Beta-glucans assay for mushrooms

Why beta-glucans?

Beta-glucans are a key component of mushrooms cell walls  and these compounds can help support your health and wellbeing, in particular support cardiovascular health to lower cholesterol, help the immune system, reduce inflammation, improve gut health (prebiotic) and regulate blood sugar.

All mushrooms are rich in beta-glucans, they support cells and provide energy storage.  Some contain more than others for example, Reishi (Ganoderma lucidium) has one of the highest beta-glucans contents in the mushroom kingdom and Turkey tail (Trametes versicolor) are loaded with beta-glucans. Maitake mushrooms (Grifola frondose) are another excellent source of beta-glucans.

Beta-glucans are a unique type of polysaccharide or sugar, they are complex carbohydrates made from long chains of glucose molecules. Their unique structure distinguishes them from other carbohydrates and gives them their specific functional benefits. The body doesn’t produce beta-glucans, so people must obtain them from food like mushrooms and supplements.

Structural and physical characteristics of beta-glucans vary from different species of mushrooms. Total carbohydrates including polysaccharides are about 50% of the dry matter of mushrooms.

Beta-glucans are found in only a handful of foods, mainly mushrooms, yeast, and grains like barley and oats. The beta-glucans found in mushrooms have a different and even more complex structure to those found in grains, giving them a greater ability to react with biological receptors in the body, offering a wide range of health benefits.Why should you ensure your e-liquids are diketone free?

  • The method is based on *spectrophotometry using a complex standard reagent mix including known oat or barley (beta-glucans) as comparison, in order to detect the percentage of beta-glucans in the test sample.

    *Spectrophotometry measures the intensity of light beams at different wavelengths specifically how much light is absorbed by coloured compounds. Each molecule has an individual set of energy levels and colour associated with the make up of its structure to give it unique spectral properties.  

Other mushroom assays include:

What our quality service offers:

  • quick testing in five to ten working days

  • ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited laboratory facility

  • state-of-the-art instruments

  • analysis by scientists in the UK.

Phone our expert, friendly team today

To speak to our expert, friendly team about beta-glucans testing, please phone +44(0)1302986088 or email hello@adactmedical.com.

We look forward to speaking with you soon.