Chinese Medicinal Mushrooms

Chinese Medicinal Mushrooms

  1. English Name: Chinese Medicinal Mushrooms
  1. Specification
    • Polysaccharides Content: ≥ 30% (HPLC)
    • Triterpenoids Content: ≥ 5% (HPLC)
    • Water-soluble Form: Solubility ≥ 95% in water, moisture ≤ 5%
    • Particle Size: Standard powder ≤ 100 μm; micronized powder ≤ 5 μm for better absorption
  1. Appearance
    • Powder: Brown to dark brown fine powder, with a mild earthy odor
  1. CAS NO.：N/A (complex mixture of bioactive compounds)
  1. Lead time: 5 – 7 Working Days
  1. Package
    • 1 kg/bag (aluminum foil bag), 25 kg/drum (double-layer PE bag inside cardboard drum)
  1. Main Market: Asia (China, Japan, South Korea), North America, Europe
  1. Application Scenarios

Core Properties

  • Active Components: Polysaccharides (β – glucans), triterpenoids (ganoderic acids), alkaloids, proteins
  • Solubility: Soluble in hot water, alcohol; water-soluble formulations are widely used in beverages and pharmaceuticals
  • Key Features
    • Immunomodulatory: Stimulates immune cells (macrophages, T-cells, NK cells), enhancing the body’s defense system.
    • Antioxidant: Scavenges free radicals, with an ORAC value of 1500 – 2500 μmol Trolox equivalents/g.
    • Anti-inflammatory: Inhibits the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines like TNF-α and IL-6.
    • Adaptogenic: Helps the body adapt to stress by regulating the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.

Application Scenarios

1. Dietary Supplements

  • General Health Maintenance:
    • Capsules or tablets (500 – 1000 mg per serving) for daily immune support, especially for elderly consumers or those with weakened immune systems.
    • Often combined with other herbs like ginseng and astragalus in multi-ingredient formulas.
  • Stress and Fatigue Relief:
    • Liquid extracts or powders (200 – 500 mg/day) marketed for reducing stress and improving mental clarity.

2. Functional Food & Beverages

  • Healthy Beverages:
    • Added to teas, juices, and energy drinks at 0.5 – 1% concentration to enhance nutritional value and provide immune-boosting benefits.
  • Fortified Foods:
    • Incorporated into bakery products, cereals, and snacks to create functional food items appealing to health-conscious consumers.

3. Pharmaceuticals

  • Traditional Chinese Medicine:
    • Used in TCM formulas for treating respiratory, liver, and cardiovascular diseases, with a history of over 2000 years.
  • Modern Medicine Research:
    • Investigated for its potential in cancer adjuvant therapy, as it may enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy while reducing side effects. Also studied for treating hepatitis and hypertension.

4. Cosmetics & Personal Care

  • Anti-aging Skincare:
    • Serums and creams (1 – 3% concentration) to promote collagen synthesis, reduce wrinkles, and improve skin elasticity. Its antioxidant properties protect skin from environmental damage.
  • Hair Care:
    • Shampoos and conditioners containing Ganoderma Lucidum extract to nourish the scalp, strengthen hair follicles, and reduce hair loss.

5. Animal Health

  • Livestock Feed Additives:
    • Added to poultry and swine feed (100 – 500 ppm) to improve growth performance, enhance immune function, and reduce the incidence of diseases.
  • Pet Supplements:
    • Formulated in pet food or supplements for dogs and cats to support overall health, especially for senior pets.

Detection Methods

  • High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC):
    • Column: C18 (250 × 4.6 mm, 5 μm), Mobile Phase: Acetonitrile – water (gradient elution), Flow Rate: 1.0 mL/min, Detection Wavelength: 203 nm for triterpenoids, 254 nm for polysaccharides analysis.
  • UV Spectrophotometry:
    • Measures total polysaccharides content based on the phenol-sulfuric acid reaction, detecting absorbance at 490 nm.
  • FTIR Spectroscopy:
    • Identifies characteristic functional groups of polysaccharides and triterpenoids, helping to verify product identity.

Source & Advantages

  • Natural Source: Extracted from the fruiting bodies or mycelium of Ganoderma lucidum, a fungus widely cultivated in China, Japan, and Korea.
  • Sustainable Cultivation: Modern cultivation techniques, such as indoor bag cultivation, ensure a stable supply and reduce the pressure on wild resources.
  • Rich Bioactivity: Its multiple bioactive components make it suitable for various applications in health, medicine, and beauty industries.

Regulatory Compliance

  • China NMPA: Approved as a traditional Chinese medicine ingredient and used in many health products, subject to GMP requirements.
  • US FDA: Regulated as a dietary ingredient under DSHEA, with products required to comply with labeling and safety regulations.
  • EU Regulation: Permitted as a food supplement ingredient, but specific health claims need to be approved by EFSA.
Category:

Chinese Medicinal Mushrooms: Potent Adaptogens & Clinical-Grade Extracts

1. Defining Chinese Medicinal Mushrooms

Chinese medicinal mushrooms comprise specialized Basidiomycete fungi cultivated for millennia in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Key species include Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi), Cordyceps sinensis/militaris, and Hericium erinaceus (Lion’s Mane). These fungi produce unique bioactive triterpenoids (ganoderic acids), immunomodulating polysaccharides (β-1,3/1,6-glucans), and nerve growth inducers (hericenones). Their pharmacological value stems from multi-target adaptogenic actions validated by 2,300+ modern studies.

2. Botanical Sources & Biochemical Profiles

Mushroom Primary Bioactives CAS/Properties
Reishi (G. lucidum) Triterpenes (ganoderic acid A)
Polysaccharides (GLP)		 Ganoderic Acid A: 81907-62-2
MW: 516.7 g/mol
Water-soluble extracts
Cordyceps (C. militaris) Cordycepin
Polysaccharides (CPS)		 Cordycepin: 73-03-0
MW: 251.24 g/mol
Thermolabile above 60°C
Lion’s Mane (H. erinaceus) Erinacines
Hericenones		 Hericenone A: 110063-72-8
MW: 402.5 g/mol
Ethanol-soluble

Premium Cultivation:

  • Reishi: Log-cultivated (Zhejiang Province) – 30% polysaccharide yield

  • Cordyceps: Rice-based solid-state fermentation – 1.8% cordycepin content

  • Lion’s Mane: Organic substrate cultivation – 0.5% hericenones

    Chinese Medicinal Mushrooms Zhonghong
    Chinese Medicinal Mushrooms Zhonghong

3. Clinical Efficacy & Safety Profile

Optimal Standardization:

Mushroom Standardized Marker Premium Concentration
Reishi Ganoderic acids ≥6%
Cordyceps Cordycepin ≥1.5%
Lion’s Mane Hericenones ≥0.3%

Evidence-Based Benefits:

  • Immune Modulation: 45% ↑ NK cell activity (Reishi polysaccharides)

  • Renoprotection: 27% ↓ serum creatinine in CKD (Cordyceps – J Ethnopharmacol 2021)

  • Cognitive Enhancement: BDNF ↑ 39% in mild cognitive impairment (Lion’s Mane – J Alz Dis 2020)

Dosing Protocol:

Application Daily Dose Duration
Immune Support 1.5g Reishi extract Continuous
Kidney Support 3g Cordyceps 3-6 months
Cognitive Health 1g Lion’s Mane ≥8 weeks

Safety Considerations:

  • Contraindications: Autoimmune conditions (Reishi), pre-transplant (Cordyceps)

  • Drug Interactions: Potentiates anticoagulants (Reishi triterpenes)

  • Renal Safety: Cordyceps shows nephroprotective effects in stage 1-3 CKD

4. Shaanxi Zhonghong: Mycological Specialists

28 years advancing fungal biotechnology:

  • Strain Banking: 120+ authenticated strains (ITS DNA barcoding)

  • Proprietary Extraction:

    • Reishi: Dual-phase CO₂ + hot water extraction

    • Cordyceps: Ultrasonic-assisted ethanol extraction

  • Quality Infrastructure:

    • HPTLC authentication (USP 203)

    • qNMR quantification (≥95% accuracy)

    • ISO 17025 accredited laboratory

5. Pharmaceutical-Grade Specifications

Reishi Extract Standard (EP 10.0):

Contaminant Parameter Limit Method
Heavy Metals Lead (Pb) ≤1.0 ppm ICP-MS (USP <233>)
Cadmium (Cd) ≤0.5 ppm ICP-MS
Pesticides Chlorpyrifos ≤0.01 ppm GC-MS/MS
Carbendazim ≤0.05 ppm HPLC-MS
Microbiology Total Count ≤10³ CFU/g EP 2.6.12
Aspergillus Absent/10g EP 2.6.13

6. Precision Production Workflow

  1. Biomass Cultivation:

    • Reishi: Oak log cultivation (18 months)

    • Cordyceps: Solid-state fermentation (45 days)

  2. Extraction:

    • Reishi: Sequential CO₂ (triterpenes) + hot water (polysaccharides)

    • Cordyceps: Ethanol/water (70:30) ultrasonic extraction

  3. Concentration: Vacuum evaporation ≤45°C

  4. Standardization: Blending to target markers

  5. Stabilization: Maltodextrin encapsulation

7. Therapeutic Applications

Mushroom Clinical Application Mechanism
Reishi Cancer adjuvant therapy ↑ IL-2/IFN-γ, ↓ IL-6
Cordyceps Renal protection ↑ EPO synthesis, ↓ TGF-β1
Lion’s Mane Neuroregeneration NGF/BDNF induction

8. Molecular Mechanisms

  • Reishi Triterpenes: Inhibit NF-κB translocation (IC₅₀=5.8μM)

  • Cordycepin: Adenosine analog → AMPK activation

  • Hericenones: Cross BBB → stimulate NGF synthesis

  • β-Glucans: Bind dectin-1 receptors on macrophages

9. Innovations & Challenges

Technical Advances:

  • Mycelial Fermentation: Submerged culture for consistent cordycepin yield

  • Nano-Encapsulation: Chitosan nanoparticles for ↑ oral bioavailability

Regulatory Hurdles:

  • Novel Food authorization in EU (Cordyceps militaris)

  • TCM-GMP certification requirements

10. Stability-Optimized Packaging

  • Primary: Oxygen-scavenging bags (≤0.1% O₂)

  • Storage: 4°C (36-month stability)

  • Shipping: Temperature-controlled (2-8°C)

11. Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Q: Best mushroom for kidney support?
    A: Cordyceps militaris extract (≥1.2% cordycepin) shows significant creatinine reduction

  2. Q: Lion’s Mane vs. Alzheimer’s drugs?
    A: Hericenones induce NGF synthesis – complementary to AChE inhibitors

  3. Q: Autoimmune contraindications?
    A: Reishi contraindicated in lupus/RA due to Th1 stimulation

  4. Q: Testing for adulteration?
    A: Our HPTLC authentication detects starch/filler adulteration

12. Global Supply Specifications

  • MOQ: 5kg (commercial)

  • Certifications: USDA Organic, EU Organic, JAS

  • Lead Time: 12 weeks

  • Contact: liaodaohai@gmail.com

  • Order Portal: aiherba.com/chinese-mushrooms

13. Conclusion

Chinese medicinal mushrooms represent nature’s most sophisticated adaptogens, with clinically validated benefits for immune competence, renal function, and cognitive health. Shaanxi Zhonghong’s vertically integrated production—from strain-authenticated biomass to standardized extracts exceeding pharmacopeial standards—delivers unmatched bioactive consistency. Our patented dual-phase extraction technology ensures full-spectrum activity preservation for all critical markers (ganoderic acids, cordycepin, hericenones). Partner with our 28-year mycology expertise for evidence-based mushroom ingredients compliant with FDA GRAS, EFSA, and cGMP standards.

14. References

  1. Wasser SP. (2014). Int J Med Mushrooms. 16(1):1-20

  2. Zhu JS. et al (1998). J Altern Complement Med. 4(3):289-303

  3. EFSA NDA Panel (2022). EFSA Journal. 20(S1):e200421

  4. Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2020 Ed.

  5. Zhonghong Technical Dossier CM-2024 (aiherba.com)

评价

There are no reviews yet.

Be the first to review “Chinese Medicinal Mushrooms”

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Products

滚动至顶部

Get a Quote & Sample

请在浏览器中启用JavaScript来完成此表单。

Get a Quote & Sample