Frontier mental health research: psychedelics & drug studies

Chemistry, Nutrition, and Health-Promoting Properties of Hericium erinaceus (Lion’s Mane) Mushroom Fruiting Bodies and Mycelia and Their Bioactive Compounds

Mendel Friedman

Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry • Summary & key facts • 2015 • 304 citations

This paper is a 2015 review that brings together many studies about the lion’s mane mushroom (Hericium erinaceus). It describes the mushroom’s chemical makeup, nutrients, food uses, and about 70 identified bioactive compounds. The review reports many claimed health effects seen in cell, animal, and some human studies—such as anti-inflammatory…

Fungal Biology and Applications Medicinal Plants and Bioactive Compounds Polysaccharides and Plant Cell Walls

Improving effects of the mushroom Yamabushitake (Hericium erinaceus) on mild cognitive impairment: a double‐blind placebo‐controlled clinical trial

Koichiro Mori, Satoshi Inatomi, Kenzi Ouchi, Yoshihito Azumi, Takashi Tuchida

Phytotherapy Research • Summary & key facts • 2008 • 249 citations

In a small, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of Japanese adults aged 50–80 with mild cognitive impairment, 30 people were randomly assigned to take Yamabushitake (an edible mushroom) or placebo for 16 weeks. The mushroom group took four 250 mg tablets three times a day and showed higher scores on a cognitive…

Fungal Biology and Applications Ginkgo biloba and Cashew Applications Medicinal Plants and Bioactive Compounds

Medicinal Mushrooms: Their Bioactive Components, Nutritional Value and Application in Functional Food Production—A Review

Paulina Łysakowska, Aldona Sobota, Anna Wirkijowska

Molecules • Summary & key facts • 2023 • 194 citations

This review describes several medicinal mushrooms — including Lion's Mane, Reishi, Chaga, Cordyceps, Shiitake, and Turkey Tail — as low‑fat, low‑calorie foods that contain high levels of bioactive compounds (for example (1,3)(1,6)-β-d-glucans, triterpenes, phenolic compounds, and sterols). The review reports that these compounds have been linked in studies to anticancer,…

Fungal Biology and Applications Herbal Medicine Research Studies Medicinal Plants and Bioactive Compounds

Hericenones and erinacines: stimulators of nerve growth factor (NGF) biosynthesis inHericium erinaceus

Bingji Ma, Jinwen Shen, Hai‐You Yu, Yuan Ruan, Tingting Wu, Xu Zhao

Mycology&#58 An International Journal on Fungal Biology • Summary & key facts • 2010 • 143 citations

This review surveys the chemical and biological literature dealing with the isolation, structural elucidation and bioactivity of hericenones and erinacines from the fruiting body and mycelium of Hericium erinaceus, concentrating on work that has appeared in the literature up to December 2009.

Fungal Biology and Applications Medicinal Plants and Bioactive Compounds Phytochemistry and Biological Activities

Reduction of depression and anxiety by 4 weeks Hericium erinaceus intake

Mayumi Nagano, Kuniyoshi Shimizu, Ryuichiro Kondo, Chickako Hayashi, Daigo SATO, Katsuyuki Kitagawa, et al.

Biomedical Research • Summary & key facts • 2010 • 117 citations

In a small, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, 30 women ate Hericium erinaceus (HE) cookies or placebo cookies for 4 weeks. After HE intake, overall depression scores (CES-D) and scores for vague or indefinite complaints (ICI) were significantly lower than before. Two specific ICI items, written as "insentive" and "palpitatio," were lower…

Fungal Biology and Applications Medicinal Plants and Bioactive Compounds Pharmacological Effects of Natural Compounds

Improvement of cognitive functions by oral intake of <i>Hericium</i><i> erinaceus </i>

Yuusuke SAITSU, Akemi Nishide, Kenji Kikushima, Kuniyoshi Shimizu, Koichiro Ohnuki

Biomedical Research • Summary & key facts • 2019 • 74 citations

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, people took supplements containing the mushroom Hericium erinaceus for 12 weeks. The researchers gave three mental tests and found that only the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) showed a statistically significant improvement and less decline in the group taking the mushroom. The authors say compounds…

Fungal Biology and Applications Medicinal Plants and Bioactive Compounds Medicinal Plants and Neuroprotection

Influence of Short-Term Consumption of Hericium erinaceus on Serum Biochemical Markers and the Changes of the Gut Microbiota: A Pilot Study

Xie Xiao-qian, Yan Geng, Qijie Guan, Yilin Ren, Lin Guo, Qiqi Lv, et al.

Nutrients • Summary & key facts • 2021 • 50 citations

Researchers had 13 healthy adults take Hericium erinaceus powder every day for seven days. They tested blood with routine blood and serum chemistry tests and checked gut bacteria using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. After the week, the gut bacterial community showed higher within-sample diversity and higher levels of several bacteria…

Fungal Biology and Applications Ginseng Biological Effects and Applications Gut microbiota and health

Hericerin derivatives activates a pan‐neurotrophic pathway in central hippocampal neurons converging to ERK1/2 signaling enhancing spatial memory

Ramón Martínez‐Mármol, YeJin Chai, Jacinta N. Conroy, Zahra Khan, Seong‐Min Hong, Seon Beom Kim, et al.

Journal of Neurochemistry • Summary & key facts • 2023 • 36 citations

Researchers isolated two compounds from the medicinal mushroom Hericium erinaceus—N-de phenylethyl isohericerin (NDPIH) and hericene A. In lab cultures, these compounds caused strong axon growth and more branching in hippocampal neurons even without serum. Tests showed they activate ERK1/2 signaling and do not act only through the TrkB (BDNF) receptor.…

Fungal Biology and Applications Nerve injury and regeneration Pain Mechanisms and Treatments

The use of Hericium erinaceus and Trametes versicolor extracts in supportive treatment in oncology

Mateusz Winder, Weronika Bulska, Jerzy Chudek

Acta Pharmaceutica • Summary & key facts • 2020 • 12 citations

This is a review of research on two edible fungi, Hericium erinaceus (lion’s mane) and Trametes versicolor (turkey tail). Lab studies and animal studies show their extracts can affect the immune system and have possible anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and nerve-regenerating actions. The authors say these extracts could help support chemotherapy more…

Fungal Biology and Applications Phytochemistry and Bioactivity Studies Polysaccharides and Plant Cell Walls

Acute effects of a standardised extract of Hericium erinaceus (Lion’s Mane mushroom) on cognition and mood in healthy younger adults: a double-blind randomised placebo-controlled study

Surendran, Geyan, Saye, Jake, Binti Mohd Jalil, Syahira, et al.

www.frontiersin.org • Summary & key facts • 2025 • 4 citations

This double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled study tested a single (acute) dose of a standardized extract from the Lion’s Mane mushroom (fruiting body) in healthy younger adults. The study did not find a clear overall benefit for thinking skills or mood compared with placebo. The authors say any small benefits might only…

Fungal Biology and Applications Medicinal Plants and Bioactive Compounds Pharmacological Effects of Natural Compounds

Benefits, side effects, and uses of Hericium erinaceus as a supplement: a systematic review

Akshay Menon, Ayesha Jalal, Zara Arshad, Faisal A. Nawaz, Rahul Kashyap

Frontiers in Nutrition • Summary & key facts • 2025 • 3 citations

This systematic review looked at 26 studies on Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus) published up to June 2024. The authors found some clinical trial evidence of small cognitive improvements (a combined MMSE increase of 1.17 from one RCT and one pilot trial), laboratory evidence of anti‑cancer activity in cell lines, and…

Fungal Biology and Applications Ginseng Biological Effects and Applications Medicinal Plants and Bioactive Compounds