グリフォラの葉が多い (also called Maitake) is native to the mountainous areas of northern Japan. It is a kind of edible-medicinal mushroom with good taste and medicinal effects. It has been highly regarded as a tribute to the Japanese royal family since ancient times. This mushroom was not successfully cultivated until the mid-1980s. それ以来, scientists mainly in Japan have conducted extensive research on Maitake mushroom in chemistry, biochemistry and pharmacology, proving that Maitake mushroom is a most valuable mushroom for medicine and food. Especially Maitake D-fraction, the most effective active ingredient extracted from Maitake mushroom, has a strong anti-cancer effect.

Comprehensive studies on the pharmacological effects of Grifola frondosa in Japan, Canada, Italy and the United Kingdom in recent years have shown that Grifola frondosa has the effects of anti-cancer, immune enhancement, anti-hypertension, 血糖値を下げる, lowering blood lipids and anti-hepatitis viruses.

In summary, Grifola frondosa has the following health care functions:
1.Because it is rich in iron, copper and vitamin C, it can prevent anemia, scurvy, vitiligo, arteriosclerosis and cerebral thrombosis;
2.It has high selenium and chromium content, which can protect the liver and pancreas, prevent liver cirrhosis and diabetes; its high selenium content also has the function of preventing Keshan disease, Kashin-Beck disease and certain heart diseases;
3.It contains both calcium and vitamin D. The combination of the two can effectively prevent and treat rickets;
4.Its higher zinc content is beneficial to promote brain development, maintain visual acuity and promote wound healing;
5.The combination of a high content of vitamin E and selenium enables it to have the effects of anti-aging, memory improvement and sensitivity enhancement. 同時に, it is an excellent immunomodulator.
6.As a traditional Chinese medicine, Grifola frondosa is equivalent to Polyporus umbellatus. It can cure dysuria, edema, athlete’s foot, cirrhosis, ascites and diabetes.
7.It also has the effect of inhibiting hypertension and obesity.
8.The higher selenium content of Grifola frondosa can prevent cancer.

Animal experiments and clinical experiments show that Maitake D-fraction exerts anti-cancer effects through the following aspects:
1.It can activate immune cells such as phagocytes, natural killer cells and cytotoxic T cells, and induce the secretion of cytokines such as leukin, interferon-γ, and tumor necrosis factor-α.
2.It can induce apoptosis of cancer cells.
3.Combined with traditional chemotherapy drugs (such as mitomycin and Carmustine), it not only increases the efficacy of the drug but also reduces toxic effects and side effects during chemotherapy.
4.Synergistic effect with immunotherapy drugs (interferon-α2b).
5. It can relieve the pain of advanced cancer patients, increase appetite and improve the quality of life of patients.