Shiitake Polysaccharide (Lentinan) Powder

Hot-water extraction of the Lentinula edodes fruiting body yields this Shiitake polysaccharide powder, which is rich in the branched β-glucan family that includes lentinan. Protein, small sugars and flavor compounds are largely removed, and the dried fraction is a fine light yellow powder.

Polysaccharide content is ≥30% by UV-Vis (phenol–sulfuric, as glucose), moisture and total ash are each ≤5.0%, and the powder is milled to 80 mesh. It is water dispersible, supplied for dietary supplements, functional beverages and functional foods, and the figure is a total-carbohydrate value.

SKU: BOT-BPS-0023 Category: Botanical Polysaccharides Tags: Mushroom & Fungi, Polysaccharides, Seasonings & Sauces, Shiitake, Water Extracted, Water-Extracted Fractions

Shiitake Polysaccharide Identity

Shiitake polysaccharide powder is made from the fruiting body of Lentinula edodes (Berk.) Pegler, the cultivated shiitake mushroom grown on hardwood logs or sawdust blocks. The mushroom itself is the source, and mycelial culture broth and substrate are not part of this material. The name lentinan refers to one purified glucan from this mushroom: a β-(1→3)-glucan with β-(1→6) branches at regular intervals along the chain.

Fungal cell walls are built from chitin, β-glucans and mannoproteins, and the mushroom also stores carbohydrate as glycogen, an α-glucan, with trehalose and mannitol as small soluble sugars. Hot-water extraction takes out the soluble and swellable polymers together with these small molecules, and ethanol precipitation then favors the large polymers.

The result is a fraction in which branched β-glucan is one important component but not the only one. Shiitake polysaccharide powder is a polysaccharide extract, so it should not be read as pure lentinan. Chitin stays largely in the insoluble residue, and the lentinan name in the product title describes the glucan family and not a purity.

Three related shiitake products are specified differently. Shiitake Mushroom Powder is the milled whole mushroom, Shiitake Cap Powder is the milled cap, and Shiitake Mushroom Extract Powder is a ratio extract.

Polysaccharide Content & Test Method

The content figure is polysaccharides ≥30% by UV-Vis, which measures total carbohydrate. Hot sulfuric acid hydrolyses the polymers, phenol converts the released sugars into a colored product, and absorbance is read against a glucose curve. Everything that releases sugar counts, whether it is a β-glucan, a heteropolysaccharide, glycogen or residual trehalose.

For a mushroom product, that distinction matters most for the glucan. Glycogen is an α-glucan with the same glucose units as lentinan, and the phenol–sulfuric reaction cannot tell them apart. A β-glucan figure requires a different approach, in which total glucan is measured enzymatically and α-glucan is subtracted, and no such value is claimed for this grade.

Because the sample is a mushroom, preparation also affects the reading. Chitin and cell-wall residue do not dissolve in the assay, and incomplete dissolution of the extract can lower the figure, so the powder is fully dispersed and filtered before the reaction. Standards are run under the same sulfuric acid conditions as the sample, which keeps the comparison consistent from lot to lot.

A gravimetric result from ethanol precipitation would include protein and some chitin fragments in the weight. Because the figure here is UV-Vis only, it should be compared with other UV-Vis values and not with a quoted β-glucan percentage, and it should not be described as lentinan content.

Typical Specifications

Specification Item	Product Information
Latin Name	Lentinula edodes
Plant Part	Mushroom & Fungi
Processing	Water Extraction & Purification
Common Name	Shiitake
Ingredient Type	Polysaccharide Extract
Polysaccharide Type	β-(1→3)-glucans with β-(1→6) branches and heteropolysaccharides
Content	Polysaccharides ≥30% (UV-Vis, as glucose)
Appearance	Light Yellow powder
Solubility / Dispersibility	Water Dispersible
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

Shiitake Polysaccharide Solution Behavior

Shiitake polysaccharide is water dispersible and not fully clear in solution. The branched β-glucan chains hydrate and swell, giving a slightly opalescent, lightly viscous dispersion, while the higher-mass material stays as fine haze. Dissolution is smoother when the powder is sifted into warm, stirred water than when it is poured into cold, still water.

Viscosity rises with concentration and chain length, and at higher concentration the dispersion can thicken noticeably on standing as glucan chains associate. Heat helps hydration, and the β-glucan backbone tolerates ordinary pasteurization. Strong acid with extended heating hydrolyses the chains and lowers viscosity.

Remaining protein and phenolics can bind to the glucan, so tea- and juice-based bases may show added haze. Shiitake polysaccharide carries only a faint savory note, because most of the volatile flavor of the mushroom, including its sulfur-containing lenthionine, is lost in extraction and drying.

Moisture pickup is moderate, and the powder cakes if left open in humid air. No viscosity values are stated for this grade.

Storage stability is good for a dry powder. Light has little effect on the pale color, and the main change over time is moisture uptake, which turns a free-flowing powder into a firm cake. A sealed liner with a desiccant, kept away from steam, keeps Shiitake polysaccharide usable through its shelf life.

Application Areas

Capsule and Tablet Blends

Shiitake polysaccharide fills capsules without the strong mushroom aroma of milled shiitake. It combines readily with other mushroom fractions in one fill, and desiccant packaging is advisable because the powder takes up moisture and can bridge in hoppers. Fill weight should be checked at the start and end of each run.

Stick-Pack Beverage Mixes

In stick packs, the powder disperses into water with light stirring and leaves a faint haze. Pre-blending with a sweetener or carrier reduces lump formation, and a short rest after mixing lets the glucan finish swelling before the drink is judged. Trials are best assessed after the drink has stood for ten minutes.

Mushroom Blend Sachets

Mixed with other mushroom fractions in sachets, the powder adds a polysaccharide share without raising the earthy flavor. Check mixture homogeneity, since fine and coarse particles can segregate during transport. Sampling from the top and bottom of the drum confirms an even blend.

Soup and Broth Powders

Dry broth mixes can carry shiitake polysaccharide at small levels. The glucan adds a little body and survives hot-water preparation, but it is not a flavor source, so seasoning must come from other ingredients. Salt and soy-style bases do not interfere with the glucan.

Dry Beverage Concentrates

Powdered concentrates for reconstitution tolerate the powder if it is added before sweeteners. Acidic bases keep the dispersion stable over the shelf life, while mineral-rich bases may need a trial for haze. Trials should cover the full storage period.

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.