Lion’s Mane Mushrooms Shown to Promote Nerve Growth, Improve Memory
Active ingredient in Hericium erinaceus promote neuron projections
Researchers from The University of Queensland have discovered the active compound from an edible mushroom that boosts nerve growth and enhances memory.
Frederic Meunier, PhD, from the Queensland Brain Institute said the team had identified new active compounds from the mushroom Hericium erinaceus.
“Extracts from these so-called ‘lion’s mane’ mushrooms have been used in traditional medicine in Asian countries for centuries, but we wanted to scientifically determine their potential effect on brain cells,” Meunier said. “Pre-clinical testing found the lion’s mane mushroom had a significant impact on the growth of brain cells and improving memory. Laboratory tests measured the neurotrophic effects of compounds isolated from Hericium erinaceus on cultured brain cells, and surprisingly we found that the active compounds promote neuron projections, extending and connecting to other neurons.
With super-resolution microscopy, the team discovered that the active components of the mushroom extract significantly increase the size of growth cones, which are vital for brain cells to sense their environment and form new links with other neurons.
One of the study’s co-authors, Ramon Martinez-Marmol, PhD, said the discovery had applications that could treat and protect against neurodegenerative cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. “Our idea was to identify bioactive compounds from natural sources that could reach the brain and regulate the growth of neurons, resulting in improved memory formation,” Martinez-Marmol said.
Dae Hee Lee, PhD, from CNGBio Co., which has supported the research project, said the properties of lion’s mane mushrooms had been used to treat ailments and maintain health in traditional Chinese medicine since antiquity. “This important research is unravelling the molecular mechanism of lion’s mane mushroom compounds and their effects on brain function, particularly memory,” Lee said.
The study was published in the Journal of Neurochemistry.
UQ acknowledges the collaborative efforts of researchers from the Republic of Korea’s Gachon University and Chungbuk National University.
-This news release was originally published on The University of Queensland website and has been edited for style.