"Noble" among edible mushrooms - Hericium erinaceus

1."Noble" among edible mushrooms - Hericium erinaceus

In the application of edible mushroom ingredients, the most impressive one is undoubtedly Hericium erinaceus. Hericium erinaceus, also known as monkey head mushroom, is named for its resemblance to a monkey's head. As one of the four famous dishes (monkey head, bear's paw, bird's nest, and shark fin), it is known among the people as "mountain delicacy - monkey head, sea delicacy - shark fin".

Hedgehog hydnum, as an ingredient, is a delicious dish, and also a medicinal herb. The medicine made from this medicinal herb is called Hedgehog Hydnum Tablets. It is recorded on page 207 of Volume 15 of the "Drug Standards of the Ministry of Health of the People's Republic of China": "This product is a tablet made from processed Hedgehog Hydnum, which has the effect of nourishing the stomach and harmonizing the middle energizer. It is used for the treatment of gastric and duodenal ulcers and chronic gastritis." Modern medical research has found that Hedgehog Hydnum contains up to 19 kinds of amino acids, including various essential amino acids for the human body. It is a high-protein, low-fat, high-quality food. In addition, it also contains vitamins, minerals, and various active ingredients such as peptides, terpenoids, sterols, polyphenols, and adenosine. Its nutritional value is self-evident.

2. It's not just about nourishing the stomach

Since the 1970s, Hericium erinaceus has been a focal point of scientific research. Long-term studies on it have shown that it can protect the gastric mucosa by reducing gastric acid. Furthermore, the polysaccharides it contains exhibit inhibitory effects on Helicobacter pylori. Clinical results indicate that Hericium erinaceus extract can reduce the release of lactate dehydrogenase, suggesting a protective effect on cells damaged by Helicobacter pylori. Subsequently, interest has been sparked in the potential neuroprotective and neuroregenerative properties of Hericium erinaceus. Researchers have discovered that the hericetin and hericenone compounds found in Hericium erinaceus improve symptoms of mild cognitive impairment by promoting the synthesis of Nerve Growth Factor (NGF). This discovery provides direction for the prevention and early non-pharmacological intervention of Alzheimer's disease.

• A study published in 2009 in Japan showed that after taking Hericium erinaceus powder tablets for four consecutive months, 30 patients with mild cognitive impairment in Japan significantly improved their symptoms of mild cognitive impairment.
• The results of a 2015 study conducted in the United States showed that after taking tablets containing Hericium erinaceus extract for one month, eight female college students experienced improved anxiety symptoms and better sleep quality.
• In a clinical trial conducted in Italy and published in 2019, 77 overweight or obese individuals with emotional issues, sleep disorders, or binge eating disorder were administered supplements containing Hericium erinaceus extract for a continuous period of 2 months. This treatment significantly improved their depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders, and no relapse was observed even after a 2-month discontinuation period.
• In 2023, a research team led by Professor Frederic Meunier from the University of Queensland in Australia discovered that the hericetin and hericoketone present in the extract of Hericium erinaceus exhibit neuroprotective effects in animal models of peripheral nerve injury, significantly enhancing the recognition memory of rats through the blood-brain barrier.

Given the current evidence, Hericium erinaceus extracts may have potential to induce cognitive and emotional effects through various biological pathways. However, it is worth noting that this field is still in its infancy, with only limited placebo-controlled, double-blind studies to test these effects. To date, these trials have been limited to studying a single area of brain health, such as markers of cognitive decline or specific aspects of mood, and using different forms of Hericium erinaceus at different dosages. Moreover, each trial has been conducted over a chronic intervention period (4 to 49 weeks), and there is currently no work evaluating the potential acute effects of Hericium erinaceus supplementation. A study published in Nutrients has brought new ideas.

3. Nutrients: Acute and chronic effects of supplementing with lion's mane mushroom on cognitive function, stress, and mood in young adults

To further understand the potential cognitive and emotional effects of Hericium erinaceus, it is also important to consider other demographic groups. Of particular interest is the younger, healthy adult population without cognitive decline. In a preliminary double-blind, parallel-group study published in Nutrients, the acute (60 minutes after administration) and chronic (28-day intervention) effects of 1.8 grams of Hericium erinaceus on 41 healthy adults aged 18-45 (average age 26.35 years) were investigated.

Acute effects on reaction time in the Stroop task

Chronic effects of stress response

The analysis results revealed that after a single intake of Hericium erinaceus, participants performed faster in the Stroop task 60 minutes after intake (p=0.005); after 28 days of supplementation, a trend towards reduced subjective stress was observed (p=0.051). The preliminary findings of the study suggest that Hericium erinaceus extract can improve performance speed and reduce subjective stress in healthy young adults. However, null and limited negative results were also observed. Admittedly, given the small sample size, these findings should be interpreted with caution. It is crucial to conduct further investigations with a larger sample size, and the results of this trial provide a promising avenue.

4. A place for hedgehog hydnum extract products

Currently, besides the well-known stomach-nourishing products, the application of hedgehog hydnum products in the market is also continuously evolving. Gaia Herbs Immune Shine's mushroom & herbal powder supplement utilizes ingredients such as maitake, white birch mushroom, and elderberry; Real Mushrooms' organic hedgehog hydnum capsules contain approximately 1000mg of hedgehog hydnum extract per serving; Wise Bar has also launched energy bars focusing on ingredients such as reishi mushroom, white birch mushroom, and hedgehog hydnum; Odyssey Elixir has introduced various beverages based on hedgehog hydnum and cordyceps sinensis.

In summary, the extract of Hericium erinaceus holds broad market prospects. It can serve as both food and medicine, fully embodying the concept of "medicine and food are of the same origin" and providing the necessary nutrients for the human body. In this context, the research and development of Hericium erinaceus extract should focus on enhancing the advantages of Hericium erinaceus, continuously improving the industrial chain, and raising the brand awareness of Hericium erinaceus functional food, so that more consumers can understand Hericium erinaceus functional food. Researchers should seize the existing opportunities and deeply explore Hericium erinaceus based on the concept of medicine and food being of the same origin, developing different series of Hericium erinaceus functional food. It is believed that with the continuous deepening of research, products containing Hericium erinaceus extract will become more abundant in the future.