Hericium erinaceus in Neurodegenerative Diseases: From Bench to Bedside and Beyond, How Far from the Shoreline?

Abstract

A growing number of studies is focusing on the pharmacology and feasibility of bioactive compounds as a novel valuable approach to target a variety of human diseases related to neurological degeneration. Among the group of the so-called medicinal mushrooms (MMs), Hericium erinaceus has become one of the most promising candidates. In fact, some of the bioactive compounds extracted from H. erinaceus have been shown to recover, or at least ameliorate, a wide range of pathological brain conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, depression, Parkinson’s disease, and spinal cord injury. In a large body of in vitro and in vivo preclinical studies on the central nervous system (CNS), the effects of erinacines have been correlated with a significant increase in the production of neurotrophic factors. Despite the promising outcome of preclinical investigations, only a limited number of clinical trials have been carried out so far in different neurological conditions. In this survey, we summarized the current state of knowledge on H. erinaceus dietary supplementation and its therapeutic potential in clinical settings. 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.

Olive mill solid waste induces beneficial mushroom-specialized metabolite diversity: a computational metabolomics study

“…Hericenones are unique specialized metabolites; more than 10 hericenone compounds (A–J) and isohericenone J were isolated from the FB of H. erinaceus . Hericenones C, D and E have been reported to have a stimulatory effect on the synthesis of nerve growth factor 45 , hericenone F to have anti-inflammatory activity 46 , and hericenone J and isohericenone J to have anticancer activities 47 .…”

Biologically active secondary metabolites from white-rot fungi

“…These compounds, including terpenoids (erinacines), phenols (hericenone AE), pyrones (erinapyrones AC), sterols (erinarol, hericerins, hericenes), fatty acids, and non-ribosomal peptides, exhibit various therapeutic effects such as anti-tumor, antibacterial, hypoglycemic, and neuroprotective activities. Around 20 of the 25 isolated diterpenoids extracted from H. erinaceus share a characteristic 5-6-7 tricarbocyclic fused core structure ( Kawagishi et al, 1992 ; Kawagishi et al, 1996 ; Lee et al, 2000 ; Li et al, 2001 ; Kenmoku et al, 2002 ; Kawagishi et al, 2006 ; Kobayashi et al, 2014 ; Lu et al, 2014 ; Friedman, 2015 ; Li et al, 2015 ; Wang et al, 2015 ; Brandalise et al, 2023 ).…”

Combination Therapy for Sustainable Fish Oil Products: Improving Cognitive Function with n-3 PUFA and Natural Ingredients

“…In addition, medicinal mushrooms are considered to serve as a primary ingredient alongside FO to enhance cognitive function. Specifically, Hericium erinaceus stands out as a wellestablished candidate among various culinary medicinal mushrooms for promoting a "healthy brain" [115]. The potential of H. erinaceus to improve cognitive function has been demonstrated in elderly cohorts with mild AD or MCI [116][117][118], although the molecular mechanisms underlying this effect have not been fully elucidated.…”