How to choose the best mushroom extract?

Today, the market offers a huge number of mushroom supplements. But how can you tell which ones really work and which are just marketing? Let’s break it down in simple terms.

What to look for when choosing a mushroom extract

🔹 Content of active compounds

They are responsible for the health benefits of mushrooms. The most important are:

  • Beta-glucans — powerful immunomodulators that activate protective cells.

  • Polysaccharides — general health benefits, antioxidant support.

  • Erinacines (Hericium erinaceus) — stimulation of new neuron growth and nervous system repair.

  • Cordycepin (Cordyceps militaris) — energy, endurance, heart and lung support.

  • Triterpenes (Ganoderma lucidum, Reishi) — unique compounds that reduce inflammation, support the liver, and have strong antitumor properties.

If the package does not specify the exact percentage composition, most likely it is a weak product.

Important to know: the higher the percentage of active compounds, the more of them are in each capsule or serving. For example, 50% polysaccharides are better than 20%. If an extract contains only 20% polysaccharides, then 1 g of powder has just 0.2 g of them. But with 50% polysaccharides, 1 g contains 0.5 g. This means you get more than twice the effect with the same dosage.

👉 You can read more about other bioactive compounds of mushrooms in the article "How much stronger are extracts compared to dried fruiting bodies?"

🔹 Form of extract

  • Dry standardized powdered extract — the most effective option, as it ensures a stable concentration of active compounds.

  • Liquid tinctures on grain mycelium in glycerin — contain almost none of the desired compounds. Grain mycelium itself contains a negligible amount of polysaccharides and beta-glucans, and sometimes none at all. Scientific analyses show that grain mycelium extracts often contain less than 1–2% beta-glucans, and polysaccharide fractions are dominated by starch, which has no medicinal effect.

As for erinacines, the situation is even more complex: their extraction requires high-tech processing, separating mycelium from substrate, and expensive equipment. The cost of obtaining even 3% erinacines is very high.

Therefore, if a manufacturer claims that their “liquid extract” contains erinacines but does not specify the exact percentage, this is a sign of artisanal production. And if such a product costs less than 900 UAH, you can be sure it is ineffective, since the actual cost price of true erinacines at this concentration is significantly higher than that amount.

🔹 Source of raw material

The quality of an extract directly depends on what it is made from and how it is produced.

👉Also, take a look at: Is Lion’s Mane Mycelium Effective? The Truth About Grain-Grown Mycelium and Erinacine A

Most manufacturers who claim to have “their own farms in Ukraine” are actually growing mushrooms in basements, simply in jars on grain. This has nothing to do with natural mushroom cultivation and often takes place without proper phytosanitary control. As a result, you get a grain mycelium product, where most of the mass is starch and grain proteins, not real mushroom compounds.

For a high-quality extract, a farm is needed that cultivates whole fruiting bodies in greenhouses, under natural light, and with controlled humidity and temperature. Ideally, this happens in countries with a suitable climate, where mushrooms grow in natural conditions.

That is why, in the case of medicinal mushrooms, Chinese raw materials are more trustworthy. China has decades of refined technology, licensed farms, state quality standards, and a climate close to the mushrooms’ natural habitats. There, fruiting bodies accumulate the required concentrations of polysaccharides and beta-glucans, while the mycelium produces erinacines or cordycepin. This ensures that you get an extract with real medicinal effects, not a “basement tincture.”

  • Fruiting body — a source of high concentrations of polysaccharides (20–55%), including 10–25% beta-glucans that provide immunomodulating effects.

  • Mycelium — a source of unique compounds (erinacines in Hericium erinaceus (Isolation and Evaluation of Erinacine A)), but their extraction requires advanced technology and significant costs.

Thus, if the label does not indicate clear percentages, and the manufacturer writes “farm in Ukraine” or offers a cheap liquid extract — this is a red flag.

👉 Read about the immunomodulatory properties of mushrooms in the article "Liver Regeneration with the Help of Lion’s Mane Mushroom"

Why are most extracts on the market ineffective?

  • Extracts with low polysaccharide content (around 20%)
    Often extracts contain only polysaccharides without beta-glucans. Such a product has too weak a concentration. In 1 g of powder with 20%, you will get only 0.2 g of active compounds — insufficient for a pronounced effect.

  • Grain mycelium instead of fruiting bodies
    Grain contains almost no beta-glucans or polysaccharides, and most of the “extract” is starch and substrate proteins. Beta-glucan content in such products often does not exceed 1–2%.

  • Liquid extracts on glycerin
    These are made from grain mycelium. As a result, you get a flavored liquid without medicinal compounds. There are no erinacines or cordycepin in them.

  • Lack of standardization
    Many manufacturers claim “the extract contains erinacines or cordycepin,” but do not indicate percentages. This means the amount of these compounds is either negligible or absent altogether.

  • Suspiciously low price
    Authentic extracts with 3% erinacines or 3% cordycepin are costly to produce. If a liquid “extract” costs less than 800 UAH, it definitely does not contain these substances in the necessary amounts.

You can purchase high-quality mushrooms and extracts in our store.

This information is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult your doctor before taking any supplements.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions about Extracts

1. What is the difference between an extract and mushroom powder?
Powder made from dried mushrooms contains few active compounds since they are not concentrated. Extracts undergo special processing that allows polysaccharides, beta-glucans, erinacines, or triterpenes to be isolated in high concentrations.

2. Why is it important to look at the percentage of polysaccharides and beta-glucans?
These values determine the strength of the product. If you have 50% polysaccharides, the effect will be more than twice as strong compared to a product with 20%.

3. Is it safe to take mushroom extracts daily?
Yes, if you follow the recommended dosage. Extracts do not accumulate toxins, and most clinical studies show their safety even with long-term use.

4. Which mushroom extract is best for immunity?
Reishi, Shiitake, and Turkey Tail extracts have the strongest immunomodulatory effects due to their high beta-glucan content.

5. Can multiple mushroom extracts be combined?
Yes, combinations enhance the effect. For example, Lion’s Mane pairs well with Reishi for stress reduction, and Cordyceps with Shiitake for supporting energy and immunity.

For each client individually, we draw up instructions according to his indicators and requests

Monthly Course:

How to get discounts

Other articles on the topic:

Contact us: