Overview:
Known in Japan as the “King of Mushrooms”, Maitake has been investigated thoroughly for its potential health benefits (1) in Sloan-Kettering Medical Center of New York and the City of Hope Medical Center in California. Containing a significant amount of beta glucan and other complex polysaccharide, Maitake helps support normal intestinal function (2), manage healthy blood sugar level (3) and immune response (4).
Active Constituents:
Maitake is an excellent source of beta-D-glucan, niacin, pantothenic acid, and lectin, which are the key factors from this famous medicinal mushroom to support general health and protect normal cellular functions.(5)
Pharmacological and Clinical Research: Original Research on Maitake mushrooms
References:
1. Livingston et al., Evaluation of widely consumed botanicals as immunological adjuvants., Vaccine. 2008 Sep 2;26(37):4860-5.
2. Ito et al., Antitumor effects of a water-soluble extract from Maitake (Grifola frondosa) on human gastric cancer cell lines., Oncol Rep. 2009 Sep;22(3):615-20.
3. Chen et al., Submerged culture mycelium and broth of Grifola frondosa improve glycemic responses in diabetic rats., Am J Chin Med. 2008;36(2):265-85.
4. Saito et al., Potential antitumor activity of a low-molecular-weight protein fraction from Grifola frondosa through enhancement of cytokine production., J Med Food. 2010 Feb;13(1):20-30.
5. Konno et al., Induction of apoptosis in human prostatic cancer cells with beta-glucan (Maitake mushroom polysaccharide)., Mol Urol. 2000 Spring;4(1):7-13.
