Nammex will give two scientific presentations at the International Congress on Science of Botanicals (ICSB 2026), April 20-23, in Oxford, Mississippi, addressing a gap in authenticated fungal reference materials to support quality, safety, and regulatory compliance in functional mushrooms. Accurate characterization is needed to conduct clinical studies and formulate products based upon said research, the company reported.

Nammex researchers will address a critical gap long recognized by organizations like AOAC International and analytical labs across the globe: a lack of species-specific, validated reference materials for fungi, particularly for commercially important species like lion’s mane (Hericium erinaceus).

Without authenticated reference materials, labs face challenges in verifying species identity, detecting adulteration or substitution, validating analytical methods, and establishing harmonized standards.

Both ICSB presentations will emphasize that authenticated reference materials are foundational to solving these challenges.

In the poster presentation, “Reference Material Development for Hericium erinaceus and Other Mushrooms,” Kevin Spelman, PhD, will present work from Nammex’s authentication framework, which combines:

• Morphological and macroscopic voucher verification
• DNA sequencing
• HPTLC and HPLC chemical fingerprinting
• Third-party NMR validation

These methods collectively establish robust, reproducible reference materials for lion’s mane and other fungi, designed to support method validation and standards development efforts, including ongoing collaboration with AOAC International. Some specimens from Nammex’s Psilocybe research program are included in the poster.

In the talk, “Authenticated Hericium erinaceus Mushroom and Selected Mycelia Reference Materials for General Industry Use,” presented by Steven Dentali, PhD, there will be a focus on practical implementation and industry application, demonstrating how authenticated reference materials enable:

• Routine laboratory screening (HPTLC methods)
• Detection of adulterants
• Alignment across testing laboratories
• Advancement of standard method performance requirements (SMPRs)

The work highlights Nammex’s role in supporting AOAC’s botanical identity and dietary supplements integrity program and broader standardization initiatives.

The presentations come at a time when standard-setting organizations and industry stakeholders are calling for improved botanical and fungal authentication tools. Nammex’s reference material program addresses the need to develop publicly-available, well-characterized reference materials; species-specific analytical methods; and cross-laboratory validation frameworks.

Nammex reports that its approach reflects a broader shift toward multi-modal authentication as the gold standard for natural products.

“These presentations reinforce a simple but urgent point,” said Skye Chilton, Nammex CEO. “Without authenticated reference materials, there can be no reference standards. And without standards, the integrity of the category remains at risk.”

Authenticated reference materials for Hericium erinaceus and other fungi are available to qualified labs and organizations upon request, Nammex noted.