Stimulating effects of Grifola frondosa (Maitake) on human osteoblastic cell cultures

The effect of Grifola frondosa (GF) total water extract on two osteoblastic cell cultures (HOS58 and SaOS-2) was investigated to determine if this edible medicinal mushroom has osteoinductive properties. The activity of alkaline phosphate and mineralization were used as indicators for the vitality and maturation of bone cells. The cultivation of human osteosarcoma cells HOS58 for 5 days in the presence of an aqueous extract of G. frondosa (0.8–120 μg/ml) resulted in a significant elevation of alkaline phosphatase activity of the cells in comparison to untreated cells. SaOS-2 cells, incubated with GF (20 μg/ml) for 21 days, showed a nearly two times higher mineralization than cells cultured with the positive control β-glycerophosphate. The obtained results clearly indicate the activity of GF extract as a bone-inducing agent. Therefore, GF could be applied supportively in case of diseases accompanied with bone disorder, like osteoporosis, osteopenia and late complication of diabetes.