Mushroom Supplements: New Developments

Article by Don Goldberg

New Developments In Mushroom Supplements

Mushrooms have been used throughout the Orient for centuries to preserve youth, longevity, vitality, and overall health. In fact, many of them are used for the specific purposes of health improvement. 
Continued research has supported the value of various mushroom supplements. New varieties are now available, and understanding which tyhpe of mushroom to use, wna when to use it, is becoming more complicated. To make it easier to understand, we are providing the following information on a series of new mushroom products under the Maitake label.
Maitake Products, Inc., a pioneer in mushroom based dietary supplements, has introduced seven new products, in a vegetable tablet form. The mushrooms they have chosen are those that history and science confirm to have significant healing qualities which have been inherited as the ancient wisdom. 
They call this new line “MUSHROOM WISDOM,” and the products are all full-spectrum products processed with both quality extract and fruit body of medicinal mushrooms. Their healing power is enhanced by the addition of Maitake D-fraction, the FDA approved standardized extract, and the bioavailability is increased by Bioperine. 
These unique products do not contain any mycelium and grain mixture like other mushroom products on the market which may contain significant amount of corn, rice, bran, red rice, etc. together with mushroom mycelium. A hundred percent of active ingredients are the actual fruit body of the mushroom and high concentrate of its extract. 

Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus)
The brain tonic. Go beyond gingko.
Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus) is type of mushroom that has been used traditionally in China and Japan for hundreds of years, and also known as bear’s head or monkey’s head. The common name in English is hedgehog fungus and in Chinese is Hou Tou Gu. Some of this mushroom’s most promising (and surprising) benefits include possibly being able to stimulate the synthesis of nerve growth factor, which may help inhibit brain dysfunction associated with Alzheimer’s disease and possibly other neurological diseases. Studies also confirm many of its traditional uses, supporting the digestive system, and acting as a tonic for the nervous system.
Bioactive constituents:
Hericenone A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H, Xylan, Heteroxylan, Heteroglucan, Proteoglycan
Biological Actions:
1.) Anti-Alzheimer’s disease: Stimulating activity of the synthesis of nerve growth factor (NGF), Prevention and amelioration of senile dementia.
2.) Anti-tumor: Immune enhancement, Cytotoxic effect
3.) Digestive tonic: Treating stomach and duodenal ulcer, and chronic atrophic gastritis. Improving indigestion.

Shiitake (Lentinus edodes)
Overall Energy and Liver Enhancer.
Shiitake (Lentinus edodes) is the most popular edible mushroom used in entire Asian cuisine, including China and Japan. Lentinan is derived from Shiitake. It is one of the three mushroom based anti-cancer drugs approved by the FDA in Japan in 1985. It exhibits strong immune responses and has been extensively studied for use with cancers and viral infections. This mushroom contains a variety of constituents that have demonstrated a range of actions, including immune modulation, anti-tumor, liver protecting, cholesterol lowering, anti-viral and blood pressure lowering. Its extract is also a potent anti-fungal agent, effective against candida albicans.
Bioactive constituent
Beta-glucan, Heteroglucan, Adenine derivative, Guanosine 5’ - monophosphate, polyacelylene
Biological Actions:
1.) Anti-tumor: Immune enhancement, Activating macrophage, T-cell and NK-cell, Increasing production of TNF-a, interleukins, interferon and complement C3
2.) Anti-HIV: Producing synergistic effect with azidothymidine (AZT)
3.) Anti-hyperlipemia: Promoting the met