Lion’s Mane’s Health Benefits Research

Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus) is a medicinal mushroom that has been traditionally used in Asian countries for its potential health benefits. Several research papers have investigated the potential benefits of Lion’s Mane, particularly its effects on cognitive function, nerve regeneration, and general health. Here are some important research papers related to the benefits of Lion’s Mane:

  1. Mori, K., Inatomi, S., Ouchi, K., Azumi, Y., & Tuchida, T. (2009). Improving effects of the mushroom Yamabushitake (Hericium erinaceus) on mild cognitive impairment: a double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial. Phytotherapy Research, 23(3), 367-372. doi: 10.1002/ptr.2634
    This study conducted a clinical trial with elderly individuals diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment. The results showed that Lion’s Mane extract consumption led to significant improvements in cognitive function compared to the placebo group.
  2. Lai, P. L., Naidu, M., Sabaratnam, V., Wong, K. H., David, R. P., Kuppusamy, U. R., . . . Malek, S. N. A. (2013). Neurotrophic properties of the Lion’s mane medicinal mushroom, Hericium erinaceus (Higher Basidiomycetes) from Malaysia. International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms, 15(6), 539-554. doi: 10.1615/IntJMedMushr.v15.i6.30
    This study investigated the neurotrophic properties of Lion’s Mane extract on cultured brain cells. The results demonstrated its ability to promote nerve growth factor (NGF) synthesis, which is crucial for nerve regeneration and neuroprotection.
  3. Phan, C. W., David, P., Naidu, M., Wong, K. H., & Sabaratnam, V. (2015). Therapeutic potential of culinary-medicinal mushrooms for the management of neurodegenerative diseases: diversity, metabolite, and mechanism. Critical Reviews in Biotechnology, 35(3), 355-368. doi: 10.3109/07388551.2013.794477
    This review article explores the therapeutic potential of various culinary-medicinal mushrooms, including Lion’s Mane, for the management of neurodegenerative diseases. It provides an overview of the bioactive compounds present in Lion’s Mane and discusses their mechanisms of action.
  4. Nagano, M., Shimizu, K., Kondo, R., Hayashi, C., Sato, D., Kitagawa, K., & Ohnuki, K. (2010). Reduction of depression and anxiety by 4 weeks Hericium erinaceus intake. Biomedical Research, 31(4), 231-237. doi: 10.2220/biomedres.31.231
    In this study, participants with mild anxiety and depression symptoms consumed Lion’s Mane extract for four weeks. The results showed significant reductions in depression and anxiety scores, suggesting its potential as a natural remedy for mood-related disorders.
  5. Wong, K. H., Naidu, M., David, R. P., Bakar, R., & Sabaratnam, V. (2012). Neuroregenerative potential of lion’s mane mushroom, Hericium erinaceus (Bull.: Fr.) Pers. (Higher Basidiomycetes), in the treatment of peripheral nerve injury (review). International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms, 14(5), 427-446. doi: 10.1615/IntJ
  6. Ramon, Martinez-marmol. Hericerin derivatives activates a pan-neurotrophic pathway in central hippocampal neurons converging to ERK1/2 signaling enhancing spatial memory. (2023). Crude and purified extracts of the nootropic mushroom H. erinaceus have BDNF-like neurotrophic activity both in cultured hippocampal neurons and in paradigm models of learning in vivo, leading to marked neurite outgrowth and improved memory. H. erinaceum mushroom characteristically contains aromatic and diterpene skeletons as active components, providing a large source of structurally related terpenoids, such as erinacines, hericenones, hericerins, hericenes, hericenols, and erinacerins that can have bioactivity.