Hericium

Synonym(s): monkey head mushroom, Hericium erinaceus, satyr's beard, bearded tooth fungus, lion's mane mushroom, medicinal mushroom, Pom-Pom mushroom, vital mushroom, Yamabushitake

Nutrient group: medicinal mushrooms

Sources and physiological effects

Dietary sources
Hericium (Hericium erinaceus) is not only in demand as an excellent edible mushroom, but is also known as a medical mushroom in traditional Chinese medicine.
Physiological functions
Immune system	Immunomodulation by increasing the activity of leukocytes. Activation of the intestinal NF-kappaB (nuclear factor-kappa B).
Blood	Normalization of the cholesterol level by lovastatin. By inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase, fhe natural statin reduces cholesterol synthesis and also increases LDL receptor synthesis.
Gastrointestinal	Direct inhibition of the pathogen Helicobacter pylori by the vital fungus.

Detailed information

Hericium - medicinal mushroom of TCM with traditional use

Hericium (Hericium erinaceus) is native to East Asia, North America and Northern Europe. The tree mushroom, also called monkey head mushroom or bearded hedgehog because of its strange appearance, is not only in demand as an excellent edible mushroom, but is also known in traditional Chinese medicine as a medical mushroom (1). Hericium is said to bring the organism back into balance after an unhealthy lifestyle and is used for all gastrointestinal complaints (2). The mushroom, which exclusively colonizes dying or dead wood of beech, oak and spruce (3), has been known for centuries as a food source, for healing and for tonics. But cultured production has only been possible since the middle of the last century (4). Since then, scientific interest in the healing effect of the fungus has also grown. Nutritiional aspects of Hericium have been confirmed, such as its high content of essential amino acids and potassium and sodium content. Additionally, a multiplicity of bioactive components such as β-glucan polysaccharide, lovastatin and erinacines have been found to exhibit neuroprotective, immunomodulating, lipid-lowering, antioxidative and anti-carcinogenic effects (2). Also, the gastroprotective effect of Hericium have been demonstrated in vitro and in animal models (5).

Effective protection for the gastric mucosa

Experiences from TCM practice show a potent effect of Hericium in inflammatory gastric mucosa changes, gastritis and ulcers. Scientific research has given the first indications of potential pharmaceutical mechanisms. Since there is a causal relationship between Helicobacter pylori infections and gastritides, Chinese researchers have investigated the effect of Hericium on H. pylori in vitro and have been able to demonstrate direct inhibition of the pathogen by the fungus (5). In addition, Hericium reduces the immigration of neutrophils into the gastric epithelium in animal models. These inflammatory mediators cause an increased production of reactive oxygen species, which cause oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation of the cell membranes and thus tissue damage (6). Oxidative stress is also reduced by stimulating the body's own antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase and catalase as well as antioxidative compounds of the Hericium fungus such as phenolic acids and polysaccharides. Another protective mechanism is the expression of the heat shock protein HSP70 in the mucosa cells stimulated by Hericium, which reduces the stress-induced denaturation and aggregation of intracellular proteins (6). A special function is performed by the mucus layer in the stomach, which protects the epithelium from aggressive hydrochloric acid. Hericium strengthens this protective barrier by stimulating the secretion of mucin glycoproteins.

Traditional use in cardiovascular disease and elevated cholesterol

Hericium is traditionally used for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases and elevated cholesterol. In vitro, Hericium has been identified as an inhibitor of LDL oxidation and HMG-CoA reductase activity. Oxidation of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) is a key factor in the pathogenesis of arteriosclerosis. Hericium thus also has therapeutic potential in the prevention of vascular diseases mediated by oxidative stress (7). In animal experiments with rats, after 28 days of substitution with Hericium, a reduced serum glucose level as well as a significant increase in serum insulin could be determined. In addition, significantly increased activity in catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione reductase was measured, indicating reduced oxidative stress. Due to proven blood sugar and lipid-lowering effects, Hericium is recommended for the complementary therapy in diabetes mellitus and for elevated cholesterol levels (8). The analysis of several medicinal and edible mushrooms showed that Hericium erinaceus had the highest concentration of lovastatin at 14.38 μg/g (9). By inhibiting the HMG-CoA reductase, this natural statin reduces cholesterol synthesis and also increases LDL receptor synthesis.

Improvement of the immune defense

The immunomodulating and strengthening defense of fungalβ-glucans is well known and has been scientifically confirmed many times. Bioactive compounds that stimulate the body's immune cells were also detected in Hericium. Several studies have shown that the colony-forming units of the macrophages are increased by β-glucans of Hericium during bacterial infestation. In addition, the expression of the inducible NO synthase mRNA is stimulated via activity increase of the transcription factor NF-κB and nitric oxide (NO) is increasingly produced (12) (13) (14). Hericium compounds indirectly activate natural killer cells (NK cells) through the induction of interleukin-12 in spleen cells. This immunoregulatory effect highlights the anticarcinogenic, cytotoxic effect of Hericium and the complementary therapeutic potential in oncology (13).

Hericium in complementary cancer therapy

The use of Hericium in complementary cancer therapy has been tested in practice. The molecular principles are now increasingly being confirmed in studies. The activation of NK cells (13) and macrophages is part of the tumour-related immune defense. In addition to the stimulation of the NK cells, the components also indicate increased T and B cell activity and an immune response via dectin-1 and TLR-2 signalling pathways, which play an important role in the immune system (14). Through the induction of IL-1β in macrophages at transcriptional level by the activity increase of NF-κB and NF-IL6, Hericium polysaccharides become interesting for complementary tumor treatment. Il-1β enhances the T cell response and indirectly activates B cells (15) (16). In-vitro studies of Hericium components on cytotoxicity in gastrointestinal tumors such as liver, colorectal and gastric cancer have been shown to be more effective effects with fewer side effects than treatment with 5-fluorouracil. These results were confirmed in animal models (17). Furthermore, metastasis inhibition and increased apoptosis rate of colon carcinoma cells were observed in a mouse model (18). The inhibition of angiogenesis was also observed and documented within the tumor of colon carcinoma mice (19). Lovastatin, already mentioned its effect on cholesterol, is increasingly being shown to also have an anticarcinogenic effect. The inhibition of the mevalonate pathway by lovastatin impairs the modification of Ras- and Rho-GTPases, which play key roles in the signalling pathways of tumor formation, metastasis and cell death (20).

Neurotropic and neuroregenerative effects of Hericium

For some years now, the neuroregenerative effects of Hericium erinaceus have been the focus of research. The molecular and biochemical mechanisms include the stimulation of neurite growth (21). The effects of Hericium on the nerve growth factor NGF have now been demonstrated in several studies (22) (23). Hericenones and erinacins in particular, isolated from the fruiting body of the fungus, stimulate NGF synthesis (24). Neurotropic factors are essential for the organization and maintenance of neuronal function, making them and their inducers interesting agents in the therapy of neurodegenerative diseases (25). Substances, that promote remyelination and regulates and protect normal myelination of the nerves are of particular interest. In cell cultures, Hericium showed a significant increase in myelin formation in nerve tissue (26) in contrast to a control. In the animal model, injured nerves showed a considerably faster regeneration of the axons and re-insertion of the motor end plates in the muscle by substitution with Hericium than in the control group. Substitution with vitamin B₁₂ (27) (28) also showed positive effects. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study with 50 to 80-year-old Japanese people, the findings on the neuroregenerative effect of Hericium were confirmed by a significant improvement in mild cognitive impairments after oral administration (29). The increase in NGF expression is also associated with the depression- and anxiety-relieving effect of the fungus. Thus, in a placebo-controlled study with 30 postmenopausal women, the clinical effects of Hericium were tested and after four weeks, significantly better values were recorded for postmenopausal symptoms, depression, sleep quality and anxiety than in the placebo group (24).

Indications

Effect	Indication	Dosage
Physiological effects at a low intake	For preventive use at times of increased risk of disease	1200 mg/d
	Therapeutic use for strengthening a reduced immune response and in immune dysfunctions	1200 mg/d
	To support and maintain healthy gastric mucosa, especially in gastritis & gastric ulcus	1200 mg/d
	Complementary therapy for normalization of cholesterol levels	1200 mg/d

Administration

General mode of administration
When	The medicinal fungus Hericium should be taken between meals.
Side effects
There are no known side effects to date.
Contraindications
No contraindications are known to date.

Interactions

Drug interactions
Statin (cholesterol reducer)	Lovastatin in Hericium is a natural statin and must be taken into account when taking additional statins
Nutrient interactions
Coenzyme Q10	Statins inhibit coenzyme Q10 biosynthesis; supplementation of coenzyme Q10 can significantly reduce side effects.

References

1) Zan, X. et al. 2015. Hericium erinaceus polysaccharide-protein HEG-5 inhibits SGC-7901 cell growth via cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Int J Biol Macromol. 76:242–53.
2) Khan, M. A. et al. 2013. Hericium erinaceus: an edible mushroom with medicinal values. J Complement Integr Med. doi: 10.1515/jcim-2013-0001.
3) Boddy, L., Wald, P. 2002. Creolophus (= Hericium) cirrhatus, Hericium erinaceus and H. coralloides in England. English Nature [Hrsg.]. English Nature Research Report Number 492.
4) Ko, H. G. et al. 2005. Comparative study of mycelial growth and basidiomata formation in seven different species of the edible mushroom genus Hericium. Bioresour Technol. 96(13):1439–44.
5) Liu, J. H. et al. 2016. Anti-Helicobacter pylori activity of bioactive components isolated from Hericium erinaceus. J Ethnopharmacol. 183:54–8.
6) Diling, C. et al. 2017. Extracts from Hericium erinaceus relieve inflammatory bowel disease by regulating immunity and gut microbiota. Oncotarget. 8(49):85838–57.
7) Qin, M. et al. 2016. Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Ethanol Extract of Lion's Mane Medicinal Mushroom, Hericium erinaceus (Agaricomycetes), in Mice with Ulcerative Colitis. Int J Med Mushrooms. 18(3):227–34.
8) Rahman, M. A. et al. 2014. Inhibitory effect on in vitro LDL oxidation and HMG Co-A reductase activity of the liquid-liquid partitioned fractions of Hericium erinaceus (Bull.) Persoon (Lion's Mane Mushroom). Biomed Res Int. 2014:828149.
9) Liang, B. et al. 2013. Antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic activities of aqueous extract of Hericium erinaceus in experimental diabetic rats. BMC Complement Altern Med. 13:253.
10) Cohen, N. et al. 2014. Chemical composition and nutritional and medicinal value of fruit bodies and submerged cultured mycelia of culinary-medicinal higher Basidiomycetes mushrooms. Int J Med Mushrooms. 16(3):273–91.
11) Hiraki, E. et al. 2017. Anti-obesity activity of Yamabushitake (Hericium erinaceus) powder in ovariectomized mice, and its potentially active compounds. J Nat Med. 71(3):482–91.
12) Kim, S. P. et al. 2012. Hericium erinaceus mushroom extracts protect infected mice against Salmonella Typhimurium-Induced liver damage and mortality by stimulation of innate immune cells. J Agric Food Chem. 60(22):5590–6.
13) Son, C. G. et al. 2006. Macrophage activation and nitic oxide production by water soluble components of Hericium erinaceum. Int Immunopharmacol. 6(8):1363–9.
14) Huang, M. et al. 2011. Mechanism of nitric oxide production in macrophages treated with medicinal mushroom extracts (review). Int J Med Mushrooms. 13(1):1–6.
15) Yim, M. H. et al. 2007. Soluble components of Hericium erinaceum induce NK cell activation via production of interleukin-12 in mice splenocytes. Acta Pharmacol Sin. 28(6):901–7.
16) Ren, L. et al. 2012. Antitumor activity of mushroom polysaccharides: a review. Food Funct. 3(11):1118–30.
17) Son, C. G. et al. 2006. Induction of murine interleukin-1 beta expression by water-soluble components from Hericium erinaceum. Acta Pharmacol Sin. 27(8):1058–64.
18) Li, Q. Z. et al. 2016. Structure elucidation of a bioactive polysaccharide from fruiting bodies of Hericium erinaceus in different maturation stages. Carbohydr Polym. 144:196–204.
19) Li, G. et al. 2014. Anticancer potential of Hericium erinaceus extracts against human gastrointestinal cancers. J Ethnopharmacol. 153(2):521–30.
20) Kim, S. P. et al. 2013. Hericium erinaceus (Lion's Mane) mushroom extracts inhibit metastasis of cancer cells to the lung in CT-26 colon cancer-transplanted mice. J Agric Food Chem. 61(20):4898–904.
21) Kim, S. P. et al. 2011. Composition and mechanism of antitumor effects of Hericium erinaceus mushroom extracts in tumor-bearing mice. J Agric Food Chem. 59(18):9861–9.
22) Lopez-Pedrera, C. et al. 2012. To cardiovascular disease and beyond: new therapeutic perspectives of statins in autoimmune disease and cancer. Curr Drug Targets. 13(6):829–41.
23) Sabaratnam, V. et al. 2013. Neuronal health – can culinary and medicinal mushrooms help? J Tradit Complement Med. 3(1):62–8.
24) Zhang, J. et al. 2016. The Neuroprotective Properties of Hericium erinaceus in Glutamate-Damaged Differentiated PC12 Cells and an Alzheimer's Disease Mouse Model. Int J Mol Sci. 17(11). pii: E1810.
25) Phan, C. W. et al. 2015. Therapeutic potential of culinary-medicinal mushrooms for the management of neurodegenerative diseases: diversity, metabolite, and mechanism. Crit Rev Biotechnol. 35(3):355–68.
26) Nagano, M. et al. 2010. Reduction of depression and anxiety by 4 weeks Hericium erinaceus intake. Biomed Res. 31(4):231–7.
27) Wittstein, K. et al. 2016. Corallocins A–C, Nerve Growth and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Inducing Metabolites from the Mushroom Hericium coralloides. J Nat Prod. 79(9):2264–9.
28) Kolotushkina, E. V. et al. 2003. The influence of Hericium erinaceus extract on myelination process in vitro. Fiziol Zh. 49(1):38–45.
29) Wong, K. H. et al. 2011. Peripheral Nerve Regeneration Following Crush Injury to Rat Peroneal Nerve by Aqueous Extract of Medicinal Mushroom Hericium erinaceus (Bull.: Fr) Pers. (Aphyllophoromycetideae). Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2011:580752.
30) Wong, K. H. et al. 2012. Neuroregenerative potential of lion's mane mushroom, Hericium erinaceus (Bull.: Fr.) Pers. (higher Basidiomycetes), in the treatment of peripheral nerve injury (review). Int J Med Mushrooms. 14(5):427–46.
31) Mori, K. et al. 2009. Improving effects of the mushroom Yamabushitake (Hericium erinaceus) on mild cognitive impairment: a double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial. Phytother Res. 23(3):367–72.
32) Vigna, L. et al. 2019. Hericium erinaceus Improves Mood and Sleep Disorders in Patients Affected by Overweight or Obesity: Could Circulating Pro-BDNF and BDNF Be Potential Biomarkers? Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2019:7861297.

References Interactions
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2) Gröber, U. 2011. Mikronährstoffe: Metabolic Tuning – Prävention – Therapie. WVG Wissenschaftliche Verlagsgesellschaft Stuttgart. 3. Auflage.
3) Gröber, U. 2014. Arzneimittel und Mikronährstoffe: Medikationsorientierte Supplementierung. WVG Wissenschaftliche Verlagsgesellschaft Stuttgart. 3. Auflage.