Maitake Extract Displays Immunomodulatory Effects

CHICAGO—A recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology found a polysaccharide extract from Grifola frondosa (Maitake extract) was associated with measurable changes in the immunomodulatory cell counts in peripheral blood (2008;26). In the phase I/II dose escalation trial, 30 menopausal breast cancer patients free of disease after initial treatment were enrolled sequentially into five cohorts of six patients each. Maitake extract was taken orally at 0.1, 0.5, 1.5, 3, or 5 mg/kg twice daily for three weeks. Quadratic dose curve analysis showed a daily dosage of 2 mg/kg was associated with the greatest increases of CD3+CD25+ or CD4+CD25+ T cells in the peripheral blood (P<0.001); a daily dosage of 6 mg/kg was associated with the most significant increases in intracellular IL-2 production by NK-T cells (P=0.002); IL-10 production by T cells (P=0.002). Interferon gamma production by memory CD4+ T cells was attenuated to 27 percent of baseline at a daily dose of 7.4 mg/kg (P=0.002).