PlainVitamins

Brain

by Host Defense MycoBotanicals · capsule · 60 vegetarian capsules

  • Off the market since March 2023 (NIH)
  • UPC 6 33422 03862 9
  • DSLD label 278559
  • Serving 2 capsules
  • 30 servings

Brain by Host Defense MycoBotanicals lists 6 ingredients, 6 with an amount per serving of 2 capsules, such as 300 mg of Lion's mane, 250 mg of bacopa (bacopa monnieri) whole plant extract, 150 mg of reishi and 130 mg of gotu kola (centella asiatica) aerial parts extract. Its current label entered the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database on December 13, 2022.

What is in Brain?

Each row as the label prints it, per serving of 2 capsules. The capsule beside an amount places it among every product in the NIH database that lists the same ingredient: the bar is the middle half of their amounts, the line in it the median, the whiskers the 10th and 90th percentiles; the green tick is the FDA Daily Value and the red dashed tick the adult upper limit (IOM).

Brain: Supplement Facts rows against the market (DSLD label 278559, January 2026 release)
IngredientAmount% DVAmong products listing it
Lion's ManeLion's Mane PlantPart: mycelium Genus: Hericium Species: erinaceus Note: certified organic300 mgHericium mushroom in Brain against 373 products300 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 200 mg to 1,000 mg, the median 500 mg.300 mg

56% of 373 products listing hericium mushroom give more (median 500 mg).

Bacopa (Bacopa monnieri) whole plant extractBacopa (Bacopa monnieri) whole plant extract PlantPart: whole plant Genus: Bacopa Species: monnieri Note: certified organic250 mgBacopa in Brain against 481 products250 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 100 mg to 300 mg, the median 200 mg.250 mg

Higher than 58% of 481 products listing bacopa (median 200 mg).

ReishiReishi PlantPart: mycelium Genus: Ganoderma Species: lucidum SubSpecies: s.l. Note: certified organic150 mgReishi mushroom in Brain against 500 products150 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 50 mg to 500 mg, the median 180 mg.150 mg

53% of 500 products listing reishi mushroom give more (median 180 mg).

Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica) aerial parts extractGotu Kola (Centella asiatica) aerial parts extract PlantPart: aerial parts Genus: Centella Species: asiatica Note: certified organic130 mgGotu Kola in Brain against 393 products130 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 50 mg to 225 mg, the median 100 mg.130 mg

Higher than 62% of 393 products listing gotu kola (median 100 mg).

Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) leaf extractGinkgo (Ginkgo biloba) leaf extract PlantPart: leaf Genus: Ginkgo Species: biloba Note: certified organic120 mgGinkgo in Brain against 1,339 products120 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 30 mg to 120 mg, the median 60 mg.120 mg

Higher than 65% of 1,339 products listing ginkgo (median 60 mg).

CordycepsCordyceps PlantPart: mycelium Genus: Cordyceps Species: militaris Note: certified organic50 mgCordyceps in Brain against 450 products50 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 100 mg to 600 mg, the median 250 mg.50 mg

82% of 450 products listing cordyceps give more (median 250 mg).

Source: NIH ODS Dietary Supplement Label Database, label 278559 (entered December 13, 2022), version 9.4.0. See the label on DSLD or its label image (PDF). Amounts are what the maker printed; DSLD does not test products. Daily Values: the FDA's Daily Value page.

Is that a lot?

The rows in the top or bottom tenth of the products that list the same ingredient, and any above the adult upper limit at the most servings a day the directions give:

  • 82% of the 450 products that print an amount of cordyceps list more than its 50 mg of cordyceps (median 250 mg).

The NIH database records one serving a day from the label's directions; its % Daily Values are for adults and children 4 or more years of age. The directions as printed are further down this page.

The Tolerable Upper Intake Level is the most of a nutrient per day, from food, water and supplements together, that is likely to pose no risk for almost all adults (Institute of Medicine, 2011). It does not apply under medical supervision. This page compares labels; it is not medical advice.

Sources: amounts from the DSLD label; Daily Values from 21 CFR 101.9(c)(8)(iv); adult upper limits from the Institute of Medicine's DRI summary tables (2011). How positions are computed.

Which products have the closest formulas?

The products whose ingredient lists overlap most with Brain's, rare ingredients counting for more.

Source: ingredient lists of every product's current label in DSLD (version 9.4.0); similarity weights each shared ingredient by how rare it is.

What does the label say about taking it?

Quoted from the label as DSLD transcribed it: the maker's words, including any claim about what the product does, which the FDA has not evaluated and PlainVitamins does not endorse.

Directions
Directions for use: As a dietary supplement, take 2 capsules once per day. Can be taken with food or on an empty stomach or as recommended by your healthcare advisor.
Warnings
Keep out of reach of children.
If you have liver disease, a medical condition or take pharmaceutical drugs please consult with your doctor before using this product. May interact with blood-thinning, blood pressure or diabetes medications.
Allergens and what it does not contain
Non GMO Gluten free

Source: label statements in DSLD label 278559.

What else is on the label?

Other ingredients: dried myceliated Brown Rice, Pullulan, Maltodextrin.

Seals and symbols as the label prints them (the maker's; a certifier's own list confirms a seal): Producer Certified Organic Washington State Dept. of Agriculture; Non GMO Project Verified nongmoproject.org.

How many labels does Brain have?

4 labels are on file under this name since February 25, 2015: other sizes, label designs and reformulations. The current one leads this page.

  1. Label 278559 (current) Entered December 13, 2022 · off the market March 28, 2023 · 60 vegetarian capsules · UPC 6 33422 03862 9
  2. Label 200092 Entered February 25, 2019 · off the market February 14, 2022 · 60 vegetarian capsules · UPC 6 33422 03862 9
  3. Label 62301 Entered June 24, 2016 · off the market June 4, 2018 · 60 vegetarian capsules · UPC 6 33422 03862 9
  4. Label 42496 Entered February 25, 2015 · off the market June 11, 2015 · 60 vegetarian capsules · UPC 6 33422 03862 9

DSLD also links this label to: Brain (image difference, same product), Brain (image difference, same product).

Source: DSLD label entry and market events, version 9.4.0 (labels entered through September 25, 2025).

Who makes it?

The label names Fungi Perfecti, LLC (distributor), Olympia, WA. All Host Defense MycoBotanicals products.

Where next?