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Nootropics>Mushrooms & fungal extracts>Maitake
Mushrooms & fungal extracts

Maitake

Grifola frondosa

Maitake (Grifola frondosa) is an edible mushroom. Current listed products are 500 mg whole-fruiting-body capsules. Human research on specialized maitake fractions is limited and does not establish cognitive benefit, so compare product identity and testing disclosure rather than nootropic claims.

Standardized ExtractFruiting BodyTraditional UseClinical ResearchLimited Human EvidenceMostly Animal Evidence
Updated August 2026/4 min read/9 citations
Reviewed by the NootropicsIndex editorial team.Method: prioritize cited human research and official safety or regulatory sources; compare retailer-listed prices without endorsing products.Affiliate disclosure
01

What is it?

What it is

1

Maitake is the edible mushroom Grifola frondosa. Current listed products are whole-fruiting-body capsules. Research extracts or polysaccharide fractions should not be assumed to match an ordinary mushroom capsule.

Evidence snapshot2
Maitake is better supported as a research ingredient in small clinical studies of specialized fractions than as a nootropic. Human cognitive evidence is not established.
02

Names, aliases and forms

Common NamesMaitake; Dancing mushroom; King of mushrooms; Cloud mushroom
Scientific NameGrifola frondosa
03

Mechanisms of action

Specialized fractions are not interchangeable

3

Human research often concerns specialized maitake polysaccharide fractions. It does not establish the composition or effect of every mushroom powder or capsule.

Preclinical leads are not cognitive evidence

6

Animal and cell research can suggest research questions, but it does not establish cognitive benefits in people.

04

Potential effects and evidence map

Human maitake studies are small, heterogeneous, and commonly use specialized polysaccharide fractions in clinical populations. This does not establish benefits for consumer whole-fruiting-body capsules, especially for focus, memory, or mood.

Effect domainMagnitudeGrade
Memory / learning6
UnknownConfidence: Low

Human cognitive benefit has not been established; available brain-related findings are preclinical.

Note This required card records an evidence limit, not a demonstrated benefit.

1/5
D
05

Safety, side effects and risk profile

Food and extract context differ1
An edible mushroom serving and a concentrated research fraction are different contexts. Product composition and the available human evidence can differ substantially.
GI discomfort3
Confidence: Low

Small human studies reported generally mild tolerability issues, including nausea in one breast-cancer trial participant.

Note Food use is distinct from concentrated extracts.

1/5
C
Pregnancy / lactation caution2
Confidence: Low

Human safety data are sparse for concentrated maitake extracts during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

Note Insufficient-data caution, not a finding of harm.

1/5
E
Evidence uncertainty2
Confidence: Medium

Different extracts, fractions, powders, and capsule products may not match the formulations used in human studies.

Note This affects both efficacy and safety interpretation.

2/5
C
Common practical issues3GI or skin reactions can occur

Small clinical studies of specialized fractions reported some mild reactions. Those reports do not predict tolerability for every consumer product.

Clinical-study signal4white-cell changes

A small study in myelodysplastic syndrome reported immune-cell findings and asymptomatic eosinophilia. This is clinical-population context, not a consumer-capsule outcome.

Warfarin or anticoagulants8clinician review

MSKCC cites a case report of INR elevation with maitake extract and warfarin. This is a reason for medicine-specific clinical review, not a quantified risk for every consumer.

Diabetes or glucose-lowering drugs1monitoring context

MSKCC advises caution because maitake may lower blood glucose. This is most relevant to people using glucose-lowering medicines or managing hypoglycemia risk.

06

FAQ

Is maitake a nootropic?

6

No established human cognitive benefit supports calling maitake a nootropic. Research in other contexts should not be translated to focus, memory, or mood claims.

07

References

  1. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Maitake. About Herbs database.
  2. Ulbricht C, Weissner W, Basch E, et al. Maitake mushroom (Grifola frondosa): systematic review by the Natural Standard Research Collaboration. J Soc Integr Oncol. 2009;7(2):66-72.
  3. Deng G, Lin H, Seidman A, et al. A phase I/II trial of a polysaccharide extract from Grifola frondosa in breast cancer patients: immunological effects. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 2009;135(9):1215-1221.
  4. Wesa KM, Cunningham-Rundles S, Klimek VM, et al. Maitake mushroom extract in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS): a phase II study. Cancer Immunol Immunother. 2015;64(2):237-247.
  5. Chen JT, Tominaga K, Sato Y, Anzai H, Matsuoka R. Maitake mushroom extract induces ovulation in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome. J Altern Complement Med. 2010;16(12):1295-1299.
  6. Chen Z, Tang Y, Liu A, et al. Oral administration of Grifola frondosa polysaccharides improves memory impairment in aged rats via antioxidant action. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2017;61(11).
  7. Nishina A, Kimura H, Sekiguchi A, Fukumoto RH, Nakajima S, Furukawa S. Lysophosphatidylethanolamine in Grifola frondosa as a neurotrophic activator via activation of MAPK. J Lipid Res. 2006;47(7):1434-1443.
  8. Hanselin MR, Vande Griend JP, Linnebur SA. INR elevation with maitake extract in combination with warfarin. Ann Pharmacother. 2010;44(1):223-224.
  9. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Dietary Supplements.
Note

This page is informational and summarizes available evidence. It is not medical advice, a recommendation, or a substitute for guidance from a qualified clinician.