When evaluating the quality of medicinal mushrooms, beta-glucans often take center stage. Laboratories and mushroom businesses rely heavily on beta glucan testing labs and assays to measure the presence of these compounds. But is it enough?
The answer is complex. While beta-glucans have widely recognized health benefits, focusing solely on these cell wall components underrepresents the broader qualities of medicinal fungi.
Medicinal mushrooms contain diverse bioactive compounds such as cordycepin, ganoderic acids, adenosine, adenine, erinacines, and hericenones which contribute significantly to their therapeutic potential. This blog explores why the current reliance on beta-d glucan tests falls short and why alternative testing methods targeting species-specific compounds are essential.
The Current State of Beta-Glucan Testing
Beta-glucans are polysaccharides found in the cell walls of fungi, with well-documented immunomodulating benefits. The most common way to measure beta-glucans is the enzymatic assay. This method isolates and counts the amount of beta-glucans in a sample. These assays are useful for determining total beta-glucan content in medicinal mushrooms and have risen to prominence in the nutraceutical and mushroom industries.
However, this singular focus on glucan tests limits a comprehensive understanding of mushroom quality. Beta-glucans tell us little about other critical compounds that define the therapeutic efficacy of specific mushroom species. This oversight makes it difficult for growers, health enthusiasts, and nutraceutical companies to accurately gauge product quality or differentiate offerings in an increasingly competitive market.
Mushrooms Are More Than Beta-Glucans
Medicinal mushrooms such as Cordyceps, Ganoderma, Hericium, and Lentinula contain a unique chemical profile that extends well beyond beta-glucans. These additional compounds offer specialized health benefits but require advanced analytical tools to quantify effectively.
Key Compounds in Medicinal Mushrooms:
Cordycepin
Found in Cordyceps militaris, cordycepin is a powerful nucleoside with anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and anti-microbial properties. Its therapeutic relevance highlights the need for precise testing to evaluate its concentration in Cordyceps formulations.
Ganoderic Acids
Present in Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi), ganoderic acids are triterpenes known for their adaptogenic and hepatoprotective effects. Testing for these acids gives insight into the quality and authenticity of Reishi products.
Erinacines
Hericium erinaceus (Lion’s Mane) contains erinacines, compounds associated with stimulating nerve growth factor (NGF) production. Standard beta glucan tests cannot detect erinacines, yet they are vital for the neuroprotective benefits of Lion’s Mane.
Hericenones
Found in Hericium erinaceus (Lion’s Mane), hericenones are unique compounds known for their potential to modulate anti-inflammatory behavior in cells. Similar to erinacines, hericenones contribute significantly to the pain-associated inflammation protection offered by Lion’s Mane. Accurate testing for hericenones is crucial to assess the therapeutic potency and quality of Lion’s Mane supplements, as standard beta glucan tests do not detect these compounds.
Adenosine and Adenine
These compounds, commonly found in various medicinal mushrooms, play roles in improving circulation and energy production. Quantifying these compounds allows businesses to cater to consumers seeking specific health benefits.
By not accounting for these compounds, the industry risks overlooking the very attributes that make medicinal mushrooms so diverse and impactful in supporting health.
Shifting the Focus to Species-Specific Quality
Recognizing that each mushroom species has a unique profile that contributes to its therapeutic properties is essential. Instead of adopting a one-size-fits-all approach with beta-glucan testing, mushroom businesses and nutraceutical companies should adapt testing protocols according to species-specific markers.
- Cordyceps: Prioritize testing for cordycepin to showcase athletic and anti-fatigue benefits.
- Ganoderma: Measure ganoderic acids for adaptogenic and liver health claims.
- Hericium: Highlight erinacine and hericenone content for neural health and cognitive function.
- Lentinula: Assess polysaccharide structure diversity for immune-boosting benefits.
This species-specific approach facilitates product development tailored to consumer needs and supports growing consumer demand for functional foods and supplements.
Finding the Right Mushroom Testing Lab
If your focus extends beyond beta-glucans to the unique compounds in mushrooms like Cordyceps, Lion’s Mane, and Reishi, finding the right lab for species-specific functional mushroom compound testing is essential. Choose a lab equipped with advanced analytical tools like HPLC capable of identifying and quantifying critical bioactive compounds such as cordycepin, erinacines, hericenones and ganoderic acids.
When selecting a lab, look for:
- Accreditation by a 3rd party such as ISO, ensures consistency in results and the highest standard of lab practices and methodology.
- Expertise in fungal compound profiling to accurately evaluate species-specific markers.
- Advanced analytical equipment for precise and targeted testing.
- Experience with nutraceutical and food-grade products, ensuring alignment with industry needs.
- Commitment to sustainable testing practices that reflect ethical standards.
Altitude Consulting is a leading lab that provides all these capabilities and more. Our services ensure you capture the full therapeutic potential of Cordyceps, Lion’s Mane, Reishi, and beyond. Partnering with Altitude Consulting means elevating your product standards with precision, transparency, and reliability.
Beyond Glucans—The Future of Mushroom Testing
The mushroom industry is heading toward a future that values precision, transparency, and holistic profiling. Efforts to move beyond beta glucans will unlock the full medicinal potential of mushrooms, promoting innovation and credibility within the global market.
Alternative testing methods that target species-specific compounds are not merely an improvement—they are a necessity for staying competitive in an increasingly discerning marketplace. For mushroom growers, health enthusiasts, and businesses alike, expanding testing horizons promises a richer understanding of medicinal fungi’s unique offerings.
Are you looking for advanced testing solutions for your mushroom products? Partner with a trusted lab that specializes in both beta-glucans and species-specific compound evaluation. Elevate your standards today.
By broadening the scope of mushroom testing, we can ensure that the industry continues to promote health, innovation, and transparency in equal measure.
- Cerletti, C., Esposito, S., & Iacoviello, L. (2021). Edible Mushrooms and Beta-Glucans: Impact on Human Health. Nutrients, 13(7), 2195. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13072195
- Ashraf, S. A., Elkhalifa, A. E. O., Siddiqui, A. J., Patel, M., Awadelkareem, A. M., Snoussi, M., Ashraf, M. S., Adnan, M., & Hadi, S. (2020). Cordycepin for Health and Wellbeing: A Potent Bioactive Metabolite of an Entomopathogenic Medicinal Fungus Cordyceps with Its Nutraceutical and Therapeutic Potential. Molecules, 25(12), 2735. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25122735
- Ontawong, A., Pengnet, S., Thim-Uam, A. et al. A randomized controlled clinical trial examining the effects of Cordyceps militaris beverage on the immune response in healthy adults. Sci Rep 14, 7994 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-58742-z
- Wang, S., Wang, L., Shangguan, J., Jiang, A., & Ren, A. (2024). Research Progress on the Biological Activity of Ganoderic Acids in Ganoderma lucidum over the Last Five Years. Life, 14(10), 1339. https://doi.org/10.3390/life14101339
- Li, I. C., Lee, L. Y., Tzeng, T. T., Chen, W. P., Chen, Y. P., Shiao, Y. J., & Chen, C. C. (2018). Neurohealth Properties of Hericium erinaceus Mycelia Enriched with Erinacines. Behavioural neurology, 2018, 5802634. https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/5802634
Li, J., Hamamura, K., Yoshida, Y., Kawano, S., Uchinomiya, S., Xie, J., Scuteri, D., Fukuoka, K., Zaitsu, O., Tsurusaki, F., Terada, Y., Tsukamoto, R., Nishi, T., Fukuda, T., Oyama, K., Bagetta, G., Ojida, A., Shimizu, K., Ohdo, S., & Matsunaga, N. (2024). Hericenone C attenuates the second phase of formalin-induced nociceptive behavior by suppressing the accumulation of CD11c-positive cells in the paw epidermis via phosphorylated P65. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 720, 150077. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbrc.2024.150077
- Vincenzi, F., Pasquini, S., Contri, C., Cappello, M., Nigro, M., Travagli, A., Merighi, S., Gessi, S., Borea, P. A., & Varani, K. (2023). Pharmacology of Adenosine Receptors: Recent Advancements. Biomolecules, 13(9), 1387. https://doi.org/10.3390/biom13091387
