Suggested dosing of Grifola frondosa (maitake)
Medicinal mushroom extract (liquid, tablet, capsule) 3-7.0 g/d PO
Maitake mushrooms: may be consumed as food or made into tea
Suggested uses of Grifola frondosa (maitake)
Treatment or prevention of cancer
Boosts human immune system & limits or reverses tumor growth
Enhances benefits of chemo & lessens side effects of hair loss, pain, & nausea
Clinical trials currently undergoing study:
to learn if beta glucan can increase effectiveness of rituximab by making cancer cells more sensitive to it
of young patients with relapsed or progressive lymphoma, leukemia, or similar d/o
with other drugs to learn if they increase effectiveness of another monoclonal antibody
for breast cancer treatment; neuroblastoma patients that have not responded to treatment
combining different types of biological treatment
Grifola frondosa (maitake) adverse (side) effects
None reported
Warnings
Cautions
Commercial preparations may vary in strength, check Mfr's labeL
Pregnancy and lactation
Pregnancy category: check with physician
Lactation: check with physician
Pregnancy categories
A: Generally acceptable. Controlled studies in pregnant women show no evidence of fetal risk.
B: May be acceptable. Either animal studies show no risk but human studies not available or animal studies showed minor risks and human studies done and showed no risk.
C: Use with caution if benefits outweigh risks. Animal studies show risk and human studies not available or neither animal nor human studies done.
D: Use in LIFE-THREATENING emergencies when no safer drug available. Positive evidence of human fetal risk.
X: Do not use in pregnancy. Risks involved outweigh potential benefits. Safer alternatives exist.
NA: Information not available.
Pharmacology of Grifola frondosa (maitake)
Metabolism: N/A
Excretion: N/A
Mechanism of action
Maitake D-fraction contains a polysaccharide called beta-glucan believed to stimulate & activate certain immune cells & proteins that attack cancer cells: macrophages, T-cellls, natural killer cells, & interleukin 1 & 2
Efficacy:
- Current clinical trials undergoing study
