Lion’s Mane

Known as Hericium erinaceus, Monkey's Head, Houtou (infrequent), Igelstachelbart, Pom Pom Blanc, Hedgehog Mushroom, Satyr’s Beard, & Yamabushitake.

Brief description

Lions Mane is a type of edible mushroom belonging to the Hericiaceae family, it has been used traditionally in Chinese medicine for many years(1).

It contains a range of bioactive compounds which may contribute to its historic medicinal use, including, polysaccharides (e.g. beta-glucan – which may have cholesterol lowering effects), phenolic acids and terpenoids, particularly hericenones (primarily found in the mushroom’s fruiting body) and erinacines (concentrated in the mushroom’s mycelia).

Both of these compounds can cross the blood brain barrier(2) and contribute to the growth of nerve cells (through production of nerve growth factors)(3, 4). Much of the research on lion’s mane (LM) has focused on cognition and mood.

Evidence base

No systematic reviews on cognitive function were found on initial review. Please see individual studies below:

·      Cognition:

Older adults –

• A small, randomised trial (RCT) of 41 participants (59% female, age >50) examined whether supplementation of 1050mg LM (H. Erinaceus), or placebo, was able to improve cognition in individuals with Alzheimers Disease (AD).

• After 49 weeks the LM group had a significant improvement in ‘Mini-Mental State Examination’ score (MMSE – a validated cognitive test), ‘Cognitive Abilities Screening Instrument’ (CASI) and ‘Instrumental activities of daily living score’ (IADL), compared to placebo(5). MMSE improvements after supplementation of LM (3.2g) were also confirmed in another RCT after 12weeks(6).

• Another study examined whether 3g of LM or placebo would improve cognitive function in Japanese men and women with ‘Mild Cognitive Impairment’ (a precursor to dementia) using the ‘Revised Hasegawa Dementia Scale (HDS-R). LM was able to significantly improve cognitive scores after 16 weeks of supplementation vs placebo. The improvement continued after termination of treatment but declined after 4 weeks – suggesting continuous use is beneficial(7).  

Young Adults –

• An RCT examined whether 1.8g of LM on 41 healthy adults aged 18-45 could improve cognitive function and mood. They examined the acute effect (after 1 hour) and the chronic effect (after 28 days), and reported improvements in speed of performance (via the “Stroop” test) (p=0.005) after an hour, and a trend towards reduced stress after 28 days (p=0.051)(8).

• Another RCT demonstrated improvements in memory, complex attention, and reaction time 2 hours after ingestion of 1g of LM compared to placebo and ‘AmaTea Max’ (Guayusa extract)(9).

Recommended serving & duration.

Optimal dose remains uncertain due to limited human trials.

• Above trials have examined dosing ranging from 1050mg-3200mg.

Safety & tolerability

Limited evidence of safety in human trials for LM – but considered safe(10).

• Generally LM was tolerated well in RCTs(7), a small proportion of participants reported abdominal discomfort, nausea and skin rash following supplementation in one study(5).

 References

1. Thongbai B, Rapior S, Hyde KD, Wittstein K, Stadler M. Hericium erinaceus, an amazing medicinal mushroom. Mycological Progress. 2015;14(10):91.

2. Hu JH, Li IC, Lin TW, Chen WP, Lee LY, Chen CC, et al. Absolute Bioavailability, Tissue Distribution, and Excretion of Erinacine S in Hericium erinaceus Mycelia. Molecules. 2019;24(8).

3. Kawagishi H, Shimada A, Shirai R, Okamoto K, Ojima F, Sakamoto H, et al. Erinacines A, B and C, strong stimulators of nerve growth factor (NGF)-synthesis, from the mycelia of Hericium erinaceum. Tetrahedron Letters. 1994;35(10):1569-72.

4. Zhang CC, Yin X, Cao CY, Wei J, Zhang Q, Gao JM. Chemical constituents from Hericium erinaceus and their ability to stimulate NGF-mediated neurite outgrowth on PC12 cells. Bioorg Med Chem Lett. 2015;25(22):5078-82.

5. Li IC, Chang HH, Lin CH, Chen WP, Lu TH, Lee LY, et al. Prevention of Early Alzheimer's Disease by Erinacine A-Enriched Hericium erinaceus Mycelia Pilot Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Study. Front Aging Neurosci. 2020;12:155.

6. Saitsu Y, Nishide A, Kikushima K, Shimizu K, Ohnuki K. Improvement of cognitive functions by oral intake of Hericium erinaceus. Biomed Res. 2019;40(4):125-31.

7. 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;23(3):367-72.

8. Docherty S, Doughty FL, Smith EF. The Acute and Chronic Effects of Lion's Mane Mushroom Supplementation on Cognitive Function, Stress and Mood in Young Adults: A Double-Blind, Parallel Groups, Pilot Study. Nutrients. 2023;15(22).

9. La Monica MB, Raub B, Ziegenfuss EJ, Hartshorn S, Grdic J, Gustat A, et al. Acute Effects of Naturally Occurring Guayusa Tea and Nordic Lion's Mane Extracts on Cognitive Performance. Nutrients. 2023;15(24).

10. Lion’s Mane.  LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury. Bethesda (MD): National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; 2012.