The demand for water-soluble mushroom extracts is surging, driven by the growing interest in their therapeutic, health-promoting benefits. Water-soluble extracts are highly desirable due to their enhanced, rapid absorption and ease of incorporation into various consumer products such as beverages, foods, and nutritional supplements [1].
Producing water-soluble mushroom extracts in liquid or powdered forms involves two important processing steps: (1) extraction of the bioactive compounds from mushrooms and (2) their subsequent nano-emulsification to achieve aqueous solubility. Industrial Sonomechanics (ISM) has perfected these processes to ensure that our customers can manufacture the highest-quality finished products infused with water-soluble mushroom extracts.
Why Extract from Mushrooms?
Mushrooms are increasingly recognized for their significant therapeutic potential, making them a focal point of nutraceutical and pharmaceutical research [2]. They are rich in myriad valuable bioactive compounds, including alkaloids, vitamins, polysaccharides, polyphenolic compounds, sesquiterpenes, sterols, and terpenoids. Psychedelic mushrooms, in particular, have garnered attention for their potential therapeutic effects, with psilocybin—their psychoactive alkaloid—showing great benefits and a favorable safety profile in clinical studies [3]. Water-soluble polysaccharides— another example of beneficial compounds extracted from mushrooms—are researched for their immunomodulatory and antioxidant properties [4].
Extracting these compounds is vital to unlocking their therapeutic benefits. However, due to their chemical properties making them sensitive to traditional extraction methods and because of the remarkable strength of the hyphae cell structures, the extraction of compounds of interest from mushrooms is particularly challenging [3].
Mushroom Extract Powder vs. Mushroom Powder: Understanding the Difference
While both mushroom extract powders and ground mushroom powders are derived from mushrooms, they differ significantly in their composition - the concentration of the beneficial bioactive compounds, as well as the production process.
Mushroom extracts are made by extracting bioactive compounds using one of the methods mentioned below, and concentrating them into a potent liquid or powder. Because mushroom extracts offer better control over which elements are included in the final product, they have stronger effects and provide greater benefits. For example, a study conducted at University of Washington showed a stark difference in immunomodulating effects between mushroom extracts and ground mushroom products [5].
On the other hand, mushroom powders are simply dried mushrooms that have been ground to a fine consistency [6]. Mushroom powders do not go through an extraction process. Ground mushroom powders contain the entire mushroom (without water), including fiber and other non-active components.
If you are unsure whether you are purchasing a mushroom powder or a powdered mushroom extract, you should contact the manufacturer and inquire if an extraction process was used. Alternatively, you can try dissolving a small amount in a food-grade solvent. Extracts will dissolve fully in solvents such as ethanol and/or ethanol/water mixtures (e.g., vodka), while ground mushroom powders will not.
The Challenges of Traditional Extraction Methods
Extracting bioactive compounds from mushrooms is notoriously difficult due to the robust structure of hyphae cells [7, 8]. Traditional methods such as Soxhlet and reflux extraction, supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2), and agitated organic solvent techniques, though effective, are often time-consuming, energy-intensive, require large production spaces, and frequently utilize harsh organic solvents with safety, environmental, and target compound degradation risks [9, 10]. These limitations have led to the exploration of alternative methods such as ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE).
Introduction to Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction (UAE)
Ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) has emerged as a promising alternative to traditional methods [11]. The process is conducted using an ultrasonic processor equipped with a high-amplitude horn, a.k.a. probe, immersed in a biomass slurry prepared with a suitable solvent. UAE disrupts mushroom cells effectively, maximizing the extraction of bioactive compounds, even when using mild and green solvents. This method can enhance the antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory activities of mushrooms, improving the overall quality of the extracts [11]. UAE has also proven effective in extracting polysaccharides from mushrooms like Volvariella volvacea and β-glucans from chaga mushrooms, as well as hallucinogenic compounds from psychedelic mushrooms [12, 13]. High vibration amplitudes are required as this extraction process relies on intense acoustic cavitation to generate extremely strong solvent micro-jets that are able to disrupt/penetrate cell membranes and bring out their contents.
Overcoming Ultrasound Scale Up Limitations with Barbell Horns® Designed by Industrial Sonomechanics
Until recently, ultrasonic liquid processors faced a significant limitation - they were confined to laboratory settings due to their reliance on conventional ultrasonic horns. Studies show that high ultrasonic amplitudes are necessary in order to obtain adequate extraction productivity rates and yields [14, 15]. The main limitation of the conventional ultrasonic horns is their inability to generate the necessary high ultrasonic amplitudes and cavitation intensities on a large scale, rendering them unsuitable for commercial-scale extraction processes.
Industrial Sonomechanics® (ISM) resolved this issue with the introduction of Barbell Horn® Ultrasonic Technology (BHUT). Developed and patented by ISM, Barbell Horns® enable the scaling up of the ultrasonic mushroom extraction process, providing a safer, more effective, and economical approach compared to traditional methods.
ISM's innovative high-amplitude ultrasonic systems are able to greatly intensify the rate of extraction by efficiently disrupting hyphae cell structures. The BHUT advanced technology allows for the replacement of harsh organic solvents with milder, greener, and more cost-effective food-grade alternatives like ethanol or water, all while achieving superior results.
Scalable and Efficient Extraction with ISM Turn-Key Ultrasonic Equipment
ISM’s ultrasonic processors have several unique features:
1. They can be configured in both batch and flow-through modes, are able to operate continuously (24/7), and handle anywhere from a few milliliters to many hundreds of liters of material at a time.
2. Their flow-through components are designed to prevent clogging and include cooling jackets for precise temperature control, making the processors suitable for extracting heat-sensitive substances.
3. Water-cooled transducers, patented by ISM, integrated into the BSP-1200 and ISP-3600 systems, ensure the equipment is effectively cooled and can function in high-humidity environments and while working with flammable materials.
4. ISM offers plug-and-play ultrasonic processors that are shipped mostly pre-assembled for quick installation. The ultrasonic processors provided by ISM are accompanied by a full suite of support services, including detailed manuals, instructional video guides, standard operating procedures (SOPs), remote installation assistance, and efficient post-purchase and warranty services. This turn-key approach makes it easier for companies to adopt the ultrasound method and scale up their production of high-quality mushroom extracts.
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Converting Mushroom Extracts into Water-Soluble Liquids and Powders
Water-soluble mushroom extracts are highly sought after due to their ease of integration into various consumer products such as beverages (e.g., coffee, tea, juice, energy shots), foods, and supplements.
Converting mushroom extracts into water-soluble forms is easily achieved with ISM ultrasonic processors, along with the appropriate formulation and ingredients. Our research and development team utilizes nano-formulation techniques and only food-grade, natural, and organic ingredients. Nanoemulsions produced with our technology can be easily mixed into water or any other beverage, and remain stable (without any separation or settling). They can be incorporated into a wide range of consumer products, including health drinks, syrups, dietary supplements, functional foods, tablets, and effervescent tablets.
Stability of nanoemulsion-infused beverages is a common problem with many finished consumer products, often indicated by labels marked 'shake well before consuming.' With our nanotechnology, manufacturers can produce high-quality, water-soluble mushroom extracts that are ideal for inclusion in a wide range of products, where they remain stable, with no shaking required.
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References:
1. Tagen, M., Klumpers, L. E., & Peshkovsky, A. (2023). Pharmacokinetics of Two Nanoemulsion Formulations of Δ8-Tetrahydrocannabinol in Rats. AAPS PharmSciTech, 24(8), 239. https://doi.org/10.1208/s12249-023-02699-1.
2. Lavi, I., Levinson, D., Peri, I., Tekoah, Y., Hadar, Y., & Schwartz, B. (2010). Chemical Characterization, Antiproliferative and Antiadhesive Properties of Polysaccharides Extracted from Pleurotus pulmonarius Mycelium and Fruiting Bodies. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 85(6), 1977–1990. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-009-2296-x.
3. Lowe, H., Toyang, N., Steele, B., Valentine, H., Grant, J., Ali, A., Ngwa, W., & Gordon, L. (2021). The Therapeutic Potential of Psilocybin. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 26(10), 2948. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26102948.
4. Ng, Z. X., & Rosman, N. F. (2019). In vitro digestion and domestic cooking improved the total antioxidant activity and carbohydrate-digestive enzymes inhibitory potential of selected edible mushrooms. Journal of Food Science and Technology, 56(2), 865–877. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13197-018-3547-6.
5. Coy, C., Standish, L. J., Bender, G., & Lu, H. (2015). Significant Correlation between TLR2 Agonist Activity and TNF-α Induction in J774.A1 Macrophage Cells by Different Medicinal Mushroom Products. International journal of medicinal mushrooms, 17(8), 713–722. https://doi.org/10.1615/intjmedmushrooms.v17.i8.20.
6. Sapozhnikova, Y., Byrdwell, W. C., Lobato, A., & Romig, B. (2014). Effects of uv-b radiation levels on concentrations of phytosterols, ergothioneine, and polyphenolic compounds in mushroom powders used as dietary supplements. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 62(14), 3034-3042. https://doi.org/10.1021/jf403852k.
7. Boundless. (n.d.). Fungi Cell Structure and Function. In General Biology. Retrieved from https://bio.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Introductory_and_General_Biology/Book%3A_General_Biology_(Boundless)/24%3A_Fungi/24.01%3A_Characteristics_of_Fungi/24.1B%3A_Fungi_Cell_Structure_and_Function.
8. Ifuku, S.; Nomura, R.; Morimoto, M.; Saimoto, H. Preparation of Chitin Nanofibers from Mushrooms. Materials 2011, 4, 1417-1425. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma4081417.
9. Wang, L., & Weller, C. L. (2006). Recent Advances in Extraction of Nutraceuticals from Plants. Trends in Food Science and Technology, 17, 300-312. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tifs.2005.12.004.
10. Rombaut, N., Fabiano Tixier, A.-S., Bily, A., & Chemat, F. (2014). Green Extraction Processes of Natural Products as Tools for Biorefinery Biofuels, Bioproducts & Biorefining, 8, 530-544. https://doi.org/10.1002/bbb.1486.
11. Klausen, S. J., Falck-Ytter, A. B., Strætkvern, K. O., & Martin, C. (2023). Evaluation of the Extraction of Bioactive Compounds and the Saccharification of Cellulose as a Route for the Valorization of Spent Mushroom Substrate. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 28(13), 5140. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28135140.
12. Poliwoda, A., Zielińska, K., Halama, M., & Wieczorek, P. (2014). Determination of Muscimol and Ibotenic Acid in Mushrooms of Amanitaceae by Capillary Electrophoresis. Electrophoresis, 35(18), 2593-2599. https://doi.org/10.1002/elps.201400104.
13. Hwang, A.Y., Yang, S., Kim, J., Lim, T., Cho, H., & Hwang, K.T. (2019). Effects of Non-Traditional Extraction Methods on Extracting Bioactive Compounds from Chaga Mushroom (Inonotus Obliquus) Compared with Hot Water Extraction. LWT.
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