Ganoderma lucidum Polysaccharide Powder

Hot-water extraction of the fruiting body of Ganoderma lucidum, followed by purification and drying, concentrates the water-soluble carbohydrate fraction of the mushroom into a light yellow powder. Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide powder carries the glucan-rich portion, not the bitter triterpene acids of the same mushroom.

Polysaccharide content is ≥30% by UV-Vis, with moisture and total ash each ≤5.0% and particles milled to 80 mesh. The powder is water soluble and is supplied to brands formulating dietary supplements, functional beverages and functional foods, with the content and the method stated together.

SKU: BOT-BPS-0008 Category: Botanical Polysaccharides Tags: Bars & Bakery, Gummies & Chews, Mushroom & Fungi, Polysaccharides, Reishi, Water Extracted, Water-Extracted Fractions

Ganoderma lucidum Polysaccharide Identity

The source is the fruiting body of Ganoderma lucidum (Curtis) P.Karst., a bracket fungus of the family Polyporaceae known as reishi in Japanese and lingzhi in Chinese. The fruiting body is the visible, woody cap and stalk, and it differs from the spore powder and from grain-grown mycelium, which are separate materials. Taxonomic work treats cultivated East Asian lingzhi and the European G. lucidum as distinct species in some studies, and this ingredient is listed under Ganoderma lucidum.

The carbohydrate fraction of the fruiting body is dominated by glucans. Literature on the species describes β-glucans with a β-(1→3) backbone and β-(1→6) side branches, together with heteropolysaccharides that contain mannose, galactose and fucose, and some preparations carry a protein-bound portion. The woody structure is rich in insoluble chitin and cellulose-like fibers, so only a part of the carbohydrate is released by hot water. The extraction therefore concentrates the soluble polymers and leaves the insoluble matrix behind. What reaches the powder is a mixture of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides of different size and branching, not a single defined molecule. The same extract contains small amounts of protein, free sugars and minerals that purification reduces but does not remove completely.

The same mushroom is supplied in other forms. Reishi Mushroom Extract Powder is a 10:1 ratio extract with no content figure. Reishi Mushroom Powder is the milled fruiting body, and the Ganoderma lucidum Spore Powder is made from the spores. The polysaccharide powder is the choice when the water-soluble carbohydrate fraction is the defined ingredient.

Polysaccharide Content & Test Method

The content is polysaccharides ≥30% by UV-Vis, and there is a single grade, so no grade table applies. The UV-Vis method is the phenol–sulfuric acid reaction: acid converts carbohydrate to furfural derivatives, phenol turns them into a colored product, and the absorbance is read against a glucose standard. The result is a total carbohydrate figure expressed as glucose, and it counts every sugar that reacts, including free glucose and small oligosaccharides, not only high-molecular-weight polysaccharide.

A gravimetric method behaves differently. It precipitates the polysaccharide with ethanol, collects it and weighs it, so it counts only the fraction that precipitates and also includes the protein carried with it. A specific enzymatic method for β-glucan counts one family of linkages. These three figures are not interchangeable, and the number for Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide here is a total carbohydrate by UV-Vis. It is not a β-glucan content, and the two should never be converted into each other.

Starch or a carrier added to a low-purity product raises a UV total without adding mushroom polysaccharide, which is why the purification step and a clear statement of the method matter. This product is produced by water extraction and purification, and its content is the figure of that total, taken as the grade of the powder.

Typical Specifications

Specification Item	Product Information
Latin Name	Ganoderma lucidum
Plant Part	Mushroom & Fungi
Processing	Water Extraction & Purification
Common Name	Reishi, lingzhi
Ingredient Type	Polysaccharide Extract
Polysaccharide Type	β-Glucans and heteropolysaccharides (fungal)
Content	Polysaccharides ≥30% (UV-Vis, as glucose)
Appearance	Light Yellow powder
Solubility / Dispersibility	Water Soluble
Quality Parameters
Moisture	≤5.0% (LOD)
Total Ash	≤5.0%
Particle Size	80 mesh
Heavy Metals	Lead ≤2 ppm · Arsenic ≤1 ppm · Cadmium ≤1 ppm · Mercury ≤0.1 ppm
Microbiology	TPC ≤1,000 cfu/g · Yeast & Mold ≤100 cfu/g · E. coli Negative · Salmonella Negative/25 g
Shelf Life	24 months in unopened original packaging, cool and dry storage

Ganoderma lucidum Polysaccharide Solution Behavior

The Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide powder hydrates and dissolves in water to a pale yellow to light brown solution. Fungal glucans are branched polymers, and they build viscosity more gently than plant gums, so a solution of the powder at normal drinking concentration stays thin and pourable. Dissolution is slower in cold water than in warm water, and a short stir or a pre-dispersion in a small volume of liquid avoids lumps that swell at the surface.

The polymers tolerate moderate heat and a wide pH range, which is why they are used in hot beverages and neutral formulas. Strong acid with prolonged heating breaks glycosidic bonds and thins the solution, and strongly alkaline conditions darken the color. Ethanol precipitates the polysaccharide when its share in the liquid is high, so alcohol-containing drink concentrates need a trial.

Protein and mineral interactions follow the usual pattern for glucans. Some protein remains bound to the polysaccharide fraction, and in acidic protein drinks the combination can cloud or settle, while divalent minerals at high levels can slightly lower clarity. The solution is generally compatible with sugars, sweeteners and common drink acids. Clarity and viscosity are qualitative here, because no figures are stated for the product.

For scale-up, dissolve the powder in a side vessel and add the concentrate to the batch. Direct addition of a fine, hygroscopic powder to a large cold tank forms a skin of swollen particles around dry cores. Filtering the solution before heat treatment removes the small insoluble residue from the mushroom matrix. A fixed order of addition keeps Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide from meeting alcohol or acid before it is fully dissolved.

Application Areas

Capsules and Tablets

The soluble Ganoderma lucidum powder fills capsules cleanly at a modest weight, and it compresses into tablets with a dry binder. It is moderately hygroscopic, so a dry filling room and a desiccant in the bottle keep the weight steady and prevent caking in the hopper.

Instant Drink Powders

Because it dissolves, Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide powder fits instant drink mixes and stick packs. Dissolve it in warm water before adding cold ingredients, and use cocoa, coffee, malt or citrus flavors to cover the faint earthy note of the mushroom.

Functional Beverage Concentrates

Liquid concentrates use the powder for its solubility. Check the alcohol and protein content of the base, because both can precipitate polysaccharide, and filter a test batch to see whether the solution stays clear over a week at room temperature.

Gummy and Bar Premixes

Gummies and bars take Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide at gram-level inclusion in dry premixes. It adds little taste or color at normal doses, and it should be blended with the sugar or binder first so the fine powder spreads evenly through the mass.

Packaging & Commercial Supply

Essencefield supports product evaluation, formulation trials, commercial orders, and ongoing ingredient supply. Packaging, storage, and shipping arrangements are determined by product characteristics, order quantity, stability requirements, and destination-market needs.

Supply Item	General Information
Sample	Available upon request for formulation, testing, and supplier evaluation
Order Quantities	100 g · 1 kg · 5 kg · 25 kg · 100 kg · 500 kg · Bulk
Sample Lead Time	Typically 5–7 days after sample confirmation
Production Lead Time	Typically 15–30 days after order and specification confirmation
Packaging	Suitable protective inner packaging with bags, cartons, drums, or other appropriate outer packaging
Storage	Store in tightly sealed, suitable protective packaging in a cool, dry environment. Protect from moisture, heat, and direct sunlight. Specific storage conditions follow the approved product specification.
Documentation	COA · Product Specification · TDS · SDS · Applicable declarations (as applicable)

Final order quantities, lead times, packaging, documentation, and shipping arrangements are confirmed according to the selected product and commercial requirements.