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BACKGROUND RESULTS CONCLUSION Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) fermentation technology has been increasingly used in the deep processing of edible fungi. However, the flavor profiles of edible fungi products after mixed LAB fermentation have received less attention and how aromas changes during the mixed LAB fermentation are still open questions. In the present study, fermented Hericium erinaceus and Tremella fuciformis compound juice (FHTJ) was prepared by mixed LAB strains. We aimed to systematically monitor the dynamic changes of aromas and precursors throughout the fermentation process and a data‐driven association network analysis was used to tentatively illustrate the mechanisms of formation between aromas and their precursors.Mixed LAB fermentation could enrich the aroma profile of FHTJ, reducing the unpleasant flavors such as nonanal and 1‐octen‐3‐ol, as well as increasing the floral flavors such as ethyl acetate and α‐pinene. Partial least squares‐discriminant analysis and relative odor activity values revealed that 11 volatile chemicals were recognized as aroma‐active markers. Volcano plot analysis showed that 3‐octen‐2‐one (green flavor) was the key aroma‐active marker in each stage, which was down‐regulated in fermentation stages I, II and IV, whereas it was up‐regulated in stage III. 3‐Octen‐2‐one was significantly negatively correlated with organic acids, particularly pyruvate (r2 = −0.89). Ethyl caprylate (floral flavor) was up‐regulated in the late fermentation stage, and showed a negative correlation with sugar alcohols and a positive correlation with organic acids, especially tartaric acid (r2 = 0.96).The present study demonstrates the beneficial effect of mixed LAB fermentation on flavor characteristics, providing guidance for fermented edible fungi juice flavor quality monitoring and control. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lion's Mane (Hericium erinaceus) has historically been used as traditional medicine in Asia and Europe for its potential benefits in fighting infection and cancer. It has gained interest in the neurodegenerative disease field because of its mechanisms of action; these include anti-inflammation, neuroprotection, and promoting neurite growth demonstrated in various cell and animal models. A very small, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in patients with mild cognitive impairment showed a temporary improvement in cognitive function; this finding has yet to be replicated. However, there have been no studies in ALS cell or animal models or in humans with ALS. Lion's Mane appears safe and inexpensive when consumed in powder or capsule, but one anaphylactic case was reported after a patient consumed fresh Lion's Mane mushroom. Currently, we do not have enough information to support the use of Lion's Mane for treating ALS. We support further research in ALS disease models and clinical trials to study its efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hericium erinaceus is a species of mushroom with high nutritional value that is used mainly as food in tropical countries. Phytochemical study of H. erinaceus led to the isolation of an undescribed compound, named as hericium VN (1), together with nine known compounds, 1-(2-formyl-1-pyrrolyl)butanoic acid (2), herierin III (3), 5′-(methylthio)adenosine (4), adenosine (5), nicotinic acid (6), (22E,24R)-5α,8α-epidioxyergosta-6,9(11),22-trien-3β-ol (7), 5α,8α-peroxycerevisterol (8), (22E,24R)-5α,8α-epidioxy-egosta-6,22-diene 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (9), and cerevisterol (10) based on extensive analyses of HR-ESI-MS, 1D and 2D NMR spectra. The absolute configuration of compound 1 was determined by experimental combined with calculated electronic circular dichroism spectra. Compound 7 exhibited cytotoxic effects against brain tumor cell line CCF-STTG1 with the IC50 value of 15.50 µM, compared to that of the positive control compound, doxorubicin, which showed IC50 value of 15.84 µM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Lion's Mane mushroom, botanically known as Hericium erinaceus, stands out as a unique and esteemed member of the fungal kingdom. This extraordinary mushroom not only possesses an alluring appearance but also holds a significant historical presence in diverse cultures, especially within the context of ancient herbal medicine practices. This fungus holds promising prospects in several domains. Its potential as a natural remedy for cognitive health is gaining attention. This mushroom has neuroprotective properties and could play a role in supporting brain function, which is particularly relevant in the present aging population where neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer's disease are a growing concern. Furthermore, Lion's Mane has been explored for its potential in addressing mood disorders. It is a rich source of bioactive compounds, including ß-glucans, that can positively affect the immune system. The fungus produces bioactive compounds that can be used to treat various chronic diseases like obesity, high blood pressure, hepatic disorders, and cancer; it also has other benefits like wound hea ling and improving the immune system. This review endeavours to elucidate the multifaceted potential of Lion's Mane mushroom within the domains of nutrition, health, and wellness. Through a comprehensive examination of its properties and benefits, the review explored how Lion's Mane mushrooms can be harnessed to enhance human well-being. By unlocking the secrets hidden within this remarkable fungus, the study provides insights that can empower individuals to incorporate Lion's Mane into their daily lives, fostering a healthier and more balanced lifestyle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One new compound with an isoindolinone skeleton, along with erinacines A, C, and S, was isolated from the mycelia of Hericium erinaceus, an edible fungus with a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine. Based on analysis of MS and NMR spectral data, the structure of the compound was identified as (2E,6E)-8-(2-(1-carboxy-3-methylbutyl)-4,6-dihydroxy-1-oxoisoindolin-5-yl)-2,6-dimethylocta-2,6-dienoic acid. In light of this discovery, we have given this compound the name erinacerin W. Using a co-culture in vitro LPS-activated BV2 microglia-induced SH-SY5Y neuroinflammation model, the results showed that erinacerin W demonstrated protection against the LPS-activated BV-2 cell-induced overexpression of IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α on SH-SY5Y cells. This finding may provide potential therapeutic approaches for central nervous disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The gut microbiome is a complex and unendingly changing community of bacteria that lives inside animals, including humans. Emerging evidence has proved that gut microbiome composition is associated with several human health outcomes, which include cognitive performance. However, few epidemiological studies exist, and research in this field is still ongoing and developing. The current article suggests that oral consumption of an edible medicinal mushroom named H. erinaceus promotes the growth of beneficial gut bacteria, parallelly reducing pathogen bacteria, therefore revealing its prebiotic effect. Additionally, this oral supplementation had a positive impact on cognitive function, also leading to a decrease in inflammation in the hippocampus, a brain area crucially involved in memory formation and consolidation. Overall, these findings support the notion that changing the gut microbiome composition through nutrition modulation could trigger longevity-promoting effects, protecting from age-related cognitive decline. Ageing is a biological phenomenon that determines the impairment of cognitive performances, in particular, affecting memory. Inflammation and cellular senescence are known to be involved in the pathogenesis of cognitive decline. The gut microbiota–brain axis could exert a critical role in influencing brain homeostasis during ageing, modulating neuroinflammation, and possibly leading to inflammaging. Due to their anti-ageing properties, medicinal mushrooms can be utilised as a resource for developing pharmaceuticals and functional foods. Specifically, Hericium erinaceus (He), thanks to its bioactive metabolites, exerts numerous healthy beneficial effects, such as reinforcing the immune system, counteracting ageing, and improving cognitive performance. Our previous works demonstrated the capabilities of two months of He1 standardised extract oral supplementation in preventing cognitive decline in elderly frail mice. Herein, we showed that this treatment did not change the overall gut microbiome composition but significantly modified the relative abundance of genera specifically involved in cognition and inflammation. Parallelly, a significant decrease in crucial markers of inflammation and cellular senescence, i.e., CD45, GFAP, IL6, p62, and γH2AX, was demonstrated in the dentate gyrus and Cornus Ammonis hippocampal areas through immunohistochemical experiments. In summary, we suggested beneficial and anti-inflammatory properties of He1 in mouse hippocampus through the gut microbiome–brain axis modulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mushrooms have attracted interest since ancient times due to their nutritional composition and medicinal properties. In recent years, the antioxidant compounds of mushroom extracts have become an source of alternative synthetic antioxidant substances in pharmaceutical and food industries. In this context, researchers have become increasingly interested in edible and medicinal mushrooms. The aim of this study was to determine the nutritional composition, antioxidant potential, phenolic and flavonoid content of commercially purchased Hericium erinaceus mushroom and to evaluate its anticancer effect against A549 (lung adenocarcinoma) and HT-29 (human colon adenocarcinoma) cells. In this context, the nutrient composition was analyzed according to the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) procedure. Hericium erinaceus showed a high nutritional value with protein, carbohydrate, dietary fiber and glucan content. The total phenolic and total flavonoid contents of water, ethanol and methanol extracts of this mushroom were determined and it was found that the methanol extract had the highest phenolic (27.12±1.05 mg GAE/g extract) and flavonoid (13.48±1.13 mg QE/g extract) contents among the three extract types. In addition, the antioxidant capacity of the extracts was compared by different methods (DPpH, ABTS, FRAP and CUPRAC). Methanol extract showed the highest DpPH (38.88±1.59 μM TE/g extract), FRAP (21.44±0.79 μM TE/g extract) and CUPRAC (30.05±1.80 μM TE/g extract) activities among the other extracts, while ABTS (24.44±1.07 μM TE/g extract) activity was the highest for ethanol extract. Finally, when the anticancer effects of these extracts against A549 and HT-29 cells were evaluated, it was observed that water, ethanol and methanol extracts inhibited A549 cells by 49.08%, 52.08% and 57.91% and HT-29 cells by 52.82%, 63.71% and 71.07%, respectively, at the end of 24 hours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the digestion and fermentation properties of the bioactive water-soluble polysaccharide (HEP-W), and alkali-soluble polysaccharide (HEP-A) from Hericium erinaceus and the impact on the human colonic microbiota were determined using simulated saliva–gastrointestinal digestion and human fecal fermentation models in vitro. The basic physicochemical properties of HEP-W and HEP-A were determined at the same time. The results showed that the in vitro simulated digestion had almost no effect on the physicochemical properties of HEP-W and HEP-A, indicating that HEP-W and HEP-A were partially degraded. During fermentation, HEP-W and HEP-A increased the relative abundance of the dominant butyric acid-producing genera, the microbial community structure was significantly regulated, the gas production and short-chain fatty acid production in the fermentation broth were significantly increased, and the pH of the fermentation broth was reduced. There were structural and other differences in HEP-W and HEP-A due to different extraction methods, which resulted in different results. These results suggest that HEP-W and HEP-A may be potential gut microbial manipulators to promote gut health by promoting the production of beneficial metabolites by intestinal microorganisms using different butyric acid production pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the impact of light on the physiology and metabolism of edible and medicinal mushrooms can step up the technologies aimed at obtaining bioactive compounds. The article presents data on the influence of low-intensity quasimonochromatic light on the biosynthetic activity of Hericium erinaceus edible medicinal mushrooms in vitro. An artificial lighting setup based on light-emitting diode (LED) arrays with wavelengths &950;=470 nm (blue), ζ=530 nm (green), and ζ=650 nm (red) was used. An argon gas laser served as a coherent visible light source at a wavelength of 488 nm. The mycelium of H. erinaceus irradiation by low-intensity light at wavelengths of 488 nm, 470 nm, and 650 nm reduced the lag phase and increased the culture's growth rate. The highest biomass yield (12.1 g/L) on the 12thday of cultivation was achieved with light irradiation at a wavelength of 488 nm. Irradiation of the mycelium of H. erinaceus in all used wavelength ranges led to an increase in the synthesis of polysaccharides and unsaturated fatty acids. The modes of irradiation with laser light λ=488 nm and LED λ=470 nm were the most effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The culinary medicinal mushroom Hericium erinaceus holds significant global esteem and has garnered heightened interest within increasingly ageing societies due to its pronounced neuroprotective and anti-neuroinflammatory properties. Within this study, two novel diterpenes, 16-carboxy-13-epi-neoverrucosane (1) and Erinacine L (2); three known xylosyl cyathane diterpenoids, Erinacine A (3), Erinacine C (4), and Erinacine F (5); and four lanostane-type triterpenoids, and three cyclic dipeptides (10–12), in addition to orcinol (13), were isolated from the rice-based cultivation medium of H. erinaceus. Their structures were determined by NMR, HR-ESI-MS, ECD, and calculated NMR. Compound 1 marks a pioneering discovery as the first verrucosane diterpene originating from basidiomycetes, amplifying the scope of fungal natural product chemistry, and the intricate stereochemistry of Compound 5 has been comprehensively assessed for the first time. Compounds 2–5 not only showed encouraging neurotrophic activity in rat adrenal pheochromocytoma PC-12 cells, but also significantly inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in BV2 microglia cell cultures with IC50 values as low as 5.82 ± 0.18 μM. To elucidate the mechanistic underpinnings of these bioactivities, molecular docking simulation was used to analyze and support the interaction of 1 and 2 with inducible NO synthase (iNOS), respectively. In particular, compound 2, a cyathane-xyloside containing an unconventional hemiacetal moiety, is a compelling candidate for the prevention of neurodegenerative diseases. In summation, this investigation contributes substantively to the panorama of fungal diterpene structural diversity, concurrently furnishing additional empirical substantiation for the role of cyathane diterpenes in the amelioration of neurodegenerative afflictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hericium erinaceus (HE), a widely utilized natural remedy and dietary source, has garnered significant attention for its therapeutic potential in various diseases. In this study, we employed supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) technology to isolate the bioactive compounds from HE's fruiting body. Comprehensive assessments of the antioxidant and antibacterial activities were conducted, along with in vitro investigations on the human colon cancer cell line (HCT-8). The SFE rate served as the evaluation metric, while the variables of extraction time, pressure, and temperature were systematically examined. By integrating the response surface center composite design, we successfully optimized the extraction process, yielding optimal parameters of 80 min, 30 MPa, and 35 °C, thus resulting in an extraction rate of 2.51%. These optimized conditions exhibited considerable antioxidant capacity, anticancer activity, and antibacterial potential. Furthermore, we employed graded alcohol extraction to refine the crude extracts, thereby confirming superior anticancer effects under a 70% alcohol precipitation. To elucidate the composition, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) were employed to analyze the crude extracts and isolates of HE, facilitating a comparative analysis of six HE varieties. Our findings suggest that sterol derivatives hold promise as the active component against the colon cancer HCT-8 cell line. In conclusion, this study underscores the potential of HE SFE in the development of functional foods or alternative drugs for colon cancer treatment, thus opening new avenues for therapeutic interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the neurological effects of the varied erinacine composition of different mycelia cultures in mice with trimethyltin (TMT)-induced neurodegeneration. Forty male ICR mice were randomly divided into five groups of Sham-veh, TMT-veh, TMT-EME, TMT-EMR and TMT-EME/R. The TMT groups received 2.6 mg/kg one-time intraperitoneal injections of TMT. Oral dosages of 200 mg/kg erinacine combination from each Hericium erinaceus mycelia (EM) cultivated formula (100% eucalyptus wood [E], 100% rubber wood [R], or 40% eucalyptus wood/60% rubber wood [E/R]) were given for two weeks. Spatial learning, memory, flexibility, and anxious behaviour were evaluated alongside brain tissues' oxidative status and histological analyses. Erinacine composition from EME/R exhibited significant positive effects on spatial learning, memory, flexibility, and anxiety (p < 0.05). These findings emerged concurrently with the significant mitigation of hippocampal lipid peroxidation, CA1 hippocampal, cortical neuron, and corpus callosum white matter degeneration (p < 0.05). These neurological benefits were associated with the EME/R composition of erinacine A, C, D, G, H, I, K and R. The best neuroprotective effect against TMT-induced neurodegeneration in mice is offered by the EME/R erinacine composition according to its anti-lipid peroxidation, its nurturing effect on neuronal and white matter, and mitigation of behavioural deficits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medicinal mushrooms, e.g., Lion's Mane (Hericium erinaceus (Bull.) Pers.), Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum (Curtis) P. Karst.), Chaga (Inonotus obliquus (Ach. ex Pers.) Pilát), Cordyceps (Ophiocordyceps sinensis (Berk.) G.H. Sung, J.M. Sung, Hywel-Jones and Spatafora), Shiitake (Lentinula edodes (Berk.) Pegler), and Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor (L.) Lloyd), are considered new-generation foods and are of growing interest to consumers. They are characterised by a high content of biologically active compounds, including (1,3)(1,6)-β-d-glucans, which are classified as dietary fibre, triterpenes, phenolic compounds, and sterols. Thanks to their low-fat content, they are a low-calorie product and are classified as a functional food. They have a beneficial effect on the organism through the improvement of its overall health and nutritional level. The biologically active constituents contained in medicinal mushrooms exhibit anticancer, antioxidant, antidiabetic, and immunomodulatory effects. In addition, these mushrooms accelerate metabolism, help fight obesity, and slow down the ageing processes thanks to their high antioxidant activity. The vast therapeutic properties of mushrooms are still not fully understood. Detailed mechanisms of the effects of medicinal mushrooms on the human organism still require long-term clinical studies to confirm their nutraceutical effects, their safety of use, and their dosage. Medicinal mushrooms have great potential to be used in the design of innovative functional foods. There is a need for further research on the possibility of incorporating mushrooms into food products to assess the interactions of their bioactive substances with ingredients in the food matrix. This review focuses on the properties of selected medicinal mushrooms and their effects on the human organism and presents current knowledge on the possibilities of their use in the production of functional foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to explore the effect of probiotic fermentation on the extraction of crude polysaccharide from Hericium erinaceus and its antioxidant activity, the effects of the extraction rates of water extract of Hericium erinaceus fermented by lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium longum and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (high sugar type) and the content of polysaccharide were investigated, and the effects of different probiotic fermentation on the total antioxidant capacity of crude polysaccharide and the infrared spectrum structure were analyzed. The results showed that: compared with the fermentation without probiotics» the extraction rates of water extract of Hericium erinaceus fermented by Lactobacillus acidophilus <, Bifidobacterium longum and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (high sugar type) decreased by 7. 50%, 3. 50% and 10・ 10%, respectively, but the content of crude polysaccharide in the extract increased by 25. 46%, 26. 98% and 20. 20%, respectively. The extraction rate of crude polysaccharide fermented by Bifidobacterium longum was the highest (11. 55%). The single factor and orthogonal experiments were used to optimize the fermentation process of Hericium erinaceus by probiotics. The optimum technological conditions were as follows: the addition amount of Bifidobacterium longum was 20%, the fermentation time was 4 h, and the fermentation temperature was 42°C. Under the optimum conditions» the extraction rate of water extract was 27. 85%, the content of crude polysaccharide in the extract was 62. 87%, and the extraction rate of crude polysaccharide was 17. 51%・ After the fermentation by Saccharomyces cerevisiae» the total antioxidant capacity of crude polysaccharide from Hericium erinaceus was the highest, up to 6. 07 umol • g-1. There was no significant difference in the total antioxidant capacity between the crude polysaccharides fermented by Bifidobacterium longum and the crude polysaccharides without the probiotic fermentation (P<0. 05). The fourier transform infrared spectroscopy of crude polysaccharides of Hericium erinaceus after the fermentation of different probiotics were basically similar to those of unfermented Hericium erinaceus, and the peak position was slightly shifted with similar functional groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The traditional medicinal mushroom Hericium erinaceus is known for enhancing peripheral nerve regeneration through targeting nerve growth factor (NGF) neurotrophic activity. Here, we purified and identified biologically new active compounds from H. erinaceus, based on their ability to promote neurite outgrowth in hippocampal neurons. N‐de phenylethyl isohericerin (NDPIH), an isoindoline compound from this mushroom, together with its hydrophobic derivative hericene A, were highly potent in promoting extensive axon outgrowth and neurite branching in cultured hippocampal neurons even in the absence of serum, demonstrating potent neurotrophic activity. Pharmacological inhibition of tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB) by ANA‐12 only partly prevented the NDPIH‐induced neurotrophic activity, suggesting a potential link with BDNF signaling. However, we found that NDPIH activated ERK1/2 signaling in the absence of TrkB in HEK‐293T cells, an effect that was not sensitive to ANA‐12 in the presence of TrkB. Our results demonstrate that NDPIH acts via a complementary neurotrophic pathway independent of TrkB with converging downstream ERK1/2 activation. Mice fed with H. erinaceus crude extract and hericene A also exhibited increased neurotrophin expression and downstream signaling, resulting in significantly enhanced hippocampal memory. Hericene A therefore acts through a novel pan‐neurotrophic signaling pathway, leading to improved cognitive performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hericium erinaceus, a mushroom species commonly known as Yamabushitake in Japan, is known to have a stimulatory effect on neurotrophic factors, such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF). Hericenone C, a meroterpenoid with palmitic acid as the fatty acid side chain, is reported to be one such stimulant. However, according to the structure of the compound, the fatty acid side chain seems highly susceptible to lipase decomposition, under in vivo metabolic conditions. To study this phenomenon, hericenone C from the ethanol extract of the fruiting body was subjected to lipase enzyme treatment and observed for changes in the chemical structure. The compound formed after the lipase enzyme digestion was isolated and identified using LC-QTOF-MS combined with 1H-NMR analysis. It was found to be a derivative of hericenone C without its fatty acid side chain and was named deacylhericenone. Interestingly, a comparative investigation of the neuroprotective properties of hericenone C and deacylhericenone showed that the BDNF mRNA expression in human astrocytoma cells (1321N1) and the protection against H2O2-induced oxidative stress was considerably higher in the case of deacylhericenone. These findings suggest that the stronger bioactive form of the hericenone C compound is in fact deacylhericenone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the production (P) (g of fresh mushrooms /bag) and biological efficiency (BE) (g of fresh mushrooms per 100 g of dry substrate) of 17 fungal strains, namely Pleurotus ostreatus Po-IAP, Po-P38, Po-P14, Po-IE202, Po-Sfco, Po-JP, Po-Psma, and Po-POS, Pleurotus djamour Pd-PRO and Pd-UTMR, Pleurotus eryngii Pe-MB and Pe-PQ, Lentinula edodes L15, L9, L5, and LC, and Hericium erinaceus Heri, produced in corn stover (CS) and to assess the content of crude protein (CP), lignin (L), cellulose, hemicellulose, acid detergent fiber (ADF), and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and in vitro digestibility of dry matter (IVDMD) of the residual substrate of CS, the so called spent mushroom substrate (SMS), in comparison to the non-inoculated substrate (C). The variables were analyzed as a completely randomized block design using R 4.0.3 software. Means were compared using Tukey's procedure. The Pleurotus spp. strains, compared to Lentinula spp. and Hericium spp., presented better BE and P. In comparison to C, the SMS increased the CP content (p < 0.05) from 10.8% (Po-JP) to 70.3% (LC), while NDF decreased (p < 0.05) from 11.5% (Pd-Pro) to 33.5% (L15) and IVDMD increased (p < 0.05) from 16.2% (Heri) to 47.7% (Pd-UTMR). In conclusion, of the 17 strains evaluated, the 3 strains of Lentinula edodes (L5, L15, and L9), one strain of Pleurotus djamour (Pd-UTMR), and one strain of Pleurotus ostreatus (Po-IAP) generated a SMS that, due to its nutritional improvement and increase in IVDMD, could be used as feed for ruminants. Our results also showed that corn stover is a suitable substrate to produce Pleurotus spp. fruiting bodies, with strain Po-IAP as the best yielding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main goal of this investigation is to conduct a thorough analysis of the physical, chemical, and morphological characteristics of chitosan derived from various forest fungi. Additionally, the study aims to determine the effectiveness of this vegetal chitosan as an antimicrobial agent. In this study, Auricularia auricula-judae, Hericium erinaceus, Pleurotus ostreatus, Tremella fuciformis, and Lentinula edodes were examined. The fungi samples were subjected to a series of rigorous chemical extraction procedures, including demineralization, deproteinization, discoloration, and deacetylation. Subsequently, the chitosan samples were subjected to a comprehensive physicochemical characterization analysis, encompassing Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), degree of deacetylation determination, ash content determination, moisture content determination, and solubility determination. To evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of the vegetal chitosan samples, two different sampling parameters were employed, namely human hand and banana, to assess their effectiveness in inhibiting microbial growth. Notably, the percentage of chitin and chitosan varied significantly among the distinct fungal species examined. Moreover, EDX spectroscopy confirmed the extraction of chitosan from H. erinaceus, L. edodes, P. ostreatus, and T. fuciformis. The FTIR spectra of all samples revealed a similar absorbance pattern, albeit with varying peak intensities. Furthermore, the XRD patterns for each sample were nearly identical, with the exception of the A. auricula-judae sample, which exhibited sharp peaks at ~37° and ~51°, while the crystallinity index of this same sample was approximately 17% lower than the others. The moisture content results indicated that the L. edodes sample was the least stable, while the P. ostreatus sample was the most stable, in terms of degradation rate. Similarly, the solubility of the samples showed substantial variation among each species, with the H. erinaceus sample displaying the highest solubility among the rest. Lastly, the antimicrobial activity of the chitosan solutions exhibited different efficacies in inhibiting microbial growth of skin microflora and microbes found on the peel of Musa acuminata × balbisiana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this research was to find the effect of alcoholic extract of the lion's mane mushroom (Hericium erinaceus) against certain clinical pathological isolates isolated from Iraqi patients suffering from various diseases such as gingivitis, urinary tract infection, diarrhea and severe vomiting, and also a biopsy was taken from the stomach of people suffering from ulcers. Out of 150 males and females sample 107 samples were isolated and identified by chemical detection and VITEK 2 technique, and by PCR for Halicobacter pylori as follows: Staph aureus(56),Salmonella typhi(6),Pseudomonas aeruginosa(10),Escherichia coli(15),Halicobacter pylori(10),Klebsiella pneumonia(10),Candida albicans(10) samples. lion’s mane mushroom powder was extracted with 80% ethyl alcohol, and active components were investigated by chemical reagents and Gc-mass. The chemical detection of Alcoholic extract revealed the existence of flavonoids, alkaloids, phenols, terpenoids, glycosides, and polysaccharides. The efficacy of the extract was tested using 4 concentrations (400, 200, 100, and 50 mg/ml) on bacterial and yeast isolate (C.albicans).The diameter of the inhibitory zone increased with increasing extract concentrations, according to the findings. Zone of inhibition for all isolates started at 100mg/ml except C.albicans(50mg/ml)and E.coli (200mg/ml). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Lion's mane mushroom (Hericium erinaceus, HE) is a traditional medical mushroom with high nutritional and economic value. HE possesses anticancer, antimicrobial, antioxidant, immunomodulating, neurotrophic, and neuroprotective activities. The present study evaluated the protection and antioxidative activities of micronized mycelium of HE (HEM) in mice treated with 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPTP). HEM was cultivated via solid-state fermentation and micronized using cell wall-breaking technology to increase its bioavailability when ingested. Erinacine A, the bioactive compound in the HEM, played a pivotal role in antioxidant defense. We found that micronized HEM could recover the dopamine level in the mice striatum in a dose-dependent manner that had been greatly reduced during MPTP treatment. Moreover, the malondialdehyde (MDA) and carbonyl levels were reduced in the livers and brains of the MPTP + HEM-treated groups compared with the MPTP group. Additionally, antioxidant enzyme activities, including catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), and glutathione reductase (GRd), were elevated after the administration of HEM in MPTP-treated mice in a dose-dependent manner. Taken together, our data indicate that HEM cultivated via solid-state fermentation and processed with cell wall-breaking technology showed an excellent antioxidant efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The gut microbiota (GM) is recognized as a significant contributor to the immune system. In the present study, the effects of Hericium erinaceus polysaccharides (HEP) on immunoregulation and GM in cyclophosphamide (CTX)‐treated mice were investigated to elucidate the attenuate of immunosuppression by modulating GM. RESULTS: The results revealed that HEP significantly improved the body weight and immune organ index in immunodeficient mice (P < 0.05). They significantly increased operational taxonomic units (OTUs) (P < 0.05), adjusted the α and β diversity of the GM, and the bacterial community structure was more similar to that of control group. Taxonomic composition analysis found that HEP increased the abundance of Alistipse, uncultured_bacterium_f_Muribaculaceae, Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group, uncultured_bacterium_f_Lachnospiracea, uncultured_bacterium_f_Ruminococcaceae and Ruminococcaceae_UCG‐014, and decreased Lactobacillus, Bacteroides, and Alloprevotella, suggesting that HEP can improve the GM structure and inhibit CTX‐induced GM dysregulation. Moreover, HEP increased short‐chain fatty acid (SCFA)‐producing bacteria, recovered SCFA levels, alleviated immunosuppression caused by CTX, enhanced the serum immune cytokine factors, and upregulated TLR4/NF‐κB pathway key proteins (TLR4, NF‐κB p65) at mRNA and protein levels. CONCLUSION: Hericium erinaceus polysaccharides effectively regulated GM and enhancement of intestinal immune function, so they have the potential to be developed as functional ingredients or foods to modulate immune responses. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cerebellar ataxia is a neurodegenerative disorder with no definitive treatment. Although previous study demonstrated the neuroprotective effects of Hericium erinaceus (H.E.), the mechanisms of H.E. treatment on the neuroinflammatory response, neurotransmission, and related metabolites remain largely unknown. We demonstrated that 3-AP rats treated with 25 mg/kg H.E. extracts had improved motor coordination and balance in the accelerated rotarod and rod tests. We showed that the H.E. treatment upregulated the expression of Tgfb1, Tgfb2, and Smad3 genes to levels comparable to those in the non-3-AP control group. Interestingly, we also observed a significant correlation between Tgfb2 gene expression and rod test performance in the 3-AP saline group, but not in the non-3-AP control or H.E.+3-AP groups, indicating a relationship between Tgfb2 gene expression and motor balance in the 3-AP rat model. Additionally, we also found that the H.E. treatment increased mitochondrial COX-IV protein expression and normalized dopamine-serotonin neurotransmission and metabolite levels in the cerebellum of the H.E.+3-AP group compared to the 3-AP saline group. In conclusion, our findings suggest that the H.E. treatment improved motor function in the 3-AP rat model, which was potentially mediated through neuroprotective mechanisms involving TGFB2-Smad3 signaling via normalization of neurotransmission and metabolic pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objectives] The paper was to determine the physicochemical characteristics and antioxidant activity of three polysaccharide fractions (HP1, HP2 and HP3) obtained by ethanol precipitation from cold water, hot water and hot aqueous NaOH extracts of the fruiting body of Hericium, erinaceus. [Methods] The chemical components, antioxidant and moisture-preserving activities of the three polysaccharides were determined. [Results] All the three polysaccharide extracts showed similar physicochemical characteristics and FT-IR spectra. HP1, which had the highest sugar content and lowest molecular weight, exhibited the best antioxidant activities against DPPH and hydroxyl radicals. HP3 exhibited the greatest ability to absorb and retain moisture. [Conclusions] These data demonstrate the potential utility of polysaccharides extracted form H. erinaceus in the cosmetics, food and pharmaceutical industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Orsellinic acid (2,4-dihydroxy-6-methylbenzoic acid, OA) and its structural analog o-Orsellinaldehyde, have become widely used intermediates in clinical drugs synthesis. Although the research on the biosynthesis of such compounds has made significant progress, due to the lack of suitable hosts, there is still far from the industrial production of such compounds based on synthetic biology. Results: With the help of genome mining, we found a polyketide synthase (PKS, HerA) in the genome of the Hericium erinaceus, which shares 60% amino acid sequence homology with ArmB from Armillaria mellea, an identified PKS capable of synthesizing OA. To characterize the function of HerA, we cloned herA and heterologously expressed it in Aspergillus oryzae, and successfully detected the production of OA. Subsequently, the introduction of an incomplete PKS (Pks5) from Ustilago maydis containing only three domains (AMP-ACP-R), which was into herA-containing A. oryzae, the resulted in the production of o-Orsellinaldehyde. Considering the economic value of OA and o-Orsellinaldehyde, we then optimized the yield of these compounds in A. oryzae. The screening showed that when maltose was used as carbon source, the yields of OA and o-Orsellinaldehyde were 57.68 mg/L and 15.71 mg/L respectively, while the yields were 340.41 mg/Kg and 84.79 mg/Kg respectively in rice medium for 10 days. Conclusions: Herein, we successfully expressed the genes of basidiomycetes using A. oryzae heterologous host. As a fungus of ascomycetes, which not only correctly splices genes of basidiomycetes containing multiple introns, but also efficiently produces their metabolites. This study highlights that A. oryzae is an excellent host for the heterologous production of fungal natural products, and has the potential to become an efficient chassis for the production of basidiomycete secondary metabolites in synthetic biology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to study the effect of Hericium erinaceus polysaccharide (HEP) on the immune and antioxidation functions of immunosuppressed mice. The control group received distilled water orally and the model and experimental groups I, II, and III received 0, 80, 160, and 320 mg/kg HEP respectively for a fortnight after re-molding with cyoclphosphnalide (CTX). Compared with the control group, the secretion of IL-2, IL-4, and IFN-γ, the activity or content of T-AOC, T-SOD, and GSH-PX, and the expression of PCNA mRNA in the thymus and spleen were reduced in immunosuppressed mice (P < .05 or P < .01). Compared with immunosuppressed mice, the levels of IL-2, IFN-γ, and GSH-PX and the PCNA mRNA expression of spleen and thymus were increased (P < .05 or P < .01), and the microstructure were also obviously improved in the experimental group III. Overall, 320 mg/kg of HEP significantly improved the immune and antioxidant functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This Short Review covers the total synthesis of tetraketide-based meroterpenoids, i.e. geranyl-resorcinols, isolated from the mushrooms of genus Hericium. Some of these compounds are believed to be involved in the unique health-promoting effects of Hericium erinaceus. Herein, more than seventy natural products identified so far have been classified into seven-types based on both assumed biosynthetic pathways and chemical structures, and the successful total syntheses are summarized according to the structural type. 1 Introduction 2 Pioneering Synthetic Study 3 Total Synthesis of Geranyl-Resorcinol with a Geranyl Side Chain (Types 1, 3, and 6) 4 Total Synthesis of Geranyl-Resorcinol with an Oxidized Geranyl-Derived Side Chain (Types 2, 4, and 7) 5 Conclusion [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • HEME diminishes BH induced apoptosis in SK-N-SH-MJD78 cells. • HEME decreases mutant ataxin-3 protein aggregation in tBH treated SCA3 cell model. • HEME modulates p53 and NF-κB activation in tBH treated SK-N-SH-MJD78 cells. • HEME increases survival and climbing ability in tBH treated SCA3 Flies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: With the increase in the geriatric population worldwide, the promotion of healthy aging arose as a key issue and, hence, the scientific community dedicates huge effort to counteract age-related impairments. Brain aging is a crucial risk factor for several neurodegenerative disorders and dementia. One of the most affected cognitive functions is recognition memory. Inflammation and oxidative stress play a key role in pathogenesis of cognitive impairments, and a link exists between frailty, oxidative stress, and inflammaging. Medicinal mushrooms represent a source to develop new therapeutic strategy, and among them Hericium erinaceus (He) displays several actions ranging from boosting immune system to fighting senescence, due to its active ingredients/metabolites. Among these, Ergothioneine (ERGO) is known as the longevity vitamin. Currently, when monitoring physiological aging in mice, we demonstrated the selective, preventive and neuroprotective effect of an ERGO-rich He primordium extract in hippocampus, preventing recognition memory decline during aging, decreasing key markers of inflammation and oxidative stress, and increasing the expression of glutamate receptors, which are crucially involved in glutamatergic neurotransmission. Brain aging is a crucial risk factor for several neurodegenerative disorders and dementia. The most affected cognitive function is memory, worsening early during aging. Inflammation and oxidative stress are known to have a role in pathogenesis of cognitive impairments, and a link exists between aging/frailty and immunosenescence/inflammaging. Based on anti-aging properties, medicinal mushrooms represent a source to develop medicines and functional foods. In particular, Hericium erinaceus (He) displays several actions ranging from boosting the immune system to fighting senescence, due to its active ingredients/metabolites. Among these, Ergothioneine (ERGO) is known as the longevity vitamin. Currently, we demonstrated the efficacy of an ERGO-rich He primordium extract (He2) in preventing cognitive decline in a murine model of aging. We focused on recognition memory deterioration during aging, monitored through spontaneous behavioral tests assessing both memory components and frailty index. A parallel significant decrease in key markers of inflammation and oxidative stress, i.e., IL6, TGFβ1, GFAP, Nrf2, SOD1, COX2, NOS2, was revealed in the hippocampus by immunohistochemistry, accompanied by an enhancement of NMDAR1and mGluR2, crucially involved in glutamatergic neurotransmission. In summary, we disclosed a selective, preventive and neuroprotective effect of He2 on aged hippocampus, both on recognition memory as well on inflammation/oxidative stress/glutamate receptors expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mushroom Hericium erinaceus expresses isolectins with different glycan binding specificities; of these, the ricin B-like lectin HEL1 and HEL2 (HEL2a and HEL2b) can bind fucosylated N-glycans and core 1 O-glycans, respectively. However, other lectin-like protein-coding transcripts detected in the H. erinaceus transcriptome, named HEL3, remain to be characterized. Therefore, in this study, the expression levels of all these isolectins genes were compared to characterize the molecular and biochemical properties of these carbohydrate-binding proteins. Low expression genes encoding putative cytolysin proteins, HEL3a and HEL3b, were identified. Bioinformatics analyses revealed that these proteins shared highly homologous structures and carbohydrate-binding residues with other mushroom lectins. Further, their recombinant proteins, rHEL3a and rHEL3b showed an octamer composed of identical 17 kDa subunits under non-denaturing conditions and a slightly basic isoelectric point value of approximately 8.3. The hemagglutination activity of these isolectins was strongly inhibited by glycoproteins rather than free glycans. Interestingly, glycan-binding profiles showed that rHEL3 isolectins interacted with most polylactosamine (poly-LacNAc)-extended N-glycans with relatively low binding activity. Isothermal titration calorimetry also revealed that these recombinant lectins have different binding capacities toward N-glycan-containing glycoproteins. Further, treatment with different concentrations of rHEL3 lectins showed cytotoxic effects in K562, UACC62, and CHO model cell lines, which express poly-LacNAc glycans, confirmed by inhibition of proliferation. Overall, these biochemical properties indicate that rHEL3 isolectins may be used as unique lectins for detecting poly-LacNAc-extended glycans, which are known to be over-expressed in leukemia or metastatic melanoma cells, in cancer diagnostic assays and anti-cancer therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Erinacine A (EA), a natural neuroprotectant, is isolated from a Chinese herbal medicine, Hericium erinaceus. The aim of this study was to investigate the neuroprotective effects of EA in a rat model of traumatic optic neuropathy. The optic nerves (ONs) of adult male Wistar rats were crushed using a standardized method and divided into three experimental groups: phosphate-buffered saline (PBS control)-treated group, standard EA dose-treated group (2.64 mg/kg in 0.5 mL of PBS), and double EA dose-treated group (5.28 mg/kg in 0.5 mL of PBS). After ON crush, each group was fed orally every day for 14 days before being euthanized. The visual function, retinal ganglion cell (RGC) density, and RGC apoptosis were determined using flash visual-evoked potentials (fVEP) analysis, retrograde Fluoro-Gold labelling, and TdT-dUTP nick end-labelling (TUNEL) assay, respectively. Macrophage infiltration of ON was detected by immunostaining (immunohistochemistry) for ED1. The protein levels of phosphor-receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase1 (pRIP1), caspase 8 (Cas8), cleaved caspase 3 (cCas3), tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, tumour necrosis factor receptor1 (TNFR1), interleukin (IL)-1β, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), haem oxygenase-1 (HO-1), and superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) were evaluated by Western blotting. When comparing the standard EA dose-treated group and the double EA dose-treated group with the PBS-treated group, fVEP analysis showed that the amplitudes of P1–N2 in the standard EA dose group and the double EA dose-treated group were 1.8 and 2.4-fold, respectively, higher than that in the PBS-treated group (p < 0.05). The density of RGC in the standard EA dose-treated group and the double EA dose-treated group were 2.3 and 3.7-fold, respectively, higher than that in the PBS-treated group (p < 0.05). The TUNEL assay showed that the standard EA dose-treated group and the double EA dose-treated group had significantly reduced numbers of apoptotic RGC by 10.0 and 15.6-fold, respectively, compared with the PBS-treated group (p < 0.05). The numbers of macrophages on ON were reduced by 1.8 and 2.2-fold in the standard EA dose-treated group and the double EA dose-treated group, respectively (p < 0.01). On the retinal samples, the levels of pRIP, Cas8, cCas3, TNF-α, TNFR1, IL-1β, and iNOS were decreased, whereas those of Nrf2, HO-1, and SOD1 were increased in both EA-treated groups compared to those in the PBS-treated group (p < 0.05). EA treatment has neuroprotective effects on an experimental model of traumatic optic neuropathy by suppressing apoptosis, neuroinflammation, and oxidative stress to protect the RGCs from death as well as preserving the visual function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The total amino acid compositions, total phenolic compounds, total flavonoid content, ß-carotene content and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity in four wild edible mushrooms - Hericium erinaceus, Laetiporus sulphureus, Polyporus umbellatus, Sparassis nemecii have been studied in this work. Maximal indexes of total phenolic compounds in 41.28-43.82 mg of gallic acid equivalents per gram of dry weight were revealed for ethanol extracts of L. sulphureus and H. erinaceus. Maximal index of total flavonoid content in 7.91 mg of quercetin per gram of dw was revealed for ethanol extract of H. erinaceus. The content of ß-carotene from ethanol extracts of studied mushrooms ranged from 2.1 to 3.1 µg ß-carotene per gram of dw. The most intensive OH scavenging activity is characteristic for ethanol extract of H. erinaceus. The fraction of essential amino acids in mushrooms was 44%, 41.25%, 43.49% and 47.30% in S. nemecii, L. sulphureus, P. umbellatus and H. erinaceus, respectively. The fraction of hydrophobic amino acids ranged from 38.19% in L. sulphureus to 49.5% in H. erinaceus. Therefore, the ethanol extracts of H. erinaceus can be used as a source of compounds with high antioxidant potential. The basidiomata of S. nemecii and P. umbellatus can be recommended for use as a source of amino acids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chemical composition evaluation and the nutritional value of nine most widespread wild edible mushroom species (Agaricus arvensis, Cantharellus cibarius, C. lutescens, Craterellus cornucopioides, Hericium erinaceus, Hydnum repandum, Lactarius deliciosus, Pleurotus pulmonarius, and Ramaria flavescens) and much collected in northwestern Tunisia, have been analyzed and determined according to standard methodologies. The chemical composition of edible mushrooms was validated by statistical PCA analyzes. Overall results showed that most of the studied species had interesting values for almost all measured variables. In particular, the species H. erinaceus had the highest quantity of carbohydrates (89.70%), oleic (24.05%), and docosahexaenoic acid (3.19%), phenolic compounds (11.25 mg g-1 dw), flavonoids (57.5 mg g-1 d.w), and minerals K, Mg and Ca but also the lowest content of proteins (4.80%) and carbohydrates (3.96%). On the other hand, the species P. pulmonarius had the lowest lipid content (7.30%) and the lowest caloric value (371.76 Kcal). These promising data can be exploited by taking advantage of the high-quality nutritional value of these interesting species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Edible mushrooms are known to exert anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, the effects of ethanol extracts from edible mushrooms, such as Hericium erinaceus , and other edible mushrooms on inflammatory responses were investigated. Experiments were conducted using the inflammatory responses of human monocytes induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a bacterial component, that provokes inflammation. Notably, we demonstrated that LPS mixed with ethanol and hot water extracts derived from edible mushrooms attenuated the production of inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-1β, −6, and −8, induced by LPS in human monocytic cell cultures. Moreover, we found that the ethanol extract of H. erinaceus contained ergosterol, which attenuated IL-8 production in LPS-stimulated cells. Subsequent component analysis of the ethanol extract of H. erinaceus revealed that ergosterol binds to lipid A to attenuate LPS-induced inflammation. Together, our findings suggest that ergosterol in ethanol extracts from edible mushrooms can prevent the induction of inflammation by binding to LPS. • The anti-inflammatory effects of edible mushroom ethanol extracts were assessed. • Pre-mixing mushroom ethanol extract with LPS attenuated inflammation. • The ethanol extract from Hericium erinaceus contained ergosterol. • Pre-mixing ergosterol with LPS attenuated IL-8 production in LPS-stimulated cells. • Ergosterol in H. erinaceus ethanol extracts could prevent inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the food processing by-products, hericium erinaceus residues (HER) and pineapple peel (PP) are good sources of cellulose and chitosan that can be prepared into hydrogels for structuring a drug delivery system. Hydrogel is one new type biomaterial for drug delivery with excellent absorbent ability applied in wound dressing. In this research, one composite self-healing hydrogel with pH sensitivity for drug delivery system based on the Schiff-base reaction was fabricated. Therein aldehyde group of oxidized microcrystalline cellulose (OMCC) from PP were crosslinked with amino group of carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) from HER via Schiff-base reaction for structuring hydrogels. The structures of the prepared hydrogels were characterized. Meanwhile, its blood clotting activity and physical properties were investigated. The hydrogels show some favorable performances with suitable gel time (54 s of minimum), distinguish swelling rate (about 31.18 g/g), good mechanical, self-healing characteristic and well coagulation effect. The cumulative release of the rutin-loaded hydrogel OMCM-54 reached about 80 % within 6 h, suggesting the well-controlled release of rutin by crosslinking degree between the modified OMCC and CMCS based on Schiff-base reaction. The novel biomaterial based on hericium erinaceus residues and pineapple peel shows its potential use as wound dressing. [Display omitted] • Pineapple peel and hericium erinaceus residues were modified as hydrogel materials. • Modified cellulose/chitosan hydrogels were synthesized via Schiff base reaction. • The hydrogel shows comparable modulus with human skin and fast self-healing effect. • The prepared hydrogel exhibited good blood clotting property as wound dressing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hericium erinaceus, known as lion's mane, is one of the most important cultivated mushrooms worldwide. It grows wild through European and North American countries; meanwhile, in Asia it is mostly artificially cultivated. Several studies revealed the difficulty of its taxonomic identification and the influence of environmental conditions over its morphological characters. The present study aimed to evaluate the morphological and genetic variability of wild specimens of H. erinaceus collected from seven different sites in the temperate forests of the Sierra Madre Occidental, Durango, Mexico. The H. erinaceus isolates showed important morphological differences between the different specimens, mainly in the length of the basidioma, in some cases presenting as twice the size (55 cm) as that previously reported for the species. Unlike the morphological results, the genetic analysis showed homogeneity among the samples. Despite the obvious differences in morphological studies, the genetic study did not indicate a significant difference between the analyzed individuals. However, current results provide new information for the morphological characterization of specimens for northern Mexico, and the first record of seven new internal transcribed spacer sequences and geographic distribution data for this species in northern Mexico. Hericium erinaceus, conocido como melena de león, es uno de los hongos cultivados más importantes en el mundo. Se puede encontrar creciendo de manera silvestre en países de Europa y Norte América, mientras que en Asia se cultiva principalmente de manera artificial. Varios estudios revelaron la dificultad de su identificación taxonómica y la influencia de las condiciones ambientales sobre sus caracteres morfológicos. El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo evaluar la variabilidad morfológica y genética de especímenes silvestres de H. erinaceus recolectados en siete sitios diferentes de los bosques templados de la Sierra Madre Occidental, Durango, México. Las muestras de H. erinaceus mostraron diferencias morfológicas importantes entre los diferentes especímenes, principalmente en la longitud del basidioma, en algunos casos con el doble tamaño (55 cm) respecto al reportado previamente para la especie. A diferencia de los resultados morfológicos, el análisis genético no indicó una diferencia significativa entre los individuos analizados. Sin embargo, los resultados presentes aportan nueva información para la caracterización morfológica de ejemplares para el norte de México, y el primer registro de siete nuevas secuencias utilizando el espaciador interno transcrito y datos de distribución geográfica de esta especie en el norte de México. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder, and no effective treatments are available to treat this disorder. Therefore, researchers have been investigating Hericium erinaceus, or the monkey head mushroom, an edible medicinal mushroom, as a possible treatment for AD. In this narrative review, we evaluated six preclinical and three clinical studies of the therapeutic effects of Hericium erinaceus on AD. Preclinical trials have successfully demonstrated that extracts and bioactive compounds of Hericium erinaceus have potential beneficial effects in ameliorating cognitive functioning and behavioral deficits in animal models of AD. A limited number of clinical studies have been conducted and several clinical trials are ongoing, which have thus far shown analogous outcomes to the preclinical studies. Nonetheless, future research on Hericium erinaceus needs to focus on elucidating the specific neuroprotective mechanisms and the target sites in AD. Additionally, standardized treatment parameters and universal regulatory systems need to be established to further ensure treatment safety and efficacy. In conclusion, Hericium erinaceus has therapeutic potential and may facilitate memory enhancement in patients with AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of superfine grinding on apparent structure, physicochemical properties, and functional characteristics of three kinds of mushroom (Lentinus edodes, Hericium erinaceus, and Cordyceps militaris) powders were investigated. Coarse and 100‐mesh powders of the mushrooms were prepared by common grinding, while a superfine powder was obtained by superfine grinding. By comparing the mushrooms before and after grinding, it was found that the mushroom fines did not produce new chemical groups but increased crystallinity. The results of the physicochemical properties revealed that the fines became less fluid after grinding. The protein content and solubility increased as the particle size decreased. The water and oil holding capacity, glucose binding capacity, cation exchange capacity, and antioxidant activity of the mushroom fines increased after grinding. This study provides a theoretical basis for the development process of edible mushroom food, as well as new ideas for the development of edible mushrooms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psilocybin microdosing involves repeated self-administration of mushrooms containing psilocybin at doses small enough to not impact regular functioning. Microdose practices are diverse and include combining psilocybin with substances such as lion's mane mushrooms (Hericium erinaceus; HE) and niacin (vitamin-B3). Public uptake of microdosing has outpaced evidence, mandating further prospective research. Using a naturalistic, observational design, we followed psilocybin microdosers (n = 953) and non-microdosing comparators (n = 180) for approximately 30 days and identified small- to medium-sized improvements in mood and mental health that were generally consistent across gender, age and presence of mental health concerns, as we all as improvements in psychomotor performance that were specific to older adults. Supplementary analyses indicated that combining psilocybin with HE and B3 did not impact changes in mood and mental health. However, among older microdosers combining psilocybin, HE and B3 was associated with psychomotor improvements relative to psilocybin alone and psilocybin and HE. Our findings of mood and mental health improvements associated with psilocybin microdosing add to previous studies of psychedelic microdosing by using a comparator group and by examining the consistency of effects across age, gender, and mental health. Findings regarding the combination of psilocybin, HE and B3 are novel and highlight the need for further research to confirm and elucidate these apparent effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's disease (AD) significantly impairs the life of an individual both cognitively and behaviorally. Tau and beta-amyloid (Aβ) proteins are major contributors to the etiology of AD. This study used mice modeling AD through the presence of tau pathology to assess the effects of Hericium erinaceus (H. erinaceus), also known as Lion's mane, on cognitive and non-cognitive behaviors. Despite neurocognitive and neurobiological effects of H. erinaceus being seen in both healthy and transgenic mice, no research to date has explored its effects on mice with solely tau pathology. In this study, mice were placed on a diet supplemented with H. erinaceus or a standard rodent diet for 4.5 months in order to determine the effect of this medicinal mushroom on behavior. Tau mice given H. erinaceus had significantly shorter latencies to enter the center of the open field (OF) (p < 0.05) and spent significantly more time in the open arms of the elevated zero maze (EZM) (p < 0.001) compared to tau control mice. Mice given H. erinaceus spent significantly more time in the open arms of and made more head dips in the elevated zero maze (EZM) (p < 0.05). While H. erinaceus had anxiolytic effects, no improvements were seen in spatial memory or activities of daily living. These findings provide additional support for the anxiolytic effects of H. erinaceus and point to its potential benefit as a therapeutic for anxiety in AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focused on synthesis of innovative hydrogels with electric field response from modified pineapple peel cellulose and hericium erinaceus chitosan and gelatin based on Schiff base reaction. A series of hydrogels were prepared by oxidized hydroxyethyl cellulose, gelatin and chitosan at different deacetylation degree via mild Schiff base reaction. Subsequently experiments towards the characterization of oxidized hydroxyethyl cellulose/gelatin/chitosan (OHGCS) hydrogel polymers were carried out by FTIR/XRD/XPS, swelling performances and electric response properties. The prepared hydrogels exhibited stable and reversible bending behaviors under repeated on–off switching of electric fields, affected by ionic strength, electric voltage and pH changes. The swelling ratio of OHGCS hydrogels was found reduced as deacetylation degree increasing and reached the maximum ratio ∼ 2250 % for OHGCS-1. In vitro drug releasing study showed the both curcumin loading capacity and release amount of Cur-OHGCS hydrogels arrived about 90 % during 6 h. Antioxidation assessments showed that the curcumin-loaded hydrogels had good antioxidation activities, in which, 10 mg Cur-OHGCS-1 hydrogel could reach to the maximum of about 90 % DPPH scavenging ratio. These results indicate the OHGCS hydrogels have potentials in sensor and drug delivery system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was intended to investigate whether Hericium erinaceus polysaccharides (HEP) prevent oxidative stress and apoptosis of intestinal porcine epithelial cells from jejunum (IPEC-J2 cells) induced by hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2). Crude HEP were extracted and purified by chromatography. The ultraviolet and infrared spectra and monosaccharide composition of HEP were analyzed. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation was quantified by flow cytometry method, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) production were determined by TBARS. Also, apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry method and the apoptosis-related regulatory molecules were determined by microplate or western blotting method. Our results showed that pretreatment of IPEC-J2 cells with HEP significantly scavenged ROS and reduced LDH and MDA production. HEP also reduced apoptosis and kept polarity of the mitochondrial membrane potential. Moreover, HEP increased the content of caspase-3 and PARP, and protein expression of Bcl-2, while inhibited Bax and Bad and reduced the content of caspase-9 and release of Cyt C. Meanwhile, HEP inhibited the protein expression of TNFR1, FAS, and FASL, and decreased the content of caspase-8. The results indicated that HEP had a protective effect against oxidative stress in IPEC-J2 cells and the underlying mechanism was reducing apoptosis via mitochondrial and death receptor pathways. • HEP displayed a protective effect against H 2 O 2 -induced oxidative stress. • HEP reduced excessive porcine IPEC-J2 intestinal epithelial cells apoptosis mediated by oxidative stress. • The potential anti-apoptosis mechanism of HEP for porcine IPEC-J2 intestinal epithelial cells was reducing apoptosis via the mitochondrial pathway and death receptor pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to assess the effects of polysaccharides extracted from Hericium erinaceus fruiting bodies (HEFPs) on the inflammatory response to oxidative stress in a mouse model of ulcerative colitis (UC) induced by ingestion of dextran sodium sulfate. The results indicated reduced oxidative damage in the HEFPs groups, as evidenced by significantly decreased malondialdehyde levels and significantly increased levels of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase and catalase in colon homogenates, compared with those in the Model Control (MC) group. Additionally, compared with the levels in the MC group, the levels of the pro-inflammatory factors IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α in the positive-control (PC) and HEFPs groups were significantly lower, and that of the anti-inflammatory factor IL-10 was significantly higher. qRT-PCR analyses revealed that the colon expression patterns of IL-6 , IL-1β , TNF-α , and IL-18 were consistent with the serum levels. Western-blotting results indicated significantly lower levels of NLRP3, ASC, and caspase 1 P20 in the HEFPs and PC groups than in the MC group. These findings suggest that HEFPs alleviate UC by suppressing the NLRP3 inflammasome/Caspase-1 pathway. Lachnospiraceae , Clostridiales , Parabacteroides , Oscillibacter , and Clostridium XlVa genera were more abundant in the gut microbiota of the HEFPs group than that of the MC group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resveratrol (RES) is a natural polyphenol with excellent biological activity. But the poor stability and bioavailability of RES severely limit its application. Thus, the resveratrol-loaded sulfated Hericium erinaceus β-glucan-chitosan nanoparticles (DS-CS-RES NPs) were prepared using electrostatic self-assembly to solve these problems in this study. The structure of DS-CS-RES NPs was spherical or sub spherical shape with small average particle size (191.07 nm), which was characterized by FT-IR, FS, XRD and TEM. DS-CS-RES NPs exhibited good stability and RES had a sustainable release from the nanoparticles in gastrointestinal digestion. Meanwhile, DS-CS-RES NPs could improve the inflammatory injury of LPS stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages by inhibiting the production of NO, IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α. Furthermore, DS-CS-RES NPs had strong anti-inflammatory activity by regulating protein levels of NF-κB p65, STAT1 and TLR4 through NF-κB and JAK-STAT1 signaling pathway in vitro, and sulfated H. erinaceus β-glucan-chitosan nanoparticle (DS-CS NPs) and RES had synergistic anti-inflammatory effect. Overall, DS-CS NPs can serve as a potential green and safe functional carrier for encapsulating resveratrol, which can improve its anti-inflammatory activity. This work may be conducive to the development of functional carrier for encapsulating RES and applications of hydrophobic active molecules in functional foods or medicines. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several medicinal mushrooms have been approved as European Novel Foods or have the potential to become Novel Foods. However, their chemical characterization is limited, being mainly focused on specific compounds. Here, the dehydrated mycelia (isolated from sporophores collected in Italy) of Grifola frondosa , Hericium erinaceus , recently defined as Novel Foods, and Cordyceps militaris and Laricifomes officinalis , with potential Novel Food use, were analyzed by NMR methodology to define their metabolite and nutritional profile. Amino acids and derivatives, sugars and polyols, organic acids, fatty acids, lipid polar moieties, nitrogen-containing compounds were identified and quantified in hydroalcoholic and organic extracts. C. militaris showed a high amount of glutamate, citrate and mannitol, also involved in mushroom taste, being the only species presenting tri-unsaturated fatty acids. L. officinalis was characterized by the highest amount of TAA and EAA, and the lowest sugars and polyols content. G. frondosa and H. erinaceus were characterized by high amounts of trehalose (13–14 % of dried weight). Each dehydrated mycelia potentially represents an innovative food matrix alone, for culinary, nutritional and nutraceutical needs, or mixed together to obtain new products. Moreover, these mycelia can be of interest as sources of isolated bioactive compounds for supplements with particular nutritional functions. • G. frondosa , H. erinaceus , C. militaris , L. officinalis NMR metabolomic profile was defined. • C. militaris showed high amounts of glutamate, citrate and mannitol. • L. officinalis was characterized by the highest amount of TAA and EAA. • G. Frondosa and H. erinaceus were characterized by high amounts of trehalose. • Analyzed mycelia can be of interest as sources of bioactive and nutritional compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hericium erinaceus mycelium extract (HEM), containing erinacine A (HeA) and erinacine S (HeS), has shown promise in promoting the differentiation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) into mature oligodendrocytes (OLs), crucial for myelin production in the central nervous system (CNS). The main aim of this study was to characterize the protective effects of HEM and its components on OLs and myelin in demyelinating rodents by exposure to cuprizone (CPZ), a copper chelating agent commonly used to induce demyelination in the corpus callosum of the brain. Rats were fed by CPZ-containing diet and simultaneously orally administered HEM, HeA, or HeS on a daily basis for three weeks. We found that HEM and HeS preserved myelin and OLs in the corpus callosum of CPZ-fed rats, along with reduced microglia and astrocyte activation, and downregulated IL-1β expression. Furthermore, post-treatment with HeS, in mouse models with acute (6 weeks) or chronic (12 weeks) CPZ-induced demyelination demonstrated oral administration during the final 4 weeks (HeS4/6 or HeS4/12) effectively preserved myelin in the corpus callosum. Additionally, HeS4/6 and HeS4/12 inhibited anxious and depressive-like behaviors in CPZ-fed mice. In summary, simultaneous administration of HEM and HeS in rats during short-term CPZ intoxication preserved OLs and myelin. Furthermore, post-administration of HeS not only inhibited demyelination and gliosis but also alleviated anxiety and depression in both acute and chronic CPZ-fed mice. This study presents compelling evidence supporting the potential of HeS as a promising small active compound for protecting OLs and preserving myelin in demyelinating diseases associated with emotional disorders. [Display omitted] • H. erinaceus mycelium extract or erinacine S prevent loss of oligodendrocytes and myelin during acute demyelination. • Post treatment with erinacine S preserves myelin amount during chronic demyelination. • Erinacine S exhibits an alleviating effect on depression and anxiety associated with chronic demyelination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supercritical fluid extraction using CO 2 (SCFE-CO 2) was used to examine extraction efficiency of bioactive compounds from irregular-shaped Lion's Mane (LM) mushroom by-products. Optimal SCFE-CO 2 conditions (46.38 °C, 100 bar, and 0.99 mL/min of EtOH flow rate) for maximum yield (a mass fraction of 11.64%), ergosterol (3.74 mg/g dried LM), total phenolic content, TPC (815.93 µg GAE/g dried LM), and antioxidant activity (42.97 µg TE/g dried LM) were determined using following parameters: temperature (40 °C to 60 °C), pressure (100 bar to 300 bar), and EtOH flow rate (0 mL/min to 1 mL/min). EtOH flow rate was a key factor in raising extraction yield and quality. SCFE-CO 2 was equally effective compared to conventional extraction (Maceration) for LM, as there were no significant differences (p ≥ 0.05) in yield, ergosterol content, TPC, or antioxidant activity. This green extraction technology could be an excellent alternative method for recovering bioactive compounds from medicinal mushrooms. [Display omitted] • SCFE-CO 2 was used to extract bioactive compounds from Hericium erinaceus mushroom. • Optimum conditions for SCFE-CO 2 was 46.38 °C, 100 bar, and 0.99 mL/min of EtOH. • EtOH flow rate was a major factor that could improve extraction yield and quality. • SCFE-CO 2 had an efficiency that could be used instead of conventional extraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psilocybin microdosing involves repeated self-administration of mushrooms containing psilocybin at doses small enough to not impact regular functioning. Microdose practices are diverse and include combining psilocybin with substances such as lion's mane mushrooms (Hericium erinaceus; HE) and niacin (vitamin-B3). Public uptake of microdosing has outpaced evidence, mandating further prospective research. Using a naturalistic, observational design, we followed psilocybin microdosers (n = 953) and non-microdosing comparators (n = 180) for approximately 30 days and identified small- to medium-sized improvements in mood and mental health that were generally consistent across gender, age and presence of mental health concerns, as we all as improvements in psychomotor performance that were specific to older adults. Supplementary analyses indicated that combining psilocybin with HE and B3 did not impact changes in mood and mental health. However, among older microdosers combining psilocybin, HE and B3 was associated with psychomotor improvements relative to psilocybin alone and psilocybin and HE. Our findings of mood and mental health improvements associated with psilocybin microdosing add to previous studies of psychedelic microdosing by using a comparator group and by examining the consistency of effects across age, gender, and mental health. Findings regarding the combination of psilocybin, HE and B3 are novel and highlight the need for further research to confirm and elucidate these apparent effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]