Lion’s Mane - Hericium erinaceus – Igelstachelbart – Hericium ericaneum - Yamabushitake – Hou Tou Gu

Lion's Mane

Hericium erinaceus – Igelstachelbart – Yamabushitake – Hou Tou Gu

Protection of the nervous system and mucous membranes

 

Interesting compounds

  • Neurotropic and neuroprotective substances – stimulate the production of NGF (nerve growth factor), a protein that prevents neuron death, promotes neuron growth and differentiation, supports synapse formation, protects against oxidative stress, microglial inflammation, and aging, and improves cognitive functions (1-7).

    • Erinacines – found in the mycelium and can cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB).

      • Erinacine A and B: aromatic compounds (8).

      • Erinacines A-C: stimulate NGF synthesis and promote the formation of new synaptic connections (1), anti-ischemic effect (9).

      • Erinacine E: binds to opioid receptors and relieves pain and cramps (1,8).

      • Antibacterial – against MRSA (2), antidiabetic – glucosidase-inhibiting effect (3).

    • Hericenones – found in the fruiting body and able to cross the BBB.

      • Hericenones A and B: aromatic compounds (8).

      • Hericenone B: antithrombotic (1,10).

      • Hericenones C-H: stimulate NGF synthesis (8).

    • Cerebrosides: important components in nerve cell membranes (1).

    • Corallocines A-C: induce NGF synthesis in human astrocytes (1), anti-tumor activity (11).

    • Upregulation of lipoxin A4 expression in the brain, protecting against neuroinflammation and oxidative stress (5).

    • Dilinoleoyl-phosphatidyl-ethanolamine: protects neurons from death caused by β-amyloid deposits and other stressors (1).

  • Ergosterols: promotes digestive health, antibacterial (11), antioxidant effect (12).

  • L-Ergothioneine: antioxidant and cytoprotective properties (13).

  • Nutritional content: moisture 10.68%, protein 9.55-31.7%, fat 0.78-4%, carbohydrates 17.6-26.72%, polysaccharides 5.81%, fiber 30-47%, ash 5.27-9.8%, various vitamins (B1, B2, B3, D, provitamin D2), and minerals (Na, P, Fe, Ca, K, Mg) (14,15).

 

Areas of action and applications

  • Neurological and neurodegenerative diseases

    • Alzheimer's disease (AD) (1-5,10,11):

      • Clinical studies demonstrate positive effects of H. erinaceus on middle-aged, adult, and elderly individuals with mild cognitive impairment and mild Alzheimer's disease – improvement in short-term memory, visual recognition, cognitive and mental abilities, daily activities, prevention of short-term memory deterioration with lasting effects after discontinuation and no side effects (6-9,16,17).

      • In vivo AD models show H. erinaceus improves spatial short-term memory and visual recognition. On a molecular level, H. erinaceus reduces neuroinflammation, increases NGF mRNA expression in hippocampal neurons, acetylcholine (ACh), and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) levels in the serum and hypothalamus, critical for preventing AD pathogenesis (6).

      • In combination with T. versicolor, it potentially inhibits the progression of Alzheimer’s disease due to its anti-inflammatory effect and maintains energy homeostasis (6).

    • Multiple sclerosis (1,2,11): In animal models, it improves myelination (2,4-6,10), supports neuron growth at an increased rate, protects against oxidative stress that triggers neuron death, and helps manage and recover from the MS relapse phase (6).

    • Parkinson's disease (1,4,5,11): In Parkinson’s animal models, it protects and promotes neuron survival, mitigates oxidative stress, and reduces brain lesions caused by dopamine loss (9,18,19).

    • Polyneuropathies, including diabetic neuropathy (1-3,10).

    • Central and peripheral nerve injuries (2,10,11):

      • In central injuries – mice with traumatic brain injuries receiving Hericium alone or with Trametes showed reduced inflammation and oxidative stress in damaged brain regions and reduced behavioral symptoms like anxiety and impaired spatial learning (20).

      • In peripheral injuries – rats with severe nerve damage showed potential acceleration of peripheral neuron regeneration, strong anti-inflammatory effects, better immune response at the injury site, and significant reduction in neuropathic pain by blocking pain impulse transmission from peripheral to central neurons (6,21).

    • Cerebrovascular diseases – laboratory studies show that erinacine A and hericenone B can reduce the extent of ischemic damage or prevent thrombosis (9,16).

    • Anti-aging effects – animal studies report positive effects on age-related hearing loss and frailty syndrome (13,18).

  • Gastrointestinal health

    • Gastritis (1-3,10,11): In vitro and in vivo tests show complete inhibition of Helicobacter pylori (22) with similar results from a clinical study in which nearly 90% of patients had negative antigen test results post-therapy (23).

    • Gastroesophageal reflux disease / heartburn (1,10,11).

    • Stomach and duodenal ulcers (2,5,10,11): Cytoprotective effect against gastric ulcers in vivo (8).

    • Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) – Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis (3,10,11): In vivo animal models report improvement of damaged stomach and colon mucosa, reduction in swelling, suppression of inflammation, and growth of beneficial gut bacteria (18,24,25).

    • Dysbiosis (3,10,11): Regulates gut microbiota by increasing beneficial bacteria and reducing some pathobionts, present in patients with poor tumor response, gout, kidney stones, COPD, and liver cirrhosis with poor prognosis (23,26). Regulation of gut microbes may play a critical role in mental health and cognitive impairments through the gut-brain axis (6,26).

    • Leaky gut syndrome (10,11).

    • Constipation – promotes digestion by stimulating pancreatic secretion (11).

  • Infectious diseases

    • MRSA (2,10): Clinical tests have shown MRSA disappeared in patients whose diet was supplemented with extracts from H. erinaceus fruiting bodies and mycelium (7).

    • Antibacterial activity in vivo against Salmonella typhimurium (27), and in vitro activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis (28).

    • HIV – antiviral effect in vitro (29).

  • Psychological health

    • Depression (1-5,10,11): General mushroom consumption may reduce the risk of depression (30).

      • Reduction in the severity and symptoms of depression and anxiety, such as concentration, mood, irritability, frustration, palpitations, and sleep disturbances in young, menopausal, overweight or obese women, and overweight or obese men with lasting effects after discontinuation (18,22,31-33).

      • In mouse models with induced depression, it shows antidepressant, anxiolytic, and anti-inflammatory effects (9,31).

    • Anxiety and stress (1-5,10,11): Animal studies have demonstrated improved recognition memory in mice after treatment. Poor recognition memory – the inability to handle unfamiliar objects – is a risk factor for anxiety and depression (18).

    • Insomnia (1-4,11): Administration of H. erinaceus reversed sleep disturbances, reduced anxiety, and improved sleep in a mouse model (34).

    • Schizophrenia (3,35,36).

  • Menopause – Many patients report improvement in menopausal symptoms such as depression, insomnia, anxiety attacks, and hot flashes, though this has not yet been confirmed by clinical research (2,3,10).

  • Complementary cancer treatment

    • Improves immune status (1,10,11): Boosts the immune system and inhibits the growth of sarcoma 180, stomach, esophageal, and skin cancer cells (8).

    • Prolongs survival time – in combination with A. blazei Murril and G. frondosa, patients with multiple myeloma had a 1.3-year longer survival rate (24).

    • Reduces cancer- and chemotherapy-related symptoms – may be used for chronic pain, peripheral polyneuropathy (22), and other adverse effects in patients with esophageal, intestinal, pancreatic, and stomach cancer (7).

    • Anti-metastatic effect in esophageal and colorectal cancer (11,22).

    • Particularly beneficial in gastrointestinal cancers (1,10,11): In vitro and in vivo studies in mice report anti-tumor activity against colon (7,37,38), stomach (7,22,37), and liver cell cancer (7,8,22,37). Against lung cancer in a mouse model (7) and against leukemia (22,37), lymphoma (7,37), breast (7,22), cervical (7), and esophageal cancer cells in vitro (7).

  • Cardiovascular diseases and metabolic syndrome

    • Hypertension (10,11).

    • Dyslipidemia – lipid- and cholesterol-lowering effect (1,3,10,11).

    • Diabetes mellitus II (1,3,5) – hypoglycemic effect, improvement of diabetic condition, and pain relief in diabetic neuropathy in animal studies (7,8,18).

    • Atherosclerosis (1,10,11).

  • Skin health – accelerates wound healing with less scar tissue in animal studies (18) and may be suitable for atopic dermatitis caused by allergies and food intolerances (10).

  • Traditional use in TCM (8,9,12,18,22):

    • Improves digestion, gastric ulcers, duodenal ulcers, acute and chronic gastritis.

    • Neurasthenia, general weakness, strength, and general vitality, hypodynamia.

    • Improves memory, concentration, enhances cognitive function.

    • Promotes the health of kidneys, heart, liver, lungs, and spleen.

    • Insomnia.

    • Astringent.

    • Cancer.

    • Qi deficiency.

References

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