However, unlike Reishi that grows mainly on stubs and dead wood, chaga grows only on living trees. This affects the metabolism of these fungi and makes them differ in the way the two species of mushrooms accumulate biologically active substances.

The composition of triterpenoid compounds extracted from Reishi and Chaga is significantly different.

Reishi triterpenes affect only the immune system, while chaga triterpenes can cause both apoptosis of cancer cells and affect the immune system.

The antioxidant value of chaga mushroom extract describedin ORAC unitsis: 148 300 μ mol TE/100g. While the reishi mushroom is 9244.

Chaga Mycology and Nutraceuticals

Mycology is the branch of biology, the study of fungi. Science and technologies have significantly improved the methods for extracting useful substances from chaga. Chaga takes a special place in mycology. The mushroom is one of the most useful medical mushrooms. It is the first nutraceutical - a useful tea product that supports health, and has therapeutic capacity to prevent from diseases. The American mycologist Paul E. Stamets distinguishes Chaga among other medical mushrooms.