Success Stories: NAMMEX
In 2013, NAMMEX (North American Medicinal Mushroom Extracts) reached out to Megazyme as they developed a “scientific screening programme for active compounds” in medicinal mushrooms.
Medicinal mushroom derivatives are among the most exciting ingredients in food supplements and nutraceuticals, with extensive resources going into the study of compounds sourced from medicinal mushrooms in mainstream healthcare as well. However, in 2013, the industry lacked a systematic means of measuring the quality of mushroom extracts.
NAMMEX set about identifying the key parameters that served as markers of medicinal mushroom quality, then developing a programme of analytical tests that could be used across the sector to measure those parameters. The team at Megazyme was able to assist NAMMEX in developing methods and procedures that could be used with any type of mushroom sample including those grown on different media, generating results that allowed meaningful comparisons to be made between the extracts.
As well as advising on the type of tests to be used, Megazyme also participated in interlaboratory validation of results for measurement of β-glucan and starch.
“In our category of medicinal mushrooms for the supplement industry, we have had literally no standards set for the last 40 years. When I discovered the Megazyme β-(1,3)(1,6)-glucan test in 2013 it literally changed the industry.
The work that we’ve done with the Megazyme test has been just amazing. It has helped us so much and it has helped bring the category up to a much higher standard. Dr McCleary was very, very helpful through my many conversations with him.
You have been an inspiration and your products have been so very helpful to us in my industry.”
- Jeff Chilton, President of NAMMEX
NAMMEX’s prescribed screening programme for medicinal mushroom products employs Megazyme’s β-glucan Assay Kit (Yeast & Mushroom) and the Total Starch Assay Kit.
The NAMMEX protocol was presented to the International Society for Mushroom Science at its 2016 Congress and is described in the company’s white paper, ‘Redefining Medicinal Mushrooms’.
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