John Miller
Mushroom extraction is a process in which raw materials, such as mushrooms, are exposed to a solvent to release certain ingredients. The three most common mushroom extraction methods are hot water, alcohol, and dual extraction. Hot water extraction is a popular method for extracting water-soluble compounds from mushrooms. It involves cooking raw mushrooms in hot water for a set period, typically between 30 minutes and a few days, without boiling. The liquid is then drained and preserved, while the solids are discarded. Commercial mushroom extraction is more complex than a simple hot water extraction process, involving specific considerations for pressure, temperature, and surface area of raw materials.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Raw Materials | Mushrooms (fruiting bodies), tea leaves, vegetables, beef bones |
| Solvents | Water, alcohol (ethanol) |
| Purpose | To make natural, beneficial compounds more readily available to our bodies |
| Extraction Process | Cooking raw materials in hot water, dissolving water-soluble compounds, discarding solids, preserving liquid |
| Final Product | Liquid or powder containing bioactive compounds |
| Mushroom Species | Shiitake, maitake, turkey tail, chaga, reishi, lion's mane, cordyceps |
| Commercial Process | Barbell Horn Ultrasonic Technology (BHUT) by Industrial Sonomechanics (ISM) |
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What You'll Learn
- Hot water extraction is a valid method for mushrooms with few water-insoluble compounds
- Extraction methods include hot water, alcohol, and dual extraction
- Hot water extraction dissolves the indigestible fiber chitin
- Water-soluble mushroom extracts are highly desirable due to their rapid absorption
- Hot water extraction is the only clinically validated method for breaking down polysaccharides
Hot water extraction is a valid method for mushrooms with few water-insoluble compounds
Hot water extraction is a common method for producing mushroom extracts. The process involves cooking raw mushrooms or mushroom powder in hot water to extract water-soluble compounds. The water temperature and extraction time depend on the mushroom type, with the water typically simmered for 30 minutes to several hours. This method is effective for mushrooms with few water-insoluble compounds, such as shiitake, maitake, and turkey tail mushrooms, as it maintains high levels of beta-glucans.
The human body cannot digest chitin, the fibrous substance that forms the cell walls of mushrooms. Hot water extraction breaks down these cell walls, making the beneficial compounds inside more accessible. This process has been traditionally recommended in both Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western scientific studies for preparing medicinal mushrooms.
While hot water extraction is a valid approach for mushrooms with few water-insoluble compounds, it has limitations. It cannot extract all non-water-soluble properties, such as triterpenes in Reishi and Chaga mushrooms. For mushrooms with significant non-water-soluble compounds, a dual extraction method using both hot water and alcohol is recommended.
The hot water extraction process begins with preparing the mushrooms by removing their stems and cleaning them. The mushrooms are then cooked in hot water, with the temperature maintained below boiling to prevent the loss of vital ingredients. After extraction, the liquid is separated from the solids, and the infused water can be consumed or evaporated to create a powder form.
Hot water extraction is a gentle and cost-effective method that can be easily performed in a laboratory setting. It is a valid approach for mushrooms with primarily water-soluble compounds, but alternative methods or dual extraction may be necessary to access a broader range of beneficial compounds in certain mushroom types.
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Extraction methods include hot water, alcohol, and dual extraction
Commercial mushroom hot water extraction is a process that involves cooking mushrooms in hot water to extract water-soluble compounds. This traditional method is simple and effective for mushrooms with water-soluble compounds, but it cannot extract non-water-soluble properties. The process is similar to making coffee or tea, where ground coffee beans or tea leaves are infused in hot water.
Extraction methods for mushrooms include hot water extraction, alcohol extraction, and dual extraction. Each method has its benefits and drawbacks, catering to different needs and preferences. Here's an overview of each process:
Hot Water Extraction:
Hot water extraction is a traditional and common method for mushroom extraction. It involves adding mushrooms to a pot of water and bringing it to a boil. The temperature is then lowered to a simmer for anywhere between 30 minutes to a few days, depending on the recipe. This process extracts water-soluble polysaccharides, including beta-glucans, which are known for their immunomodulatory properties. However, it cannot extract non-water-soluble compounds.
Alcohol Extraction:
Alcohol extraction is another technique used for mushroom extraction. Mushrooms are soaked in food-grade alcohol for one to six weeks, with occasional stirring or agitation to increase the surface area exposed to the alcohol. This method is effective for extracting alcohol-soluble compounds. It is particularly useful for extracting water-insoluble compounds, making it a complementary process to hot water extraction.
Dual Extraction:
Dual extraction combines both hot water and alcohol extraction methods to create a "full-spectrum" extract. In this process, mushrooms are first extracted using alcohol, creating an alcohol-infused product. The leftover solids from the alcohol extraction are then added to hot water and cooked for a set period. Finally, the liquid from the hot water extraction is combined with the alcohol extract. This method captures a broader range of compounds, including water-soluble and water-insoluble constituents.
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Hot water extraction dissolves the indigestible fiber chitin
The fungal cell wall is made up of chitin, an indigestible fiber that is the same tough substance that crustaceans use to make their shells. Humans typically lack the chitinase enzyme to digest chitin, so much of the wild mushrooms we eat as food end up as insoluble fiber. This is great food for our gut, but the beneficial compounds we want are locked inside the chitin cell wall.
Hot water extraction is the only clinically validated method for breaking down these polysaccharides and making them bioavailable. The process dissolves the indigestible fiber (chitin), allowing the fiber to be removed from the extract when the water is removed. The leftover mushroom-infused water contains the beneficial compounds, which can then be consumed as a liquid or dried to create a powder.
The duration of the simmer varies depending on the recipe. Typically, it is left for anywhere between 30 minutes to a couple of days. One source recommends a 60-minute steep time for mushroom teas, which is much longer than your average leafy tea.
It is important to note that chitin is not extracted in water or alcohol and therefore will not be present in liquid mushroom extracts. Chitin remains intact during typical home cooking methods. To break down chitin using heat, mushrooms would need to be cooked at 400 degrees Celsius, which would also destroy most of the nutrients and medicinal compounds.
However, some studies suggest that chitin can be digested by most people, and that high-fiber diets primarily impact mineral absorption when the fiber is soluble. Chitin and chitosan demonstrate significant therapeutic potential in immune modulation, wound care, digestive health, metabolic health, and cancer therapy.
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Water-soluble mushroom extracts are highly desirable due to their rapid absorption
Water-soluble mushroom extracts are highly sought-after due to their rapid absorption and ease of incorporation into various consumer products, such as beverages, foods, and nutritional supplements. Mushrooms are recognised for their therapeutic potential, making them a key area of research. They contain a variety of bioactive compounds, including alkaloids, vitamins, polysaccharides, polyphenolic compounds, sesquiterpenes, sterols, and terpenoids.
The process of creating water-soluble mushroom extracts involves two key steps: firstly, extracting the bioactive compounds from the mushrooms, and secondly, nano-emulsification to achieve aqueous solubility. The extraction process typically involves using hot water as a solvent to extract water-soluble compounds. The raw mushroom material is cooked in hot water for a set period, with the temperature and duration depending on the mushroom type. This process breaks down the chitin cell walls, releasing the beneficial compounds.
The liquid is then drained, preserving the water-soluble compounds, while the solids are discarded. The final liquid can be consumed as-is or further processed into a powder form. To create a powder, the liquid is evaporated, leaving behind a dry powder containing the bioactive compounds.
The hot water extraction method is simple, cost-effective, and gentle on the ingredients. However, it is limited by its inability to extract non-water-soluble compounds. For mushrooms with significant non-water-soluble compounds, such as Reishi mushrooms, a dual extraction method is recommended, utilising both hot water and alcohol.
To overcome the limitations of traditional ultrasonic horns in commercial-scale extraction, Industrial Sonomechanics® (ISM) has developed Barbell Horn® Ultrasonic Technology (BHUT). This advanced technology enables the scaling up of the ultrasonic mushroom extraction process, providing a safer, more effective, and economical solution.
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Hot water extraction is the only clinically validated method for breaking down polysaccharides
Medicinal mushrooms contain immune-supporting polysaccharides, which are found inside their cell walls. However, these cell walls are made from chitin, an indigestible fibre that our bodies cannot break down without the use of chitinase enzymes. As a result, the beneficial compounds found in mushrooms end up locked inside the chitin cell wall.
Hot water extraction is a simple and convenient method, commonly used in laboratories and industrial extraction processes. It is particularly useful for mushrooms with few water-insoluble compounds, as it keeps the levels of beta-glucans high. However, it does not extract any non-water-soluble properties, and the extraction rate is low.
Other extraction methods include alcohol extraction, dual extraction (which uses both hot water and alcohol), ultrasonic-assisted extraction, microwave-assisted extraction, enzymatic extraction, and subcritical extraction. These methods can improve extraction efficiency, but they may also change the polysaccharide structure or be more costly.
Overall, hot water extraction is a clinically validated method for breaking down polysaccharides and accessing the beneficial compounds found in medicinal mushrooms.
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Frequently asked questions
Mushroom extraction is a process in which raw materials are exposed to a solvent to release certain ingredients from the raw material.
The three major types of mushroom extraction are hot water, alcohol, and dual extraction.
Hot water extraction uses hot water as a solvent to extract water-soluble compounds from mushrooms. The mushroom powder is heated in hot water for a long period, usually several hours. The water shouldn't boil as it can cause vital ingredients to evaporate.
Hot water extraction is gentle, cost-effective, and can be easily done in a laboratory setting as water is readily available. It is also the only clinically validated method for breaking down the polysaccharides in mushroom cell walls.
Hot water extraction will not extract any non-water-soluble properties. If you want to extract non-water-soluble compounds, you will need to use a different method, such as alcohol extraction.
