Nammex has developed a precise fingerprinting method utilizing High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) to set a new standard in mushroom species identification and product authentication. By publishing it’s previously internal methods publically, it hopes to enhance transparency about product quality in the industry.

This technique works by creating chemical “fingerprints” for different mushroom species using advanced separation and visualization methods. The process involves:

1. Sample Preparation: Extracts are dissolved in methanol and processed for analysis.
2. Chromatography: Samples are applied to a plate and developed with a solvent system, separating compounds based on chemical properties.
3. Visualization: Plates are treated with reagents and exposed to UV light, revealing unique chemical patterns.
4. Comparison: Patterns are matched against reference samples for accurate species identification and to detect inconsistencies.

You can find the official publication done in collaboration with CAMAG Scientific at this link here. You can also view the webinar where this research was presented here.

An example of chromatography results from the 2017 study Evaluation on quality consistency of Ganoderma lucidum dietary supplements collected in the United States. Each of these bands represents specific components in the sample, creating a “finger print” of its exact contents.

Nammex’s HPTLC method is particularly effective and can be utilized to distinguish authentic supplements from those that have been adulterated or contain filler. For example, it is capable of showing the absence of key compounds like triterpenoids usually found in Chaga or Reishi mushrooms, which are not present in mycelium products.

The publication of these methods is a milestone for NAMMEX which has been working hard to advance public knowledge about medicinal mushrooms. Their 2015 publication, “Redefining Medicinal Mushrooms“, was fundamental to raising public and industry awareness regarding the widespread use of mycelium-on-grain products misrepresented as mushroom extracts.