Nearly every Reishi brand markets “immune support,” “better sleep,” and “stress reduction”—but almost none tell you the actual medicinal compounds responsible for these effects or their concentrations in the product you’re buying.
This page breaks down what you need to know about triterpenes, polysaccharides, and adenosine—and which brands actually test for them.
The Compounds That Actually Matter
Triterpenes – The Stress & Anti-Inflammatory Compounds
Reishi contains over 400 different triterpenes, with ganoderic acids being the most studied. These are what give Reishi its adaptogenic and anti-inflammatory properties. Triterpenes are alcohol-soluble, not water-soluble.
What brands don’t tell you: If a product is water-extracted only, it contains minimal triterpenes. Dual extraction or alcohol extraction is required. Yet many “water-extracted” products still claim adaptogenic benefits without disclosing triterpene levels.
Industry standard for quality: 2-5% triterpene content. How many brands disclose this? Almost none.
Polysaccharides – The Immune Compounds
Beta-glucans and other polysaccharides are water-soluble compounds that support immune function. But here’s the catch: The standard beta-glucan test (Megazyme assay) was designed for testing starches in oats, not liquid mushroom extracts. It’s not AOAC-accredited for this application.
The industry trick: Brands tout “high beta-glucan” percentages tested with unreliable methods. Some include grain substrate starches in their measurements, artificially inflating numbers.
What you need instead: Verification that you’re getting actual mushroom polysaccharides, not grain starches. This requires testing for ergothioneine or other mushroom-specific markers—which almost no brand does publicly.
Adenosine – The Sleep Compound
Adenosine builds up in your brain throughout the day, creating “sleep pressure.” Caffeine works by blocking adenosine receptors—Reishi works by supporting adenosine levels.
Critical fact: Adenosine is heat-sensitive and degrades during extraction if not processed carefully. Reishi’s adenosine content varies wildly based on extraction temperature and method.
How many brands test and disclose adenosine content? We found only one (Ahara). Everyone else markets “sleep support” without proving the active compound is present.
Brand-by-Brand Transparency Analysis
The bottom line: You’re making educated guesses even with the “best” brands. We rank brands by transparency relative to industry norms—but industry norms are terrible. Choose the least-bad option for your priorities.