What is the extraction ratio of a supplement
In the world of pure fungi products it is usual to find on labels Concentration concentration indications as 4: 1, 15: 1 and others.
However, despite its generalized use, few consumers really include the importance of this indicator.
As Expert Laboratory in this field, we have prepared this article to help you understand it, but this video is also a magnificent summary to start.
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Understand the concentration or extraction ratio
In the package of many Fush -based food accessories, the extraction ratio, or concentration ratio, establishes a link between the amount of raw material and the amount of Final material. For example, a 15: 1 proportion means that 15 grams of mushrooms were needed to produce 1 gram of extract.
Laboratories usually use concentration ratios as argument to promote your products. At first glance, a high extraction index implies a more concentrated extract, potentially richer in beneficial compounds than a product with a lower index.
These ratios are also used to justify the price against the consumer, because a product with a higher ratio logically implies a greater amount of bioactive molecules, right? Not quite. We explain it below.
The limits of the extraction rate
Most consumers think that a greater proportion of concentration means a more powerful product, but in reality this depends on several factors:
1. What proportion are we talking about?
It is essential to know what proportion of concentration we are talking about. For some, the proportion corresponds to the amount of fresh mushrooms compared to the amount of dust, while for others, the starting point is the amount of dust to make an extract. In the first case, the fresh mushroom mass includes the water contained naturally in the mushroom, while in the second, it is excluded.
However, some mushrooms contain a significant amount of water. For example, the Simple drying can eliminate up to 90% of a fungus water like him Agaricus Blazei, giving a proportion of 10: 1, but without any real extraction. Without extraction, secondary metabolites are trapped in the chitinous matrix of the fungus, which makes these active biomolecules They are not bioavailable.
2. What kind of extraction are we talking about?
To obtain a complete extract of a mushroom, it is necessary to perform An extraction. This extraction can be carried out in two ways: Simple form, using water or alcohol as a solvent, or double, using both. The use of one or the other Extraction method It depends on the fungus in question and the polarity of the active biomolecules present in it.
In the field of pure fungi, it is often recommended OPT FOR DOUBLE EXTRACTION, that combines water and alcohol (= hydroalcoholic extraction), instead of a unique extraction. This preference is explained by the fact that an extraction with water only allows to recover hydrophilic molecules (= water lovers), like the Betaglucanos, while an alcohol extraction allows to recover other molecules of interest, such as Triterpenes. In addition, the solvents used are eliminated during the process, which guarantees the safety of the final product.
Although double extraction can provide greater amount of dust, its proportion of concentration can sometimes be lower than with a water extraction. However, this does not mean that water extraction is more powerful. On the contrary, a double extraction can be more effective because it allows to extract a broader range of components.
In Hifas da Terra, our experience in pure fungi and extraction techniques It goes back to more than 25 years, along with all our subsequent analyzes. These allow us to determine whether a hydro -alcoholic or aqueous extraction is preferable, depending on the compounds (hydrophilic or not) that we want to concentrate on each concrete mushroom.
One solution: the composition of molecules Bioactives
In summary, based only on a simple proportion indicator It is not enough to evaluate the real quality of a food complement based on pure fungi.
For significant information, it is essential to have a detailed breakdown of bioactives on the label. OK With our guide to choose the best supplement based on pure fungi, It is essential to carefully analyze labeling. What really counts is the Number of bioactive molecules mentioned on the label, as well as the specific bioactive compounds of the acquired fungus, such as the cordedepine (cordyceps), the inotodiol and the betulin (chaga), the tap (Maitake), among others. To be sure, it is necessary Perform analytical tests of the compounds Bioactive and purity measurements.
Care must also be taken when quantifying the concentration or percentage of non -specific active ingredients, such as polysaccharides. It is preferable Specify fungal betaglucanos (1.3/1.6), scientifically recognized for its immunomodulating function.
It also protects against the risk of buying a falsification, since the studies of European and American markets have revealed serious deficiencies in traceability.
In other words, without a solid analysis of the specific bioactive molecules and their indication on the label, consumers have no guarantee that they are acquiring a mushroom product, much less a fungal product based on
Hifas da Terra: an expert company in obtaining extracts from pure fungi
As an expert biotechnological company with 25 years of experience, our commitment is to design a specific manufacturing process for each mushroom, taking into account its individual characteristics. Each mushroom has its own bioactive molecules, so it is necessary to develop unique processes to make the most of them.
This is precisely what we strive to do through our in -depth quantitative analysis of our fungal strains. These analyzes allow us to better understand the bioactive profiles of each fungus and design extraction and production approaches adapted to their specific characteristics.
To guarantee the quality and consistency of our products, we rigorously apply our quality management system, known as "Hifas Quality System". This system allows us to control All phases of the production process, from the cultivation of mushrooms to the formulation of the final products, to ensure that our customers always receive products of the highest quality and effectiveness.