Grifola frondosa · hen of the woods
Maitake produces distinctive fan-shaped clusters at the base of deciduous trees and has a long tradition in Japanese and Chinese cuisine. Healthy Fungi offers a concentrated fruiting-body extract in plant-based capsules.
60 capsules · 300–350 mg extract per capsule
Maitake is an edible wood-dwelling fungus with a striking rosette of overlapping grey-brown fans. The quality of a Maitake extract starts with the correct species identification and the fruiting body used. Processing, standardization and inspection of the finished preparation then determine the product's chemical profile.
Grifola frondosa belongs to the family Meripilaceae. Its Dutch common name hen of the woods refers to its growing habitat and the branching form of its fruiting body. In English-speaking countries, Maitake is also hen of the woods called.
Numerous small, rounded to fan-shaped caps grow from a shared base. Their undersides have pores rather than gills. The exterior varies from grey-brown to brown, while the interior is pale.
Maitake grows mainly near the roots and trunks of old deciduous trees, especially oaks. The species occurs in temperate regions of Europe, Asia and North America. In the wild, fruiting bodies usually appear in late summer and autumn.
Maitake is also grown under controlled conditions to provide a consistent raw material, including on wood-based substrates. Growing conditions, maturity and processing can affect the proportions of the substances present.
In Japan, Maitake is prized for its firm, aromatic fruiting body and distinctive umami flavor. Its name is often translated as dancing mushroom; according to a well-known tradition, those who found valuable wild Maitake danced with joy.
In Japanese and Chinese food cultures, the mushroom is used in soups, rice dishes and stir-fried preparations. This culinary tradition is separate from the question of which effects of concentrated supplements have been clinically proven.
Maitake contains various polysaccharides, including beta-glucans with varying branching patterns. The fruiting body also contains proteins, amino acids, fiber components, sterols such as ergosterol, and minerals.
The final composition of an extract is not identical to that of a fresh or dried fruiting body. Which fractions are present in the finished product depends on the extraction steps chosen and the analytical method.
During mushroom processing, water-soluble substances can be extracted from dried, chopped fruiting bodies using hot water. Concentration and drying produce an extract powder. Other techniques may yield different fractions; an extract is therefore not the same as simply ground mushroom powder.
When assessing our Maitake product, we focus on its stated composition, the identity of the fruiting body and its purity. The method and actual content must correspond to the product specifications for the batch concerned.
Our extract has a minimum specification of 50% total polysaccharides and 20% beta-glucans. Beta-glucans make up part of the total polysaccharides: these percentages are therefore not two separate portions that may be added together to make 70%.
The measurement method matters. Measuring all polysaccharides does not automatically reveal how much of that total consists of beta-glucans; a suitable separate analysis is required. Concentration alone does not demonstrate a therapeutic effect.
Scientific publications on Maitake refer to the so-called D-fraction for: a specific, further separated polysaccharide fraction studied under controlled conditions. The related MD-fraction is also described. A specification of '50% polysaccharides, 20% beta-glucans' does not mean that an extract automatically contains a known quantity of the D- or MD-fraction. Without a separate analysis, we do not state a content for these fractions.
Healthy Fungi Maitake contains concentrated extract from the fruiting body of Grifola frondosa, packaged in 60 plant-based pullulan capsules. Each capsule contains approximately 300–350 mg extract. One package therefore contains approximately 18–21 grams of extract in total.
Pullulan is produced by fermentation and offers a plant-based alternative to gelatin capsules. The formula is intended to contain no added grain powder, mycelium powder, sugar, or artificial colors, fragrances or flavors. The current product specifications on the packaging remain authoritative for allergens and any excipients.
Daily use: 2–3 capsules per day.
Personal usage schedule: 4–6 capsules per day, optionally combined with other recommended mushrooms.
Take with a glass of water on an empty stomach.
Storage: keep out of reach of children, dry and dark at 10–25 °C, in the tightly closed package.
The edible fruiting body can also be prepared as food: tear fresh Maitake into fan-shaped pieces, fry in a little oil or butter until thoroughly cooked and lightly golden, and add garlic, thyme or a little soy sauce to taste. For this, use only mushrooms intended for consumption, not the contents of the extract capsules. Culinary preparation is a different application from the standardized extract.
Maitake is studied because of the structure and biological properties of its polysaccharides. In evaluating the research, we distinguish between individual fractions, laboratory and animal experiments, studies in humans and the characteristics of the actual finished product.
Laboratory and animal research has examined how certain Maitake beta-glucans relate to responses of immune cells and signaling substances. Outcomes vary by fraction and research model. A laboratory response does not prove that taking our capsules daily strengthens the immune system.
The D- and MD-fractions are specific, further purified Maitake polysaccharide fractions that have been investigated separately. Research results obtained with these fractions cannot be attributed directly to an extract standardized only for total polysaccharides and beta-glucans.
Experimental studies also examine associations between certain Maitake fractions and processes involved in glucose and fat metabolism. The preparations and quantities used differ substantially from ordinary food supplements. These findings do not establish a proven effect of our product on blood glucose, cholesterol or metabolism in humans.
There are limited human studies involving specifically investigated Maitake extracts. In a small study of 34 participants, certain immune parameters changed in opposite directions at different doses. This raises interesting research questions but does not establish proven protection against disease or a therapeutic benefit from our Maitake capsules.
Maitake fruiting body extract from Grifola frondosa, with at least 50% polysaccharides and at least 20% beta-glucans. A jar contains 60 plant-based pullulan capsules with 300–350 mg of extract per capsule.
