Maitake

Generic name: Grifola Frondosa (Dickson Ex Fr.) S. F. Gray.
Brand names: Dancing Mushroom, Hen Of The Woods, Huishu Hua, King Of Mushrooms, Maitake, Monkey's Bench, Ram's Head, Sheep's Head, Shelf Fungus

Usage of Maitake

Antiviral activity

In vitro data

In an in vitro study, the D-fraction of maitake alone exhibited inhibitory activity on hepatitis B virus, and the combination of D-fraction and interferon alpha-2b synergistically inhibited hepatitis B virus replication.Gu 2006

Clinical data

A trial of poor methodology evaluated effects of maitake on the health status of 35 HIV-positive patients (eg, CD4+ count, viral load, symptoms of HIV infection, secondary disease, sense of well-being). Following administration of maitake powder and MD-fraction extract (6 g of the whole powder or 20 mg of a purified extract with 4 g of whole maitake powder daily) over 12 months, 85% of patients reported an increased sense of well-being with regard to various symptoms and secondary diseases caused by HIV. The effects of maitake on CD4+ count and viral load were minimal.Nanba 2000

Cancer/Immune-stimulant effects

Animal data

In rodent models and in vitro studies, maitake extract has been studied for potential protective effects against cancers; synergism with chemotherapy has been demonstrated. Observed activities include activation of macrophages; enhanced cytokine, natural killer, and cytotoxic-T cell production; antigen-specific antibody response; and other immunostimulant activity.Guggenheim 2014, He 2017, Konno 2009, Mayell 2001, Rossi 2018 Both the D-fraction and other polysaccharides have been reviewed.Guggenheim 2014, He 2017 However, a precise molecular mechanism of action remains unclear, and isolated beta-glucans appear to have structural variation regarding for example the degree of branching and polymer length.He 2017, Rossi 2018 An alpha-glucan from maitake improves immunologic response to a dendritic cell tumor vaccination.Masuda 2019

Clinical data

Increased immunological responses were associated with maitake extract administration in a study of postmenopausal breast cancer patients who were disease free at the time of the study.Deng 2009, Guggenheim 2014 In a small study of patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (N=21), an oral maitake extract at a doSage of 3 mg/kg twice daily for 12 weeks showed beneficial immunomodulatory potential.Wesa 2015

Epidemiological and observational studies suggest improvements in cancer treatment–related symptoms and pain.Mayell 2001, Nanba 1996, Rossi 2018 Further quality clinical studies are required to make recommendations.

Cardiovascular risk factors

Animal data

In limited studies in rodents, maitake demonstrated positive effects on hypertension,Adachi 1988, Kabir 1989, Kabir 1987 obesity,Aoki 2018, Ohtsuru 1992 and dyslipidemia.Aoki 2018, Ding 2016, Kabir 1989, Kubo 1997, Kubo 1996, Pan 2018

Clinical data

An observational study reported weight loss among 30 overweight patients after administration of maitake tablets equal to 200 g of fresh maitake daily for 2 months, with no other change to patients' diets.Mayell 2001, Yokota 1992

CNS

Animal data

An in vitro experiment demonstrated that lysophosphatidylethanolamine, a chemical component of maitake, evoked a cascade mechanism that resulted in the induction of neuronal differentiation and the halting of neuronal apoptosis.Nishina 2006, Phan 2015 Beneficial findings were reported in a study in aged rats administered maitake polysaccharides, with improvements in memory tests and histological and antioxidant parameters observed.Chen 2017

In a study of mice fed food supplemented with G. frondosa, antidepressant activity was demonstrated, as measured using tail suspension, forced swim, and open field tests.Bao 2017

Diabetes

Animal data

Studies in rodents have been reviewed, most of which use the glycoprotein SX-fraction, which has exhibited hypoglycemic activity in diabetic mice.He 2017 Maitake may decrease blood glucose levels by affecting insulin resistance and sensitivity, as well as by acting on insulin transduction signalling.He 2017, Mayell 2001 Lipid-soluble extracts derived from G. frondosa have also been reported to improve glucose tolerance in mice,Aoki 2018 as has a novel heteropolysaccharide from G. frondosa.Chen 2018

Clinical data

Limited clinical studies, some with methodological limitations, report positive findings (ie, hypoglycemic activity).He 2017

Mercury clearance

Animal data

Both maitake fruiting bodies and a polysaccharide peptide component increased mercury clearance rates in a rat model.Zhang 2018

Ovulation

Clinical data

A randomized, open-label comparator trial (N=57) investigated the ability of a maitake extract formulation (standardized to at least 18% SX-fraction) as monotherapy and in combination with clomiphene citrate to induce ovulation in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Nonresponders in either monotherapy group (maitake extract monotherapy or clomiphene citrate monotherapy) were subsequently switched to combination therapy. Although ovulation cycle rates were higher with clomiphene monotherapy than maitake extract monotherapy (69.9% vs 41.7%, respectively), 87% of monotherapy nonresponders ovulated once switched to the combination therapy.Chen 2010

Maitake side effects

Information is limited.

Potential adverse Reactions can result from mistaken mushroom identity; use caution. (For more information, see the Mushroom Poisoning Decision Chart monograph.)

Before taking Maitake

Information regarding safety and efficacy during pregnancy and lactation is lacking.

How to use Maitake

Clinical studies are lacking to provide dosing guidance. Commercial preparations of the D- and MD-fractions typically provide 3 to 25 mg of standardized extract along with 75 to 250 mg of the whole powder per capsule. Capsules of the whole powder are generally supplied in 100 to 500 mg capsules; standardized liquid extracts contain 1 mg of D-fraction per drop. Manufacturer-recommended disease-preventive daily doses range from 12 to 25 mg of the extract and up to 2,500 mg of the whole powder.Mayell 2001

One clinical study evaluating effects of maitake in HIV-positive patients used daily doses of 6 g of the whole powder or 20 mg of a purified extract with 4 g of whole maitake powder for 12 months.Nanba 2000 An oral maitake extract at a dosage of 3 mg/kg twice daily for 12 weeks has been used to evaluate immunological response in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes.Wesa 2015

Warnings

In vitro studies indicate maitake beta-glucan had a suppressive, but not cytotoxic, effect on hematopoiesis at a dose of 200 mcg/mL, while the maitake beta-glucan preparation Grifron-D was cytotoxic to human prostate cells at doses of 480 mcg/mL or greater.Lin 2007

What other drugs will affect Maitake

Agents with blood glucose lowering effects: Maitake may enhance the hypoglycemic effect of agents with blood glucose lowering effects. Monitor therapy.(Konno 2001)

Warfarin: Maitake may increase the serum concentration of warfarin. Monitor therapy.(Hanselin 2010)

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