Grifola frondosa

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Maitake

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Fungi
Phylum: Basidiomycota
Class: Agaricomycetes
Order: Polyporales
Family: Meripilaceae
Genus: Grifola
Species: G. frondosa
Binomial name
Grifola frondosa
(Dicks.) Gray
Template:MycomorphboxHow to create a mycomorphbox
Mycological characteristics for
Grifola frondosa
 
pores on hymenium
 
 

cap is offset or indistinct
 

hymenium is decurrent
 

lacks a stipe
 

spore print is white
 

ecology is parasitic
 

edibility: edible

Grifola frondosa is a polypore mushroom that grows in clusters at the base of trees, particularly oaks. The mushroom is commonly known among English speakers as Sheep’s Head, Ram’s Head and Hen of the Woods. In Japan and the United State's supplement market, it is called "Maitake," which means "dancing mushroom." G. frondosa should not be confused with Laetiporus sulphureus, another edible bracket fungus that is commonly called chicken of the woods or "sulphur shelf."

The fungus is native to the northeastern part of Japan and North America, and is prized in traditional Chinese and Japanese herbology as an adaptogen, an aid to balance out altered body systems to a normal level. Most Japanese people find its taste and texture enormously appealing, though the mushroom has been alleged to cause allergic reactions in rare cases.

Contents

[edit] Description

Like the sulphur shelf mushroom, G. frondosa is a perennial fungus that often grows in the same place for a number of years in succession. It occurs most prolifically in the northeastern regions of the United States, but has been found as far west as Idaho.

G. frondosa grows from an underground tuber-like structure, about the size of a potato. The fruiting body, occurring as large as 60 cm, is a cluster consisting of multiple grayish-brown caps which are often curled or spoon-shaped, with wavy margins and 2-7 cm broad. The undersurface of each cap bears approximately one to three pores per millimeter, with the tubes rarely deeper than 3 mm. The milky-white stipe (stalk) has a branchy structure and becomes tough as the mushroom matures.

In Japan, the Maitake can grow to more than 50 pounds (20 kilograms), earning this giant mushroom the title "King of Mushrooms." Maitake is one of the major culinary mushrooms used in Japan, the others being shiitake, shimeji and enoki. They are used in a wide variety of dishes, often being a key ingredient in nabe or cooked in foil with butter.

[edit] Use in traditional Oriental medicine

The underground tubers from which hen of the woods arises has been used in traditional Chinese and Japanese medicine to enhance the immune system. Researchers have also indicated that whole maitake has the ability to regulate blood pressure, glucose, insulin, and both serum and liver lipids, such as cholesterol, triglycerides, and phospholipids, and may also be useful for weight loss.

Maitake is rich in minerals (such as potassium, calcium, and magnesium), various vitamins (B2, D2 and Niacin), fibers and amino acids. The active constituent in maitake for enhancing the immune activity has been identified in the late 1980s to be the protein-bound polysaccharide compound, beta-glucan, an ingredient found especially in the family of polyporaceae.

[edit] Maitake Research

Cancer prevention is one of the purported uses of Maitake mushroom extract.[1] [2][3] Maitake is thought to exert its effects through its ability to activate various effector cells, such as macrophages, natural killer cells, T cells, interleukin-1 and superoxide anions, all of which have anti-cancer activity.

In 2009, a phase I/II human trial showed Maitake could stimulate the immune system of breast cancer patients.[4] Small experiments with human cancer patients revealed Maitake stimulated the patients' NK cells.[5][6] In vitro research has also shown Maitake can stimulate the activity of NK cells.[7]

Experiments on cells have shown Maitake can induce apoptosis[8][9][10][11] and inhibit metastasis [12]. Apoptosis was induced in prostate cancer cells, and researchers have speculated the mushroom might be beneficial for people with this condition.[13]

In vitro experiments have revealed Maitake can inhibit the growth of various types of cancer cells.[14][15][16] Small studies of human cancer patients revealed Maitake's in vitro anti-cancer activity may be relevant for people.[17][3]

An in vivo experiment showed that Maitake could stimulate the innate immune system and adaptive immune system of normal mice.[18]

Experiments have demonstrated Maitake can reduce blood sugar levels, and scientists speculate the mushroom may be beneficial for people with diabetes .[19][20][21][22][23][24]

[edit] See also

Medicinal mushrooms

[edit] References

  1. ^ ¨Masuda Y, Murata Y, Hayashi M, Nanba H. Inhibitory effect of MD-Fraction on tumor metastasis: involvement of NK cell activation and suppression of intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 expression in lung vascular endothelial cells. Biol Pharm Bull 2008 Jun;31(6):1104-8¨
  2. ^ ¨Kodama N, Komuta K, Nanba H. Can Maitake MD-fraction aid cancer patients? Altern Med Rev 2002;7:236-9.¨
  3. ^ a b Kodama N, Komuta K, Nanba H. (2002), "Can maitake MD-fraction aid cancer patients?", Altern Med Rev. 7 (3): 236-9, PMID 12126464 
  4. ^ Deng G, Lin H, Seidman A, Fornier M, (Mar 2009), "A phase I/II trial of a polysaccharide extract from Grifola frondosa (Maitake mushroom) in breast cancer patients: immunological effects.", J Cancer Res Clin Oncol., PMID 19253021 
  5. ^ Kodama N, Komuta K, Nanba H., "Effect of Maitake (Grifola frondosa) D-Fraction on the activation of NK cells in cancer patients.", J Med Food. (Japan) 6 (4): 371-7, PMID 14977447 
  6. ^ Kodama N, Komuta K, Sakai N, Nanba H. (2002), "Effects of D-Fraction, a polysaccharide from Grifola frondosa on tumor growth involve activation of NK cells.", Biol Pharm Bull. 25 (12): 1647-50, PMID 12499658 
  7. ^ Kodama N, Asakawa A, Inui A, Masuda Y, Nanba H (2005), "Enhancement of cytotoxicity of NK cells by D-Fraction, a polysaccharide from Grifola frondosa.", Oncol Rep. 13 (3): 497-502, PMID 15706424 
  8. ^ Lin JT, Liu WH, "o-Orsellinaldehyde from the submerged culture of the edible mushroom Grifola frondosa exhibits selective cytotoxic effect against Hep 3B cells through apoptosis.", J Agric Food Chem. 4 (54): 7564-9, PMID 17002422 
  9. ^ Lee JS, Park BC, Ko YJ, (2008), "Grifola frondosa (maitake mushroom) water extract inhibits vascular endothelial growth factor-induced angiogenesis through inhibition of reactive oxygen species and extracellular signal-regulated kinase phosphorylation.", J Med Food. 11 (4): 643-51, PMID 19053855 
  10. ^ Cui, Li, Xu (April 2007), "Induction of apoptosis in SGC-7901 cells by polysaccharide-peptide GFPS1b from the cultured mycelia of Grifola frondosa GF9801.", Toxicol In Vitro. 21 (3): 417-27, PMID 17150327 
  11. ^ Gu YH, Belury MA. (Mar 2005), "Selective induction of apoptosis in murine skin carcinoma cells (CH72) by an ethanol extract of Lentinula edodes.", Cancer Lett. 220 (1): 21-8, PMID 15737684 
  12. ^ Masuda Y, Murata Y, Hayashi M, Nanba H., "Inhibitory effect of MD-Fraction on tumor metastasis: involvement of NK cell activation and suppression of intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 expression in lung vascular endothelial cells.", Biol Pharm Bull. 31 (6): 1104-8, PMID 18520039 
  13. ^ Fullerton SA, Samadi AA (2000), "Induction of apoptosis in human prostatic cancer cells with beta-glucan (Maitake mushroom polysaccharide).", Mol Urol. 4 (1): 7-13, PMID 10851301 
  14. ^ Konno S. (2004), "Potential growth inhibitory effect of maitake D-fraction on canine cancer cells.", Vet Ther. 5 (4): 263-71, PMID 15719326 
  15. ^ Konno S. (Mar 2007), "Effect of various natural products on growth of bladder cancer cells: two promising mushroom extracts.", Altern Med Rev. 12 (1): 63-8, PMID 17397268 
  16. ^ Nanba H. (1995), "Activity of maitake D-fraction to inhibit carcinogenesis and metastasis.", Ann N Y Acad Sci. 768: 243-5, PMID 8526356 
  17. ^ Nanba H, Kubo K. (1997), "Effect of Maitake D-fraction on cancer prevention.", Ann N Y Acad Sci. 833: 204-7, PMID 9616756 
  18. ^ Kodama N, Murata Y, Nanba H. (2004), "Administration of a polysaccharide from Grifola frondosa stimulates immune function of normal mice.", J Med Food. 7 (2): 141-5, PMID 15298759 
  19. ^ Konno S, Tortorelis DG, Fullerton SA, Samadi AA, Hettiarachchi J, Tazaki H. (Dec 2001), "A possible hypoglycaemic effect of maitake mushroom on Type 2 diabetic patients.", Diabet Med. 18 (12): 1010, PMID 11903406 
  20. ^ Hong L, Xun M, Wutong W. (Apr 2007), "Anti-diabetic effect of an alpha-glucan from fruit body of maitake (Grifola frondosa) on KK-Ay mice.", J Pharm Pharmacol 59 (4): 575-82, PMID 17430642 
  21. ^ Kubo K, Aoki H, Nanba H. (Aug 1994), "Anti-diabetic activity present in the fruit body of Grifola frondosa (Maitake). I.", Biol Pharm Bull. 17 (8): 1106-10, PMID 7820117 
  22. ^ Lo HC, Hsu TH, Chen CY. (2008), "Submerged culture mycelium and broth of Grifola frondosa improve glycemic responses in diabetic rats.", Am J Chin Med. 36 (2): 265-85, PMID 18457360 
  23. ^ Manohar V, Talpur NA, Echard BW, Lieberman S, Preuss HG. (Jan 2002), "Effects of a water-soluble extract of maitake mushroom on circulating glucose/insulin concentrations in KK mice.", Diabetes Obes Metab. 4 (1): 43-8, PMID 11874441 
  24. ^ Horio H, Ohtsuru M. (Feb 2001), "Maitake (Grifola frondosa) improve glucose tolerance of experimental diabetic rats.", J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo). 47 (1): 57-63, PMID 11349892 
  1. ¨Masuda Y, Murata Y, Hayashi M, Nanba H. Inhibitory effect of MD-Fraction on tumor metastasis: involvement of NK cell activation and suppression of intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 expression in lung vascular endothelial cells. Biol Pharm Bull 2008 Jun;31(6):1104-8¨
  2. ¨Kodama N, Komuta K, Nanba H. Can Maitake MD-fraction aid cancer patients? Altern Med Rev 2002;7:236-9.¨

[edit] Gallery

Young Hen of the Woods Mushroom at the base of an old oak tree.

Young Hen of the Woods.

Hen of the Woods Mushroom at the base of an old oak tree.
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