Maitake Mushroom: Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions, Dosing and Reviews

Overview

Maitake (Grifola frondose) is a type of mushroom. It forms large clumps on tree stumps and tree roots. It was first used in Asian traditional medicine.

Maitake mushroom grows in forests in Asia, Europe, and eastern North America. It contains chemicals that might help fight tumors, stimulate the immune system, and lower blood sugar levels.

People use maitake mushroom for enlarged ovaries with cysts, diabetes, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. There is also no good evidence to support using maitake mushroom for COVID-19.

Uses & Effectiveness

We currently have no information for Maitake Mushroom overview.

Side Effects

When taken by mouth: Maitake mushroom is possibly safe for most people. But there isn't much information about potential side effects. Some people have reported nausea after taking maitake mushroom.

Special Precautions and Warnings

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if maitake mushroom is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Surgery: Maitake mushroom might affect blood sugar levels, making blood sugar control difficult during and after surgery. Stop using maitake mushroom at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.

Interactions

Moderate Interaction

Be cautious with this combination

Medications for high blood pressure (Antihypertensive drugs) interacts with Maitake Mushroom
Maitake mushroom might lower blood pressure. Taking maitake mushroom along with medications that lower blood pressure might cause blood pressure to go too low. Monitor your blood pressure closely.
Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs) interacts with Maitake Mushroom
Maitake mushroom might lower blood sugar levels. Taking maitake mushroom along with diabetes medications might cause blood sugar to drop too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely.
Warfarin (Coumadin) interacts with Maitake Mushroom
Maitake mushroom might increase the blood thinning effects of warfarin and potentially increase the chance of bleeding. Your healthcare provider may need to monitor you more often if you take maitake mushroom along with warfarin. The dose of your warfarin medication may need to be changed.

Dosing

An extract of maitake mushroom has most often been used by adults in a dose of 1-1.5 grams by mouth daily for up to 2 years. There isn't enough reliable information to know what an appropriate dose of maitake mushroom in other forms might be. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult a healthcare professional before using.

View References

REFERENCES:

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Cui, F. J., Li, Y., Xu, Y. Y., Liu, Z. Q., Huang, D. M., Zhang, Z. C., and Tao, W. Y. Induction of apoptosis in SGC-7901 cells by polysaccharide-peptide GFPS1b from the cultured mycelia of Grifola frondosa GF9801. Toxicol In Vitro 2007;21(3):417-427.

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Hong, L., Xun, M., and Wutong, W. Anti-diabetic effect of an alpha-glucan from fruit body of maitake (Grifola frondosa) on KK-Ay mice. J Pharm Pharmacol 2007;59(4):575-582.

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Kurashige, S., Akuzawa, Y., and Endo, F. Effects of Lentinus edodes, Grifola frondosa and Pleurotus ostreatus administration on cancer outbreak, and activities of macrophages and lymphocytes in mice treated with a carcinogen, N-butyl-N- butanolnitrosoamine. Immunopharmacol.Immunotoxicol. 1997;19(2):175-183.

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Han C, Cui B. Pharmacological and pharmacokinetic studies with agaricoglycerides, extracted from Grifola frondosa, in animal models of pain and inflammation. Inflammation 2012;35(4):1269-75.

Wesa KM, Cunningham-Rundles S, Klimek VM, et al. Maitake mushroom extract in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS): a phase II study. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2015;64(2):237-47.

Aoki H, Hanayama M, Mori K, Sato R. Grifola frondosa (Maitake) extract activates PPARd and improves glucose intolerance in high-fat diet-induced obese mice. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2018;82(9):1550-1559.

Pan YY, Zeng F, Guo WL, et al. Effect of Grifola frondosa 95% ethanol extract on lipid metabolism and gut microbiota composition in high-fat diet-fed rats. Food Funct. 2018;9(12):6268-6278.

Hu Q, Xie B. Effect of Maitake D-fraction in advanced laryngeal and pharyngeal cancers during concurrent chemoradiotherapy: A randomized clinical trial. Acta Biochim Pol 2022;69(3):625-632.

Aguilera-Braico DM, Balogh GA. CD3? immune restorative ability induced by Maitake Pro4x in immunosupressed BALBc mice. BMC Res Notes 2022;15(1):307.

CONDITIONS OF USE AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you.

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Maitake Mushroom - Uses, Side Effects, and More