Getting Started With Mushroom Extracts

This study explored how Lion’s Mane mushroom (Hericium erinaceus) promotes brain cell growth and protects neurons.

Researchers isolated bioactive compounds from the mushroom’s mycelium and found that erincine A, a cyathane diterpenoid, and another compound enhanced nerve growth factor (NGF)-induced neurite outgrowth, meaning they helped brain cells form new connections.

Additionally, these compounds protected neurons from damage when NGF was removed, suggesting a neuroprotective effect.

The findings indicate that Lion’s Mane supports brain health by activating NGF-related pathways and encouraging nerve regeneration, making it a promising natural tool for cognitive support and neuroprotection.

This clinical study explored how Lion’s Mane mushroom (Hericium erinaceus) might support mental well-being, sleep quality, and menopause-related symptoms.

Over four weeks, women who consumed Lion’s Mane-reported significantly lower levels of depression, anxiety, and stress-related symptoms compared to those taking a placebo.

Participants also showed improvements in focus, mood stability, and reduced heart palpitations. These findings suggest that Lion’s Mane may help regulate mood and reduce stress through a mechanism beyond its well-known nerve growth factor (NGF) stimulation, making it a promising natural option for mental well-being and nervous system support.

This study suggests that Lion’s Mane mushroom (Hericium erinaceus) supports brain health by positively influencing the gut microbiome.

Researchers found that consuming Lion’s Mane extract promoted the growth of beneficial gut bacteria while reducing harmful bacteria, demonstrating a prebiotic effect. This shift in the microbiome was linked to reduced inflammation in the hippocampus, a brain region critical for memory, and improved cognitive function in aging mice.

The findings highlight the potential of nutrition-based interventions, like Lion’s Mane, to protect against age-related cognitive decline by modulating the gut-brain axis and reducing neuroinflammation.

This clinical study investigated whether Lion’s Mane mushroom (Hericium erinaceus) could improve cognitive function in humans.

In a 12-week randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, participants who took Lion’s Mane supplements showed significant improvement in cognitive function, particularly in the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), which assesses memory and mental processing.

The results suggest that bioactive compounds like hericenones may help support brain function and slow cognitive decline. The study also confirmed that Lion’s Mane is safe to consumeand may be a convenient, natural way to support brain health and potentially prevent dementia.

The findings highlight the potential of nutrition-based interventions, like Lion’s Mane, to protect against age-related cognitive decline by modulating the gut-brain axis and reducing neuroinflammation.

This clinical trial tested whether Lion’s Mane mushroom (Hericium erinaceus) could help improve mild cognitive impairment in older adults.

Over 16 weeks, participants aged 50–80 who took 250 milligrams of Lion’s Mane powder three times daily showed significant improvements in cognitive function compared to the placebo group, with their scores increasing the longer they took the supplement.

However, once they stopped taking Lion’s Mane, their cognitive improvements declined, suggesting that consistent supplementation is key. No adverse effects were reported, reinforcing Lion’s Mane’s safety and potential as a natural cognitive enhancer for aging individuals.

This study suggests that Lion’s Mane mushroom (Hericium erinaceus) may help protect against memory loss and cognitive decline, particularly in conditions like Alzheimer’s disease.

Researchers tested an ethanolic extract of Lion’s Mane on zebrafish with scopolamine-induced memory impairment, a model often used to mimic Alzheimer’s-like symptoms. The fish that received the extract showed improved memory and brain function, as confirmed by behavioural and biochemical tests.

These findings suggest that Lion’s Mane may have both preventive and therapeutic potential for managing memory deficits and oxidative stress in the brain, supporting its traditional use in cognitive health.

This study suggests that Lion’s Mane mushroom (Hericium erinaceus) may improve mental performance and reduce stress, even in healthy young adults.

In a controlled experiment, participants who took Lion’s Mane performed a mental task faster just 60 minutes after a single dose, and after 28 days of daily supplementation, they showed signs of lower stress levels.

While the study was small and more research is needed, the results hint that Lion’s Mane could enhance cognitive function and mood—not just in older or impaired individuals, but also in young, healthy adults.

This study found that Lion’s Mane mushroom (Hericium erinaceus) may help the brain form and repair myelin, the protective coating around nerve fibers that helps signals travel quickly and efficiently.

Researchers discovered that compounds from the mushroom, specifically HeA and HeS, encouraged brain cells to develop into myelin-producing cells and increased the levels of myelin protein in nerve fibers.

When newborn rats were given Lion’s Mane extract, they showed higher levels of myelin in their brains, suggesting that this mushroom could support brain development and aid in myelin repair, which may be helpful for conditions affecting nerve function.

This study found that Lion’s Mane mushroom contains special compounds that help the brain grow and repair nerve cells. Researchers discovered two key compounds, NDPIH and Hericene A, which help brain cells form new connections and grow stronger, even in conditions where they normally wouldn’t.

They also found that these compounds work through multiple pathways, not just the typical ones linked to brain growth, making them even more powerful. When mice were given Lion’s Mane extract, they showed better memory and brain function, suggesting that this mushroom could naturally support brain health and cognitive performance.