Erinacines and Hericenones

Lion’s mane (Hericium erinaceus) is a medicinal and edible mushroom that has been shown to have promising benefits for cognitive health. Two key classes of bioactive compounds found in this mushroom are Hericenones and Erinacines. These are both diterpenoids, of which there are numerous classes.

• Hericenones: These are primarily found in the fruiting bodies (the part of the mushroom that is typically eaten) and have been shown to stimulate nerve growth factor (NGF) synthesis.
  
• Erinacines: These are found in the mycelia (the root-like structure of the mushroom) and have also been shown to stimulate NGF synthesis. Erinacine A is one of the most well-studied compounds as it has been shown to cross the blood-brain barrier, suggesting it is particularly effective at promoting cognitive health.

The Role of Erinacines and Hericenones in Cognitive Health

Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) is a protein that plays a crucial role in the survival, maintenance, and regeneration of nerve cells, including those in the brain involved in learning and memory. By stimulating NGF synthesis, it is suggested that hericenones and erinacines contribute to the cognitive benefits of lion’s mane mushrooms. While these compounds get the spotlight, there are other compounds found in Lion’s Mane that may contribute to these effects as well.

Erinacines and The Blood Brain Barrier 

Erinacines are a class of cyathane diterpenoids found exclusively in the mycelium of the lion’s mane. They have been the focus of much of the research conducted on the cognitive benefits of Lion’s Mane. There are numerous classes of Erinacines (Erinacine B, C, D, E, F…), but the most studied is Erinacine A. 

Studies have shown that erinacine A can cross the blood-brain barrier, which suggests it to be particularly effective for promoting cognitive health. Additionally, erinacine A has been found to have neuroprotective effects in animal models of stroke, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, depression, and aging.

Erinacine A-Enriched Mycelium

“Erinacine A-enriched mycelium” is one of the standard modes of employment for Lion’s Mane in clinical research. This refers to pure Lion’s Mane mycelium, which is then enriched with a standardized extract of Erinacine-A. To achieve this, the mycelium is cultivated in a liquid medium (as opposed to a solid substrate) to be harvested as pure mycelium with no filler/substrate.

Fruiting Bodies and Cognitive Health

While erinacines have taken center stage, it’s important to note that several studies have used fruiting bodies that do not contain erinacines and have still shown cognitive benefits. This suggests that hericenones, or other compounds found in fruiting bodies, may also play a significant role in cognitive health.

For instance, a clinical trial by Mori et al. (2009) found that oral intake of Lion’s Mane fruiting bodies improved cognitive function in patients with mild cognitive impairment. Another clinical trial by Nagano et al. (2010) showed that consuming Lion’s Mane fruiting bodies for 4 weeks reduced depression and anxiety in menopausal women. 

These findings suggest that hericenones, or other compounds found in fruiting bodies, may also have therapeutic effects and contribute to the cognitive benefits observed in these studies.

The Need for Further Research

While the exact mechanisms by which hericenones and erinacines exert their effects are still being investigated, the available evidence suggests that both compounds, as well as potentially other compounds, may be beneficial for cognitive health. Further research is needed to fully understand the role of each compound and its potential therapeutic applications.