Respected Leader of the Mushroom Kingdom

Company Statement
Maitake Products, Inc. (MPI) is the pioneer in bringing the Eastern ancient mushroom wisdom to the Western world with fascinating scientific validation. The company’s mission statement is not only to continue this research, but also to continue the education and development of medicinal mushroom and mushroom extracts that has established MPI as the most respected leader of the mushroom kingdom.

Main Products
The company is well-known for its time-tested, well-researched liquid extract, Grifron®- Pro Maitake D-Fraction®, that is now available in a convenient, easy-to-swallow tablet form. Grifron®-Pro liquid and tablets are four times more concentrated than the standard strength Grifron® Maitake D-Fraction liquid and capsule, offering retailers specific products to address the proper level of immune defense their customer is seeking—daily maintenance or therapeutic. Subsequently, the company’s continued research on standardized Maitake extracts resulted in the now time-tested SX-Fraction®. This patented glycoprotein has been well researched at prominent institutions for its ability to promote healthy blood sugar levels as well as healthy insulin levels. Both products are distributed in the retail market as well as used by health-care practitioners worldwide.

MPI is also proud of its exquisite and unique Mushroom Wisdom® line, which consists of seven different mushroom supplements, each uniquely including D-Fraction for added potency, and a mushroom-based skin cream called Aquamella™. Reishi, Cordyceps, Shitake, Royal Agaricus, Turkey Tail, Tremella and Lion’s Mane are all available as full-spectrum supplements under the Mushroom Wisdom® brand name only by Maitake Products, Inc.

Expo East 2008 was the premier for the newest addition to the Mushroom Wisdome® line: Amyloban™ 3399 from Lion’s Mane. A more potent form of Maitake’s standard strength Super Lion’s Mane product, this product will also be used by health-care practitioners. The continued research of Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus) for many years resulted in the company’s innovative, standardized extract containing active substances that have been researched to help promote cognitive function. One of these compounds of Lion’s Mane, called hericenones, was discovered by Japanese researchers while looking for compounds that can stimulate the production Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) in the brain. Dr. Kawagishi speculated that NGF production might conceivably lead to the growth of new neurons to replace those that die in such cases of neurodegeneration. Kawagishi’s work on hericenones led him to discover another agent in Lion’s Mane, a phospholipid that seemed to exert a protective effect on brain cells in culture, shielding them from damage by the amyloid peptides. This agent is now called “amyloban”(Patent 394,3399).

Based on this data, MPI has successfully developed a standardized extract from Lion’s Mane that contains both of the above active substances and may be an effective and safe measure in counteracting the damage done to the human brain. These hericenones and amyloban are now available in high concentration in the new Mushroom Wisdome® Amyloban 3399 that is now available. The company will sponsor their annual Expo West Japanese breakfast and a presentation will be made by Dr. Ward Bond, author of “20 Life-Changing Nutrients that You Can’t (Shouldn’t) Live Without.” Bond is the host of America’s No. 1 health television talk show and is a certified nutritionist and herbalist. MPI will also hold a book signing at Booth #1232 so attendees can get their own copy of this great new book.

Distribution and Ordering
Retailers that want to purchase any of the medicinal mushroom products from MPI can do so by contacting their health product distributor and should always check on any show discounts that may be available. Nature’s Best, Threshold, Tree of Life (all houses), Independence, Select Nutrition, UNFI and Super Natural are some of the current distributors, or you can contact MPI’s office for your local sales representative. Stores may contact MPI directly for promotional and educational materials for their staff and customers.

Key Executives
• Mike Shirota, President/Chief Executive Officer
• Hideo Anzai, Senior Vice President
• Donna Noonan, Vice President, Marketing
• Cun Zhuang, Vice President, Product Development

Association Memberships
• Natural Products Association
• American Herbal Products Association
• American Botanical Council