Definition:

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herbgreey®Reishi mushroom extract Health Benefits:

herbgreey®Reishi mushroom extract is a concentrated active ingredient obtained from the fruiting bodies of fungi belonging to the Ganoderma genus within the Ganodermataceae family (primarily Ganoderma lucidum or Ganoderma sinense) using modern extraction techniques. Representing the core active form of Ganoderma, it is widely utilised in food, health supplements, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.

Particularities of herbgreey®Reishi mushroom extract:

Product Specifications:

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Product quality standards:

● Food grade, In-house

▶Immune health

herbgreey®Reishi mushroom extract Applications:

Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides stimulate the proliferation and activity of macrophages, T lymphocytes and natural killer (NK) cells. This promotes the secretion of cytokines, such as interleukin-2 and interferon-γ. This helps to regulate immune imbalances and reduce the risk of infection in immunocompromised individuals. Ganoderma triterpenoids inhibit the release of inflammatory mediators (e.g. TNF-α and IL-6) and have the potential to modulate chronic, low-grade inflammation (e.g. inflammation associated with metabolic syndrome); however, they have not yet met the clinical standards required for anti-inflammatory drug applications.

■ Source

The core raw material used to produce herbgreey®Reishi mushroom extract is the fruiting body-the mature, umbrella-shaped part of the fungus (including the cap and stem). Log-cultivated reishi mushroom fruiting bodies bearing spore powder are the preferred source of high-quality extracts due to their high concentration of active compounds. In contrast, although liquid-fermented Ganoderma lucidum mycelium can also be used for extraction, its composition differs from that of fruiting body extracts. Market recognition and traditional applications are primarily based on sources derived from the fruiting body. Reishi mushroom is distributed across all continents, with the majority of it growing in tropical, subtropical and temperate regions. China has an extensive distribution of reishi mushroom fungal resources and is one of the main production areas.

herbgreey®Reishi mushroom extract is available in the following specification and contents:

☑  herbgreey®Reishi mushroom powder 10:1/20:1/30:1/50:1

herbgreey®Reishi mushroom extract is one of the most popular ingredients in the global health supplement industry. Its main uses include immune modulation, antioxidant effects, improving sleep and relieving physical fatigue. The most common forms are capsules and tablets, which are filled directly with Ganoderma lucidum extract powder (or mixed with excipients), facilitating precise dosage control and making them suitable for long-term use in regulating immunity. Solid beverages and powdered drinks are usually blended with excipients such as maltodextrin and stevioside to give them a mild taste, making them suitable for daily consumption. Some formulations incorporate additional ingredients such as vitamin C or zinc to enhance the extract's effects. Oral liquids and drops primarily use water or glycerine as solvents to dissolve the extract (with minimal flavourings added), catering to individuals with swallowing difficulties (e.g. the elderly and children) and offering relatively faster absorption. Gummies and pressed candies are manufactured using bases such as pectin and gelatine to balance taste and functionality, primarily targeting younger consumer demographics.

According to traditional Chinese medical theory, Ganoderma lucidum is classified as a superior herb. Its primary functions are tonifying qi, calming the spirit and alleviating coughs and wheezing. These traditional applications continue to this day. Ganoderma extracts are typically available in capsule, tablet, granule and oral liquid formulations to improve symptoms such as debility, weakness, insomnia accompanied by frequent dreams, palpitations, anxiety and lung deficiency accompanied by coughing and wheezing. It can also be combined with other Chinese herbs, such as Astragalus, Codonopsis and Ziziphus jujuba seeds, to enhance the tonifying and calming effects of qi. Ganoderma lucidum is commonly found in Chinese herbal formulas and proprietary Chinese medicines used to address scenarios such as low immunity, post-surgical recovery and chronic fatigue syndrome

■ Active ingredients

The active components of herbgreey®Reishi mushroom extract can be divided into two main categories according to their solubility. Together, these form the material basis for its efficacy and require extraction processes tailored to specific components (e.g. polysaccharides are extracted using hot water and triterpenes using ethanol). The most extensively studied active ingredient in Ganoderma extracts and the one most closely associated with immune modulation is Ganoderma polysaccharides, the water-soluble core component. They constitute 5-30% of the extract's dry weight (high-quality extracts may contain ≥30% polysaccharides). Their chemical structure primarily features a β-glucan backbone (comprising 70%-90% of total polysaccharides) formed by monosaccharides such as glucose, galactose, mannose and arabinose, which are linked via various glycosidic bonds. Most adopt a triple-helix structure, which is key to their immune-activating properties.

The core components that are soluble in lipids are Ganoderma triterpenoids, which are also known as 'ganoderic acids' or 'ganoderic alcohols'. These compounds are primarily responsible for the bitter taste of Ganoderma lucidum extracts and are key to its liver-protective, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. High-quality extracts typically contain ≥5% triterpenoids, with some high-purity products exceeding 10%. Based on a tetrahydro-triterpene skeleton containing 30 carbon atoms (with rare exceptions of 27 or 24 atoms), these molecules often incorporate functional groups such as hydroxyl, carboxyl, ketone and double bonds. This gives them both lipid solubility and moderate polarity. To date, over 200 triterpenoid monomers have been isolated and identified from G. lucidum. Based on structural differences, these can be classified into subtypes such as 'ganoderic acid type', 'ganoderic alcohol type', and 'ganoderic acid type'.

In addition to these two core categories, Ganoderma lucidum extract contains numerous trace components that exhibit synergistic effects, further enhancing its efficacy. Reishi extract contains 18 amino acids (including eight essential amino acids for the human body), including glutamic acid, lysine and leucine. These amino acids can supplement nutrition and help alleviate fatigue. It also contains nucleosides, minerals, trace elements and sterol components.

Some human clinical trials indicate that a daily intake of 1.2-2.4 g of Ganoderma lucidum extract (a formulation of polysaccharides and triterpenes) may improve sleep onset time and quality in cases of non-organic insomnia (e.g. stress-related insomnia) by regulating neurotransmitters in the central nervous system, such as gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). However, its efficacy is weaker than that of sedative-hypnotic drugs and individual responses can vary significantly. In vitro studies suggest that Ganoderma polysaccharides can reduce oxidative damage to nerve cells and inhibit the deposition of β-amyloid protein, which is associated with Alzheimer's disease.

▶ Neuroprotective effects

Ganoderma triterpenoids have been shown to inhibit cholesterol synthesis enzymes (HMG-CoA reductase) in animal studies, thereby reducing total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels. With regard to the effects on blood pressure, only mild hypotensive activity has been observed in 'hypertensive model rats'. The clinical efficacy of ganoderma triterpenoids in healthy individuals or hypertensive patients remains inconclusive.

▶ Cardiovascular health

■ Extraction process characteristics

The production process of herbgreey®Reishi mushroom extract is a systematic procedure with the core objective of efficiently extracting and preserving active components, particularly Ganoderma polysaccharides and triterpenes, while removing impurities to optimise product stability and applicability.

Premium Ganoderma raw materials are selected, with mouldy and insect-damaged specimens and impurities (such as soil and wood chips) removed. The materials are graded by size and maturity (fruiting bodies are separated into caps and stems, as the caps contain higher levels of triterpenoids and can be processed separately). The materials then undergo cleaning and drying, followed by grinding and cell wall disruption (for spores/mycelium). Extraction is the key process step and requires a design based on the solubility of the active components. For example, polysaccharides are water-soluble and triterpenoids are lipid-soluble. Mainstream methods include single-solvent and mixed-solvent extraction; the latter is capable of preserving both types of core component simultaneously. The extraction of water-soluble components (primarily targeting Ganoderma polysaccharides) typically employs hot water reflux extraction, which is the most mature and widely applied method. This is sometimes supplemented with ultrasonic or microwave-assisted enhancement. Extraction of lipid-soluble components (primarily targeting Ganoderma triterpenes) generally uses ethanol reflux extraction (the most common approach), or ethyl acetate or supercritical CO2 extraction (specifically for high-purity triterpenes).

The extract contains significant impurities, such as starch, proteins, pigments and small-molecule sugars. These impurities must be removed through a purification process in order to enrich the target components. This is the core step that determines the product grade. The purified polysaccharide/triterpenoid solution must then be concentrated and dried to form powders, granules or pastes for convenient storage and application. The dried extract powder requires grinding to 80-120 mesh, followed by sieving to ensure a uniform particle size, prevent caking and facilitate subsequent formulation (e.g. into capsules or tablets).

General Information:

☑  herbgreey®Reishi mushroom powder 20%/30%/40%/50% (Ganoderma polysaccharides)

Ganoderma polysaccharides and triterpenes can scavenge free radicals, such as hydroxyl radicals and superoxide anions. They boost the activity of antioxidant enzymes in the body, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), thereby reducing oxidative stress damage and potentially delaying the ageing of skin and organs.

▶ Antioxidant