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Lion's Mane

Cognitive & Nootropic

Last reviewed: May 26, 2026

Also Known As: Hericium erinaceus, Yamabushitake, monkey head mushroom, bearded tooth mushroom, hou tou gu

Supplement Class: Medicinal mushroom (Basidiomycota) reported to stimulate NGF and BDNF

Evidence base: Mori 2009 foundational MCI trial (16 weeks, 750 mg/day, PMID 18844328); Docherty 2023 acute + chronic effects in healthy young adults (PMID 38004235); Nagano 2010 and Vigna 2019 anxiety/depression trials; Wong 2012 nerve regeneration in animal models (not human trial evidence)

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What is Lion's Mane?

Lion's Mane (Hericium erinaceus) is a medicinal mushroom native to North America, Europe, and Asia, identified by its distinctive white cascading spines. Unlike nootropics that modulate existing neurotransmitter systems (acetylcholine via Alpha-GPC, GABA via L-theanine), Lion's Mane is reported to stimulate nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). The bioactive compounds — hericenones (concentrated in the fruiting body) and erinacines (concentrated in the mycelium) — are reported to cross the blood-brain barrier and stimulate NGF synthesis in astrocytes and neurons. The foundational human cognitive trial is Mori 2009, a 16-week RCT in mild cognitive impairment patients that reported significant cognitive improvement at 750 mg/day, with effects fading after supplementation stopped. Subsequent trials report acute cognitive effects in healthy young adults (Docherty 2023), anxiety and depression reduction (Nagano 2010, Vigna 2019), and nerve-regeneration effects in animal models (Wong 2012), with human evidence in nerve recovery reported as more limited. Independent testing of the mushroom-supplement category has documented substantial quality variance, particularly in mycelium-grown-on-grain products. Lion's Mane is reported to pair mechanistically with cognitive peptides like Semax and Selank via the BDNF axis Semax is reported to directly modulate.

Reported findings from the cited trials:

  • Significant cognitive improvement in mild cognitive impairment (Mori 2009, 16-week RCT)
  • Acute single-dose processing-speed improvement and reduced subjective stress (Docherty 2023)
  • Reduced anxiety and depression symptoms (Nagano 2010, Vigna 2019)
  • Improved sleep quality in a depressed/anxious population (Vigna 2019)
  • NGF and BDNF upregulation reported in animal and cell-culture models
  • Peripheral nerve regeneration reported in animal models (Wong 2012)

Doses used in the cited trials: 750 mg/day (Mori 2009), 1,800 mg/day (Docherty 2023), 1.5 g/day (Vigna 2019). No trial identified for this page tested above 3,000 mg/day.

Reported safety considerations: mushroom allergy is the primary contraindication reported; mild antiplatelet and glucose-lowering effects are attributed to beta-glucan content, relevant for anticoagulant and diabetes-medication users. See the Side Effects section below.

On this page
  1. 1.How does Lion's Mane work?
  2. 2.What does the human trial evidence show?
  3. 3.What doses have been studied?
  4. 4.How Lion's Mane is administered in the cited trials
  5. 5.How Lion's Mane relates to other cognitive-support compounds
  6. 6.Side effects and interactions
  7. 7.What the evidence doesn't establish yet
  8. 8.Product-quality considerations
  9. 9.Lion's Mane FAQ
  10. 10.References
  11. 11.Published Studies

How does Lion's Mane work?

Lion's Mane is reported to work through nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) stimulation, a mechanism distinct from most nootropics, which modulate existing neurotransmitter systems rather than promoting new neuronal growth. Hericenones (from the fruiting body) and erinacines (from the mycelium) are the compounds reported to drive this. Secondary mechanisms reported in the literature include anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.

  1. NGF stimulation via hericenones. Hericenones (concentrated in the fruiting body) are reported to cross the blood-brain barrier and stimulate NGF synthesis in astrocytes and neurons (Mori et al. 2008, PMID 18758067, in human astrocytoma cells). NGF is the primary neurotrophic factor for cholinergic neurons — the population most affected in Alzheimer's disease and central to memory and learning. Increased NGF is reported to promote neuronal survival, dendritic branching, and synaptic connectivity.
  2. BDNF stimulation. Lion's Mane is also reported to upregulate brain-derived neurotrophic factor, the neurotrophin most associated with adult neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity. BDNF is reported as reduced in depression, neurodegeneration, and cognitive aging.
  3. Erinacines and blood-brain barrier penetration. Erinacines (concentrated in mycelium) are smaller molecules reported to have better blood-brain-barrier penetration than hericenones. Animal models show direct CNS NGF stimulation with erinacine treatment. Dual-extract products combining fruiting body and mycelium are reported to provide both compound classes.
  4. Hippocampal neurogenesis. Animal evidence shows Lion's Mane promotes neurogenesis in the hippocampus, the brain region central to memory formation and disproportionately affected in Alzheimer's disease. Human translation of this specific mechanism is inferred from the cognitive trial benefits above rather than directly measured.
  5. Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Lion's Mane polysaccharides are reported to reduce neuroinflammation (via NF-κB modulation) and oxidative stress markers in brain tissue. These secondary mechanisms are proposed to contribute to the neuroprotective profile and the mood and anxiety effects documented in the clinical trials above.
  6. Peripheral nerve regeneration. NGF is established as supporting peripheral nerve regeneration after injury. Animal models of sciatic nerve injury show accelerated regeneration with Lion's Mane treatment (Wong 2012); human evidence in nerve-recovery contexts is limited.

What does the human trial evidence show?

Lion's Mane's evidence base rests on a novel mechanism but a smaller and earlier-stage human trial base than established nootropics like Bacopa or Alpha-GPC. The strongest human evidence is in mild cognitive impairment (Mori 2009); secondary evidence covers mood and anxiety (Nagano 2010, Vigna 2019), acute cognitive performance (Docherty 2023), and nerve regeneration, where the human evidence base is smaller than the animal evidence.

  1. Mild cognitive impairment. Mori 2009 (16 weeks, 750 mg/day) reported significant cognitive improvement in adults aged 50–80 with MCI, with effects reversing after supplementation stopped. This is the clearest human cognitive evidence for Lion's Mane identified for this page.
  2. Acute single-dose cognitive effects. Docherty 2023 reported improved Stroop test processing speed and reduced subjective stress within 60 minutes of a single 1.8 g dose in healthy young adults — an acute effect, distinct from the chronic mechanism the mushroom is generally studied for.
  3. Anxiety and depression. Nagano 2010 (4 weeks, menopausal women) and Vigna 2019 (8 weeks, depressed overweight adults at 1.5 g/day) both reported significant anxiety and depression reductions versus placebo.
  4. NGF and BDNF biomarker elevation. Animal models consistently report NGF and BDNF upregulation; human biomarker confirmation is limited.
  5. Peripheral nerve regeneration. Wong 2012 and other animal models report clear nerve-regeneration effects after injury. Small human trials in diabetic neuropathy and post-surgical nerve recovery report benefit; this evidence is preliminary.
  6. Sleep quality. Vigna 2019 reported sleep-quality improvements alongside the mood effects, in the same trial population.
  7. Alzheimer's disease. The NGF mechanism overlaps with pathways AD research targets, but trials in diagnosed AD populations identified for this page are sparse and small.

What doses have been studied?

The cited trials used doses from 750 mg/day (Mori 2009, mild cognitive impairment) to 1,800 mg/day (Docherty 2023, healthy adults) to 1.5 g/day (Vigna 2019, mood). No trial identified for this page tested above 3,000 mg/day, and no trial reported additional benefit above the ranges it tested.

Prof. Peptide reports what trials established and what research communities practice, labelled separately. Neither is a recommendation.

  1. Mori 2009 (mild cognitive impairment). 750 mg/day (250 mg × 3), dual-extract standardized product, 16 weeks.
  2. Vigna 2019 (mood, sleep). 1.5 g/day (Amycenone extract), 8 weeks.
  3. Docherty 2023 (acute cognitive effects, healthy adults). 1,800 mg as a single dose, with a 28-day chronic-use arm at the same daily dose.
  4. Nagano 2010 (mood, menopausal women). Lion's Mane extract delivered via cookies, 4 weeks; the trial's abstract does not state the extract's exact mg/day content.

Mori 2009 reported acute-vs-chronic timing: cognitive scores improved progressively through 8, 12, and 16 weeks, and declined after supplementation stopped at week 20. Docherty 2023 separately documented acute effects (within 60 minutes) distinct from its chronic-use measures.

Extract standardization. A "Lion's Mane 1,000 mg per capsule" label does not by itself indicate the extract's actual hericenone or erinacine content. The trials cited on this page used dual-extract products (fruiting body + mycelium) standardized to beta-glucans; beta-glucan disclosure is the marker used in the supplement-quality literature to distinguish concentrated mushroom extract from grain-substrate filler in mycelium-only products.

How Lion's Mane is administered in the cited trials

Lion's Mane is taken orally as capsules of extract powder in every trial cited on this page. Product quality is reported in the supplement-testing literature as a significant source of variance for mushroom extracts specifically, due to grain-substrate content in some mycelium-only products.

AspectReported
FrequencyMori 2009 dosed three times daily (250 mg × 3); Docherty 2023 and Vigna 2019 used once-daily dosing.
Time of dayNo trial identified for this page tested time-of-day as a variable.
FoodNo trial identified for this page reported a food requirement or restriction.
FormDual-extract capsules (fruiting body + mycelium) standardized to beta-glucans is the form used in the cited trials. Raw powdered whole-mushroom products without standardization were not the form studied.
DurationMori 2009 reported cognitive scores declined after supplementation stopped at week 20, which the trial's authors read as evidence that sustained use is required for sustained effect; no trial identified for this page tested cycling on and off.

How Lion's Mane relates to other cognitive-support compounds

Lion's Mane's NGF/BDNF mechanism is mechanistically distinct from — and reported as complementary to — neurotransmitter-substrate supplements and peptide-level neurotrophic interventions. No trial identified for this page tested any of the combinations below directly; the associations below are mechanistic, not trial-demonstrated.

With peptides

Lion's Mane's mechanism overlaps with the cognitive peptide cluster via the BDNF axis. Semax (an ACTH(4-10) analog) is reported to directly modulate BDNF — the same downstream neurotrophin Lion's Mane is reported to upregulate via hericenone/erinacine-driven NGF stimulation, though by a different mechanism (direct peptide-level modulation versus mushroom-extract-mediated stimulation). Selank (a tuftsin analog) is reported to provide anxiolytic effects via GABA modulation, a separate pathway. No trial identified for this page has tested these compounds together.

With supplements

  1. Alpha-GPC — an acetylcholine substrate. Lion's Mane is reported to increase NGF (which supports cholinergic neurons); Alpha-GPC supplies the choline substrate those neurons use. Mechanistically distinct pathways; no trial has tested the combination.
  2. Bacopa monnieri — a different mechanism (dendritic branching, acetylcholinesterase inhibition) on a similar chronic-use timescale.
  3. L-theanine — an acute mechanism (alpha-wave induction, GABA modulation) on a different timescale from Lion's Mane's chronic neurotrophic mechanism.
  4. Phosphatidylserine — a neuronal membrane phospholipid, structurally rather than neurotrophically supportive.
  5. Omega-3 fish oil — DHA is reported to support neuronal membrane composition and modestly elevate BDNF.

With lifestyle factors

  1. Dosing consistency. Mori 2009's chronic effects built over 8–16 weeks and reversed after stopping, indicating the neurotrophic effect this trial measured depends on sustained dosing.
  2. Exercise. Aerobic exercise is separately reported in the exercise-physiology literature to raise BDNF; no trial has tested exercise combined with Lion's Mane specifically.
  3. Sleep. NGF and BDNF synthesis are reported elsewhere in the neuroscience literature to depend on sleep quality; this has not been tested as an interaction with Lion's Mane specifically.

Side effects and interactions

The cited clinical trials report a favorable safety profile for Lion's Mane. The main reported considerations are mushroom allergy, mild GI effects, and modest antiplatelet and glycemic interactions.

Reported in the cited trials

  1. Mild GI discomfort — reported occasionally, particularly at higher doses.
  2. Skin rash or itching — reported rarely, primarily in users with known mushroom allergies.
  3. No serious adverse events were reported in any of the clinical trials cited on this page.

Reported outside the cited trials

  1. Mild antiplatelet effect, attributed to beta-glucan content — relevant for anticoagulant users; not measured directly in the trials above.
  2. Modest glucose-lowering effect, attributed to beta-glucan content — relevant if combined with insulin or sulfonylureas.
  3. Vivid dreams — occasionally reported anecdotally with chronic use; not measured in the cited trials.

Drug and supplement interactions

  1. Anticoagulants (warfarin, apixaban, rivaroxaban). A mild additive antiplatelet effect is reported, attributed to beta-glucan content. Unusual bruising is the reported sign to watch for; coordination with a prescribing clinician is standard guidance for chronic high-dose use.
  2. Diabetes medications. Beta-glucan content is reported to modestly affect glucose absorption, relevant if combined with insulin, sulfonylureas, or GLP-class peptides.
  3. Immunosuppressants. Lion's Mane is reported to have mild immune-modulating effects via beta-glucan content, relevant for users on chronic immunosuppression.
  4. Mushroom allergy. Reported as a contraindication, with possible cross-reactivity to other fungal allergens.
  5. Pregnancy and breastfeeding. Supplemental-dose data is limited; no trial identified for this page enrolled pregnant or breastfeeding participants.

What the evidence doesn't establish yet

Lion's Mane has a mechanistically distinctive evidence base, but the human trial base is smaller than for established nootropics. Several open questions affect how confidently the evidence above generalizes.

Fruiting body vs mycelium relative contribution. Hericenones (fruiting body) and erinacines (mycelium) have different reported bioactivity profiles. Most positive human trials cited on this page used dual-extract products containing both. The relative contribution of each compound class to the clinical effects hasn't been separately characterized in a human trial identified for this page.

Product-quality variance. Independent testing of retail mushroom-supplement products has documented substantial variance between labeled and actual mushroom content, particularly in mycelium-grown-on-grain products. Beta-glucan content is the marker the supplement-testing literature uses to distinguish mushroom material from grain substrate.

Healthy young-adult cognitive transfer. Most positive evidence is in older adults with MCI (Mori 2009) or specific populations (Nagano 2010 menopausal women, Vigna 2019 depressed adults). Docherty 2023, in healthy 18–45 year-olds, is the identified evidence in that population; its effect sizes were modest and the chronic-use (28-day) result did not reach statistical significance.

Alzheimer's disease clinical translation. The NGF mechanism overlaps with pathways AD research targets, but trials in diagnosed AD populations identified for this page are sparse and small.

Long-term high-dose safety. Trial data identified for this page extends to 4–16 weeks. Multi-year, high-dose (3,000+ mg/day) use has not been directly studied in a randomized trial identified for this page.

Mechanism of the acute effect. Docherty 2023's acute (within-60-minute) effect is unusual for a compound whose primary proposed mechanism (neurotrophic stimulation) operates over weeks. The mechanism behind the acute effect specifically has not been characterized in a source identified for this page.

Product-quality considerations

Independent testing of the mushroom-supplement category has documented unusually large quality variance, particularly around extract versus grain-substrate content in mycelium-grown products. The markers below are reported in the supplement-quality literature as ways to distinguish concentrated mushroom extract from substrate filler.

Reported quality markers

  • Dual-extract (fruiting body + mycelium) standardized to beta-glucans — the form used in the trials cited above.
  • Beta-glucan content disclosed on the label — reported in the supplement-testing literature as the clearer mushroom-extract quality marker than an undifferentiated "polysaccharide" figure, since alpha-glucans from grain substrate can inflate polysaccharide numbers without adding bioactive content.
  • Extraction method disclosed — hot-water or dual extraction are the methods reported to efficiently extract beta-glucans, versus raw powdered mushroom without extraction.
  • Third-party testing — independent verification of label claims, with particular relevance for heavy-metal testing in mushroom products specifically.
  • No proprietary blends that obscure the actual Lion's Mane dose within a mixed-mushroom or filler formulation.
  • Grain-substrate disclosure for mycelium-only products — independent testing has documented some mycelium-grown-on-grain products containing a substantial proportion of grain substrate by weight rather than active mushroom material; fruiting-body-included products avoid this specific issue.
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Lion's Mane FAQ

Fruiting body vs mycelium vs whole-mushroom — which form is best?

The two parts of the mushroom contain different bioactive compounds. The fruiting body (the visible mushroom) contains hericenones — the NGF-stimulating compounds behind the most direct human cognitive evidence (Mori 2009). The mycelium (the root-like network) contains erinacines — also NGF-stimulating, but with evidence concentrated in animal studies rather than human trials. Whole-mushroom products contain both but often at lower concentrations than concentrated extracts. Dual-extract products (fruiting body + mycelium, standardized to beta-glucans above 30%) most closely match what the cited trials used. Powdered whole-mushroom products that don't disclose extract concentration or beta-glucan content don't reliably correspond to a trial dose.

What dose of Lion's Mane has been studied for cognitive effects?

500–3,000 mg/day of standardized extract, depending on the trial. The Mori 2009 mild-cognitive-impairment trial administered 750 mg/day (250 mg × 3); Docherty 2023, in healthy adults, used 1,800 mg/day. No trial identified for this page found a benefit from exceeding 3,000 mg/day.

How long do the cited trials run before reporting an effect?

Mori 2009 measured cognitive scores at 8, 12, and 16 weeks and reported the improvement grew over that period; scores declined after supplementation stopped at week 20, which the trial's authors read as evidence that ongoing use is required for sustained effect. Docherty 2023 documented acute single-dose effects on processing speed and subjective stress within 60 minutes, separately from the trial's chronic (28-day) measures, which showed a non-significant trend toward improved working memory.

Does Lion's Mane have evidence for Alzheimer's or dementia specifically?

The evidence is mechanistic, not a direct clinical demonstration in Alzheimer's disease. The NGF/BDNF stimulation mechanism overlaps with pathways Alzheimer's research targets — cholinergic neurons, the population most affected in AD, depend on NGF for survival, and BDNF supports the synaptic plasticity AD progressively loses. Animal models of AD report neuroprotective effects. The human trial evidence located for this page is in mild cognitive impairment (Mori 2009), not diagnosed Alzheimer's disease; trials in established AD populations are sparse and small. Coordination with a treating neurologist is standard guidance for any supplement used alongside a diagnosed AD treatment plan.

Is there a mechanistic basis for stacking Lion's Mane with Semax or Selank?

The mechanisms are reported as complementary, though no trial has tested the combination directly. Semax (an ACTH(4-10) analog) is reported to modulate BDNF directly — the same downstream pathway Lion's Mane is reported to upregulate via hericenones and erinacines, though by a different route: Semax acts at the peptide level directly on BDNF, while Lion's Mane acts through mushroom-extract-mediated NGF and BDNF stimulation. Selank (a tuftsin analog) is reported to provide anxiolytic effects via GABA modulation — a separate mechanism from the neurotrophic pathway. No known negative interaction has been identified for this page, and no trial has tested the three together.

What does the evidence say about Lion's Mane for nerve injury or recovery?

The mechanistic case is stronger than the direct human evidence. NGF is established as important for peripheral nerve regeneration, and Lion's Mane is reported to stimulate NGF with documented nerve-regeneration effects in animal models — sciatic nerve injury and peripheral neuropathy models (Wong 2012). Human evidence is thinner: some trials in diabetic neuropathy and post-surgical nerve recovery report benefit, but the evidence base is smaller than for the cognitive applications above. Medical supervision is standard guidance for any supplement used in a nerve-injury or nerve-recovery context; Lion's Mane is not established as a standalone treatment for serious nerve injury.

What interactions with medications have been reported for Lion's Mane?

Few documented interactions were located for this page. Two are reported: (1) Lion's Mane's beta-glucan content is reported to have mild antiplatelet effects, which may be modestly additive with warfarin, apixaban, or NSAIDs at high chronic doses — unusual bruising is the reported sign to watch for, and coordination with a prescribing clinician is standard guidance for chronic anticoagulant users. (2) beta-glucan content may modestly affect glucose absorption, which is relevant for users combining Lion's Mane with insulin or sulfonylureas. Beyond these two considerations, no other clinically significant interactions were located. Mushroom allergy is the primary reported contraindication.

Does the dose in mushroom coffee blends match the trial doses?

No — most mushroom coffee blends contain 50–250 mg of Lion's Mane per serving, below the roughly 500 mg lower end of the doses used in the cited cognitive trials and well below the 1,500–3,000 mg range those trials tested at the higher end. A mushroom coffee blend delivers a smaller dose than the trials that produced the reported cognitive effects; a standalone extract at the dose ranges above matches what was actually studied.

References

  1. 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):367-372. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18844328/
  2. 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):4842. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38004235/
  3. Nagano M, Shimizu K, Kondo R, et al. Reduction of depression and anxiety by 4 weeks Hericium erinaceus intake. Biomed Res. 2010;31(4):231-237. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20834180/
  4. Wong KH, Naidu M, David RP, Bakar R, Sabaratnam V. Neuroregenerative potential of Lion's Mane mushroom, Hericium erinaceus (Bull.: Fr.) Pers. (higher Basidiomycetes), in the treatment of peripheral nerve injury. Int J Med Mushrooms. 2012;14(5):427-446. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23510212/
  5. Vigna L, Morelli F, Agnelli GM, et al. Hericium erinaceus improves mood and sleep disorders in patients affected by overweight or obesity: could circulating pro-BDNF and BDNF be potential biomarkers? Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2019;2019:7861297. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31118969/
  6. Mori K, Obara Y, Hirota M, et al. Nerve growth factor-inducing activity of Hericium erinaceus in 1321N1 human astrocytoma cells. Biol Pharm Bull. 2008;31(9):1727-1732. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18758067/

Published Studies

Plain-English summaries of the peer-reviewed studies behind the claims above. Click any title to read the source paper.

Phytotherapy Research · 2009Paywalled
Improving Effects of the Mushroom Yamabushitake (Hericium erinaceus) on Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial →

Mori K, Inatomi S, Ouchi K, Azumi Y, Tuchida T

A 16-week double-blind placebo-controlled trial of Lion's Mane (750 mg/day, 250 mg × 3 daily) in 30 Japanese adults aged 50–80 with mild cognitive impairment. Lion's Mane significantly improved cognitive function scores (Hasegawa Dementia Scale-Revised) versus placebo at weeks 8, 12, and 16. Cognitive scores declined after supplementation stopped at week 20, which the trial's authors read as evidence that ongoing use is required for sustained effect. This is the foundational human cognitive trial for Lion's Mane and the source for the dose range cited on this page.

Nutrients · 2023Open Access
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 →

Docherty S, Doughty FL, Smith EF

A 28-day pilot study of Lion's Mane extract (1,800 mg/day) in 41 healthy adults aged 18–45. A single dose significantly improved Stroop test processing speed and reduced subjective stress within 60 minutes (acute effect). Over the 28-day chronic-use period, the trial reported a trend toward improved working memory that did not reach statistical significance. The Docherty 2023 trial is the evidence base for Lion's Mane in healthy young adults specifically, and for its acute (within-hours) effects, distinct from the chronic-mechanism evidence in Mori 2009.

Biomedical Research · 2010Open Access
Reduction of Depression and Anxiety by Hericium erinaceus Intake →

Nagano M, Shimizu K, Kondo R, et al.

A 4-week study of Lion's Mane cookies (containing extract) versus placebo cookies in 30 menopausal women with anxiety and depression symptoms. The Lion's Mane group showed significant reductions in anxiety, depression, and indefinite-complaint scores versus placebo. This trial is the evidence base for the anxiolytic and antidepressant application cited on this page.

International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms · 2012Paywalled
Neurotrophic Properties of the Lion's Mane Medicinal Mushroom, Hericium erinaceus (Higher Basidiomycetes) from Malaysia →

Wong KH, Naidu M, David RP, Bakar R, Sabaratnam V

A review and original research on Lion's Mane neurotrophic properties, including peripheral nerve regeneration after sciatic nerve injury in rat models. Lion's Mane treatment significantly improved nerve regeneration, axon density, and functional recovery versus controls. This is an animal-model paper; it is the evidence base for the peripheral-nerve-regeneration mechanism cited on this page, not a human trial.

Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine · 2019Open Access
Hericium erinaceus Improves Mood and Sleep Disorders in Patients Affected by Overweight or Obesity: Could Circulating Pro-BDNF and BDNF Be Potential Biomarkers? →

Vigna L, Morelli F, Agnelli GM, et al.

An 8-week trial of oral Lion's Mane extract (Amycenone, 1.5 g/day) in 77 adults with overweight or obesity, recruited for a mood, sleep, or binge-eating disorder. Reports Lion's Mane decreased depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders, and increased circulating pro-BDNF (without a significant change in BDNF itself). The paper's results describe improved mood and sleep, not a separately reported binge-eating outcome score.

NGFBDNFNeurogenesisHericenonesErinacinesCognitive

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