Other names: Hen of the Woods, Hui Shu Hua, Sheep’s Head, King of Mushrooms, Monkey’s Bench, Champignon Dansant, Polypore en Touffe, Poule des Bois, Barbisin, Fungo Reale, Griffo, Griffone, Poliporo Frondoso

Maitake grows at the base of trees in temperate forests in eastern North America, Europe, and Asia. In Japanese, “mai” means dance and “take” means mushroom, so the literary translation of its name is “Dancing mushroom”. China has approved eight Maitake-based drugs for treating patients with cancer, polycystic ovary syndrome, and impaired glucose tolerance conditions. Maitake is also used for cosmetic purposes.

Maitake contains polysaccharides, including β-glucans and heteroglycans, which have shown significant antitumor and immunomodulatory activities. Other bioactive compounds in Maitake are proteins and glycoproteins, with antitumor, immunomodulation, antioxidant, and other activities. It also contains sterols and phenolic compounds.

Maitake may be beneficial for high cholesterol, diabetes, hepatitis, HIV, hay fever, fatigue, high blood pressure, polycystic ovary syndrome, and to boost the immune system.

Compliance: food and food ingredient, cosmetics ingredient

Compliance varies from country to country. There is no harmonized botanical list of allowed botanicals in food or food supplements for all EU countries. Compliance for cosmetic ingredients is harmonized in EU.

Please check your local regulation.