Learn more about Lion's Mane
And the physical/neurological benefits it can offer.
Lions Mane Mushroom
From Folk Medicine to Modern Day Nootropic
Used for millennia in Traditional Medicine, this unique mushroom has both culinary and medicinal applications. From historic Native American use as a styptic (to stop bleeding) to Traditional Chinese medicine, where it was often prescribed for digestive issues.
Today, Lions Mane is used in Michelin Star restaurants for its striking resemblance in taste and texture to seafoods like lobster. But Lions Mane is even more popular as a cognitive support, to “turn on” the brain.
How does Lions Mane work?
Lions Mane stimulates the biosynthesis of Nerve Growth Factor (NGF)
Nerve growth factor (NGF) has robust
biological activities, including preventing neuronal death and promoting neuronal outgrowth. Higher levels of NGF have been shown to be associated with improved cognitive function (memory & focus). Higher levels of NGF have also been shown to slow and even reverse the symptoms of Alzheimers & other neurodegenerative conditions.
Chemistry, Nutrition, and Health-Promoting Properties of Lion's Mane
Published in: Journal of Food Chemistry
Abstract: The culinary and medicinal mushroom Hericium erinaceus is widely consumed for its nutritional and health benefits. This overview surveys & consolidates the widely scattered literature on the chemistry (isolation and structural characterization) of polysaccharides and secondary metabolites found in Lions Mane, such as erinacines, hericerins, & hericenones.
Neurotrophic properties of Lion's mane
Published in: National Library of Medicine
Abstract: Nerve growth factor (NGF) is essential for the maintenance of the basal forebrain cholinergic system. Hericenones and erinacines isolated from the medicinal mushroom Hericium erinaceus can induce NGF synthesis in nerve cells. In this study, we evaluated the synergistic interaction between H. erinaceus aqueous extract and exogenous NGF on the neurite outgrowth stimulation
Studies on Lions Mane
Hericenones & erinacines: stimulators of nerve growth factor (NGF)
Published in: Journal of Mycology
Abstract: This review surveys the chemical and biological literature dealing with the isolation, structural elucidation, stimulated indogenous production, and bioactivity of hericenones and erinacines from the fruiting body and mycelium of Hericium erinaceus (Lions Mane Mushroom) concentrating on work that has appeared in the literature up to December 2009.
Hericerin activates pan-neurotrophic pathway in central hippocampus
Published in: Journal of Neurochemistry
Abstract: 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.