Lion's Mane has anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective and antidepressant potential and can increase the adaptive capacity of the nervous system to cope with difficult external factors (both on the physical and psychological level). More and more scientific research is being carried out on the medicinal properties of lion's mane, including its possible use in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. It can also be used to support cognitive functions in people after strokes and suffering from the so-called mental fog.

Lion's Mane mycelium in traditional medicine

Hericium erinaceus (Lion's Mane, yamabushitake) grows on old or dead deciduous trees and is used as a food and medicine in parts of Asia. 

In Chinese it is called hóu tóu gū ("monkey's head mushroom") and in Japanese yamabushitake ("upper monk's mushroom"). In the Chinese and Japanese medical systems, it was traditionally used to strengthen the spleen, nourish the intestines, and as an anti-cancer drug.  

Lion's Mane mycelium , according to traditional lore, is nourishing for the five internal organs (liver, lungs, spleen, heart and kidneys) and promotes good digestion, overall vitality and strength. It is also recommended for gastric and duodenal ulcers and chronic gastritis.

The mushroom is also known for its effects on the central nervous system and is used to treat insomnia, limpness (weakness), and hypodynamia, which are the hallmark symptoms of Qi deficit in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).

Adaptogens from Lion's Mane mushrooms – scientific research

Modern medicine is slowly recognizing the enormous potential of mushrooms. Over the last few decades, science has begun to look for other potential uses of mushrooms, apart from food - their nutritional and cholesterol-lowering properties are well known.

Scientists and physicians now have greater access to mycelium extracts, which are used clinically for their anticancer, cardiovascular, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects. Functional studies and chemical analyzes also confirm their potential as analgesic, antibacterial, antioxidant and neuroprotective agents.  

Lion's Mane mycelium for brain and nervous system health

Lion's Mane is such a case study - both its mycelium and fruiting bodies show therapeutic potential for brain and nerve health. 

• According to the results of a study conducted in animals modeling global ischemic stroke, the mycelium of Hericium erinaceus and the compounds isolated from it (the diterpenoid derivative, erinacin A) reduced the area of ​​ischemia by 22% at a dose of 50 mg/kg and by 44% at a dose of 300 mg/kg.

It was thought that this effect was partially related to the ability of substances derived from the plant to reduce the level of cytokines (pro-inflammatory toxins).

• Another study showed that hericerins and erinacins (substances found in Lion's Mane) isolated from the mushroom have neuroprotective properties - they protect nerve cells from degradation in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease, thereby slowing down the progression of the disease, delaying its appearance or completely preventing it .

• In laboratory tests have shown that certain carbohydrates (polysaccharides) isolated from Lion's Mane delay the process of destruction of nerve cells by up to 20-50% - therefore they also have a protective effect on neurons.

The same researchers tested the ability of substances contained in the lion's mane to stimulate the growth of adrenal cells and nerve cell endings in rats. The study showed the potential of the fungus in this regard.

• In a behavioral test in wild-type mice, oral supplementation with H. erinaceus resulted in statistically significant improvements in short-term spatial and visual memory.

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial conducted in Japanese male and female patients aged 50 to 80 years diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment, oral intake of Lion's Mane tablets (at a dose of 250 mg three times daily for 16 weeks) was associated with significant improvement in the Hasegawa Dementia Scale (HDS-R) compared to the control group. Unfortunately, the effects did not last long after the end of therapy.  

The antidepressant potential of Lion's Mane

Currently, there are several hypotheses regarding the factors contributing to the occurrence of depression:

• The neurotrophic hypothesis of depression concerns the adaptation of the nervous system and the inability of the nervous system to adequately respond or adapt in response to aversive stimuli or stress, which leads to depression.

• The monoamine hypothesis of depression suggests that the main symptoms and signs of depression are related to a deficiency in the transmission of neurotransmitter and modulator (monoamine) systems, including noradrenaline, serotonin and/or dopamine.

• The inflammatory hypothesis states that depressive disorders are associated with an increase in the expression of various pro-inflammatory substances in both the central and peripheral nervous systems.

Preclinical and clinical studies have shown that H. erinaceus significantly alleviates depressive disorders by acting in several ways: by influencing the expression of neurotransmitters and neuromodulators, influencing the adaptive abilities of the nervous system and having anti-inflammatory effects. It indicates the potential role of H. erinaceus as a complementary and alternative therapy in the treatment of depression.

Nevertheless, current research on the antidepressant effects of H. erinaceus is still relatively in its early stages, and the specific mechanisms underlying its antidepressant effects require further investigation.

Summary

The analysis of the research conducted by Polish researchers indicates that research on H. erinaceus and its neuroprotective properties has shown promising results and is an excellent starting point for further research aimed at gaining a deeper understanding of this species and preparing potential drugs/dietary supplements.

According to the authors, mushrooms have great potential as polypharmaceutical drugs due to their rich and complex chemistry and various forms of bioactivity. They contain many chemical compounds, such as polysaccharides, triterpenes, alkaloids, flavonoids and other ingredients that have potential therapeutic effects.  

The potential antidepressant effect of the mushroom, given the common occurrence of depression and mood disorders, makes the mushroom an even more interesting subject of scientific research.

As Polish researchers point out, the standardization of dietary supplements based on medicinal mushrooms is still in the early stages of development. There are no uniform standards and protocols regarding the quality and composition of mushroom supplements.  

Such standards would contribute to the development of more advanced and personalized therapies based on medicinal mushrooms and enable consumers to benefit from high-quality products with health benefits.

In our online store you will find an extract containing the full spectrum of ingredients of the Lion's Mane mushroom in the form of convenient drops: Ollywell Lions Mane 30ml – Lion's Mane extract in drops

Sources:

1. Chong P. S. et al. Therapeutic Potential of Hericium erinaceus for Depressive Disorder, Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020: https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/21/1/163?ref=bewusstschlafen.de 

3. Spelman K et al. Neurological Activity of Lion's Mane (Hericium erinaceus), Journal Compilation 2017: https://scholar.googleusercontent.com/scholar?q=cache:oUXIOvUJ0NsJ:scholar.google.com/+Lion%E2%80%99s+Mane,+ Hericium+erinaceus&hl=pl&as_sdt=0.5&as_vis=1 

4. Tovato A et al. Redox modulation of cellular stress response and lipoxin A4 expression by Hericium Erinaceus in rat brain: relevance to Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis, Immun Aging. 2016 : https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4938991/ 

5. Zhang J et al. The neuroprotective properties of Hericium erinaceus in glutamate-damaged differentiated PC12 cells and an Alzheimer's disease mouse model. Int J Mol Sci. 2016: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27809277/ 

6. Kuo HC et al. Hericium erinaceus mycelium and its isolated erinacine A protection from MPTP-induced neurotoxicity through the ER stress, triggering an apoptosis cascade, J Transl Med, 2016: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26988860/ 

7. Nakatsugawa M et al. Hericium erinaceum (yamabushitake) extract-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome monitored by serum surfactant proteins, Intern Med 2003: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14714963/ 

8. Szućko-Kociuba I et al. Neurotrophic and Neuroprotective Effects of Hericium erinaceus, Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023: https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/24/21/15960