Hedgehog fungus: benefits, dosage, contraindications

Neurological

Hericium erinaceus (lion's mane mushroom) shows promising neuroprotective and neurotrophic properties, mainly due to its active compounds such as erinacines and hericenones. These components are involved in various key brain mechanisms, positively influencing neuronal and cognitive health. Erinacines, notably erinacine A, present in Hericium erinaceus, have demonstrated the ability to inhibit the production of beta-amyloid protein, which is implicated in the development of Alzheimer's disease. This action reduces beta-amyloid–induced cytotoxicity, thereby offering a protective effect against the neurodegeneration observed in that disease. Research has also shown that Hericium erinaceus can improve recognition memory, although it has no notable effect on working spatial memory. Hericium erinaceus stimulates the synthesis of nerve growth factor (NGF) in astrocytic cells and in the rat hippocampus, thus promoting neurite outgrowth. It was thought that hericenones C, D, and E were responsible for these effects, but researchers discovered that the whole mushroom acts synergistically directly on NGF gene expression. These effects, combined with anti-inflammatory properties and the reduction of oxidative stress, make Hericium erinaceus a potential candidate for the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and neuronal injuries.

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Anticancer

The Lion's Mane (Hericium erinaceus) shows notable anticancer effects, mainly observed in in vitro studies and in animal models. These studies have shown that extracts of this mushroom are cytotoxic against several types of cancer, notably liver, colon, and stomach cancers. It acts by stimulating the immune system, inhibiting angiogenesis (the formation of new blood vessels that feed tumors), and inducing apoptosis (programmed cell death of cancer cells). The effectiveness of Lion's Mane against cancer is also attributed to its ability to downregulate activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), molecules involved in angiogenesis and tumor progression. In addition, this extract may reduce metastasis by suppressing the expression of enzymes that degrade the extracellular matrix, which contribute to the dissemination of cancer cells. Research also suggests that Lion's Mane could improve the efficacy of standard chemotherapy treatments or mitigate their adverse effects. For example, the cerebroside E constituent of Lion's Mane may reduce cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity while increasing the effectiveness of doxorubicin-induced apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

Gastroprotective

Hericium erinaceus has significant gastroprotective properties, supported by preliminary clinical and animal research. It has interesting potential in the treatment of chronic atrophic gastritis, where improvements in symptoms and reductions in inflammation have been observed in patients. In vitro studies have shown that polysaccharides extracted from the mycelium of Hericium erinaceus can interrupt the proliferation of precancerous gastric epithelial cells by inducing cell cycle arrest. This suggests potential in preventing progression to more severe states such as gastric cancer. Furthermore, Hericium erinaceus demonstrates notable antibacterial activity against Helicobacter pylori, a pathogen associated with several gastrointestinal diseases, including gastric ulcers. This activity is attributed to certain specific components of the mushroom that inhibit the growth of H. pylori. In addition, animal studies indicate that aqueous extract of Hericium erinaceus, administered prior to ethanol exposure, can reduce the area of ethanol-induced gastric ulcers in rats by protecting the gastric mucosa and inhibiting leukocyte infiltration of the gastric walls. These studies also suggest that Hericium erinaceus may regulate the gut microbiota, offering a promising therapeutic approach for various gastrointestinal conditions.

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Cardiovascular

The extract of the Hericium erinaceus mushroom, when administered with a high-fat diet, attenuates the increase in serum and hepatic triglyceride levels in rats. Indeed, Hericium erinaceus contains components that specifically activate PPAR alpha, a type of nuclear receptor in cells. These PPAR alpha receptors play an important role in regulating the body's lipid and carbohydrate metabolism. Furthermore, research shows that polysaccharides from Hericium erinaceus can significantly reduce total cholesterol and LDL while increasing HDL, through modest inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase and a possible reduction in cholesterol absorption.