in mineral elements such as Ca, Fe, Mg and Na, and there were differences in the content of mineral elements in B. edulis from different habitats; 2) the correlation analysis indicated that the major elements in B. edulis interacted synergistically (there was good synergism of the enrichment of the toxic element Cd with Fe, Mg, Ba, Co, Cr, Mn, V and Zn), and some antagonistically; 3) the comprehensive scores from principal component analysis could reflect the difference in mineral element contents of B. edulis from different areas, and the enrichment of elements may be related to many ecological factors; and 4) there was a health risk associated with dietary exposure to Cd in B. eduli from Kunming, Yuxi, Dali, Qujing and other areas, and it is recommended that consumers should consume an appropriate amount of B. eduli. The mineral element content characteristics of B. edulis and correlation analysis can provide a scientific basis for the exploitation, utilization and food safety evaluation of wild B. edulis in Yunnan.

Key words: Boletus edulis, mineral elements, risk assessment, principal component analysis