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Lion’s Mane Neurological Benefits and More

A fresh flush of lion's mane mushroom, ready to be used for lion's mane neurological benefits and more!

Hericium erinaceus, commonly known as lion’s mane mushroom, benefits the central nervous system. Additionally, lion’s mane has a wide range of other health benefits and medicinal properties. Thus far, research suggests that lion’s mane can impede the development of cancers, diabetes, lipidemia, depression, and neurodegenerative illnesses and potentially cure these diseases1. However, this article will focus on the neurological benefits of lion’s mane, including its antidepressant effects.
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Lion’s Mane Neurological Benefits for Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease

Nerve growth factor (NGF) from the brain’s cortex and hippocampus is crucial for healthy basal forebrain cholinergic neurons (BFCNs). Evidently, age-dependent decline of BFCNs is a major player in cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s disease1. As for lion’s mane’s neurological benefits, this mushroom contains metabolites that affect the central nervous system. In fact, these compounds enhance cognitive function and promote an increase in nerve growth factor (NGF). In one study, a herecinone from lion’s mane stimulated secretion of NGF in rat adrenal gland tumor cells in a test tube1.

Furthermore, hericenones from lion’s mane were able to protect neuronal cells from tunicamycin- and thaspigargin-toxicity in the endoplasmic reticulum. Thus, these hericenones may be able to help treat Alzheimer’s disease2. Also, erinacines A and S significantly decreased cortical and hippocampal amyloid plaque growth and induced hippocampal neurogenesis. These metabolites also raised insulin-degrading enzyme expression in lab mice3. Given these potent properties, these erinacines may be able to help treat neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s3,4,1).

Lion’s Mane Neurological Benefits Include Treating Depression

A research study investigated how taking a lion’s mane supplement affected depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, and binge eating in 77 volunteers5. The participants took three capsules per day with 80% mycelium extract and 20% fruiting body extract for eight weeks. Following eight weeks of taking lion’s mane supplement, their results indicated lion’s mane significantly alleviated anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders.

Currently, the majority of known metabolites from lion’s mane linked to antidepressant-like effects are primarily shown to possess NGF-inducing activity. More specifically, the bioactive compounds from lion’s mane that influence NGF to increase are hericenones and erinacines. Conveniently, the small molecular sizes of these two compounds enable them to cross the blood-brain barrier6.

According to Chong et al. (2020), hippocampal neurogenesis is a primary area for treating depression. Researchers have found that raised levels of NGF were linked with neurogenesis and neuroplasticity7. Further, these physiological pathways may bring about antidepressant-like effects6. In one study, a high-dose of lion’s mane ethanolic extract was chronically given to adult mice. As a result, the lion’s mane extract appeared to induce hippocampal neurogenesis and support survival of new hippocampal neurons8.

Apparently, the lion’s mane extract may promote NGF synthesis, a major biological pathway contributing to hippocampal neurogenesis6. NGF controls differentiation, cell division, and upkeep of neuronal cells. Interestingly, lion’s mane extracts enhanced NGF mRNA and protein expression in the hippocampus. Further, these results suggest that metabolites from lion’s mane extract could cross the blood-brain barrier, thus bringing about hippocampal neurogenesis8.

Neurotransmitter Regulation from Lion’s Mane that Treats Depression

In addition, regulation of neurotransmitters is also a common strategy to treat depression6. A study restraint stressed mice to decrease neurotransmitters in the mice’s hippocampus. As a result, providing chronic high-dose lion’s mane mycelium extract rebalanced the levels of serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine in the hippocampus of restraint stressed mice9. These findings show that lion’s mane may induce anti-depressant like effects in restraint stressed animals.

Anti-Inflammatory Pathway Promoted by Lion’s Mane that Treats Depression

In one study, amycenone was isolated from lion’s mane fruiting body extract to see how it would impact LPS-induced inflammation in mice10. Following short-term dosing of amycenone, the production rate for an inflammatory biochemical decreased. Also, the production rate for an anti-inflammatory biochemical increased. These results indicate that the antidepressant-like effects of amycenone manifested via anti-inflammatory pathways.

In addition, a separate study in mice used chronic dosing of lion’s mane mycelium9. The lion’s mane halted a rise in two hippocampal inflammatory biomarkers that were activated by chronic restraint stress in mice. Thus, this is another example of how the anti-depressant effects of lion’s mane connects to influencing inflammatory pathways6.

Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Pathway Affected by Lion’s Mane

Aside from increasing NGF, lion’s mane mycelium appeared to promote brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and other neurogenic pathways in mice9. Initially, the mice were exposed to chronic restraint stress. Subsequently, long-term dosing of lion’s mane ethanolic extract rebalanced BDNF and levels of other neurogenic biomarkers.

Further, the reinforcement of BDNF by lion’s mane may be through neurotransmitter regulation. Specifically, the neurotransmitters serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine can enhance BDNF expression11.

Overall, the findings from this research on lion’s mane antidepressant effects seem promising. However, more studies are needed to better determine how the compounds in lion’s mane create these antidepressant-like effects6.

Additional Health Benefits of Lion’s Mane

Additionally, there is a diverse range of metabolites that have been isolated from lion’s mane. These include hericenones, erinacine terpenoids, isoindolinones, and sterols1. Aside from the neurological benefits of lion’s mane, these compounds are antibiotic, anticarcinogenic, antidiabetic, and are able to protect the liver and kidneys. Furthermore, hericerins demonstrate cytotoxicity to cancer cell lines in lab testing, and the sterols in lion’s mane have anti-inflammatory effects1.

If you are wanting some fresh, home-grown lion’s mane to enjoy its numerous health benefits, feel free to check out my article on how to grow lion’s mane with a grow kit.

References

  1. Deshmukh S.K., Sridhar K. R., Gupta M.K. Hericium erinaceus – A rich source of diverse bioactive metabolites. Fungal Biotec. 2021, 1(2), 10-38.
  2. Phan C.W., Lee G.S., Hong S.L., Wong Y.T., Brkljača R., Urban S., Malek S.N., Sabaratnam, V. Hericium erinaceus (Bull.: Fr) Pers. cultivated under tropical conditions: isolation of hericenones and demonstration of NGF-mediated neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells via MEK/ERK and PI3K-Akt signaling pathways. Food & Function. 2014, 5(12), 3160-3169.
  3. Tsai-Teng T., Chin-Chu C., Li-Ya L., Wan-Ping C., Chung-Kuang L., Chien-Chang S., Chi-Ying H.F., Chien-Chih C., Shiao, Y. J. Erinacine A-enriched Hericium erinaceus mycelium ameliorates Alzheimer’s disease-related pathologies in APPswe/PS1dE9 transgenic mice. Journal of Biomedical Science. 2016, 23(1), 1-12.
  4. Chen C.C., Tzeng T.T., Chen C.C., Lee L.-Y., Chen W.-P., Shiao Y.-J., Shen C.-C. Erinacine S, a rare sesterterpene from the mycelia of Hericium erinaceus. Journal of natural products. 2016, 79(2), 438-441.
  5. Vigna L., Morella F., Agnelli G.M., Napolitano F., Ratto D., Occhinegro A., Di lorio C., Savino E., Girometta C., Brandalise F., Rossi P. Hericium erinaceus Improves mood and sleep disorders in patients affected by overweight or obesity: could circulating pro-BDNF and BDNF be potential biomarkers? Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2019, 2019. doi: 10.1155/2019/7861297
  6. Chong P.S., Fung M.-L., Wong K.H., Lim L.-W. Therapeutic potential of Hericium erinaceus for depressive disorder. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2019, 21(1), 163.
  7. Skaper S.D. The biology of neurotrophins, signaling pathways, and functional peptide mimetics of neurotrophins and their receptors. CNS Neurological Disorders – Drug Targets. 2008, 7, 46-62.
  8. Ryu S., Kim H.G., Kim J.Y., Kim S.Y., Cho K.O. Hericium erinaceus extract reduces anxiety and depressive behaviors by promoting hippocampal neurogenesis in the adult mouse brain. Journal of Medicinal Food. 2018, 21, 174-180.
  9. Chiu C.H., Chyau C.C., Chen C.C., Lee L.Y., Chen W.P., Liu J.L., Lin W.H., Mong M.C. Erinacine A-enriched Hericium erinaceus mycelium produces antidepressant-like effects through modulating BDNF/PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β signaling in mice. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2018, 19, 341.
  10. Yao W., Zhang J.-C., Dong C., Zhuang C., Hirota S., Inanaga K., Hashimoto K. Effects of amycenone on serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-10, and depression-like behavior in mice after lipopolysaccharide administration. Pharmacology Biochemistry & Behavior. 2015, 136, 7-12.
  11. Mahar I., Bambico F.R., Mechawar N., Nobrega J.N. Stress, serotonin, and hippocampal neurogensis in relation to depression and antidepresssant effects. Neuroscience & Behavioral Reviews. 2014, 38, 173-192.

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