Lion's Mane Research
40 peer-reviewed studies · Evidence score: 7/10
Effect of nutritional supports on malnutrition, cognition, function and biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease: a systematic review
Kocatürk RR et al. • The International journal of neuroscience (2023)
Better designed trials with holistic measures are needed to investigate the effect of nutritional support on the AD biomarkers, cognitive status, biochemical parameters and functional states.
- Better designed trials with holistic measures are needed to investigate the effect of nutritional support on the AD biomarkers, cognitive status, biochemical parameters and functional states.
- Also, more beneficial results can be obtained by examining the simultaneous effects of nutritional supplements with larger sample groups.
- Further research warranted to confirm findings
Medicinal Mushrooms in Colon Cancer Therapy: Mechanisms of Action of Bioactive Compounds and Therapeutic Potential
Bentharavithana J et al. • International journal of molecular sciences (2025)
Further research is needed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms and confirm the safety and efficacy of medicinal mushrooms as a holistic anti-colon cancer treatment.
- Therefore, there is a strong demand for innovative, affordable, and minimally invasive treatments such as medicinal mushrooms.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms and confirm the safety and efficacy of medicinal mushrooms as a holistic anti-colon cancer treatment.
- Further research warranted to confirm findings
Edible and Medicinal Fungi as Candidate Natural Antidepressants: Mechanisms and Nutritional Implications
Gong P et al. • Molecular nutrition & food research (2025)
Future research should address these gaps, emphasizing personalized interventions and advanced technologies for next-generation antidepressant foods.© 2025 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.
- Additionally, it discusses the use of EMFs in functional foods and dietary supplements, innovations like 3D food printing for depression-related issues, and synthetic biology for enhancing compound production.
- Artificial intelligence is used to model complex mechanisms.
- However, challenges remain, such as standardization and lack of clinical validation.
Application of Medicinal Mushrooms for the Treatment of Peripheral Nerve Injury: A Systematic Review
Taib NAB et al. • Medical sciences (Basel, Switzerland) (2026)
Conclusions: Despite presenting the potential use of mushrooms in managing PNIs, the existing approaches need to be subjected to clinical research to accelerate the development of future therapeutics and preventive measures for PNIs.
- Results: These mushroom-derived treatments enhanced the migration of Schwann cells mainly via the FGF-2 signalling and MAPK pathway.
- In vivo studies also revealed the ability of H. erinaceus, A. muscaria, and L. rhinocerotis to promote peripheral nerve repair and functional recovery, with evidence suggesting the role of neurotrophic factors, anti-apoptotic signalling, and pro-inflammatory substances.
- H. erinaceus was identified as the most promising for potential clinical applications, given the stronger evidence-based data and its relatively safer components compared to A. muscuria and other mushroom species.
Lion's Mane Mushroom (Hericium erinaceus): A Neuroprotective Fungus with Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, and Antimicrobial Potential-A Narrative Review
Contato AG et al. • Nutrients (2025)
The potential of H. erinaceus as a functional food, nutraceutical, and adjunct therapeutic agent highlights the need for interdisciplinary collaboration between researchers, clinicians, and regulatory bodies.
- Advances in biotechnological methods, including optimized cultivation techniques and novel extraction methods, may further enhance the bioavailability and pharmacological effects of H. erinaceus.
- Despite promising findings, clinical validation remains limited.
- Future research should prioritize large-scale clinical trials, the standardization of extraction methods, and the elucidation of pharmacokinetics to facilitate its integration into evidence-based medicine.
A review of the effects of mushrooms on mood and neurocognitive health across the lifespan
Cha S et al. • Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews (2024)
All rights reserved.
- Studies mainly investigated Lion's Mane (Hericium erinaceus), showing some enhancement of mood and cognitive function in middle-aged and older adults.
- Published by Elsevier Ltd..
- All rights reserved.
Morphology, anticancer and neurological activities of Hericium erinaceus
Alsoufi MH et al. • Brazilian journal of biology = Revista brasleira de biologia (2025)
In this study, we compiled a comprehensive inventory of bioactive compounds and examined their therapeutic capabilities, specifically focusing on their potential for exhibiting antiproliferative and neuroprotective pharmacological effects.
- H. erinaceus demonstrates various medicinal properties, including antimicrobial, anti-hypertensive, anti-diabetic, and positive wound-healing effects.
- Furthermore, it is worth noting that this substance consists of various physiologically vital constituents, specifically glucan polysaccharides, which exhibit anti-cancer, immunomodulatory, hypolipidemic, antioxidant, and neuroprotective properties.
- This review examines the scientific literature to gain insight into the latest research advancements concerning the potential health advantages of H. erinaceus.
Bioactive Polysaccharides from Hericium erinaceus: Extraction, Structure, Bioactivities, and Applications
Ge F et al. • Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (2025)
Additionally, it discusses the opportunities and challenges associated with scientific research and practical applications in this field.
- The common extraction method employed is water extraction followed by alcohol precipitation.
- HEPs exhibit a diverse array of biological activities, including immune enhancement, anti-tumor effects, anti-inflammatory properties, antioxidant capabilities, and antiviral functions.
- This paper provides a comprehensive review of recent advancements in the extraction, separation, purification, structural analysis, biological activity, and toxicity assessments of HEPs.
Hericium erinaceus: A possible future therapeutic treatment for the prevention and delayed progression of Alzheimer's disease? - A narrative review
Cornford N et al. • Nutrition research reviews (2025)
In conclusion, evidence suggests that intake of HE may be an appropriate and relevant future therapeutic treatment for the prevention and delayed progression of Alzheimer's disease; however, continued research is necessary to provide further significant evidence of this relationship, through an increased quantity of human clinical trials.
- In total, three human clinical trials and thirteen animal-model studies were included in review.
- The use of HE demonstrated positive significant differences in results obtained from behavioural, histological and biochemical assessments from both human clinical trials and animal model studies accentuating its utility for the improvement of cognitive function.
- In addition, erinacine-A-enriched HE appears to demonstrate the highest bioactive potency of all HE extracted compounds, providing the greatest effects while also showing transportability ease across biological barriers.
Medicinal Mushrooms: Their Bioactive Components, Nutritional Value and Application in Functional Food Production-A Review
Łysakowska P et al. • Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (2023)
This review focuses on the properties of selected medicinal mushrooms and their effects on the human organism and presents current knowledge on the possibilities of their use in the production of functional foods.
- Detailed mechanisms of the effects of medicinal mushrooms on the human organism still require long-term clinical studies to confirm their nutraceutical effects, their safety of use, and their dosage.
- Medicinal mushrooms have great potential to be used in the design of innovative functional foods.
- There is a need for further research on the possibility of incorporating mushrooms into food products to assess the interactions of their bioactive substances with ingredients in the food matrix.
Fungi as a source of bioactive molecules for the development of longevity medicines
Shevchuk Y et al. • Ageing research reviews (2023)
All rights reserved.
- Maitake or hen-of-the-woods), the genus Pleurotus (e.g. oyster mushrooms), and Agaricus subrufescens (i.e. the almond mushroom).
- We propose that further research on fungal extracts will provide a greater picture of the role fungi-derived bioactive molecules can have in developing longevity and neuroprotective medicines for humans.Copyright © 2023 The Authors.
- Published by Elsevier B.V.
Over the Counter Supplements for Memory: A Review of Available Evidence
Hersant H et al. • CNS drugs (2023)
The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.
- More rigorous studies are needed relative to the long-term use of these supplements in homogenous populations with standardized measurements of cognition.
- Health care providers need to be aware of any and all supplements their older adult patients may be consuming and be educated about their side effects and interactions with prescription medications.
- Lastly, the FDA needs to take an active position relative to monitoring marketed supplements regarding safety, purity and claims of efficacy.© 2023.
Hericium erinaceus, a medicinal fungus with a centuries-old history: Evidence in gastrointestinal diseases
Gravina AG et al. • World journal of gastroenterology (2023)
All rights reserved.
- In addition, some components of this mushroom appear to possess strong antineoplastic capabilities against gastric and colorectal cancer.
- This review aims to analyse all available evidence on the digestive therapeutic potential of this fungus as well as the possible underlying molecular mechanisms.©The Author(s) 2023.
- Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc.
Neuroprotective Herbs for the Management of Alzheimer's Disease
Gregory J et al. • Biomolecules (2021)
It is hoped that these medicinal plants can be used in drug discovery programs for identifying safe and efficacious small molecules for AD.
- Methods-This article systematically reviews recent studies that have investigated the role of neuroprotective herbs and their bioactive compounds for dementia associated with Alzheimer's disease and pre-Alzheimer's disease.
- PubMed Central, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases of articles were collected, and abstracts were reviewed for relevance to the subject matter.
- Conclusions-Medicinal plants have great potential as part of an overall program in the prevention and treatment of cognitive decline associated with AD.
The Monkey Head Mushroom and Memory Enhancement in Alzheimer's Disease
Yanshree et al. • Cells (2022)
In conclusion, Hericium erinaceus has therapeutic potential and may facilitate memory enhancement in patients with AD.
- A limited number of clinical studies have been conducted and several clinical trials are ongoing, which have thus far shown analogous outcomes to the preclinical studies.
- Nonetheless, future research on Hericium erinaceus needs to focus on elucidating the specific neuroprotective mechanisms and the target sites in AD.
- Additionally, standardized treatment parameters and universal regulatory systems need to be established to further ensure treatment safety and efficacy.
Chemical studies on bioactive compounds related to higher fungi
Kawagishi H • Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry (2021)
Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Japan Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Agrochemistry.
- We discovered antidementia compounds, hericenones C to H, from the fruiting bodies and erinacine A to I from the cultured mycelia of the fungus.
- Based on the data of the compounds, several clinical experiments were performed using the fungus. "Fairy rings" is a phenomenon that turfgrass grows more prolific or inhibited than the surrounding area as a ring and then occasionally mushrooms develop on the ring.
- We found fairy-ring causing principles "fairy chemicals" and the biosynthetic routes of the compounds on the purine metabolic pathway in plants and mushrooms.© The Author(s) 2021.
The use of Hericium erinaceus and Trametes versicolor extracts in supportive treatment in oncology
Winder M et al. • Acta pharmaceutica (Zagreb, Croatia) (2021)
The use of these extracts is justified stronger than the other supportive treat ments based on supplements.
- This review discusses two species of edible fungi, used for centuries in Eastern natural medicine, with the best-documented effect - Hericium erinaceus (He) and Trametes versicolor (Tv).
- The results of in vivo and in vitro studies conducted on mice and human cell lines demonstrate immunomodulatory, potentially, anticancer, anti-inflammatory and neuroregenerative effects of substances isolated from these fungi.
- The substances contained in the extracts of He and Tv seem to have immunomodulatory effects that may support chemotherapy.
Therapeutic applications of mushrooms and their biomolecules along with a glimpse of in silico approach in neurodegenerative diseases
Rai SN et al. • Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie (2021)
Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.
- In silico approaches provide an alternative method with low cost that has been successfully implemented to cure ND disorders in recent days.
- We also describe the applications of computational procedures such as molecular docking, virtual high-throughput screening, molecular dynamic (MD) simulation, quantum-mechanical methods for drug design.
- They were reported against various targets in NDs.Copyright © 2021.
Antitumor, Anti-Inflammatory and Antiallergic Effects of Agaricus blazei Mushroom Extract and the Related Medicinal Basidiomycetes Mushrooms, Hericium erinaceus and Grifola frondosa: A Review of Preclinical and Clinical Studies
Hetland G et al. • Nutrients (2020)
This article reviews preclinical and clinical findings with these mushrooms and the mechanisms behind them.
- Since a predominant Th2 milieu is also found in cancer, which quite often is caused by a local chronic inflammation, the three conditions-tumor, inflammation and allergy-seem to be linked.
- Further mechanisms for HE were increased nerve and beneficial gut microbiota growth, and oxidative stress regulation.
- The medicinal mushrooms AbM, HE and GF appear to be safe, and can, in fact, increase longevity in animal models, possibly due to reduced tumorigenesis and oxidation.
Therapeutic Potential of Hericium erinaceus for Depressive Disorder
Chong PS et al. • International journal of molecular sciences (2019)
This article critically reviews the current literature on the potential benefits of H. erinaceus as a treatment for depressive disorder as well as its mechanisms underlying the antidepressant-like activities.
- It has been used to treat cognitive impairment, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease.
- Bioactive compounds extracted from the mycelia and fruiting bodies of H. erinaceus have been found to promote the expression of neurotrophic factors that are associated with cell proliferation such as nerve growth factors.
- Although antidepressant effects of H. erinaceus have not been validated and compared to the conventional antidepressants, based on the neurotrophic and neurogenic pathophysiology of depression, H. erinaceus may be a potential alternative medicine for the treatment of depression.