Ingredients, Extracts & Quality

Quality terms on adaptogen labels are easy to misread. This page explains them and says what each can and cannot tell you. Quality tests show what is in a product. They do not prove that it works, and they do not make it harmless. Mushroom-specific terms (fruiting body, mycelium, beta-glucans) are explained in Mushroom ingredients.

Plant species and identification

The scientific name on a label (for example Withania somnifera, Panax ginseng, Rhodiola rosea) is the best check that you are getting the plant you expect. Common names are not reliable: "Siberian ginseng" is not a Panax ginseng, and American and Asian ginseng are different species. See the directory.

Substitution happens. NIH notes that many "licorice" products sold in the United States do not contain actual licorice, and anise oil is often used instead. [1] A review of testing methods for popular botanical products (elderberry, turmeric and functional mushrooms) found that adulteration and inaccurate labeling are possible. [2]

Roots, leaves, berries and other plant parts

Different plant parts contain different compounds. Ashwagandha supplements typically contain root, leaf, or root and leaf extracts. [3] Asian ginseng is used mostly as the root, and red and white ginseng are two preparations of it. [4] A label should say which part is used. Results from a root extract do not apply automatically to a leaf extract.

Whole-herb powders vs extracts

A powder is the dried plant ground up. An extract is made by pulling some compounds out and concentrating them, so it is usually stronger by weight. Studies often use extracts, so check which form the research used. See Supplements.

Standardization and marker compounds

"Standardized to" a percentage means a lab measured a marker compound. For ashwagandha the markers are called withanolides. [3] For ginseng they are ginsenosides, described as the substances thought to be most important. [4] A percentage on a label is a measurement. It does not show that a product helps with stress, energy or sleep, and different products can be measured in different ways.

Extract ratios

A ratio such as 10:1 describes how much starting plant material was used to make a unit of extract. It does not tell you how much of any particular compound is inside.

Reading supplement labels

Look for: the scientific name; the part of the plant; the amount per serving and the serving size; whether it is a powder or an extract, and the extraction method; any marker percentage and what it measures; other ingredients and allergens; and whether the specific batch was tested. See the checklist on the Mushroom supplements page.

Proprietary blends

A "proprietary blend" lists one total weight for several ingredients, so you cannot see how much of each you are getting. This makes it hard to compare with a study or with another product, and hard to tell your pharmacist what you take.

Independent testing and certificates of analysis

A certificate of analysis (COA) is a lab report for a batch. Look at what was tested: identity (is it the right plant?), the marker compound, and contaminants. See Quality testing and certificates for what testing can and cannot show. Testing does not prove clinical effectiveness.

Contamination, substitution and adulteration

Studies of botanical supplements have found problems, and the FDA can act against adulterated or misbranded supplements only after they are on the market. [2][5] Choose products that name the species, say which part is used, and publish batch testing, and tell a pharmacist or clinician what you take.