The medicinal properties of H. erinaceus include antioxidant, antimicrobial and anticancer effects [7]. Recently, interest has been placed on the potential neuroprotective and neuroregenerative properties of H. erinaceus [8,9]. These are likely underpinned by the numerous bioactive components identified within the mycelia and fruiting bodies of H. erinaceus, including polysaccharides, phenolic acids and terpenoids, specifically hericenones and erinacines [6,9]. Interestingly, both hericenones and erinacines can easily cross the blood–brain barrier [10]; promote nerve growth factor synthesis

February 28, 2025 - Preclinical studies have demonstrated that bioactive compounds in lion’s mane, such as hericenones and erinacines, can promote nerve growth factor (NGF) synthesis and potentially support neuroplasticity (1).

April 9, 2025 - Hericium erinaceus, commonly known as lion’s mane mushroom, has gained increasing scientific interest due to its rich composition of bioactive compounds and diverse health-promoting properties. This narrative review provides a comprehensive overview of the nutritional and therapeutic potential of H. erinaceus, with a particular focus on its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities.

November 3, 2023 - Positive effects of H. erinaceus have been observed in the treatment of cognitive disorders, Alzheimer’s disease, ischemic strokes, Parkinson’s disease, and age-related hearing impairment [15,21,22,23,24]. Promising results have also been obtained in the treatment of depressive disorders [25,26,27,28,29]. The studies referred to above were conducted on animal models (Figure 1). Figure 1. Examples of the neuroprotective and neurotrophic effects of the Lion’s Mane mushroom in preclinical studies [2,15,26,30,31,32,33,34,35,36,37,38,39,40,41,42,43,44,45,46,47,48,49,50,51,52,53,54,55,56,57,58,59,60,61].

Cognitive effects with Lion’s mane have been mixed based on small and short-duration clinical trials. Preclinical studies suggest that Lion’s mane may be able to increase levels of a molecule called nerve growth factor (NGF), which increases the length of nerve cell processes.

Positive effects of H. erinaceus have been observed in the treatment of cognitive disorders, Alzheimer’s disease, ischemic strokes, Parkinson’s disease, and age-related hearing impairment [15,21,22,23,24]. Promising results have also been obtained in the treatment of depressive disorders [25,26,27,28,29]. The studies referred to above were conducted on animal models (Figure 1). ... Examples of the neuroprotective and neurotrophic effects of the Lion’s Mane mushroom in preclinical studies [2,15,26,30,31,32,33,34,35,36,37,38,39,40,41,42,43,44,45,46,47,48,49,50,51,52,53,54,55,56,57,58,59,60,61].

While much research has focused ... bioactive compounds in lion’s mane, such as hericenones and erinacines, can promote nerve growth factor (NGF) synthesis and potentially support neuroplasticity (1)....

Deeply rooted in traditional Chinese ... properties (1). Erinacines derived from HE have been shown to stimulate the synthesis of neurotrophins such as nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), aiding in neuronal activity and survival (2). Lion’s mane ...

The bulk collected evidence underlies the urgent need to carry out further/wider clinical trials to prove the safety and efficacy of H. erinaceus supplementation, offering significant neuroprotective applications in brain pathologies. Keywords: Hericium erinaceus, erinacines, hericenones, ergothioneine, NGF, BDNF, depression, aging, Alzheimer, mild cognitive impairment

October 3, 2025 - The most encouraging human data come from lion’s mane (signals in mild cognitive impairment and a pilot in mild AD), while reishi has promising mechanisms but mixed early clinical results, and cordyceps/chaga remain primarily preclinical. Across species, proposed actions -- calming neuroinflammation, boosting antioxidant defenses, nudging neurotrophins (NGF/BDNF), supporting autophagy, and helping mitochondrial and vascular function -- map to pathways relevant to cognitive aging.

January 31, 2023 - A recent study has determined that erinacine A and hericenones C and D were capable of slowing cognitive decline in a model of frailty (Ratto et al., 2019). The neuroprotective effects were attributed to the ability of these molecules to elicit NGF (Mori et al., 2009) and BDNF synthesis (Chiu et al., 2018). In agreement with previous studies, we identified that polysaccharides isolated from H. erinaceus extracts also exert a neurotrophic activity.

June 3, 2025 - The medicinal mushroom lion’s mane (Hericium erinaceus) is suggested to have therapeutic potential for neurological disorders due to its neuroprotective and neurotrophic properties.

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April 1, 2025 - A small trial of 41 participants ... Mane per day for 4 weeks [4]. More benefits seem to occur in older adults with mild cognitive impairment taking at least 3g daily over 12+ weeks [5,6]. ... In mice, Lion’s Mane improved ...

While research is still in its early stages, growing evidence indicates that these mushrooms may play a role in reducing inflammation, protecting against neurodegeneration, and enhancing mental performance. In this article, we explore what modern medical research reveals about lion’s mane and its potential role in neuroprotection. Lion’s mane mushrooms contain hericenones and erinacines, two powerful compounds known to stimulate nerve growth factor (NGF).

Studies of normal mice: Lion’s mane treatment in healthy mice increased the mRNA of NGF in the · hippocampus (Mori et al, 2008). In young, healthy mice, lion’s mane treatment also improved cognition · and improved neurotransmission in hippocampal slices (Brandalise et al, 2017). In aged mice (15-month-old mice), treatment with lion’s mane (ergothioneine-rich primordium extract · in drink) for 8 months prevented cognitive decline (measured by the novel object recognition test and · the Y-maze test)(Roda et al., 2023).

Hericium erinaceus, an ideal culinary-medicinal mushroom, has become a well-established candidate in promoting positive brain and nerve health-related activities by inducing the nerve growth factor from its bioactive ingredient. Among its active compounds, only erinacine A has confirmed ...

Hericenones and erinacines isolated from the medicinal mushroom Hericium erinaceus can induce NGF synthesis in nerve cells. In this study, we evaluated the synergistic interaction between H. erinaceus aqueous extract and exogenous NGF on the ...