Hericium erinaceus, known in English as lion's mane, is a tooth fungus of the Hericiaceae that grows on dead or dying hardwood. It is one of the best-known fungal ingredients in the functional mushroom category, and one of the easiest to buy badly - because the two compound families it is valued for come from different parts of the organism, and many specifications do not say which part the material is made from. This page sets out the composition and how the material is specified.
Composition
Three compound families are relevant to a lion's mane specification:
| Compound class | Chemistry | Occurs in |
| Hericenones | Diterpenoids of the hericenone series | Fruiting body |
| Erinacines | Cyathane diterpenoids of the erinacine series | Mycelium |
| β-glucans | Glucose polymers with β-(1,3) and β-(1,6) linkages | Whole organism, concentrated in the cell wall |
| Other metabolites | Phenolic compounds and terpenoids | Fruiting body |
The practical consequence is that a fruiting-body extract and a mycelium extract are different materials with different marker profiles. If the brief calls for a hericenone figure, the raw material has to be the fruiting body; a mycelium-based powder cannot carry that number. Wellgreen's organic Hericium erinaceus powder is produced from fruiting-body material, cultivated on a defined substrate and processed under controlled extraction conditions so the hericenone and β-glucan content can be standardised.
Standardisation
Wellgreen supplies two standardisation options for lion's mane:
- Polysaccharides ≥30%, determined by UV
- Hericenones ≥1.0%, determined by HPLC
Both figures are agreed per order and reported on the batch Certificate of Analysis. As with all mushroom extracts, a polysaccharide figure determined by UV measures total carbohydrate against a glucose standard and will include any carrier present in the powder, so the method and the carrier system should be stated alongside the number.
Applications
Organic Hericium erinaceus powder is water-dispersible and is used in:
- Capsules, tablets and sachets
- Ready-to-mix powders and instant drink bases
- Functional food and confectionery
- Multi-species mushroom blends
Quality control
Ingredient authenticity is the recurring risk in this category, because mycelium grown on grain can be milled and sold as fruiting-body powder with no way for the buyer to tell. Wellgreen controls the substrate and the cultivation environment, and each batch is analysed to confirm species identity and to report microbial, solvent-residue and heavy-metal results against the agreed limits. Organic grades are certified to EU and USDA organic standards (EOS and NOP) where applicable.
Multi-mushroom blends
Beyond single-species extracts, Wellgreen supplies customisable multi-mushroom complexes:
- 4 Mushroom Emperor's Blend Extract Powder - lion's mane, reishi, cordyceps and chaga
- 6 Mushroom Super Six Extract Powder - a six-species blend for broad-positioning formulations
Both are produced to the same quality protocol as the single-species extracts, with the individual component specifications agreed at the quotation stage.
Related products
The organic lion's mane grade is listed on the organic lion's mane mushroom powder product page. Reishi and cordyceps are supplied as companion components for the blends described above.
Partner with Wellgreen
Wellgreen has more than a decade of experience in plant and fungal extract development and manufacturing. We offer certified organic sourcing, flexible standardisation, custom formulation and private-label services, and supply-chain support for large-volume buyers. Contact us at liu@wellgreenxa.com to request detailed specifications or samples.
Further reading
Beshara M, et al. (2019). Neurotrophic effects of Hericium erinaceus on NGF synthesis. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 240.
This page describes an industrial botanical ingredient for business-to-business use. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and is not intended for direct consumer use.
