More than 2000 species of edible and/or medicinal mushrooms have been identified to date, many of which are widely consumed, stimulating much research on their health-promoting properties. These properties are associated with bioactive compounds produced by the mushrooms, including polysaccharides. Although β-glucans (homopolysaccharides) are believed to be the major bioactive polysaccharides of mushrooms, other types of mushroom polysaccharides (heteropolysaccharides) also possess biological properties.
What are Polysaccharides?
Long-chain carbohydrates known as polysaccharides are composed of different monosaccharides joined together by glycosidic linkages. These molecules can be any type of carbohydrate molecule, from the most basic to the most complex.
Chitin and beta-glucans, two polysaccharides that are present in fungi's cell walls, are two examples. Plant cell walls, which are composed of cellulose, are polysaccharides as well. Polysaccharides include starch and glycogen as well.
One of the most frequently stated active components in plants and fungus is thought to be polysaccharides. High concentrations of polysaccharides can be found in some varieties of mushrooms, including reishi (Ganoderma lucidum), turkey tail (Trametes versicolor), and maitake (Grifola frondosa).
Which Mushrooms Contain higher Polysaccharides?
-Reishi Mushroom
-Lion's Mane
-Chaga Mushroom
-Shiitake Mushroom
-Turkey Tail Mushroom
-Cordyceps Mushroom
-Maitake Mushroom
-Agaricus Blazei Mushroom
What Are the Benefits of Mushroom Polysaccharides?
Edible mushroom polysaccharides have a wide range of biological functions, including immunomodulatory function, anti-inflammatory activity, prevention, anti-tumor activity, antioxidant activity, and hypolipidemic activity. Many of these biological functions have been used in clinical drugs and have a part to play in both prevention and treatment due to the presence of bioactive polysaccharides in edible mushrooms. In addition, numerous studies have demonstrated that these biological properties of edible mushrooms are directly related to their chemical or monosaccharide makeup. For instance, the immune system is stimulated, the immune regulatory network is activated, and immune function is improved by the mannose and rhamnose-rich polysaccharides found in mushrooms. Fucose-rich foods have stronger anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties.
High Polysaccharides Equal Good Quality or not?
Various brands stating that their medicinal mushroom products contain high levels of polysaccharides are a typical trend in the industry for medicinal mushrooms. On paper, this appears to be a brilliant idea, however starches can also be the source of polysaccharides, so this can be quite deceiving.
Products in the table above, for instance, are truly mycelium products that are cultivated on grain. They all claim to contain more than 60% polysaccharides, although the majority of those polysaccharides come from alpha-glucans found in grain starch, and the products have very low beta-glucan content. You end up with a less potent therapeutic mushroom product that is mostly grain because the majority of your money was spent on alpha-glucans rather than beta-glucans.
It is extremely important to understand that there is a difference in polysaccharides and that measuring polysaccharides for medicinal mushroom products is meaningless. High polysaccharides is not an indicator of quality and could actually be an indicator of poor quality.
Would you prefer the organic mushroom polysaccharides from us?
-Organic Reishi Mushroom Extract/Powder
-Organic Lion's Mane Extract/Powder
-Organic Chaga Mushroom Extract/Powder
-Organic Shiitake Mushroom Extract/Powder
-Organic Turkey Tail Mushroom Extract/Powder
-Organic Cordyceps Mushroom Extract/Powder
-Organic Maitake Mushroom Extract/Powder
-Organic Agaricus Blazei Mushroom Extract/Powder
Welcome to let us know your demand at herbext@undersun.com.cn.
