Hericium erinaceus: an edible mushroom with medicinal values

Abstract

Mushrooms are considered as nutritionally functional foods and source of physiologically beneficial medicines. Hericium erinaceus, also known as Lion's Mane Mushroom or Hedgehog Mushroom, is an edible fungus, which has a long history of usage in traditional Chinese medicine. This mushroom is rich in some physiologically important components, especially β-glucan polysaccharides, which are responsible for anti-cancer, immuno-modulating, hypolipidemic, antioxidant and neuro-protective activities of this mushroom. H. erinaceus has also been reported to have anti-microbial, anti-hypertensive, anti-diabetic, wound healing properties among other therapeutic potentials. This review article has overviewed the recent advances in the research and study on H. erinaceus and discussed the potential health beneficial activities of this mushroom, with the recognition of bioactive compounds responsible for these medicinal properties.

Comparative studies on extracts from Hericium erinaceus by different polarity reagents to gain higher antioxidant activities

“…They also have different solubilities in different chemical solvents (10). Thus, each extraction inevitably was a mixture of numerous constituents.…”

Effects of amycenone on serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-10, and depression-like behavior in mice after lipopolysaccharide administration

“…The mushroom is called "Yamabushitake" and "Houtou" in Japan and China, respectively. The fruiting bodies of H. erinaceum contain several bioactive substances, including aromatic compounds, diterpenoids, steroids, and polysaccharides (Jiang et al, 2014;Khan et al, 2013;Wasser, 2014). A doubleblind, placebo-controlled study showed that oral administration of dried Yamabushitake powder to Japanese subjects is effective for the treatment of mild cognitive impairment patients (n = 15) (Mori et al, 2009).…”

Importance of low substrate arsenic content in mushroom cultivation and safety of final food product

“…One should, however, consider that wild edible mushrooms are potentially subject to a higher contamination level than cultivated species, for which the environmental conditions can be controlled. According to our knowledge, the present study is the first report on kinetics of As uptake and accumulation by H. erinaceus, an edible mushroom species revealing therapeutic properties [31]. Importantly, the increase in total As content was observed only when cultivation was maintained at an initial metalloid concentration of over 0.2 mM.…”