Lion's Mane

(Hericium erinaceus)

What Is Lion's Mane?

The Lion’s mane is a medicinal and edible mushroom very popular in China and Japan, also known as Hericium erinaceus. It is a marvelous mushroom of white flesh with a similar flavour to a lobster! Lion’s Mane stands out for its high fibre, high protein and natural prebiotic content.

Powerful benefits of Lion's Mane Mushroom

Balances the microbiota

Properties of Lion’s Mane protects and supports healthy gut bacteria, important with any condition affecting digestion.

Digestive health

Lion’s mane compounds act to support inflammation of the gut. A wonderful mushroom to help with conditions affecting digestion, the bowel, allergies and food intolerances. Particularly useful for people with Crohn and ulcerative colitis.

Neurodegenerative Diseases

Compounds have powerful regenerative actions making Lion’s mane the go to mushroom for supporting nerve related conditions.

Cognitive Impairment

Agents in Lion’s Mane protect nerves to help enhance memory, for instance in dementia and alzheimers.

Reduces peripheral neuropathies

For example weakness, numbness, sensitivity and pain, usually in the hands and feet.

Nutrients in Lion's Mane
  • Several polysaccharides, useful in supporting the immune system.
  • Rich in antioxidant agent SOD, powerful in supporting degeneration.
  • High in Hericenones, a compound vital for nerve growth.
  • High content of essential amino acids.
  • Rich in minerals PotassiumZincIron, Selenium and Phosphorus.

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2. Mori K, Inatomi S, Ouchi K, Azumi Y, Tuchida T. Improving effects of the mushroom Yamabushitake (Hericium erinaceus) on mild cognitive impairment: a double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial. Phytother Res. 2009 Mar; 23(3):367-72. doi:10.1002/ptr.2634. PubMed [citation] PMID: 18844328

3. Xu CP, Liu WW, Liu FX, Chen SS, Liao FQ, Xu Z, Jiang LG, Wang CA, Lu XH. A double-blind study of effectiveness of hericium erinaceus pers therapy on chronicatrophic gastritis. A preliminary report. Chin Med J (Engl). 1985 Jun; 98(6):455-6. No abstract available. PubMed [citation] PMID: 393200

4. Ren Y, Geng Y, Du Y, Li W, Lu ZM, et al. Polysaccharide of Hericium erinaceus attenuates colitis in C57BL/6 mice via regulation of oxidative stress, inflammation-related signaling pathways and modulating the composition of the gut microbiota. J Nutr Biochem. 2018 Jul; 57:67-76. PubMed PMID: 29677563.

5. Li IC, Lee LY, Tzeng TT, Chen WP, Chen YP, et al. Neurohealth Properties of Hericium erinaceus Mycelia Enriched with Erinacines. Behav Neurol. 2018; 2018:5802634. PubMed PMID: 29951133; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5987239.

6. Zhang Y, Liu L, Bao L, Yang Y, Ma K, et al. Three new cyathane diterpenes with neurotrophic activity from the liquid cultures of Hericium erinaceus. J Antibiot (Tokyo). 2018 May 21;PubMed PMID: 29780164.

7. Wang XY, Yin JY, Zhao MM, Liu SY, Nie SP, et al. Gastroprotective activity of polysaccharide from Hericium erinaceus against ethanol-induced gastric mucosal lesion and pylorus ligation-induced gastric ulcer, and its antioxidant activities. Carbohydr Polym. 2018 Apr 15;186:100-109. PubMed PMID: 29455967.

8. Tzeng TT, Chen CC, Chen CC, Tsay HJ, Lee LY, et al. The Cyanthin Diterpenoid and Sesterterpene Constituents of Hericium erinaceus Mycelium Ameliorate Alzheimer’s Disease-Related Pathologies in APP/PS1 Transgenic Mice. Int J Mol Sci. 2018 Feb 17;19(2)PubMed PMID: 29463001; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5855820.

9. Wu Y, Jiang H, Zhu E, Li J, Wang Q, et al. Hericium erinaceus polysaccharide facilitates restoration of injured intestinal mucosal immunity in Muscovy duck reovirus-infected Muscovy ducklings. Int J Biol Macromol. 2018 Feb;107(Pt A):1151-1161. PubMed PMID: 28951299.

10. Ryu S, Kim HG, Kim JY, Kim SY, Cho KO. Hericium erinaceus Extract Reduces Anxiety and Depressive Behaviors by Promoting Hippocampal Neurogenesis in the Adult Mouse Brain. J Med Food. 2018 Feb;21(2):174-180. PubMed PMID: 29091526.

11. Wang XY, Yin JY, Nie SP, Xie MY. Isolation, purification and physicochemical properties of polysaccharide from fruiting body of Hericium erinaceus and its effect on colonic health of mice. Int J Biol Macromol. 2018 Feb;107(Pt A):1310-1319. PubMed PMID: 28965966.

12. Chiu CH, Chyau CC, Chen CC, Lee LY, Chen WP, et al. Erinacine A-Enriched Hericium erinaceus Mycelium Produces Antidepressant-Like Effects through Modulating BDNF/PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β Signaling in Mice. Int J Mol Sci. 2018 Jan 24;19(2) PubMed PMID: 29364170; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5855563.

13. Wu F, Zhou C, Zhou D, Ou S, Zhang X, et al. Structure characterization of a novel polysaccharide from Hericium erinaceus fruiting bodies and its immunomodulatory activities. Food Funct. 2018 Jan 24;9(1):294-306. PubMed PMID: 29168863.

14. Li IC, Chen WP, Chen YP, Lee LY, Tsai YT, et al. Acute and developmental toxicity assessment of erincine A-enriched Hericium erinaceus mycelia in Sprague-Dawley rats. Drug Chem Toxicol. 2018 Jan 23;:1-6. PubMed PMID: 29359595.

15. Chaiyasut C, Woraharn S, Sivamaruthi BS, Lailerd N, Kesika P, et al. Lactobacillus fermentum HP3-Mediated Fermented Hericium erinaceus Juice as a Health Promoting Food Supplement to Manage Diabetes Mellitus. J Evid Based Integr Med. 2018 Jan-Dec;23:2515690X18765699. PubMed PMID: 29619846; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5894895.

16. Rossi P, Cesaroni V, Brandalise F, Occhinegro A, Ratto D, et al. Dietary Supplementation of Lion’s Mane Medicinal Mushroom, Hericium erinaceus (Agaricomycetes), and Spatial Memory in Wild-Type Mice. Int J Med Mushrooms. 2018;20(5):485-494. PubMed PMID: 29953363.

17. Ren Z, Qin T, Qiu F, Song Y, Lin D, et al. Immunomodulatory effects of hydroxyethylated Hericium erinaceus polysaccharide on macrophages RAW2647. Int J Biol Macromol. 2017 Dec;105(Pt 1):879-885. PubMed PMID: 28729219.

18. Tangen JM, Holien T, Mirlashari MR, Misund K, Hetland G. Cytotoxic Effect on Human Myeloma Cells and Leukemic Cells by the Agaricus blazei Murill Based Mushroom Extract, Andosan™. Biomed Res Int. 2017;2017:2059825. PubMed PMID: 29238712; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5697368.

19. Diling C, Xin Y, Chaoqun Z, Jian Y, Xiaocui T, et al. Extracts from Hericium erinaceus relieve inflammatory bowel disease by regulating immunity and gut microbiota. Oncotarget. 2017 Oct 17;8(49):85838-85857. PubMed PMID: 29156761; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5689651.

20. Zhang C, Li J, Hu C, Wang J, Zhang J, et al. Antihyperglycaemic and organic protective effects on pancreas, liver and kidney by polysaccharides from Hericium erinaceus SG-02 in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. Sci Rep. 2017 Sep 7;7(1):10847. PubMed PMID: 28883631; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5589823.

21. Kuo HC, Kuo YR, Lee KF, Hsieh MC, Huang CY, et al. A Comparative Proteomic Analysis of Erinacine A’s Inhibition of Gastric Cancer Cell Viability and Invasiveness. Cell Physiol Biochem. 2017;43(1):195-208. PubMed PMID: 28854418.

22. Zhang CC, Cao CY, Kubo M, Harada K, Yan XT, et al. Chemical Constituents from Hericium erinaceus Promote Neuronal Survival and Potentiate Neurite Outgrowth via the TrkA/Erk1/2 Pathway. Int J Mol Sci. 2017 Jul 30;18(8)PubMed PMID: 28758954; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5578049.

23. Wang M, Kanako N, Zhang Y, Xiao X, Gao Q, et al. A unique polysaccharide purified from Hericium erinaceus mycelium prevents oxidative stress induced by H2O2 in human gastric mucosa epithelium cell. PLoS One. 2017;12(7):e0181546. PubMed PMID: 28742114; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5524341.

24.Hiraki E, Furuta S, Kuwahara R, Takemoto N, Nagata T, et al. Anti-obesity activity of Yamabushitake (Hericium erinaceus) powder in ovariectomized mice, and its potentially active compounds. J Nat Med. 2017 Jul;71(3):482-491. PubMed PMID: 28181079.

25. Diling C, Chaoqun Z, Jian Y, Jian L, Jiyan S, et al. Immunomodulatory Activities of a Fungal Protein Extracted from Hericium erinaceus through Regulating the Gut Microbiota. Front Immunol. 2017;8:666. PubMed PMID: 28713364; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5492111.

26. Kunca V, Čiliak M. Dataset on records of Hericium erinaceus in Slovakia. Data Brief. 2017 Jun;12:156-160. PubMed PMID: 28443294; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5392726.

27. Diling C, Tianqiao Y, Jian Y, Chaoqun Z, Ou S, et al. Docking Studies and Biological Evaluation of a Potential β-Secretase Inhibitor of 3-Hydroxyhericenone F from Hericium erinaceus. Front Pharmacol. 2017;8:219. PubMed PMID: 28553224; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5427148.

28. Qin T, Ren Z, Huang Y, Song Y, Lin D, et al. Selenizing Hericium erinaceus polysaccharides induces dendritic cells maturation through MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways. Int J Biol Macromol. 2017 Apr;97:287-298. PubMed PMID: 28089932.

29. He X, Wang X, Fang J, Chang Y, Ning N, et al. Structures, biological activities, and industrial applications of the polysaccharides from Hericium erinaceus (Lion’s Mane) mushroom: A review. Int J Biol Macromol. 2017 Apr; 97:228-237. PubMed PMID: 28087447.

30. Sheng X, Yan J, Meng Y, Kang Y, Han Z, et al. Immunomodulatory effects of Hericium erinaceus derived polysaccharides are mediated by intestinal immunology. Food Funct. 2017 Mar 22;8(3):1020-1027. PubMed PMID: 28266682.

31. Lee KC, Kuo HC, Shen CH, Lu CC, Huang WS, et al. A proteomics approach to identifying novel protein targets involved in erinacine A-mediated inhibition of colorectal cancer cells’ aggressiveness. J Cell Mol Med. 2017 Mar;21(3):588-599. PubMed PMID: 27709782; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5323879.

32. Lee J, Shin SG, Ahn J, Han G, Hwang K, et al. Use of Swine Wastewater as Alternative Substrate for Mycelial Bioconversion of White Rot Fungi. Appl Biochem Biotechnol. 2017 Feb;181(2):844-859. PubMed PMID: 27696140.

33. Wang M, Zhang Y, Xiao X, Xu D, Gao Y, et al. A Polysaccharide Isolated from Mycelia of the Lion’s Mane Medicinal Mushroom Hericium erinaceus (Agaricomycetes) Induced Apoptosis in Precancerous Human Gastric Cells. Int J Med Mushrooms. 2017;19(12):1053-1060. PubMed PMID: 29431066.

34. Liu PS, Chueh SH, Chen CC, Lee LY, Shiu LY. Lion’s Mane Medicinal Mushroom, Hericium erinaceus (Agaricomycetes), Modulates Purinoceptor-Coupled Calcium Signaling and Murine Nociceptive Behavior. Int J Med Mushrooms. 2017;19(6):499-507. PubMed PMID: 29199560.

35. Brandalise F, Cesaroni V, Gregori A, Repetti M, Romano C, et al. Dietary Supplementation of Hericium erinaceus Increases Mossy Fiber-CA3 Hippocampal Neurotransmission and Recognition Memory in Wild-Type Mice. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2017;2017:3864340. PubMed PMID: 28115973; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5237458.

36. Lakshmanan H, Raman J, David P, Wong KH, Naidu M, et al. Haematological, biochemical and histopathological aspects of Hericium erinaceus ingestion in a rodent model: A sub-chronic toxicological assessment. J Ethnopharmacol. 2016 Dec 24;194:1051-1059. PubMed PMID: 27816657.

37. Zhang J, An S, Hu W, Teng M, Wang X, et al. The Neuroprotective Properties of Hericium erinaceus in Glutamate-Damaged Differentiated PC12 Cells and an Alzheimer’s Disease Mouse Model. Int J Mol Sci. 2016 Nov 1;17(11) PubMed PMID: 27809277; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5133811.

38. Wong KH, Kanagasabapathy G, Naidu M, David P, Sabaratnam V. Hericium erinaceus (Bull: Fr) Pers, a medicinal mushroom, activates peripheral nerve regeneration. Chin J Integr Med. 2016 Oct;22(10):759-67. PubMed PMID: 25159861.

39. Cui F, Gao X, Zhang J, Liu M, Zhang C, et al. Protective Effects of Extracellular and Intracellular Polysaccharides on Hepatotoxicity by Hericium erinaceus SG-02. Curr Microbiol. 2016 Sep;73(3):379-85. PubMed PMID: 27262461.

40. Trovato A, Siracusa R, Di Paola R, Scuto M, Ontario ML, et al. Redox modulation of cellular stress response and lipoxin A4 expression by Hericium Erinaceus in rat brain: relevance to Alzheimer’s disease pathogenesis. Immun Ageing. 2016; 13:23. PubMed PMID: 27398086; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4938991.

41. Tsai-Teng T, Chin-Chu C, Li-Ya L, Wan-Ping C, Chung-Kuang L, et al. Erinacine A-enriched Hericium erinaceus mycelium ameliorates Alzheimer’s disease-related pathologies in APPswe/PS1dE9 transgenic mice. J Biomed Sci. 2016 Jun 27;23(1):49. PubMed PMID: 27350344; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4924315.

42. Cheng JH, Tsai CL, Lien YY, Lee MS, Sheu SC. High molecular weight of polysaccharides from Hericium erinaceus against amyloid beta-induced neurotoxicity. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2016 Jun 7;16:170. PubMed PMID: 27266872; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4895996.

43. Liu JH, Li L, Shang XD, Zhang JL, Tan Q. Anti-Helicobacter pylori activity of bioactive components isolated from Hericium erinaceus. J Ethnopharmacol. 2016 May 13;183:54-58. PubMed PMID: 26364939.

44. Kuo HC, Lu CC, Shen CH, Tung SY, Hsieh MC, et al. Hericium erinaceus mycelium and its isolated erinacine A protection from MPTP-induced neurotoxicity through the ER stress, triggering an apoptosis cascade. J Transl Med. 2016 Mar 18;14:78. PubMed PMID: 26988860; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4797317.

45. Qin M, Geng Y, Lu Z, Xu H, Shi JS, et al. Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Ethanol Extract of Lion’s Mane Medicinal Mushroom, Hericium erinaceus (Agaricomycetes), in Mice with Ulcerative Colitis. Int J Med Mushrooms. 2016;18(3):227-34. PubMed PMID: 27481156.

46. Furuta S, Kuwahara R, Hiraki E, Ohnuki K, Yasuo S, et al. Hericium erinaceus extracts alter behavioral rhythm in mice. Biomed Res. 2016;37(4):227-32. PubMed PMID: 27544998.

47. Chang HC, Yang HL, Pan JH, Korivi M, Pan JY, et al. Hericium erinaceus Inhibits TNF-α-Induced Angiogenesis and ROS Generation through Suppression of MMP-9/NF-κB Signaling and Activation of Nrf2-Mediated Antioxidant Genes in Human EAhy926 Endothelial Cells. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2016;2016:8257238. PubMed PMID: 26823953; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4707368.

48. Shen T, Morlock G, Zorn H. Production of cyathane type secondary metabolites by submerged cultures of Hericium erinaceusand evaluation of their antibacterial activity by direct bioautography. Fungal Biol Biotechnol. 2015;2:8. PubMed PMID: 28955459; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5611583.

49. Lee SR, Jung K, Noh HJ, Park YJ, Lee HL, et al. A new cerebroside from the fruiting bodies of Hericium erinaceus and its applicability to cancer treatment. Bioorg Med Chem Lett. 2015 Dec 15;25(24):5712-5. PubMed PMID: 26547693.

50. Zhang CC, Yin X, Cao CY, Wei J, Zhang Q, et al. Chemical constituents from Hericium erinaceus and their ability to stimulate NGF-mediated neurite outgrowth on PC12 cells. Bioorg Med Chem Lett. 2015 Nov 15;25(22):5078-82. PubMed PMID: 26481911.

51. Wang C, Su W, Su X, Ni G, Liu T, et al. Synergy Effects of Three Plant Extracts on Protection of Gastric Mucosa. Nat Prod Commun. 2015 Nov;10(11):1989-91. PubMed PMID: 26749844.

52. Wang M, Gao Y, Xu D, Gao Q. A polysaccharide from cultured mycelium of Hericium erinaceus and its anti-chronic atrophic gastritis activity. Int J Biol Macromol. 2015 Nov;81:656-61. PubMed PMID: 26314904.

53. Raman J, Lakshmanan H, John PA, Zhijian C, Periasamy V, et al. Neurite outgrowth stimulatory effects of myco synthesized AuNPs from Hericium erinaceus (Bull: Fr) Pers on pheochromocytoma (PC-12) cells. Int J Nanomedicine. 2015;10:5853-63. PubMed PMID: 26425086; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4583117.

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55. Zan X, Cui F, Li Y, Yang Y, Wu D, et al. Hericium erinaceus polysaccharide-protein HEG-5 inhibits SGC-7901 cell growth via cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Int J Biol Macromol. 2015 May;76:242-53. PubMed PMID: 25703932.

56. Yi Z, Shao-Long Y, Ai-Hong W, Zhi-Chun S, Ya-Fen Z, et al. Protective Effect of Ethanol Extracts of Hericium erinaceus on Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Neuropathic Pain in Rats. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2015;2015:595480. PubMed PMID: 25960754; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4415746.

57. Hao L, Xie Y, Wu G, Cheng A, Liu X, et al. Protective Effect of Hericium erinaceus on Alcohol Induced Hepatotoxicity in Mice. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2015;2015:418023. PubMed PMID: 25960751; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4415743.

58. Liu J, DU C, Wang Y, Yu Z. Anti-fatigue activities of polysaccharides extracted from Hericium erinaceus. Exp Ther Med. 2015 Feb;9(2):483-487. PubMed PMID: 25574220; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4280918.

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60. Wang M, Konishi T, Gao Y, Xu D, Gao Q. Anti-Gastric Ulcer Activity of Polysaccharide Fraction Isolated from Mycelium Culture of Lion’s Mane Medicinal Mushroom, Hericium erinaceus (Higher Basidiomycetes). Int J Med Mushrooms. 2015;17(11):1055-60. PubMed PMID: 26853960.

61. Liu Z, Wang Q, Cui J, Wang L, Xiong L, et al. Systemic Screening of Strains of the Lion’s Mane Medicinal Mushroom Hericium erinaceus (Higher Basidiomycetes) and Its Protective Effects on Aβ-Triggered Neurotoxicity in PC12 Cells. Int J Med Mushrooms. 2015;17(3):219-29. PubMed PMID: 25954906.

62. Mori K, Ouchi K, Hirasawa N. The Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Lion’s Mane Culinary-Medicinal Mushroom, Hericium erinaceus (Higher Basidiomycetes) in a Coculture System of 3T3-L1 Adipocytes and RAW264 Macrophages. Int J Med Mushrooms. 2015;17(7):609-18. PubMed PMID: 26559695.

63. Li IC, Chen YL, Chen WP, Lee LY, Tsai YT, et al. Genotoxicity profile of erinacine A-enriched Hericium erinaceus mycelium. Toxicol Rep. 2014;1:1195-1201. PubMed PMID: 28962329; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5598247.

64. Zhu Y, Chen Y, Li Q, Zhao T, Zhang M, et al. Preparation, characterization, and anti-Helicobacter pylori activity of Bi3+-Hericium erinaceus polysaccharide complex. Carbohydr Polym. 2014 Sep 22;110:231-7. PubMed PMID: 24906751.

65. Jiang S, Wang S, Sun Y, Zhang Q. Medicinal properties of Hericium erinaceus and its potential to formulate novel mushroom-based pharmaceuticals. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2014 Sep;98(18):7661-70. PubMed PMID: 25070597.

66. Lee KF, Chen JH, Teng CC, Shen CH, Hsieh MC, et al. Protective effects of Hericium erinaceus mycelium and its isolated erinacine A against ischemia-injury-induced neuronal cell death via the inhibition of iNOS/p38 MAPK and nitrotyrosine. Int J Mol Sci. 2014 Aug 27;15(9):15073-89. PubMed PMID: 25167134; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4200813.

67. Li IC, Chen YL, Lee LY, Chen WP, Tsai YT, et al. Evaluation of the toxicological safety of erinacine A-enriched Hericium erinaceus in a 28-day oral feeding study in Sprague-Dawley rats. Food Chem Toxicol. 2014 Aug;70:61-7. PubMed PMID: 24810469.

68. Li G, Yu K, Li F, Xu K, Li J, et al. Anticancer potential of Hericium erinaceus extracts against human gastrointestinal cancers. J Ethnopharmacol. 2014 Apr 28;153(2):521-30. PubMed PMID: 24631140.