Mushoom cell walls

Polysaccharides, d-mannitols, adenosines and other bioactive compounds in mushroom extracts and powders are contained within the cell walls of the mushroom. Unless those cell walls are broken, the human body cannot access the bioactive compounds.

The cell walls in mushrooms are made of chitin which is hard and strong to protect the cell. Chitin
is also found in the exoskeletons of crabs, lobsters and insects. Only some animals such as certain types of fish have the required enzymes to digest chitin. Humans do not have this enzyme. Just like crayfish shells, humans cannot digest chitin in mushrooms.

In humans, the cell walls of mushrooms are eventually passed out through the digestive tract.
As a result, mushroom nutrients sealed within cell walls do not benefit human bodies unless the cell walls have previously been broken down to make the nutrients bioavailable to human bodies.

A simple test for bioavailability

When 100g of normal 80 mesh mushroom powder is mixed with cold water, tests detect zero polysaccharides dissolved in the water or up to
only 10mg.

When 100g of Mycopharma® superfine 120 mesh mushroom powder for example Hericium powder is mixed with cold water, tests detect 50mg or more of polysaccharides dissolved in the water. Selected 200 mesh superfine powders provide even higher bioavailability, and mushroom extracts provide significantly higher bioavailability.

These results have huge significance for the bioavailability of beneficial polysaccharides in the mushroom powder. If we view the water in this test as a parallel for blood in human bodies, the significance of bioavailability in superfine powders and high quality extracts becomes obvious.

Breaking cell walls in extracts

In mushroom extracts, the cells walls are broken
by heat during a hot water extraction process. The method and quality of the extraction process used can significantly effect the level of bioavailability that is delivered. Mycopharma® extraction techniques maximise bioavailability and resulting extracts are tested and labelled with bioavailability levels. The extraction process also enables further concentration to provide up to 5 times the level of polysaccharide bioavailability in mushroom powders.

Breaking cell walls in powders

In mushroom powders, heat is not a suitable method to break the cell walls. However, unless
the cell walls are broken before human consumption, the human body cannot access the beneficial bioactive compounds.

In 2009, Mycopharma® pioneered a new superfine shell broken grinding technology to enhance the bioavailability of mushroom powders. The Mycopharma® shell broken powder grinding process uses a superfine grinding machine able to grind dried mushrooms to a superfine powder of up to 200 mesh (other mushroom powders are typically only ground to a fineness 80 mesh).

At 80 mesh fineness most mushroom cell walls
are not broken so bioavailability is very low.

At the superfine 200 mesh achieved by the Mycopharma® powder grinding process, tiny mushroom cells are all broken. The superfine powder is called a "shell broken mushroom powder" and provides maximum bioavailability.

Higher labelling standards

Many mushroom extract producers claim inflated polysaccharide levels that are not actually evident when tested. Even when claims are not inflated, the base polysaccharide level is still misleading because most of it is not bioavailable and so provides no benefit. Mycopharma® is once again leading the industry by introducing testing and labelling of base polysaccharide levels and bioavailability levels on all products.

Mycopharma® quality

Regardless of whether you prefer mushroom extracts or mushroom powders, Mycopharma® uses industry-first production techniques to maximise the bioavailability of the polysaccharides and other bioactive compounds - freed by breaking the cell wall, water soluble, and now clearly labelled.

Always seek medical advice

Information provided on this website is provided for information purposes only and is not intended to replace advice from a qualified medical practitioner. For information about medical conditions please consult your doctor.

Original research As the leader in standardised mushroom extracts and powders we believe passionately in sharing information from the growing body of published research on medicinal mushrooms. This is for education purposes only and Mycopharma® cannot and does not vouch for the accuracy of independent research. To make your own informed decisions please refer to the original published research about particular mushrooms.