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Marked improvement of neurocognitive impairment after treatment with compounds from Hericium erinaceum: A case study of recurrent depressive disorder
... In an 86-year-old male patient with recurrent depressive disorder and mild cognitive impairment which developed during antidepressant therapy, Mirtazapine treatment was combined with H. erinaceus extract (formulation Amyloban ® 3399) [151]. At 6 months of H. erinaceus daily intake, the patient was free of depression and he showed improved cognitive function and body weight in the absence of adverse reactions, suggesting that H. erinaceus could be a useful antidepressant, especially in geriatric depression [151]. ...
... In an 86-year-old male patient with recurrent depressive disorder and mild cognitive impairment which developed during antidepressant therapy, Mirtazapine treatment was combined with H. erinaceus extract (formulation Amyloban ® 3399) [151]. At 6 months of H. erinaceus daily intake, the patient was free of depression and he showed improved cognitive function and body weight in the absence of adverse reactions, suggesting that H. erinaceus could be a useful antidepressant, especially in geriatric depression [151]. ...
... H. erinaceus extract (Amyloban ® ) daily for 6 months combined with Mirtazapine. Combats depression, and improves cognitive function and body weight in the absence of adverse reactions [151]. H. erinaceus extract (Amyloban ® 3399) intake for 4 weeks counteracts sleep disturbances in a pilot study on female undergraduate students. ...
Recent studies focused on the pharmacology and feasibility of herbal compounds as a potential strategy to target a variety of human diseases ranging from metabolic to brain disorders. Accordingly, bioactive ingredients which are found within a variety of herbal compounds are reported to produce both neuroprotective and psychotropic activities which may help to combat mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances and cognitive alterations. In the present manuscript, we focus on three herbs which appear effective in mitigating anxiety or depression with favourable risk-benefit profiles, namely Scutellaria baicalensis (S. baicalensis), Hericium erinaceus (H. erinaceus) and Rhodiola rosea (R. rosea). These three traditional folk medicinal herbs target the main biochemical events that are implicated in mental disorders, mimicking, to some extent, the mechanisms of action of conventional antidepressants and mood stabilizers with a wide margin of tolerability. In detail, they rescue alterations in neurotransmitter and neuro-endocrine systems, stimulate neurogenesis and the synthesis of neurotrophic factors, and they counteract oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction and inflammation. Albeit the encouraging results that emerge from both experimental and clinical evidence, further studies are needed to confirm and better understand the mental-health promoting, and specifically, the antidepressant effects of these herbs.
... Ethanol extract Promotion of anxiolytic and antidepressant-like effects, and hippocampal neurogenesis (in vivo) [86] Amycenone (standardized powder) Amelioration of depression-like behavior in LPS-induced inflammation (in vivo) [87] Erinacine A-enriched mycelium Amelioration of depression-like behavior in repeated restraint stress-induced behavioral deficits (in vivo) [88] Cookies incorporated with mushroom powder Reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression (clinical trial) [90] Amyloban ® 3399 (standardized powder) Amelioration of cognitive deficits in recurrent depressive disorder (clinical trial) [91] Amyloban ® 3399 (standardized powder) Reduced symptoms of anxiety and improvement in sleep quality (clinical trial) [92] Micotherapy Hericium (extract of mycelium and fruitbodies) ...
... The consumption of cookies containing 0.5 g H. erinaceus powdered fruitbodies over a period of 4 weeks alleviated the symptoms of depression, anxiety, frustration and palpitation, as measured through a structured questionnaire using the Kupperman Menopausal Index (KMI), Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Indefinite Complaints Index (ICI). A study by Inanaga [91] reported improvements in neurocognitive function after treatment with Amyloban ® 3399 (tablets of standardized extracts of H. erinaceus) in an 86-year-old male patient with recurrent depressive disorder. A pilot study by Okamura et al. [92] on female undergraduate students with sleep disorders found that administration of Amyloban ® 3399 for 4 weeks increased saliva levels of free 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG), a biological index of anxiety disorders. ...
Depression is the most common form of mental illness and the major cause of disability worldwide. Symptoms of depression, including feelings of intense sadness and hopelessness, may occur after a specific event or in response to a gradual decline in health and functional status, often associated with aging. Current therapies for treating these symptoms include antidepressant drugs, counseling and behavioral therapy. However, antidepressant drugs are associated with mild to severe adverse effects, which has prompted the need for better treatment options. Medicinal mushrooms are valuable
sources of food and medicine and are increasingly being used as supplements or as alternative medicines in standard healthcare. Numerous studies have provided insights into the neuroprotective effects of medicinal mushrooms, which are attributed to their antioxidant, anti-neuroinflammatory, cholinesterase inhibitory and neuroprotective properties. In this review, we comprehensively examine the role of these medicinal mushrooms in the treatment of depression. However, to apply these natural products
in clinical settings, the therapeutic agent needs to be properly evaluated, including the active ingredients, the presence of synergistic effects, efficient extraction methods, and stabilization of the active ingredients for delivery into the body as well as crossing the blood-brain barrier.
... Ethanol extract Promotion of anxiolytic and antidepressant-like effects, and hippocampal neurogenesis (in vivo) [86] Amycenone (standardized powder) Amelioration of depression-like behavior in LPS-induced inflammation (in vivo) [87] Erinacine A-enriched mycelium Amelioration of depression-like behavior in repeated restraint stress-induced behavioral deficits (in vivo) [88] Cookies incorporated with mushroom powder Reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression (clinical trial) [90] Amyloban ® 3399 (standardized powder) Amelioration of cognitive deficits in recurrent depressive disorder (clinical trial) [91] Amyloban ® 3399 (standardized powder) Reduced symptoms of anxiety and improvement in sleep quality (clinical trial) [92] Micotherapy Hericium (extract of mycelium and fruitbodies) ...
... The consumption of cookies containing 0.5 g H. erinaceus powdered fruitbodies over a period of 4 weeks alleviated the symptoms of depression, anxiety, frustration and palpitation, as measured through a structured questionnaire using the Kupperman Menopausal Index (KMI), Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Indefinite Complaints Index (ICI). A study by Inanaga [91] reported improvements in neurocognitive function after treatment with Amyloban ® 3399 (tablets of standardized extracts of H. erinaceus) in an 86-year-old male patient with recurrent depressive disorder. A pilot study by Okamura et al. [92] on female undergraduate students with sleep disorders found that administration of Amyloban ® 3399 for 4 weeks increased saliva levels of free 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG), a biological index of anxiety disorders. ...
Depression is the most common form of mental illness and the major cause of disability worldwide. Symptoms of depression including feelings of intense sadness and hopelessness may occur after a specific event or in response to a gradual decline in health and functional status, often associated with ageing. Current therapies for treating these symptoms include antidepressant drugs, counseling and behavioral therapy. However, antidepressant drugs are associated with mild to severe adverse effects, which has prompted the need for better treatment options. Medicinal mushrooms are valuable sources of food and medicine and are increasingly being used as supplements or as alternative medicines in standard healthcare. Numerous studies have provided insights into the neuroprotective effects of medicinal mushrooms, which is attributed to their antioxidant, anti-neuroinflammatory, cholinesterase inhibitory and neuroprotective properties. In this review, we comprehensively examine the role of these medicinal mushrooms in the treatment of depression. However, to apply these natural products in clinical settings, the therapeutic agent needs to be properly evaluated, including the active ingredients, presence of synergistic effects, efficient extraction methods and stabilization of the active ingredients for delivery into the body as well as crossing the blood-brain barrier.
... In 2014, Inanaga and collaborators described a case-report of an 86-year-old male patients affected by recurrent depressive disorder which presented an improvement in neurocognition after treatment with a standardized extract of amycenone and hericenones, Amyloban ® 3399. However, mirtazapine, an antidepressant drug, was also administered together with Amyloban ® 3399, making it difficult to assess whether the alleviation of depression symptoms was a result of mirtazapine or Amyloban ® 3399, or both [123]. ...
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.
... Commonly found in edible mushrooms. A case study showed that an 86-year-old male MDD patient treated with fruiting bodies for 6 months was cured to remission [86]. These results constitute a promising body of preliminary evidence for the potential use of H. erinaceus as a dietary supplement in patients with affective disorders. ...
Dietary interventions for people suffering from major depressive disorder (MDD) are an ongoing field of research. In this article, we present a comprehensive background for understanding the possibility of using edible medicinal mushrooms as an adjunctive treatment for MDD. We start with a brief history of MDD, its diagnosis, epidemiology and treatment, and the effects of diet on depression symptoms, followed by a review of neurobiological, behavioral, and clinical studies of medicinal mushrooms. We specifically highlight the results of preclinical and clinical studies on dietary supplementation with three selected mushroom species: Lion’s mane (Hericium erinaceus), Caterpillar mushroom (Cordyceps militaris), and Lingzhi/Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum). Preliminary small-sample clinical studies suggest that Lion’s mane can influence well-being of humans. In the case of Reishi, the results of clinical studies are equivocal, while in the case of Caterpillar Mushroom, such studies are underway. Edible mushrooms contain 5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan (5-HTP), which is a direct precursor of serotonin—a neurotransmitter targeted in pharmacotherapy of MDD. Therefore, in light of the well-recognized role of stress as a pathogenic factor of MDD, we also describe the neurobiological mechanisms of the interaction between stress and serotonergic neurotransmission; and summarize the current state of knowledge on dietary supplementation with 5-HTP in MDD.
... HE has been shown to possess pharmacological activity that can improve neurological conditions, including cognitive impairment [18], Alzheimer's disease [19], and Parkinson's disease [20]. Recently, HE was shown to ameliorate depressive-like symptoms in both preclinical [21][22][23] and clinical studies [24][25][26][27][28]. Several pathways have been reported to be involved in the antidepressant effects of HE, including anti-inflammatory pathways [21], neurogenic and neurotrophic modulation [22,23], and monoamine modulation [23]. ...
Background: Depression is a severe neuropsychiatric disorder that affects more than 264 million people worldwide. The efficacy of conventional antidepressants are barely adequate and many have side effects. Hericium erinaceus (HE) is a medicinal mushroom that has been reported to have therapeutic potential for treating depression.
Methods: Animals subjected to chronic restraint stress were given 4 weeks HE treatment. Animals were then screened for anxiety and depressive-like behaviours. Gene and protein assays, as well as histological analysis were performed to probe the role of neurogenesis in mediating the therapeutic effect of HE. Temozolomide was administered to validate the neurogenesis-dependent mechanism of HE.
Results: The results showed that 4 weeks of HE treatment ameliorated depressive-like behaviours in mice subjected to 14 days of restraint stress. Further molecular assays demonstrated the 4-week HE treatment elevated the expression of several neurogenesis-related genes and proteins, including doublecortin, nestin, synaptophysin, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB), phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase, and phosphorylated cAMP response element-binding protein (pCREB). Increased bromodeoxyuridine-positive cells were also observed in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus, indicating enhanced neurogenesis. Neurogenesis blocker temozolomide completely abolished the antidepressant-like effects of HE, confirming a neurogenesis-dependent mechanism. Moreover, HE induced anti-neuroinflammatory effects through reducing astrocyte activation in the hippocampus, which was also abolished with temozolomide administration.
Conclusion: HE exerts antidepressant effects by promoting neurogenesis and reducing neuroinflammation through enhancing the BDNF-TrkB-CREB signalling pathway.
... A case study was reported by Inanaga [112] about the treatment with HE of an 86-year-old subject with recurrent depressive disorder suffering mild cognitive impairment during antidepressant therapy with mirtazapine. After 6 months of the intake of HE extracts in the form of Amyloban ® 3399 (US patent pending. ...
Medicinal mushrooms have important health benefits and exhibit a broad spectrum of pharmacological activities, including antiallergic, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, antiviral, cytotoxic, immunomodulating, antidepressive, antihyperlipidemic, antidiabetic, digestive, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, nephroprotective, osteoprotective, and hypotensive activities. The growing interest in mycotherapy requires a strong commitment from the scientific community to expand clinical trials and to propose supplements of safe origin and genetic purity. Bioactive compounds of selected medicinal mushrooms and their effects and mechanisms in in vitro and in vivo clinical studies are reported in this review. Besides, we analyzed the therapeutic use and pharmacological activities of mushrooms.
... Additionally, Hericium erinaceus has also been shown to improve the hippocampal-dependent recognition memory with enhancement of neurotransmission and neurogenesis in the hippocampus and the cerebellum 13,20 . Recent in-vivo and clinical studies in early cognitive decline and depression suggest it has the potential to ameliorate cognitive and neurological deficits [21][22][23][24][25][26] . ...
Cerebellar ataxia is a neurodegenerative disorder with no definitive treatment. Although several studies have demonstrated the neuroprotective effects of Hericium erinaceus (H.E.), its mechanisms in cerebellar ataxia remain largely unknown. Here, we investigated the neuroprotective effects of H.E. treatment in an animal model of 3-acetylpyridine (3-AP)-induced cerebellar ataxia. Animals administered 3-AP injection exhibited remarkable impairments in motor coordination and balance. There were no significant effects of 25 mg/kg H.E. on the 3-AP treatment group compared to the 3-AP saline group. Interestingly, there was also no significant difference in the 3-AP treatment group compared to the non-3-AP control, indicating a potential rescue of motor deficits. Our results revealed that 25 mg/kg H.E. normalised the neuroplasticity-related gene expression to the level of non-3-AP control. These findings were further supported by increased protein expressions of pERK1/2-pCREB-PSD95 as well as neuroprotective effects on cerebellar Purkinje cells in the 3-AP treatment group compared to the 3-AP saline group. In conclusion, our findings suggest that H.E. potentially rescued behavioural motor deficits through the neuroprotective mechanisms of ERK-CREB-PSD95 in an animal model of 3-AP-induced cerebellar ataxia.
... In 2014, Inanaga et al. reported an improvement in neurocognitive function after treatment with Amyloban ® 3399 (tablets of standardized extract) in an 86-year-old male patient with recurrent depressive disorder [78]. However, mirtazapine, an antidepressant drug was also administered together with Amyloban ® 3399. ...
Depression is a common and severe neuropsychiatric disorder that is one of the leading causes of global disease burden. Although various anti-depressants are currently available, their efficacies are barely adequate and many have side effects. Hericium erinaceus, also known as Lion’s mane mushroom, has been shown to have various health benefits, including antioxidative, antidiabetic, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antihyperglycemic, and hypolipidemic effects. 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. 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.
... We also explored its ability in the enhancement of peripheral nerve regeneration and acceleration of motor and sensory functional recovery after crush injury (Wong et al., 2011(Wong et al., , 2015. Onanaga (2014) reported an improved neurocognitive function in an 86-year-old male patient with recurrent depressive disorder while Dkamura et al. (2015) reported improved sleep quality and subjective well-being among female undergraduate students after taking the mushroom tablets, Amyloban 3399. On a study by Nagano et al. (2010), H. erinaceus cookies was shown to reduce depression and anxiety in 30 females between age 40-45. ...
Friedreich’s ataxia (FRDA) is a progressive neuromuscular disorder caused by substantial decrease of mitochondrial protein frataxin responsible for biogenesis of iron-sulphur clusters and protection from oxidative damage. In this study, we investigated the antioxidant activities of a standardized aqueous extract from fruiting bodies of Hericium erinaceus mushroom (HESAE) and its protective effects against oxidative damage induced by L-Buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) in fibroblasts derived from FRDA patient. The lactate dehydrogenase-based viability assay showed that FRDA fibroblast was sensitive to 12.5 mM BSO with a reduction of viability to 52.51 ± 13.92% after 24 h of BSO exposure. Interestingly, co-incubation with 32 mg/mL HESAE increased the viability to 85.35 ± 3.4%. Further, 12.5 mM BSO caused a decrease in the ratio of cellular reduced glutathione (GSH) to oxidised GSH (GSSG) that leads to cell death. Nevertheless, the damage was reduced by co-incubation with 32 mg/mL HESAE. Nuclear fluorescence staining revealed that 12.5 mM BSO induced cell death and the apoptosis was decreased by co-incubation with HESAE. These findings suggest the ability of HESAE in attenuating BSO-mediated cytotoxicity through maintenance of membrane integrity and optimal GSH/GSSG ratio, that are closely linked to its antioxidant activities. Further in vivo trials are highly warranted to clarify its potential benefits in management of FRDA.
... The diet prevented impairments of spatial short-term memory and visual recognition memory. Inanaga 48 reported improved neurocognitive function after treatment with Amyloban 3399 (tablets of standardized extract) in an 86-year-old male patient with recurrent depressive disorder, whereas in a pilot study by Okamura et al., 49 administration of the tablets for 4 weeks to female undergraduate students with a sleep disorder revealed an increase in free 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol in saliva. This compound is a biological index of anxiety disorders, and its increase corresponds to the improvements in anxiety and sleep quality. ...
Culinary and medicinal mushrooms have been appreciated since prehistoric times as valuable resources
for food and medicine. Edible mushrooms represent an untapped source of nutraceuticals and valuable palatable food. Long considered tonics, they are now treasured as functional foods that can improve human health and quality of life. Numerous studies have provided insights into the neuroprotective effects of edible mushrooms, which are attributed to their antioxidant, antineuroinflammatory, and cholinesterase inhibitory properties, and their ability to prevent neuronal death. Here we review the recent literature on the role of culinary and medicinal mushrooms in the management of neurodegenerative diseases and neurotrauma. We highlight some of the molecular mechanisms for how these alternative medicines provide health benefits that could help us to harness their neuroprotective effects.
Hericium erinaceus is a valuable mushroom known for its strong bioactive properties. It shows promising potential as an excellent neuroprotective agent, capable of stimulating nerve growth factor release, regulating inflammatory processes, reducing oxidative stress, and safeguarding nerve cells from apoptosis. The active compounds in the mushroom, such as erinacines and hericenones, have been the subject of research, providing evidence of their neuroprotective effects. Further research and standardization processes for dietary supplements focused on H. erinaceus are essential to ensuring effectiveness and safety in protecting the nervous system. Advancements in isolation and characterization techniques, along with improved access to pure analytical standards, will play a critical role in achieving standardized, high-quality dietary supplements based on H. erinaceus. The aim of this study is to analyze the protective and nourishing effects of H. erinaceus on the nervous system and present the most up-to-date research findings related to this topic.
Health concern of dogs is the most important issue for pet owners. People who have companied the dogs long-term provide the utmost cares for their well-being and healthy life. Recently, it was revealed that the population and types of gut microbiota affect the metabolism and immunity of the host. However, there is little information on the gut microbiome of dogs. Hericium erinaceus (H. erinaceus; HE) is one of the well-known medicinal mushrooms and has multiple bioactive components including polyphenol, β-glucan, polysaccharides, ergothioneine, hericerin, erinacines, etc. Here we tested a pet food that contained H. erinaceus for improvement in the gut microbiota environment of aged dogs. A total of 18 dogs, each 11 years old, were utilized. For sixteen weeks, the dogs were fed with 0.4 g of H. erinaceus (HE-L), or 0.8 g (HE-H), or without H. erinaceus (CON) per body weight (kg) with daily diets (n = 6 per group). Taxonomic analysis was performed using metagenomics to investigate the difference in the gut microbiome. Resulting from principal coordinates analysis (PCoA) to confirm the distance difference between the groups, there was a significant difference between HE-H and CON due to weighted Unique fraction metric (Unifrac) distance (p = 0.047), but HE-L did not have a statistical difference compared to that of CON. Additionally, the result of Linear discriminate analysis of effect size (LEfSe) showed that phylum Bacteroidetes in HE-H and its order Bacteroidales increased, compared to that of CON, Additionally, phylum Firmicutes in HE-H, and its genera (Streptococcus, Tyzzerella) were reduced. Furthermore, at the family level, Campylobacteraceae and its genus Campylobacter in HE-H was decreased compared to that of CON. Summarily, our data demonstrated that the intake of H. erinaceus can regulate the gut microbial community in aged dogs, and an adequate supply of HE on pet diets would possibly improve immunity and anti-obesity on gut-microbiota in dogs.
Hericium erinaceum (H. erinaceum) has long been used for culinary as well as for medicinal purposes. Recently, it has been reported that H. erinaceum exerts important bioactivities, including the induction of neuronal growth factor (NGF) synthesis, the inhibition of beta-amyloid peptide cytotoxicity, and protection against neuronal cell death caused by endoplasmic reticulum stress. It has also been reported that the intake of Amyloban®3399, which contains a standardized extract of H. erinaceum improves negative moods, such as irritability and anxiety, and raises incentives associated with improved concentration and motivation. The effects of the extracted from H. Erinaceus “Hericenones” and “Amiroban” are reviewed, and effect of H. erinaceum and Amyloban®3399 on mental health, including recent finding by the authors, are discussed.
Accumulating evidence suggests that inflammation plays a role in the pathophysiology of depression and that anti-inflammatory substances have antidepressant effects. Amycenone is obtained from extracts of the Yamabushitake (Hericium erinaceum). The purpose of this study is to examine whether amycenone shows anti-inflammatory and antidepressant effects in an inflammation-induced mouse model of depression. First, we examined the effects of amycenone on the serum levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokine, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and the anti-inflammatory cytokine, interleukin-10 (IL-10), after intraperitoneal administration of the bacterial endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Oral administration of amycenone (50, 100, or 200mg/kg) markedly blocked an increase in the serum TNF-α levels after a single administration of LPS (0.5mg/kg). Furthermore, amycenone (200mg/kg) markedly increased the serum IL-10 levels by a single administration of LPS (0.5mg/kg). Next, we examined the effects of amycenone on depression-like behaviors in the tail-suspension test (TST) and forced swimming test (FST). Pretreatment with amycenone (200mg/kg) significantly attenuated LPS (0.5mg/kg)-induced increase of the immobility time by the TST and FST, indicating antidepressant effects of amycenone. In addition, oral administration of paroxetine (30mg/kg) showed anti-inflammatory and antidepressant effects in the same model. These findings suggest that amycenone has antidepressant effects in LPS-induced inflammation model of depression. Therefore, amycenone could represent a potential supplement to prevent inflammation-related depression.
Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Our group has been conducting a search for compounds for dementia derived from medicinal mushrooms since 1991. A series of benzyl alcohol derivatives (named hericenones C to H), as well as a series of diterpenoid derivatives (named erinacines A to I) were isolated from the mushroom Hericium erinaceum. These compounds significantly induced the synthesis of nerve growth factor (NGF) in vitro and in vivo. In a recent study, dilinoleoyl-phosphatidylethanolamine (DLPE) was isolated from the mushroom and was found to protect against neuronal cell death caused by β-amyloid peptide (Aβ) toxicity, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and oxidative stress. Furthermore, the results of preliminary clinical trials showed that the mushroom was effective in patients with dementia in improving the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) score or retarding disease progression. Copyright 2008 Prous Science, S.A.U. or its licensors. All rights reserved.
Objective: Mild neurocognitive disorders resulting from neuromedical treatments are frequently observed in medical and psychiatric practice. Psychotropics, especially central nervous system (CNS) depressants, produce disturbances in cognition and social functioning. Methods: We administered amycenone (Amyloban®3399) to three patients with mild neurocognitive disorders and disturbances in social functioning. Results: The three patients were treated with amycenone (Amyloban®3399), a compound extracted from the mushroom Hericium erinaceum. Conclusion: Amycenone restored cognitive function in the three patients. © 2015 Japan Health Sciences University & Japan International Cultural Exchange Foundation.
The current paper describes the physiological and nootropic actions of Amycenone, which is an activator of brain function that is obtained from extracts of the Yamabushitake (Hericium erinaceum).Kawagishi and his group have studied compounds that are derived from medicinal mushrooms and their use in the treatment of dementia since 1991. They have found that H. erinaceum exerts important bioactivities, including the induction of nerve growth factor (NGF) synthesis, the inhibition of the cytotoxicity of beta-amyloid peptide, and the protection against neuronal cell death caused by oxidative or endoplasmic reticulum stress.Since NGF was first discovered in the 1940s, it has garnered attention as a substance in the brain that curbs the degeneration and loss of neurons and that promotes the repair and regeneration of nerve function. However, NGF cannot pass through the blood–brain barrier.Amysenone (Amyloban®3399, which contains a standardized extract of H. erinaceum) has been found to pass through the blood–brain barrier, and its safety as a health food is currently being ascertained.On the basis of the author's first-hand experiences, Amyloban®3399 was found to clearly increase alertness. The actions of Amyloban®3399 in treating sleep-related breathing disorders were examined. Amyloban®3399 was effective in improving sleep apnea and hypopnea syndrome.The use of Amyloban®3399 has been noted to result in the obvious restoration of cognitive function in mild cognitive disorder.
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Hericium erinaceus, a well known edible mushroom, has numerous biological activities. Especially hericenones and erinacines isolated from its fruiting body stimulate nerve growth factor (NGF) synthesis, which expects H. erinaceus to have some effects on brain functions and autonomic nervous system. Herein, we investigated the clinical effects of H. erinaceus on menopause, depression, sleep quality and indefinite complaints, using the Kupperman Menopausal Index (KMI), the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the Indefinite Complaints Index (ICI). Thirty females were randomly assigned to either the H. erinaceus (HE) group or the placebo group and took HE cookies or placebo cookies for 4 weeks. Each of the CES-D and the ICI score after the HE intake was significantly lower than that before. In two terms of the ICI, "insentive" and "palpitatio", each of the mean score of the HE group was significantly lower than the placebo group. "Concentration", "irritating" and "anxious" tended to be lower than the placebo group. Our results show that HE intake has the possibility to reduce depression and anxiety and these results suggest a different mechanism from NGF-enhancing action of H. erinaceus.
Lion's Mane Mushroom (Hericium erinaceus) and its clinical application, Townsend letter for doctors & patients
- H Kawagishi
Kawagishi H. Lion's Mane Mushroom (Hericium erinaceus) and its clinical application, Townsend letter for doctors & patients; April 2004.