Therapeutic Potential of Hericium erinaceus for Depressive Disorder

Abstract

Depression is a common and severe neuropsychiatric disorder that is one of the leading causes of global disease burden. Although various anti-depressants are currently available, their efficacies are barely adequate and many have side effects. Hericium erinaceus, also known as Lion's mane mushroom, has been shown to have various health benefits, including antioxidative, antidiabetic, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antihyperglycemic, and hypolipidemic effects. It has been used to treat cognitive impairment, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease. Bioactive compounds extracted from the mycelia and fruiting bodies of H. erinaceus have been found to promote the expression of neurotrophic factors that are associated with cell proliferation such as nerve growth factors. Although antidepressant effects of H. erinaceus have not been validated and compared to the conventional antidepressants, based on the neurotrophic and neurogenic pathophysiology of depression, H. erinaceus may be a potential alternative medicine for the treatment of depression. This article critically reviews the current literature on the potential benefits of H. erinaceus as a treatment for depressive disorder as well as its mechanisms underlying the antidepressant-like activities.

Keywords: Hericium erinaceus; Lion’s mane mushroom; antidepressant; depression; mood disorders.

Figure 1

Fruiting bodies cultivated at the tropical climate in Malaysia (A,B) and mycelia (C) of Hericium erinaceus grown on potato dextrose agar.

Figure 2

The monoamine hypothesis of depression showing the potential factors that can cause a deficiency in the transmission within the monoamine systems (created with BioRender.com). The solid arrows indicate the flow of synaptic vesicles containing monoamine neurotransmitters. The dotted arrows indicate the release or reuptake of the monoamine neurotransmitters across the terminal of presynaptic neuron.

Figure 3

Chemical structures of hericenone C (1), D (2), E (3), H (4), erinacine A (5), H (12), B (6), C (7), D (8), E (9), F (10), G (11), I (13), ergosterol peroxide (14), cerevisterol (15), and 3β,5α-trihydroxy-ergosta-7,22-dien-6-one (16).

Figure 4

Summary of the generation of depressive-like behaviors induced by chronic stress and LPS-induced inflammation, as well as the mechanisms of antidepressant-like effects induced by H. erinaceus. The up arrow indicates an increase in the activity/expression level, while the down arrow indicates a decrease in the activity/expression level.