With Amyloban 3399, a Newly
Developed Lion’s Mane Extract
by Mike Shirota
One of the most disturbing trends today not
only in the United States but globally is the
rising incidence of Alzheimer’s disease. As
many as 5.2 million people in the United States
are known to be living with Alzheimer’s and
some 10 million baby boomers will develop
Alzheimer's in their lifetime, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Indeed, Alzheimer's is the sixth-leading cause of death today in
the United States and, since aging alone is a major risk factor, we
can expect increasing prevalence. Clearly, prevention is critical to
both personal and public health.
Recently at Maitake Products, we were pleased to introduce
Amyloban 3399 as a dietary supplement to support healthy brain
function.
We have been collaborating with Dr. Hirokazu Kawagishi, Professor
of Shizuoka University, Japan, a recognized authority on the
medicinal mushroom called Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceum) for
the past 10 years. Dr. Kawagishi has shown the mushroom to have
the remarkable activity of stimulating the synthesis of nerve growth
factor (NGF). A lack of NGF is considered one of the major causes
of dementia including Alzheimer’s disease.
So what exactly is NGF? This protein molecule was discovered
by Rita Levi-Montalcini and Stanley Cohen, for which the duo
received the 1986 Nobel Prize for Medicine. It is synthesized in
minute amounts in the tissues of virtually all vertebrates.
In the case of Lion’s Mane, Dr. Kawagishi was able to not only isolate
the specific bioactive compounds, known as “hericenones,”
responsible for NGF regeneration but, working jointly with researchers
at Maitake Products, Inc., also succeeded in isolating another agent
from the same mushroom that blocks the toxicity of the amyloid beta
peptide in the brain cells. This agent has been named “amyloban” and
is already patented in Japan (Japanese Patent #394,3399) by Maitake
Products. (The amyloid beta peptide is responsible for the accumulation
of brain plaque linked with mental deterioration characteristic of
the condition.)
The research team successfully developed a standardized
extract from Lion’s Mane that contains both bioactive substances,
amyloban and hericenones, to maximize the benefits of this medicinal
mushroom. The finished product is known as Amyloban 3399.
While by no means should Amyloban 3399 be classified as a
drug intended to treat or diagnose diseases such as Alzheimer’s, it
can be used to maintain healthy brain function.
For anybody who is concerned with taking a preventive
approach, say if you are in your fifties or older and noticing a decline
in cognitive function or if you have a family member with Alzheimer’s
(since the condition has some genetic linkages), then by all means
consider Amyloban 3399, truly a breakthrough in cognitive health.
Mike Shirota is founder of Maitake Products, Inc., the leading medicinal mushroom company in the United States since 1991.
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
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