Hericenones and erinacines: stimulators of nerve growth factor (NGF) biosynthesis inHericium erinaceus

Summary & key facts

This paper is a review of research on two groups of compounds—hericenones and erinacines—found in the mushroom Hericium erinaceus (lion’s mane). It summarizes how researchers isolated and determined the structures of these compounds and what laboratory and biological studies reported about their ability to stimulate production of nerve growth factor (NGF). The review covers work published up to December 2009. It is a literature survey and does not present new experimental data.

Key facts:

• The review focuses on two compound families from Hericium erinaceus: hericenones (from the fruiting body) and erinacines (from the mycelium).
• Hericenones and erinacines are reported in the literature as stimulators of nerve growth factor (NGF) biosynthesis (this is the main topic of the review).
• The paper surveys chemical work (isolation and structural identification) and biological work (bioactivity studies) about these compounds.
• The review concentrates on studies published up to December 2009.
• The article is a review article; it summarizes existing studies rather than reporting new experimental results.

Abstract

This review surveys the chemical and biological literature dealing with the isolation, structural elucidation and bioactivity of hericenones and erinacines from the fruiting body and mycelium of Hericium erinaceus, concentrating on work that has appeared in the literature up to December 2009.

Topics

Fungal Biology and Applications Medicinal Plants and Bioactive Compounds Phytochemistry and Biological Activities

Categories

Health Sciences Medicine Pharmacology

Tags

Biochemistry Biology Botany Ecology Erinaceus Gene Hedgehog Hericium erinaceus Isolation (microbiology) Microbiology Mycelium Nerve growth factor Raw material Receptor