Lion’s Mane
Lion’s mane (Hericium erinaceus), also known as hou tou gu or yamabushitake, is an edible mushroom with a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine. Its bioactive compounds include β-glucan polysaccharides; hericenones and erinacine terpenoids; isoindolinones; sterols; and myconutrients, which potentially have neuroprotective and neuroregenerative properties1. Because of its anti-inflammatory action and promotion of nerve growth facto2 and neurite outgrowth (the healthy differentiation of neurons to axons and dendrites). In damaged brain cells from mice, lion’s mane treatment was associated with earlier and superior remyelination compared to control3. Overall, ion’s mane is considered to show great promise for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
In animal models, lion’s mane extract at doses of 1-50 µg/mL triggered neurite outgrowth in brain4-6 and spinal cord4 cells. In an earlier study in brain tissue, the extract was observed to suppress the excitation of neurons and protect them from destruction, and improve the myelination process in mature myelinating fibers7. Polysaccharides isolated from lion’s mane were found to have antiaging effects on a dysfunctional brain by scavenging radicals, elevating enzyme activities, reducing oxidant content, and enhancing immunological activity8.
In a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled trial in older adults with mild cognitive impairment, participants were given lion’s mane at a dose of one gram of dried powder three times per day or placebo. The lion’s mane group showed significantly increased scores on a cognitive function scale compared with the placebo group after just under four months, with no negative side effects. Of note, the benefits were dependent upon continuous supplementation.
A later randomized controlled clinical study using a lower dose of two grams per day found lion’s mane to be associated with lowered depression and anxiety in affected women, after just four weeks of treatment2. At a dose of 3.2 grams per day, lion’s mane was associated with better cognitive function test scores compared to placebo in healthy individuals over 50 years of age10.
In pregnant rats, lion’s mane at doses up to 2625 mg/kg/day were observed to be non-toxic for both mothers and their offspring11. Because these results have not been repeated or lion’s mane investigated in pregnant or breastfeeding humans, caution should still be taken.
References
1.Spelman K, Sutherland, E., Bagade, A. Neurological Activity of Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus). Journal of Restorative Medicine 2017. 2017;6:19-26.
2.Nagano M, Shimizu K, Kondo R, et al. Reduction of depression and anxiety by 4 weeks Hericium erinaceus intake. Biomed Res. Aug 2010;31(4):231-7. doi:10.2220/biomedres.31.231
3.Kolotushkina EV, Moldavan MG, Voronin KY, Skibo GG. The influence of Hericium erinaceus extract on myelination process in vitro. Fiziol Zh. 2003;49(1):38-45.
4.Samberkar S, Gandhi S, Naidu M, Wong KH, Raman J, Sabaratnam V. Lion’s Mane, Hericium erinaceus and Tiger Milk, Lignosus rhinocerotis (Higher Basidiomycetes) Medicinal Mushrooms Stimulate Neurite Outgrowth in Dissociated Cells of Brain, Spinal Cord, and Retina: An In Vitro Study. Int J Med Mushrooms. 2015;17(11):1047-54. doi:10.1615/intjmedmushrooms.v17.i11.40
5.Lai PL, Naidu M, Sabaratnam V, et al. Neurotrophic properties of the Lion’s mane medicinal mushroom, Hericium erinaceus (Higher Basidiomycetes) from Malaysia. Int J Med Mushrooms. 2013;15(6):539-54. doi:10.1615/intjmedmushr.v15.i6.30
6.Wong K, Sabaratnam, V., Naidu, M., Keynes, R. Activity of Aqueous Extracts of Lion’s Mane Mushroom Hericium erinaceus (Bull.: Fr.) Pers. (Aphyllophoromycetideae) on the Neural Cell Line NG108-15. Int J Med Mushr. 2007;9(1):57-65.
7.Moldovan M, Grygansky, A.P., Kolotushkina, O.V., Kirchhoff, B., Skibo, G.G., Pedarzani, P. Neurotropic and Trophic Action of Lion’s Mane Mushroom Hericium erinaceus (Bull.: Fr.) Pers. (Aphyllophoromycetideae) Extracts on Nerve Cells in Vitro. Int J Med Mushr. 2007;9(1):15-28.
8.Li H, Zhao H, Liu W, et al. Liver and Brain Protective Effect of Sulfated Polysaccharides from Residue of Lion’s Mane Medicinal Mushroom, Hericium erinaceus (Agaricomycetes), on D-Galactose-Induced Aging Mice. Int J Med Mushrooms. 2021;23(5):55-65. doi:10.1615/IntJMedMushrooms.2021038241
9.Mori K, Inatomi S, Ouchi K, Azumi Y, Tuchida T. Improving effects of the mushroom Yamabushitake (Hericium erinaceus) on mild cognitive impairment: a double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial. Phytother Res. Mar 2009;23(3):367-72. doi:10.1002/ptr.2634
10.Saitsu Y, Nishide A, Kikushima K, Shimizu K, Ohnuki K. Improvement of cognitive functions by oral intake of Hericium erinaceus. Biomed Res. 2019;40(4):125-131. doi:10.2220/biomedres.40.125
11.Lee LY, Li IC, Chen WP, Tsai YT, Chen CC, Tung KC. Thirteen-Week Oral Toxicity Evaluation of Erinacine AEnriched Lion’s Mane Medicinal Mushroom, Hericium erinaceus (Agaricomycetes), Mycelia in Sprague-Dawley Rats. Int J Med Mushrooms. 2019;21(4):401-411. doi:10.1615/IntJMedMushrooms.2019030320