What is Triterpenes?
Triterpenes are a large class of naturally occurring compounds found in plants and mushrooms, and in reishi they are the bitter constituents most closely studied for the mushroom's effects. Their presence is often used as a marker of a reishi extract's quality.
Triterpenes are frequently discussed alongside beta-glucans, the other major group in medicinal mushrooms, but the two are chemically different and are drawn out by different methods. Triterpenes are fat-soluble and need alcohol to extract, whereas beta-glucans are water-soluble, which is why a dual extraction is used to capture both. Because they can be measured, triterpenes are a common target when a reishi product is sold on potency.
Triterpenes appeal to people choosing a reishi product who want more than raw mushroom powder. The catch is that triterpenes are the reason reishi tastes so bitter, and a water-only extract or a mycelium-on-grain product may contain very little of them, so the label word reishi does not guarantee a meaningful triterpene content.
Our Reishi Relax uses an extract chosen to carry the mushroom's studied compounds.
Frequently asked questions
How is it different from beta-glucans?
Beta-glucans are water-soluble compounds from the mushroom's cell walls, while triterpenes are fat-soluble and give reishi its bitterness. They are separate constituents and need different extraction methods to capture.
Who uses it, or when is it the right choice?
Triterpene content is worth looking at for anyone selecting a reishi extract on quality rather than price. It is the right marker when you want evidence the extract carries reishi's characteristic compounds.
When is it the WRONG choice?
It is a poor thing to focus on if you are taking a mushroom prized mainly for beta-glucans, where triterpenes are not the point. A cheap powder that lists reishi without any extract detail is unlikely to offer a meaningful amount.